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Today's Readings
Reading I
1 Cor 7:25-31
Brothers and sisters:
In regard to virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord,
but I give my opinion as one who by the Lord’s mercy is trustworthy.
So this is what I think best because of the present distress:
that it is a good thing for a person to remain as he is.
Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek a separation.
Are you free of a wife? Then do not look for a wife.
If you marry, however, you do not sin,
nor does an unmarried woman sin if she marries;
but such people will experience affliction in their earthly life,
and I would like to spare you that.
I tell you, brothers, the time is running out.
From now on, let those having wives act as not having them,
those weeping as not weeping,
those rejoicing as not rejoicing,
those buying as not owning,
those using the world as not using it fully.
For the world in its present form is passing away.
Responsorial Psalm
Ps 45:11-12, 14-15, 16-17
R. (11) Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
Hear, O daughter, and see; turn your ear,
forget your people and your father’s house.
So shall the king desire your beauty;
for he is your lord, and you must worship him.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
All glorious is the king’s daughter as she enters;
her raiment is threaded with spun gold.
In embroidered apparel she is borne in to the king;
behind her the virgins of her train are brought to you.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
They are borne in with gladness and joy;
they enter the palace of the king.
The place of your fathers your sons shall have;
you shall make them princes through all the land.
R. Listen to me, daughter; see and bend your ear.
Gospel
Lk 6:20-26
Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said:
“Blessed are you who are poor,
for the Kingdom of God is yours.
Blessed are you who are now hungry,
for you will be satisfied.
Blessed are you who are now weeping,
for you will laugh.
Blessed are you when people hate you,
and when they exclude and insult you,
and denounce your name as evil
on account of the Son of Man.
Rejoice and leap for joy on that day!
Behold, your reward will be great in heaven.
For their ancestors treated the prophets
in the same way.
But woe to you who are rich,
for you have received your consolation.
But woe to you who are filled now,
for you will be hungry.
Woe to you who laugh now,
for you will grieve and weep.
Woe to you when all speak well of you,
for their ancestors treated the false
prophets in this way.” |
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Saint Nicholas of Tolentino
1245 - 1305
September 10
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His middle-aged parents,
Compagnonus de Guarutti and Amata de Guidiani, were childless until a
prayerful visit to a shrine of the original Saint Nicholas at Bari, Italy.
In gratitude, they named their son Nicholas.
Augustinian Friar at age 18, and a student with Blessed Angelus de
Scarpetti. Monk at Recanati and Macerata. Ordained at age 25. Canon of
Saint Saviour's. Had visions of angels reciting "to Tolentino"; he took
this as a sign to move to that city in 1274, where he lived the rest of
his life.
Worked as a peacemaker in a city torn by civil war. Preached every day,
wonder-worker and healer, and visited prisoners. He always told those he
helped, "Say nothing of this." Received visions, including images of
Purgatory, which friends ascribed to his lengthy fasts. Had a great
devotion to the recently dead, praying for the souls in Purgatory as he
traveled around his parish, and often late into the night.
Once, when severely ill, he had a vision of Mary, Augustine and Monica.
They told him to eat a certain type of roll that had been dipped in water.
Cured, he began healing others by administering bread over which he
recited Marian prayers. The rolls became known as Saint Nicholas Bread,
and are still distributed at his shrine.
Reported to have resurrected over one hundred dead children, including
several who had drowned together. Legend says that the devil once beat
Nicholas with a stick; the stick was displayed for years in the his
church. A vegetarian, Nicholas was once served a roasted fowl; he made the
sign of the cross over it, and it flew out a window. Nine passengers on
ship going down at sea once asked Nicholas' aid; he appeared in the sky,
wearing the black Augustinian habit, radiating golden light, holding a
lily in his left hand; with his right hand he quelled the storm. An
apparition of the saint once saved the burning palace of the Doge of
Venice by throwing a piece of blessed bread on the flames.
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