Catholic Missal of the day: Thursday, September 28 2017
Thursday of the Twenty-fifth week in Ordinary Time
Thursday of the Twenty-fifth week in Ordinary Time
1. ReadingBook of Haggai
1,1-8.]On the first day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius, The word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to the governor of Judah, Zerubbabel, son of Shealtiel, and to the high priest Joshua, son of Jehozadak:
]Thus says the LORD of hosts: This people says: "Not now has the time come to rebuild the house of the LORD."
](Then this word of the LORD came through Haggai, the prophet:)
]Is it time for you to dwell in your own paneled houses, while this house lies in ruins?
]Now thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways!
]You have sown much, but have brought in little; you have eaten, but have not been satisfied; You have drunk, but have not been exhilarated; have clothed yourselves, but not been warmed; and he who earned wages earned them for a bag with holes in it.
]Thus says the LORD of hosts: Consider your ways!
]Go up into the hill country; bring timber, and build the house That I may take pleasure in it and receive my glory, says the LORD.
Psalms
149(148),1-2.3-4.5-6a.9b.]Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
]Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.
]Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
]For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory.
]Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches;
]Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
]This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke
9,7-9.]Herod the tetrarch heard about all that was happening, and he was greatly perplexed because some were saying, "John has been raised from the dead" ;
]others were saying, "Elijah has appeared"; still others, "One of the ancient prophets has arisen."
]But Herod said, "John I beheaded. Who then is this about whom I hear such things?" And he kept trying to see him.
St. Simón de Rojas(O.SS. (1552-1624))
Saint Simón de Rojas O.SS. (1552-1624) St. Simón de Rojas was born in Valladolid, Castilla, Spain, on October 28, 1552. At 12 years old, he entered the Trinitarian monastery. On October 28, 1572, he made his religious profession. St. Simón's mother was the virtuous Constanza. She nurtured his faith and devotion toward Mary. Constanza and Gregorio's veneration helped St. Simón pronounce his first words, "Ave Maria." St. Simón's greatest joy was visiting Marian shrines, praying to Mary and acknowledging Her importance in the mystery of God and the Church. By praying the Rosary, he participated in Mary's mission to transmit grace through Jesus' life. St. Simón studied at the University of Salamanca from 1573 to 1579. He was ordained a priest in 1577. From 1581 to 1587, he taught philosophy and theology in Toledo. From 1588 until his death, he was the superior of various monasteries in his province. He was also sent twice as apostolic visitor to Castilla and once to Andalusia. St. Simón lived his religious vows while emulating the life of Mary. To become united with Mary's salvific role, he established the Congregation of the Slaves of Mary on April 14, 1612. The Order was for the glory of the Trinity, in praise of the Virgin and in the service of the poor. For him, to be a slave of Mary meant belonging totally to her, "Totus tuus," in order to unite oneself more intimately to Christ. The Congregation was intended for the laity; persons of every social class could join. Its members included the king and his children. They honored Mary by giving material help to her favorite children: the poor. This work still continues in Spain. In 1619, St. Simón was appointed tutor to the royal princes of Spain. St. Simón is one of the greatest contemplatives of his time. In his work, "The Greatness of Prayer," he is a master-instructor of souls. He emphasizes that the contemplative dimension joins to the active through works of mercy. Faithful to the Trinitarian charism, he promoted the ransom of captives, helped the poor and consoled the sick. He served at Court on the condition that he continue his work with the poor, whom he always helped with a smile on his face. The painters who depicted St. Simón put the greeting "Ave Maria" on his lips: words he uttered so frequently that he was familiarly called "Father Ave Maria." He had thousands of images of the Most Holy Virgin printed with the inscription: "Ave Maria" and sent abroad. He had rosaries made with seventy-two blue beads on a white cord, symbols of the Assumption and the Immaculate Conception, and also a reminder that Mary, according to the belief of the time, lived to be 72 years old. He distributed these rosaries everywhere, even to England. St. Simón had the angelic greeting so dear to him, "Ave Maria," engraved in gold on the facade of the royal palace in Madrid. On May 12, 1621, he was elected provincial of Castilla. On January 1, 1622, he was chosen to be the confessor of Queen Isabel of Borbon. On June 5, 1622, he petitioned the Holy See to approve his liturgical text honoring the Sweet Name of Mary, which Pope Innocent XI extended to the Universal Church. After his death on September 29, 1624, the honors bestowed on him at his funeral took on the aspect of an anticipated canonization. For 12 days, Madrid's preachers exalted his virtues and holiness. Impressed with this unanimous veneration, on October 8, shortly after Fr. Simon's death, the Papal Nuncio ordered the beginning of the process leading to his glorification by the Church. His heroic virtues were recognized by Clement XII on March 25, 1735. He was beatified by Clement XIII on March 19, 1766. On July 3, 1988, just before the close of the Marian Year, Pope John Paul II, included St. Simón de Rojas in the calendar of saints.
St. Wenceslaus(Martyr († 936))
SAINT WENCESLAUS Martyr( 936) St. Wenceslaus was the son of a Christian duke of Bohemia, but his mother was a materialistic pagan. Through the care of his holy grandmother, Ludmilla (herself a martyr), Wenceslaus received faith. He also gained devotion to the Eucharist - a characteristic of saints. When Wenceslaus' father passed away, his mother, Drahomira, usurped leadership and passed a series of persecuting laws. In the interest of the Faith, Wenceslaus obtained through popular support a large portion of the country. Drahomira secured the apostasy and alliance of her second son, Boleslas. Meanwhile, Wenceslaus ruled as a brave and pious king. When his domain was attacked, he overcame the leader of an invading army in single combat. While attending a banquet at his brother's palace, Wenceslaus went to pray before the Tabernacle at midnight. As he prayed, an assassin struck him dead. He passed away on the Feast of the Archangels in 936.
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2017 / Catholic Missal of september 2017
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:19Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:19Z