Readings for the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the BaptistReadings for the VigilReading I Is 49:1-6 Hear me, O coastlands,             listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth,             from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword             and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow,             in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me,             Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain,             and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, yet my reward is with the LORD,             my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD has spoken             who formed me as his servant from the womb, that Jacob may be brought back to him             and Israel gathered to him; and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,             and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant,             to raise up the tribes of Jacob,             and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations,             that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.   Responsorial Psalm 139:1b-3, 13-14ab, 14c-15 R.        (14)  I praise you, for I am wonderfully made. O LORD, you have probed me, you know me:             you know when I sit and when I stand;             you understand my thoughts from afar. My journeys and my rest you scrutinize,             with all my ways you are familiar. R.        I praise you for I am wonderfully made. Truly you have formed my inmost being;             you knit me in my mother’s womb. I give you thanks that I am fearfully, wonderfully made;             wonderful are your works. R.        I praise you, for I am wonderfully made. My soul also you knew full well;             nor was my frame unknown to you When I was made in secret,             when I was fashioned in the depths of the earth. R.        I praise you, for I am wonderfully made. Reading II Acts 13:22-26 In those days, Paul said: “God raised up David as king; of him God testified,I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish. From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’ “My brothers, sons of the family of Abraham, and those others among you who are God-fearing, to us this word of salvation has been sent.” Alleluia See Lk 1:76 R. Alleluia, alleluia. You, child, will be called prophet of the Most High, for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way. R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 1:57-66, 80 When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel. - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 2 Cor 11:18, 21-30 Brothers and sisters:Since many boast according to the flesh, I too will boast.To my shame I say that we were too weak!But what anyone dares to boast of (I am speaking in foolishness)I also dare.Are they Hebrews? So am I.Are they children of Israel? So am I.Are they descendants of Abraham? So am I.Are they ministers of Christ? (I am talking like an insane person).I am still more, with far greater labors,far more imprisonments, far worse beatings,and numerous brushes with death.Five times at the hands of the JewsI received forty lashes minus one.Three times I was beaten with rods, once I was stoned,three times I was shipwrecked,I passed a night and a day on the deep;on frequent journeys, in dangers from rivers,dangers from robbers, dangers from my own race,dangers from Gentiles, dangers in the city,dangers in the wilderness, dangers at sea,dangers among false brothers;in toil and hardship, through many sleepless nights,through hunger and thirst, through frequent fastings,through cold and exposure.And apart from these things, there is the daily pressure upon meof my anxiety for all the churches.Who is weak, and I am not weak?Who is led to sin, and I am not indignant?If I must boast, I will boast of the things that show my weakness. Responsorial Psalm PS 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (see 18b) From all their distress God rescues the just.I will bless the LORD at all times;his praise shall be ever in my mouth.Let my soul glory in the LORD;the lowly will hear me and be glad.R. From all their distress God rescues the just.Glorify the LORD with me,let us together extol his name.I sought the LORD, and he answered meand delivered me from all my fears. R. From all their distress God rescues the just.Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,and your faces may not blush with shame.When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,and from all his distress he saved him.R. From all their distress God rescues the just. Alleluia Mt 5:3 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are the poor in spirit;for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 6:19-23 Jesus said to his disciples:“Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth,where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal.But store up treasures in heaven,where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal.For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.“The lamp of the body is the eye.If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light;but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness.And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.” - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Reading 1 2 Cor 11:1-11 Brothers and sisters:If only you would put up with a little foolishness from me!Please put up with me.For I am jealous of you with the jealousy of God,since I betrothed you to one husbandto present you as a chaste virgin to Christ.But I am afraid that, as the serpent deceived Eve by his cunning,your thoughts may be corruptedfrom a sincere and pure commitment to Christ.For if someone comes and preaches another Jesus than the one we preached,or if you receive a different spirit from the one you receivedor a different gospel from the one you accepted,you put up with it well enough.For I think that I am not in any way inferior to these ""superapostles.""Even if I am untrained in speaking, I am not so in knowledge;in every way we have made this plain to you in all things.Did I make a mistake when I humbled myself so that you might be exalted,because I preached the Gospel of God to you without charge?I plundered other churches by accepting from themin order to minister to you.And when I was with you and in need, I did not burden anyone,for the brothers who came from Macedoniasupplied my needs.So I refrained and will refrain from burdening you in any way.By the truth of Christ in me,this boast of mine shall not be silencedin the regions of Achaia.And why?  Because I do not love you?God knows I do! Responsorial Psalm Ps 111:1b-2, 3-4, 7-8 R.(7a) Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.or:R. Alleluia.I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heartin the company and assembly of the just.Great are the works of the LORD,exquisite in all their delights.R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.or:R. Alleluia.Majesty and glory are his work,and his justice endures forever.He has won renown for his wondrous deeds;gracious and merciful is the LORD.R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.or:R. Alleluia.The works of his hands are faithful and just;sure are all his precepts,Reliable forever and ever,wrought in truth and equity. R. Your works, O Lord, are justice and truth.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Rom 8:15bc R. Alleluia, alleluia.You have received a spirit of adoption as sonsthrough which we cry: Abba! Father!R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 6:7-15 Jesus said to his disciples:"In praying, do not babble like the pagans,who think that they will be heard because of their many words.Do not be like them.Your Father knows what you need before you ask him."This is how you are to pray:'Our Father who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name,thy Kingdom come,thy will be done,on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread;and forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespass against us;and lead us not into temptation,but deliver us from evil.'"If you forgive others their transgressions,your heavenly Father will forgive you.But if you do not forgive others,neither will your Father forgive your transgressions." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint John Fisher, bishop and martyr and Saint Thomas More, martyrReadings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Paulinus of Nola, bishop - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

Readings for the Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, religiousReading 1 2 Cor 9:6-11 Brothers and sisters, consider this:whoever sows sparingly will also reap sparingly,and whoever sows bountifully will also reap bountifully.Each must do as already determined, without sadness or compulsion,for God loves a cheerful giver.Moreover, God is able to make every grace abundant for you,so that in all things, always having all you need,you may have an abundance for every good work.As it is written:He scatters abroad, he gives to the poor;his righteousness endures forever.The one who supplies seed to the sower and bread for foodwill supply and multiply your seedand increase the harvest of your righteousness.You are being enriched in every way for all generosity,which through us produces thanksgiving to God. Responsorial Psalm Ps 112:1bc-2, 3-4, 9 R. (1b) Blessed the man who fears the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.Blessed the man who fears the LORD,who greatly delights in his commands.His posterity shall be mighty upon the earth;the upright generation shall be blessed.R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.Wealth and riches shall be in his house;his generosity shall endure forever.Light shines through the darkness for the upright;he is gracious and merciful and just.R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.Lavishly he gives to the poor;his generosity shall endure forever;his horn shall be exalted in glory.R. Blessed the man who fears the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 14:23 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever loves me will keep my word,and my Father will love himand we will come to him.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 6:1-6, 16-18 Jesus said to his disciples:"Take care not to perform righteous deedsin order that people may see them;otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you,as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streetsto win the praise of others.Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you give alms,do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,so that your almsgiving may be secret.And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites,who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street cornersso that others may see them.Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door,and pray to your Father in secret.And your Father who sees in secret will repay you."When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites.They neglect their appearance,so that they may appear to others to be fasting.Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,so that you may not appear to others to be fasting,except to your Father who is hidden.And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you." - - -Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.