Catholic Missal of the day: Wednesday, March 21 2018
Wednesday of the Fifth week of Lent
Wednesday of the Fifth week of Lent
1. ReadingBook of Daniel
3,14-20.91-92.95.]King Nebuchadnezzar said: "Is it true, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, that you will not serve my god, or worship the golden statue that I set up?
]Be ready now to fall down and worship the statue I had made, whenever you hear the sound of the trumpet, flute, lyre, harp, psaltery, bagpipe, and all the other musical instruments; otherwise, you shall be instantly cast into the white-hot furnace; and who is the God that can deliver you out of my hands?"
]Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego answered King Nebuchadnezzar, "There is no need for us to defend ourselves before you in this matter.
]If our God, whom we serve, can save us from the white-hot furnace and from your hands, O king, may he save us!
]But even if he will not, know, O king, that we will not serve your god or worship the golden statue which you set up."
]Nebuchadnezzar's face became livid with utter rage against Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego. He ordered the furnace to be heated seven times more than usual
]and had some of the strongest men in his army bind Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego and cast them into the white-hot furnace.
]King Nebuchadnezzar rose in haste and asked his nobles, "Did we not cast three men bound into the fire?" "Assuredly, O king," they answered.
]"But," he replied, "I see four men unfettered and unhurt, walking in the fire, and the fourth looks like a son of God."
]Nebuchadnezzar exclaimed, "Blessed be the God of Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego, who sent his angel to deliver the servants that trusted in him; they disobeyed the royal command and yielded their bodies rather than serve or worship any god except their own God.
Book of Daniel
3,52.53.54.55.56.]Blessed are you, O Lord, the God of our fathers,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever;
and blessed is your holy and glorious name,
praiseworthy and exalted above all for all ages.
]Blessed are you in the temple of your holy glory,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
]Blessed are you on the throne of your kingdom,
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
]Blessed are you who look into the depths
from your throne upon the cherubim;
praiseworthy and exalted above all forever.
]Blessed are you in the firmament of heaven,
praiseworthy and glorious forever.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John
8,31-42.]Jesus said to those Jews who believed in him, "If you remain in my word, you will truly be my disciples,
]and you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free."
]They answered him, "We are descendants of Abraham and have never been enslaved to anyone. How can you say, 'You will become free'?"
]Jesus answered them, "Amen, amen, I say to you, everyone who commits sin is a slave of sin.
]A slave does not remain in a household forever, but a son always remains.
]So if a son frees you, then you will truly be free.
]I know that you are descendants of Abraham. But you are trying to kill me, because my word has no room among you.
]I tell you what I have seen in the Father's presence; then do what you have heard from the Father."
]They answered and said to him, "Our father is Abraham." Jesus said to them, "If you were Abraham's children, you would be doing the works of Abraham.
]But now you are trying to kill me, a man who has told you the truth that I heard from God; Abraham did not do this.
]You are doing the works of your father!" (So) they said to him, "We are not illegitimate. We have one Father, God."
]Jesus said to them, "If God were your Father, you would love me, for I came from God and am here; I did not come on my own, but he sent me.
St. Benedetta Cambiagio Frassinello((1791-1858))
SAINT BENEDETTA CAMBIAGIO FRASSINELLO (1791 - 1858) Saint Benedetta Cambiagio Frasinello was born on 2 October 1791 in Langasco, Genoa, Italy. She founded a school for the formation of young women and also a religious congregation, and did both with the generous collaboration of her husband. This is unique in the annals of Christian sanctity. Benedetta was a pioneer determined to give young women a quality education. She envisioned families in a "new Christian society" and championed women's rights to education.Call to marriage, then to religious life From her parents, Benedetta received a Christian formation and a living faith. They raised her in Pavia, Northern Italy. At twenty years old, she had a mystical experience that made her desire a life of prayer, penance and consecration to God. However, she obeyed her parents and married Giovanni Frassinello in 1816. The couple agreed to live chastely as brother and sister. They cared for Benedetta's younger sister Maria who was dying from intestinal cancer. They began living a supernatural parenthood unique in the history of the Church.Congregation founded by wife, who is supported by her husband Maria passed away in 1825. Giovanni entered the Somaschi Fathers founded by St. Jerome Emiliani and Benedetta entered the Ursuline Congregation of Capriolo. Benedetta left the Congregation a year later because ofill health. When she returned to Pavia, she was miraculously cured by St. Jerome Emiliani. With the Bishop's approval, Benedetta dedicated herself to educating younggirls. She asked her father for help, but he refused. Bishop Tosi of Pavia asked Giovanni to leave the Somaschi novitiate and help Benedetta. After a vow of perfect chastity before the bishop, they began their common work of forming and educating the city's poor and abandoned girls. Benedetta became the first woman involved in this kind of work. The Austrian government recognized her as a "Promoter of Public Education."Benedictine Sisters of Providence Benedetta's pioneering work was opposed by some misguided clerics. In 1838, she turned over the institution to the bishop of Pavia. Together with Giovanni and five companions, she moved to Ronco Scrivia in the Genoa region. There, they opened a school for girls that was a refinement of what they had done in Pavia. Eventually, Benedetta founded the Congregation of the Benedictine Sisters of Providence. In her rule, she stressed the education of young girls. She instilled the spirit of unlimited confidence and abandonment to Providence and of love of God through poverty and charity. The Congregation grew quickly since it performed a needed service. Benedetta was able to guide the development of the Congregation until her death. On March 21, 1858, she passed away in Ronco Scrivia. Today the Benedictine Nuns of Providence are present in Italy, Spain, Burundi, Ivory Coast, Peru and Brazil. They are at the service of young people, the poor, the sick and the elderly. The foundress also opened a house of the order in Voghera. Forty years after the death of Benedetta, the bishop separated this house from the rest of the Order. The name was changed to the Benedictines of Divine Providence who honour the memory of the Foundress. Benedetta was canonized by John Paul II on May 19, 2002.
St. Euda()
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2018 / Catholic Missal of march 2018
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:27Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:27Z