Friday, March 4, 2011

Roman Catholic Daily Readings For Friday, 4 March

From USCCB, CNA and Catholic Online:

Daily Readings:


Saints/Martyrs/Feasts/Fasts to be observed/commemmorated/celebrated:

St. Casimir


Feastday: March 4

Patron of Poland and Lithuania

b: 1461 d: 1484
Casimir grew up in a world where his life was not his own. As a prince of Poland, the second son of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, his life was scheduled to cement his father's authority and increase Poland's power.
Casimir realized from an early age that his life belonged to someone else, but to a much higher King than his father. Despite pressure, humiliation, and rejection, he stood by that loyalty through his whole life.
Born the third of thirteen children in 1461, Casimir was committed to God from childhood. Some of that commitment was the result of a tutor, John Dlugosz, whose holiness encouraged Casimir on his own journey.
It may be hard for us to imagine royal luxury as a pressure. But for Casimir, the riches around him were temptations to forget his true loyalties. Rebelling against the rich, fashionable clothes he was expected to enjoy, he wore the plainest of clothes.
Rejecting even ordinary comforts, he slept little, spending his nights in prayer. And when he did sleep, he lay on the floor not on a royal bed. Even though he was a prince, many of those around him must have laughed and joked at his choices. Yet, in the face of any pressure, Casimir was always friendly and calm.
Though his father must have wondered about him, he must have seen and admired Casimir's strength. He showed that he misunderstood this strength when he sent Casimir as head of an army to take over the throne of Hungary at the request of some nobles there. Casimir felt the whole expedition was wrong but was convinced to go out of obedience to his father. He could not help but feel at every step that it was disobedient to his other Father. So when soldiers started deserting, he was only too glad to listen to the advice of his officers and turn back home. His feelings were confirmed when he discovered that Pope Sixtus IV had opposed the move.
His father, however, was furious at being deterred from his plans and banished Casimir to a castle in Dobzki, hoping that imprisonment would change Casimir's mind. Casimir's commitment to what he believed was right only grew stronger in his exile and he refused to cooperate with his father's plans any more despite the pressure to give in. He even rejected a marriage alliance his father tried to form. He participated in his true King's plans wholeheartedly by praying, studying, and helping the poor.
He died at the age of 23 in 1484 from lung disease. He was buried with his favorite song, a Latin hymn to Mary called "Omni die dic Mariae" which we know as "Daily, Daily Sing to Mary." Because of his love for the song, it is known as the Hymn of St. Casimir though he didn't write it.
Casimir is patron saint of Poland and Lithuania.
In His Footsteps:

Where do your loyalties lie? Is there a part of your life where you feel your loyalties divided and feel pressure to follow worldly commitment? Today choose the action that best serves Christ the King.
Prayer:

Saint Casimir, help us to remember that our true King is Jesus Christ and always serve him with joy and love. Help us to turn to our true Father for guidance and protection. Amen
Copyright 1996-2000 Terry Matz. All Rights Reserved.


Bl. Humbert


Feastday: March 4
Humbert was the son of Count Amadeus III of Savoy and Matilda of Vienna. He was born at Avigliana, educated by Bishop Amadeus of Lausanne, and became Count of Savoy when quite young on the death of his father. Humbert ruled wisely and engaged in several wars to defend his principality. Late in life, he returned to the Cistercian Abbey of Hautecombe, where he probably died, though legend says that he emerged to lead his troops against invading German troops and died at Chambery. His cult was approved in 1831.


St. Lucius I


Feastday: March 4
Lucius I, a Roman, was elected Pope to succeed Pope St. Cornelius on June 25, 253, and ruled only eighteen months. He was exiled briefly during the persecution of Emperor Gallus, but was allowed to return to Rome. A letter of St. Cyprian praises him for condemning the Novatians for their refusal of the sacraments to those who had fallen but were penitent. He did not suffer martyrdom, as a erroneously stated in the Liber Pontificalis, but died probably on March 4 in Rome and was buried in St. Callistus' catacomb. The remains after an early translation were transferred to the church of St. Cecilia, where they now lie, by order of Clement VIII. His feast day is March 4th.


St. Adrian


Feastday: March 4

875
A bishop and missionary, possibly of royal blood. Adrian was born in Pannonia, in modern Hungary, and was appointed bishop of the local diocese. He resigned to undertake a missionary project. After laboring among the Scots, he retired to a monastery in the area of Firth of Forth. He and his fellow religious were murdered by Danish Viking invaders. In some records, St. Adrian is identified with St. Odhern of Ireland, and in other accounts he is listed as a missionary to Ireland.


St. Appian


Feastday: March 4

800
A Benedictine hermit and missionary. Appian was born in Liguria, in Italy. He entered the Benedictine monastery of St. Peter of Ciel d'Oro in Pavia, where he adopted the life of a hermit. Appian lived as a recluse on the shores of the Adriatic Sea, but his mere presence served to convert many it' in the area.


St. Basil and Companions
Feastday: March 4

4th century
Martyred bishop, with Agathodorus, Elpidius, Ephraem, lftherius, Eugene, Arcadius, Capito, and Nestor. These prelates served as bishops. Nestor and Arcadius were rnartyred on Cyprus. The others died in the Crimean area and elsewhere in southern Russia.


St. Basinus


Feastday: March 4

705
Benedictine bishop of Trier, Germany. He was abbot of St. Maximin Abbey in Trier until succeeding St. Numerian as bishop. Basinus was a patron of the English missionaries of the time, including St. Willibrord. Basinus retired to his former abbey, where he died.


St. Casimir of Poland


Feastday: March 4

1483
Patron saint of Poland and Lithuania. He was born in 1458 or 1460, the third of thirteen children of King Casimir IV and Elizabeth of Austria, daughter of Albert II of Habsburg. He was born on October 3, 1460, in the royal palace at Cracow, Poland. The young prince was trained in spirituality and displayed holiness at an early age. When Casimir IV ordered Casimir to lead an army against King Matthias I Corvinus of Hungary in 1471, he refused. Casimir believed an attempt to seize the Hungarian throne was unjust and refused to take part in it. He was confined to the castle of Dzoki as punishment, and there he refused as well to marry, as his father commanded. When his father was away from Poland from 1479-1483, Casimir served as regent of the nation. Casimir died of consumption on March 4 while visiting Grodno, Lithuania. Buried at Vilnius, Lithuania, his tomb became famed for miracles, and he was canonized in 1522 by Pope Adrian VI . Casimir is also patron of the Knights of St. John and is invoked against enemies of Poland and the faith


St. Felix of Rhuys


Feastday: March 4

1038
Benedictine abbot and hermit. Born in Brittany, France, he was a recluse on Quessant Island and then entered the Benedictines at Flery, Saint Benoit sur Loire. He restored Rhuys Abbey.


St. Owen


Feastday: March 4

680
Benedictine monk. Once a steward in the household of St. Etheldreda, he entered a Benedictine monastery at Lastingham, England, under St. Chad. He later migrated to Lichfield, following St. Chad.


St. Peter of Pappacarbone


Feastday: March 4

1123
Benedictine bishop. Born at Salerno, he entered the Benedictines and was a monk at Cava, in southern Italy Sent to Cluny in 1062, he spent six years there and then was named bishop of Policastro in 1079. This office was not to his temperament, and he resigned to return to Cava where he was appointed coadjutor abbot. His first effort at being abbot was troubled with difficulties as the monks found his rule too severe. He departed the house of Cava for a time, but then came back at the request of the monks, and distinguished himself with renewed leadership, care, and wisdom. Through him, Cava became the center of numerous and thriving Benedictine houses.


St. Placide Viel


Feastday: March 4

1815-1877
Nun and mother general. Born in Normandy, France, she joined the Sisters of the Christian Schools in 1833 after meeting St. Marie Madeleine Postel, mother general of the congregation. In 1841 she was appointed assistant general of the sisters, a promotion which earned much resentment from other sisters. Nevertheless, after proving herself, she became mother general of the congregation in 1846 after Marie Madeleine’s passing. With much effort, in 1859 she won final approval of the institute from Pope Pius IX. She was quite active in organizing relief during the Franco Prussian War.



Scriptural Readings:

Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time




Reading 1



Sir 44:1, 9-13



Now will I praise those godly men,

our ancestors, each in his own time.

But of others there is no memory,

for when they ceased, they ceased.

And they are as though they had not lived,

they and their children after them.

Yet these also were godly men

whose virtues have not been forgotten;

Their wealth remains in their families,

their heritage with their descendants;

Through God’s covenant with them their family endures,

their posterity, for their sake.



And for all time their progeny will endure,

their glory will never be blotted out.



Ps 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9bResponsorial PsalmR. (see 4a) The Lord takes delight in his people.

or:

R. Alleluia.

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.

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.



Mk 11:11-26GospelJesus entered Jerusalem and went into the temple area.

He looked around at everything and, since it was already late,

went out to Bethany with the Twelve.



The next day as they were leaving Bethany he was hungry.

Seeing from a distance a fig tree in leaf,

he went over to see if he could find anything on it.

When he reached it he found nothing but leaves;

it was not the time for figs.

And he said to it in reply, “May no one ever eat of your fruit again!”

And his disciples heard it.



They came to Jerusalem,

and on entering the temple area

he began to drive out those selling and buying there.

He overturned the tables of the money changers

and the seats of those who were selling doves.

He did not permit anyone to carry anything through the temple area.

Then he taught them saying, “Is it not written:



My house shall be called a house of prayer for all peoples?

But you have made it a den of thieves.”



The chief priests and the scribes came to hear of it

and were seeking a way to put him to death,

yet they feared him

because the whole crowd was astonished at his teaching.

When evening came, they went out of the city.



Early in the morning, as they were walking along,

they saw the fig tree withered to its roots.

Peter remembered and said to him, “Rabbi, look!

The fig tree that you cursed has withered.”

Jesus said to them in reply, “Have faith in God.

Amen, I say to you, whoever says to this mountain,

‘Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,’

and does not doubt in his heart

but believes that what he says will happen,

it shall be done for him.

Therefore I tell you, all that you ask for in prayer,

believe that you will receive it and it shall be yours.

When you stand to pray,

forgive anyone against whom you have a grievance,

so that your heavenly Father may in turn

forgive you your transgressions.”



Next Day



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.





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