Reading 1 Bar 1:15-22 During the Babylonian captivity, the exiles prayed:"Justice is with the Lord, our God;and we today are flushed with shame,we men of Judah and citizens of Jerusalem,that we, with our kings and rulersand priests and prophets, and with our ancestors,have sinned in the Lord's sight and disobeyed him.We have neither heeded the voice of the Lord, our God,nor followed the precepts which the Lord set before us.From the time the Lord led our ancestors out of the land of Egyptuntil the present day,we have been disobedient to the Lord, our God,and only too ready to disregard his voice.And the evils and the curse that the Lord enjoined upon Moses, his servant,at the time he led our ancestors forth from the land of Egyptto give us the land flowing with milk and honey,cling to us even today.For we did not heed the voice of the Lord, our God,in all the words of the prophets whom he sent us,but each one of us went offafter the devices of his own wicked heart,served other gods,and did evil in the sight of the Lord, our God." Responsorial Psalm Ps 79:1b-2, 3-5, 8, 9 R. (9) For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.O God, the nations have come into your inheritance;they have defiled your holy temple,they have laid Jerusalem in ruins.They have given the corpses of your servantsas food to the birds of heaven,the flesh of your faithful ones to the beasts of the earth.R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.They have poured out their blood like waterround about Jerusalem,and there is no one to bury them.We have become the reproach of our neighbors,the scorn and derision of those around us.O LORD, how long? Will you be angry forever?Will your jealousy burn like fire?R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.Remember not against us the iniquities of the past;may your compassion quickly come to us,for we are brought very low.R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us.Help us, O God our savior,because of the glory of your name;Deliver us and pardon our sinsfor your name's sake.R. For the glory of your name, O Lord, deliver us. Alleluia Ps 95:8 R. Alleluia, alleluia.If today you hear his voice,harden not your hearts.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 10:13-16 Jesus said to them,"Woe to you, Chorazin! Woe to you, Bethsaida!For if the mighty deeds done in your midsthad been done in Tyre and Sidon,they would long ago have repented,sitting in sackcloth and ashes.But it will be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidonat the judgment than for you.And as for you, Capernaum, 'Will you be exalted to heaven?You will go down to the netherworld.'Whoever listens to you listens to me.Whoever rejects you rejects me. And whoever rejects me rejects the one who sent me." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Saint Bruno, priestReadings for the Optional Memorial of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, virgin - - -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 Optional Memorial of Saint Faustina Kowalska, virginReading 1 Neh 8:1-4a, 5-6, 7b-12 The whole people gathered as one in the open space before the Water Gate,and they called upon Ezra the scribeto bring forth the book of the law of Moseswhich the LORD prescribed for Israel.On the first day of the seventh month, therefore,Ezra the priest brought the law before the assembly,which consisted of men, women,and those children old enough to understand.Standing at one end of the open place that was before the Water Gate,he read out of the book from daybreak until midday,in the presence of the men, the women,and those children old enough to understand;and all the people listened attentively to the book of the law.Ezra the scribe stood on a wooden platformthat had been made for the occasion.He opened the scroll so that all the people might see it(for he was standing higher up than any of the people);and, as he opened it, all the people rose.Ezra blessed the LORD, the great God,and all the people, their hands raised high, answered, "Amen, amen!"Then they bowed down and prostrated themselves before the LORD,their faces to the ground.As the people remained in their places,Ezra read plainly from the book of the law of God,interpreting it so that all could understand what was read.Then Nehemiah, that is, His Excellency, and Ezra the priest-scribeand the Levites who were instructing the peoplesaid to all the people:"Today is holy to the LORD your God.Do not be sad, and do not weep"–for all the people were weeping as they heard the words of the law.He said further: "Go, eat rich foods and drink sweet drinks,and allot portions to those who had nothing prepared;for today is holy to our LORD.Do not be saddened this day,for rejoicing in the LORD must be your strength!"And the Levites quieted all the people, saying,"Hush, for today is holy, and you must not be saddened."Then all the people went to eat and drink,to distribute portions, and to celebrate with great joy,for they understood the words that had been expounded to them. Responsorial Psalm Ps 19:8, 9, 10, 11 R. (9ab) The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.The law of the LORD is perfect,refreshing the soul;The decree of the LORD is trustworthy,giving wisdom to the simple.R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.The precepts of the LORD are right,rejoicing the heart;The command of the LORD is clear,enlightening the eye;R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.The fear of the LORD is pure,enduring forever;The ordinances of the LORD are true,all of them just.R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart.They are more precious than gold,than a heap of purest gold;Sweeter also than syrupor honey from the comb.R. The precepts of the Lord give joy to the heart. Alleluia Mk 1:15 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Kingdom of God is at hand;repent and believe in the Gospel.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 10:1-12 Jesus appointed seventy-two other discipleswhom he sent ahead of him in pairsto every town and place he intended to visit.He said to them,"The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few;so ask the master of the harvestto send out laborers for his harvest.Go on your way;behold, I am sending you like lambs among wolves.Carry no money bag, no sack, no sandals;and greet no one along the way.Into whatever house you enter, first say,'Peace to this household.'If a peaceful person lives there,your peace will rest on him;but if not, it will return to you.Stay in the same house and eat and drink what is offered to you,for the laborer deserves his payment.Do not move about from one house to another.Whatever town you enter and they welcome you,eat what is set before you,cure the sick in it and say to them,'The Kingdom of God is at hand for you.'Whatever town you enter and they do not receive you,go out into the streets and say,'The dust of your town that clings to our feet,even that we shake off against you.'Yet know this: the Kingdom of God is at hand.I tell you, it will be more tolerable for Sodom on that day than for that town." Readings for the Optional Memorial of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, priest - - -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 Francis of Assisi, religiousReading 1 Neh 2:1-8 In the month Nisan of the twentieth year of King Artaxerxes,when the wine was in my charge,I took some and offered it to the king.As I had never before been sad in his presence,the king asked me, "Why do you look sad?If you are not sick, you must be sad at heart."Though I was seized with great fear, I answered the king:"May the king live forever!How could I not look sadwhen the city where my ancestors are buried lies in ruins,and its gates have been eaten out by fire?"The king asked me, "What is it, then, that you wish?"I prayed to the God of heaven and then answered the king:"If it please the king,and if your servant is deserving of your favor,send me to Judah, to the city of my ancestors' graves,to rebuild it."Then the king, and the queen seated beside him,asked me how long my journey would takeand when I would return.I set a date that was acceptable to him,and the king agreed that I might go.I asked the king further: "If it please the king,let letters be given to me for the governorsof West-of-Euphrates,that they may afford me safe-conduct until I arrive in Judah;also a letter for Asaph, the keeper of the royal park,that he may give me wood for timbering the gatesof the temple-citadel and for the city walland the house that I shall occupy."The king granted my requests,for the favoring hand of my God was upon me. Responsorial Psalm Ps 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 R. (6ab) Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!By the streams of Babylonwe sat and weptwhen we remembered Zion.On the aspens of that landwe hung up our harps.R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!Though there our captors asked of usthe lyrics of our songs,And our despoilers urged us to be joyous:"Sing for us the songs of Zion!"R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!How could we sing a song of the LORDin a foreign land?If I forget you, Jerusalem,may my right hand be forgotten! R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you!May my tongue cleave to my palateif I remember you not,If I place not Jerusalemahead of my joy.R. Let my tongue be silenced if I ever forget you! Alleluia Phil 3:8-9 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I consider all things so much rubbishthat I may gain Christ and be found in him.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 9:57-62 As Jesus and his disciples were proceedingon their journey, someone said to him,"I will follow you wherever you go."Jesus answered him,"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."And to another he said, "Follow me."But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,but first let me say farewell to my family at home."Jesus answered him, "No one who sets a hand to the plowand looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God." - - -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 Zec 8:20-23 Thus says the LORD of hosts:There shall yet come peoples,the inhabitants of many cities;and the inhabitants of one city shall approach those of another,and say, "Come! let us go to implore the favor of the LORD";and, "I too will go to seek the LORD."Many peoples and strong nations shall cometo seek the LORD of hosts in Jerusalemand to implore the favor of the LORD.Thus says the LORD of hosts:In those days ten men of every nationality, speaking different tongues, shall take hold,yes, take hold of every Jew by the edge of his garment and say,"Let us go with you, for we have heard that God is with you." Responsorial Psalm Ps 87:1b-3, 4-5, 6-7 R. (Zec 8:23) God is with us.His foundation upon the holy mountainsthe LORD loves:The gates of Zion,more than any dwelling of Jacob.Glorious things are said of you,O city of God!R. God is with us.I tell of Egypt and Babylonamong those that know the LORD;Of Philistia, Tyre, Ethiopia:"This man was born there."And of Zion they shall say:"One and all were born in her;And he who has established heris the Most High LORD."R. God is with us.They shall note, when the peoples are enrolled:"This man was born there."And all shall sing, in their festive dance:"My home is within you."R. God is with us. Alleluia Mk 10:45 R. Alleluia, alleluia.The Son of Man came to serveand to give his life as a ransom for many.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Lk 9:51-56 When the days for Jesus to be taken up were fulfilled,he resolutely determined to journey to Jerusalem,and he sent messengers ahead of him.On the way they entered a Samaritan villageto prepare for his reception there,but they would not welcome himbecause the destination of his journey was Jerusalem.When the disciples James and John saw this they asked,"Lord, do you want us to call down fire from heavento consume them?"Jesus turned and rebuked them,and they journeyed to another village. - - -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.