Wednesday of the Seventh week in Ordinary Time

Letter of James

Beloved : Come now, you who say, "Today or tomorrow we shall go into such and such a town, spend a year there doing business, and make a profit"--
you have no idea what your life will be like tomorrow. You are a puff of smoke that appears briefly and then disappears.
Instead you should say, "If the Lord wills it, we shall live to do this or that."
But now you are boasting in your arrogance. All such boasting is evil.
So for one who knows the right thing to do and does not do it, it is a sin.

Psalms

Hear this, all you peoples!
Give ear, all who inhabit the world,
You of lowly birth or high estate,
rich and poor alike.
Why should I fear in evil days,
when my wicked pursuers ring me round,
They trust in their wealth;
the abundance of their riches is their boast.
Yet in no way can a man redeem himself,
or pay his own ransom to God;
Too high is the price to redeem one’s life; he would never have enough
to remain alive always and not see destruction.
Anyone can see that the wisest die,
the fool and the senseless pass away too,
and must leave their wealth to others.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

John said to Jesus, "Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us."
Jesus replied, "Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me.
For whoever is not against us is for us.

St. Rita of Cascia(Widow (c. 1386-1456))

SAINT RITA OF CASCIA Widow (c. 1386-1456) St. Rita of Cascia was born in Rocca Porena, Italy, circa 1386. Her parents opposed her desire to become a nun and persuaded her to marry. However, her cruel husband lost his reputation in a short time. After being converted from his wicked ways, Rita's husband was murdered. Her two sons resolved to take revenge, but through Rita's prayers, they never committed mortal sin. After her sons passed away, Rita applied several times for admission to the Augustinian Convent in Cascia. She was repeatedly refused until God cleared the obstacles. She entered the convent, made her profession, and lived the life of a holy and devout religious for 42 years: "A shining example of every Christian virtue, pure as a lily, simple as a dove, and obedient as an angel." That "God is wonderful in His saints" is easily proved in the life of St. Rita. Owing to a great number of miracles, she is often styled "The Saint of the Impossible."

St. Julia(Virgin & Martyr (5th century))

SAINT JULIA Virgin, Martyr (5th century) Saint Julia, a noble virgin of Carthage, was sold into slavery after Genseric sacked her city in 439. She was sold to a Syrian merchant named Eusebius. Under mortifying conditions, she worked cheerfully and patiently. When she was not working, she read and prayed. Eusebius, charmed by Julia's fidelity and virtues, took her with him on one of his voyages to Gaul. When they reached the northern part of Corsica, Eusebius cast anchor and went on shore to join the pagans in an idolatrous festival. Julia was left at a distance after abstaining. Noticing Julia, the governor Felix asked why she dared insult the gods. Eusebius replied that Julia was Christian and all his authority could not make her deny Jesus. Nonetheless, he found her so diligent and faithful that he could not part with her. Felix offered him four of his best female slaves in exchange for Julia, but the merchant replied, "All you are worth cannot purchase her. I would freely lose the most valuable thing I have rather than be deprived of her." When Eusebius was drunk and asleep, Felix threatened Julia and ordered her to sacrifice to pagan spirits. He even offered her freedom if she complied. Julia answered that she was free so long as she was allowed to serve Christ. Felix, thinking himself derided, struck her on the face. He then sentenced Julia to have her hair torn off and her body hung from a cross until she died. After Julia's martyrdom, certain monks of the isle of Gorgon interred her body. In 763, Desiderius, the king of Lombardy, moved her relics to Brescia, where her memory is celebrated with great devotion.

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2024 / Catholic Missal of may 2024