Friday of the Fourth week of Lent

Book of Wisdom

2,1a.12-22.

The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright:
"Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training.
He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD.
To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us,
Because his life is not like other men's, and different are his ways.
He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father.
Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him.
For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes.
With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience.
Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him."
These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them,
And they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls' reward.

Psalms

34(33),17-18.19-20.21.23.

The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress he rescues them.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of his servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in him.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John

7,1-2.10.25-30.

Jesus moved about within Galilee; but he did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill him.
But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near.
But when his brothers had gone up to the feast, he himself also went up, not openly but (as it were) in secret.
So some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, "Is he not the one they are trying to kill?
And look, he is speaking openly and they say nothing to him. Could the authorities have realized that he is the Messiah?
But we know where he is from. When the Messiah comes, no one will know where he is from."
So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, "You know me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on my own, but the one who sent me, whom you do not know, is true.
I know him, because I am from him, and he sent me."
So they tried to arrest him, but no one laid a hand upon him, because his hour had not yet come.

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St. Catherine of Sweden (1330 + 1381)()

SAINT CATHARINE OF SWEDEN Virgin(1331 + 1381) Catharine was the fourth child of St. Bridget and her husband Ulf Gudmarsson. She was born in 1331 or 1332. At the age of seven, she was sent to the abbess of the convent of Riseberg for schooling. Like her mother, Catharine mortified her senses and made time for spiritual development. At her father's behest, Catharine married Eggart von Kürnen when she was around fourteen. Eggart was very pious and morally upright. When she asked him to join her in a vow of chastity, Eggart immediately agreed. They lived in a state of virginity and devoted themselves to exercises of Christian perfection and active charity. Catharine once accompanied her mother to Rome where St. Bridget had gone in 1349. Soon after they arrived, Catharine received news that her husband had passed away in Sweden. She afterward lived with her mother and took an active part in St. Bridget's fruitful labors. Catharine also zealously imitated her mother's ascetic life. Although the distinguished and beautiful young widow was surrounded by suitors, she steadfastly refused all offers of marriage. In 1372, Catharine and her brother, Birger, accompanied their mother on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Upon their return, Catharine was with her mother during the latter's final illness and death. In 1374, in obedience to St. Bridget's wish, Catharine interred her mother's remains at Wadstena, Sweden, and became the head of the foundation. The motherhouse of the Brigittine Order was based there. It was also called the Order of St. Savior. Catharine managed the convent with great skill and harmony in accordance with the principles of the founder. Catharine passed away on March 24, 1381. For her heroic virtues and the miracles proceeding from her intercession, St. Catharine was canonized. She lives and reigns in heaven forever alongside Jesus Christ and the saints.

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Bl. Maria Karlowska (1865-1935)()

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Blessed Maria Karlowska Religious(1865-1935) Maria Karlowska was born in the territories under Prussian occupation in 1865. She worked as a true Samaritan among women suffering great material and moral deprivation. Her holy zeal quickly attracted a group of Christian disciples, with whom she founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Good Shepherd of Divine Providence. For herself and her Sisters, she set the following goal: "We must proclaim the Heart of Jesus, that is, so to live from him, in him and for him, as to become like him and that in our lives he may be more visible than we ourselves." Her devotion to the Savior's Sacred Heart bore fruit in a great love for people. She felt an insatiable hunger for love. A love of this kind, according to Blessed Maria Karlowska, will never say "enough," will never stop midway. Precisely this happened to her, who was, as it were transported by the current of love of the Divine Paraclete. Thanks to this love, she restored to many souls the light of Christ and helped them regain dignity.

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Saint Oscar Romero (1917 - 1980)()

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Saint Oscar Romero (1917 - , CardinalEarly lifeOscar Romero was born into a large family on August 15, 1917, in El Salvador. Although they had more money than many of their neighbors, Oscar’s family had neither electricity nor running water in their small home, and the children slept on the floor. Oscar’s parents could not afford to send him to school after the age of twelve, so he went to work as an apprentice carpenter. He quickly showed great skills, but Oscar was already determined to become a priest. He entered the seminary at the age of fourteen and was ordained a priest when he was twenty-five in 1942. Recognising the power of radio to reach the people, he convinced five radio stations to broadcast his Sunday sermons to peasant farmers who believed they were unwelcome in the churches.In 1970, he became Auxiliary Bishop in San Salvador. In 1974, he became Bishop of Santiago de Maria. At this time, Oscar Romero was described as a conservative, not wanting to break from tradition. He supported the hierarchy who encouraged conformity. He was uncomfortable with social action that challenged political leaders.Growing awarenessDuring his two years as Bishop of Santiago de Maria, Romero was horrified to find that children were dying because their parents could not pay for simple medicines. He began using the resources of the diocese and his own personal resources to help the poor, but he knew that simple charity was not enough. He wrote in his diary that people who are poor should not just receive handouts from the Church or the government, but participate in changing their lives for the future.In 1977, Romero became Archbishop of San Salvador, the capital city. The situation in El Salvador was becoming worseand he couldn’t remain silent any longer. The military were killing the Salvadorian people - especially those demandingjustice - such as teachers, nuns and priests, and including Romero’s good friend, Fr. Rutilio Grande. Thousands of people began to go missing. Romero demanded that the President of El Salvador thoroughly investigate the killings, but he failed to act.Voice of the voicelessIn his actions and words, Oscar demanded a peace that could only be found by ensuring people had access to basicneeds and their rights upheld. He raised awareness globally about the people in his country who had been killed or "disappeared." When he visited the Vatican in 1979, Oscar Romero presented the Pope with seven detailed reports of murder, torture, and kidnapping throughout El Salvador.In 1979, the number of people being killed rose to more than 3000 per month. Oscar Romero had nothing left to offer his people except faith and hope. He continued to use the radio broadcast of his Sunday sermons to tell people what was happening throughout the country, to talk about the role of the Church and to offer his listeners hope that they would not suffer and die in vain.MartyrdomOn March 23, 1980, after reporting the previous week’s deaths and disappearances, Oscar Romero began to speak directly to soldiers and policemen: “I beg you, I implore you, I order you... in the name of God, stop the repression!” The following evening, while saying Mass in the chapel of Divine Providence Hospital, Archbishop Oscar Romero was shot by an assassin. Only moments before his death, Romero spoke these prophetic words: “Those who surrender to the service of the poor through love of Christ will live like the grain of wheat that dies… The harvest comes because of the grain that dies.” Like many great leaders who have fought for truth, Oscar Romero was killed and became a martyr, but his voice could not be silenced. He is a symbol of hope in a country that has suffered poverty, injustice and violence. As a saint, his intercession can be readily called upon for causes of justice and love for God.

misalcatolico.com

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2023 / Catholic Missal of march 2023