Thursday of the Twenty-fifth week in Ordinary Time

Book of Haggai

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

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

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 of the Trinitarian Order was born at Valladolid, Castilla, Spain, on October 28, 1552. At 12, he entered the Trinitarian monastery. On October 28, 1572, he made his religious profession. St. Simón's mother, the virtuous Constanza, nurtured his faith and devotion toward Mary. Her and Gregorio's veneration helped St. Simón pronounce his first words, "Ave Maria." His greatest joy was visiting Marian shrines, praying to Mary and praying with her, imitating her virtues, singing her praises and acknowledging her importance in the mystery of God and of the Church. Through theological study and the Rosary, he participated in Mary's mission of cooperating with the Trinity for the salvation of the human race and the sanctification of the Church. St. Simón studied at the University of Salamanca from 1573 to 1579; and was ordained a priest in 1577. From 1581 to 1587, he taught philosophy and theology at Toledo. From 1588 until his death, he prudently fulfilled the office of superior in various monasteries of his province, and was sent as apostolic visitor twice to Castilla and once to Andalusia. St. Simón lived his religious vows while emulating the sinless life of Mary. Ahead of his times, he consecrated his eyes, flesh, body and soul to the Blessed Virgin Mary. To become united with Mary's salvific role and mission, he established the Congregation of the Slaves of Mary on April 14, 1612. The Order was for the greater glory of the Trinity, in praise of the Virgin, 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 and in Him through the Spirit, to the Father. The Congregation was intended for the laity: persons of every social class could join. The members, who included the King and his children, dedicated themselves to honor Mary by giving maternal 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. Simon is held to be one of the greatest contemplatives of his time. In his work, "The Greatness of Prayer," he is a master-instructor of souls. In it, 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 relieve the many needs of the poor, consoled the sick and the destitute and assisted the marginalized. He accepted duties at Court only on condition that he continued his work with the poor, whom he helped in a thousand ways, always with a smile on his face and at any hour of the day or night. The expressions of his love of Mary are manifold. The painters who depicted him 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," which he also 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 the age of 72 years. He sent these rosaries everywhere, even to England. Using his influence at Court, he had the angelic greeting so dear to him, "Ave Maria," engraved in letters of 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 for the approval of his liturgical text composed in honor of the Sweet Name of Mary, which Pope Innocent XI later 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 twelve days, the most re-known preachers of Madrid exalted his virtues and his 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 on 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 was educated in the complete faith and gained a holy devotion to the Eucharist. On the death of Wenceslaus' father, his mother Drahomira usurped the government and passed a series of persecuting laws. In the interest of the Faith, Wenceslaus obtained, through the support of the people, a large portion of the country as his own kingdom. His mother secured the apostasy and alliance of her second son, Boleslas, who became her ally. Wenceslaus meanwhile ruled as a brave and pious king, and provided for his people. When his domain was attacked, he overcame, in single combat, the leader of the invading army. Wenceslaus was martyred following a banquet at his brother's palace. As he went to pray before the Tabernacle at midnight, an assassin killed him. He was martyred for his loyalty to St. Peter; and passed away on the feast of the Angels in 936.

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