Reading 1 1 Thes 2:9-13 You recall, brothers and sisters, our toil and drudgery.Working night and day in order not to burden any of you,we proclaimed to you the Gospel of God.You are witnesses, and so is God,how devoutly and justly and blamelesslywe behaved toward you believers.As you know, we treated each one of you as a father treats his children,exhorting and encouraging you and insistingthat you walk in a manner worthy of the Godwho calls you into his Kingdom and glory.And for this reason we too give thanks to God unceasingly,that, in receiving the word of God from hearing us,you received it not as the word of men, but as it truly is, the word of God,which is now at work in you who believe. Responsorial Psalm Ps 139:7-8, 9-10, 11-12ab R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.Where can I go from your spirit?From your presence where can I flee?If I go up to the heavens, you are there;if I sink to the nether world, you are present there.R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.If I take the wings of the dawn,if I settle at the farthest limits of the sea,Even there your hand shall guide me,and your right hand hold me fast.R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.If I say, "Surely the darkness shall hide me,and night shall be my light"–For you darkness itself is not dark,and night shines as the day.R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord. Alleluia 1 Jn 2:5 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Whoever keeps the word of Christ,the love of God is truly perfected in him.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 23:27-32 Jesus said,"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You are like whitewashed tombs, which appear beautiful on the outside,but inside are full of dead men's bones and every kind of filth.Even so, on the outside you appear righteous,but inside you are filled with hypocrisy and evildoing."Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You build the tombs of the prophetsand adorn the memorials of the righteous, and you say, 'If we had lived in the days of our ancestors,we would not have joined them in shedding the prophets' blood.'Thus you bear witness against yourselvesthat you are the children of those who murdered the prophets;now fill up what your ancestors measured out!" - - -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 the Passion of Saint John the BaptistReading 1 1 Thes 2:1-8 You yourselves know, brothers and sisters,that our reception among you was not without effect.Rather, after we had suffered and been insolently treated,as you know, in Philippi,we drew courage through our Godto speak to you the Gospel of God with much struggle.Our exhortation was not from delusion or impure motives,nor did it work through deception.But as we were judged worthy by God to be entrusted with the Gospel,that is how we speak,not as trying to please men,but rather God, who judges our hearts.Nor, indeed, did we ever appear with flattering speech, as you know,or with a pretext for greed–God is witness–nor did we seek praise from men,either from you or from others,although we were able to impose our weight as Apostles of Christ.Rather, we were gentle among you,as a nursing mother cares for her children.With such affection for you, we were determined to share with younot only the Gospel of God, but our very selves as well,so dearly beloved had you become to us. Responsorial Psalm Ps 139:1-3, 4-6 R. (1) You have searched me and you know me, Lord.O LORD, you have probed me and 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. You have searched me and you know me, Lord.Even before a word is on my tongue,behold, O LORD, you know the whole of it.Behind me and before, you hem me inand rest your hand upon me.Such knowledge is too wonderful for me;too lofty for me to attain. R. You have searched me and you know me, Lord. Alleluia Mt 5:10 R. Alleluia, alleluia.Blessed are those who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mk 6:17-29 Herod was the one who had John the Baptist arrested and bound in prisonon account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married.John had said to Herod,"It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife."Herodias harbored a grudge against himand wanted to kill him but was unable to do so.Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man,and kept him in custody.When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed,yet he liked to listen to him.She had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday,gave a banquet for his courtiers,his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee.Herodias' own daughter came inand performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests.The king said to the girl,"Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you."He even swore many things to her,"I will grant you whatever you ask of me,even to half of my kingdom."She went out and said to her mother,"What shall I ask for?"She replied, "The head of John the Baptist."The girl hurried back to the king's presence and made her request,"I want you to give me at onceon a platter the head of John the Baptist."The king was deeply distressed,but because of his oaths and the guestshe did not wish to break his word to her.So he promptly dispatched an executioner with ordersto bring back his head.He went off and beheaded him in the prison.He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl.The girl in turn gave it to her mother.When his disciples heard about it,they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb. - - -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 Augustine, bishop and doctor of the ChurchReading 1 1 Thes 1:1-5, 8b-10 Paul, Silvanus, and Timothy to the Church of the Thessaloniansin God the Father and the Lord Jesus Christ:grace to you and peace.We give thanks to God always for all of you,remembering you in our prayers,unceasingly calling to mind your work of faith and labor of loveand endurance in hope of our Lord Jesus Christ,before our God and Father,knowing, brothers and sisters loved by God, how you were chosen.For our Gospel did not come to you in word alone,but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and with much conviction.You know what sort of people we were among you for your sake. In every place your faith in God has gone forth,so that we have no need to say anything.For they themselves openly declare about uswhat sort of reception we had among you,and how you turned to God from idolsto serve the living and true God and to await his Son from heaven,whom he raised from the dead, Jesus,who delivers us from the coming wrath. Responsorial Psalm Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b R. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.or:R. Alleluia.Sing to the LORD a new songof praise in the assembly of the faithful.Let Israel be glad in their maker,let the children of Zion rejoice in their king.R. The Lord takes delight in his people.or:R. Alleluia.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.R. The Lord takes delight in his people.or:R. Alleluia.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!R. The Lord takes delight in his people.or:R. Alleluia. Alleluia Jn 10:27 R. Alleluia, alleluia.My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord;I know them, and they follow me.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 23:13-22 Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples:"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You lock the Kingdom of heaven before men.You do not enter yourselves,nor do you allow entrance to those trying to enter."Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, you hypocrites.You traverse sea and land to make one convert,and when that happens you make him a child of Gehennatwice as much as yourselves."Woe to you, blind guides, who say,'If one swears by the temple, it means nothing,but if one swears by the gold of the temple, one is obligated.'Blind fools, which is greater, the gold,or the temple that made the gold sacred?And you say, 'If one swears by the altar, it means nothing,but if one swears by the gift on the altar, one is obligated.'You blind ones, which is greater, the gift,or the altar that makes the gift sacred?One who swears by the altar swears by it and all that is upon it;one who swears by the temple swears by itand by him who dwells in it;one who swears by heaven swears by the throne of Godand by him who is seated on it." - - -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 MonicaReading 1 Is 22:19-23 Thus says the LORD to Shebna, master of the palace: "I will thrust you from your office and pull you down from your station. On that day I will summon my servant Eliakim, son of Hilkiah; I will clothe him with your robe, and gird him with your sash, and give over to him your authority. He shall be a father to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to the house of Judah. I will place the key of the House of David on Eliakim's shoulder; when he opens, no one shall shut, when he shuts, no one shall open. I will fix him like a peg in a sure spot, to be a place of honor for his family." Responsorial Psalm Ps 138:1-2, 2-3, 6, 8 R. (8bc) Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,for you have heard the words of my mouth;in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;I will worship at your holy temple.R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.I will give thanks to your name,because of your kindness and your truth:When I called, you answered me;you built up strength within me.R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands.The LORD is exalted, yet the lowly he sees,and the proud he knows from afar.Your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;forsake not the work of your hands.R. Lord, your love is eternal; do not forsake the work of your hands. Reading 2 Rom 11:33-36 Oh, the depth of the riches and wisdom and knowledge of God! How inscrutable are his judgments and how unsearchable his ways!For who has known the mind of the Lordor who has been his counselor?Or who has given the Lord anythingthat he may be repaid?For from him and through him and for him are all things. To him be glory forever. Amen. Alleluia Mt 16:18 R. Alleluia, alleluia.You are Peter and upon this rock I will build my Churchand the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Mt 16:13-20 Jesus went into the region of Caesarea Philippi andhe asked his disciples,"Who do people say that the Son of Man is?" They replied, "Some say John the Baptist, others Elijah,still others Jeremiah or one of the prophets." He said to them, "But who do you say that I am?" Simon Peter said in reply,"You are the Christ, the Son of the living God." Jesus said to him in reply,"Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter,and upon this rock I will build my church,and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven;and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven." Then he strictly ordered his disciplesto tell no one that he was the Christ. - - -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.