Universal Roman Catholic Faith and Traditions

From Mount Hor they set out by the Red Sea road to go around the land of Edom. The people were discouraged by the journey and began to complain against God and Moses, “Why have you brought us out of Egypt to die in the wilderness? There is neither bread nor water here and we are disgusted with this tasteless manna.” Yahweh then sent fiery serpents against them. They bit the people and many of the Israelites died. Then the people came to Moses and said, “We have sinned, speaking against Yahweh and against you. Plead with Yahweh to take the serpents away.” Moses pleaded for the people and Yahweh said to him, “Make a fiery serpent and set it on a standard; whoever has been bitten and then looks at it shall live.” So Moses made a bronze serpent and set it on a standard. Whenever a man was bitten, he looked towards the bronze serpent and he lived. Book of Numbers, Chapter 21, Verses 4 – 9 In this passage of the Scriptures, the Almighty God, the Everlasting Fath...

Holy Gospel according to Saint Luke, Chapter 1, Verses 39 - 56 First Reading, Zephaniah 3: 14 - 18 Responsorial Psalm: Isaiah  12: 2 - 6 Feast of the Visitation of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary Holy Gospel: 39 Mary then set out for a town in the Hills of Judah. 40 She entered the house of Zechariah and greeted Elizabeth. 41 When Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the baby leapt in her womb. Elizabeth was filled with holy spirit, and 42 giving a loud cry, said, “You are most blessed among women and blessed is the fruit of your womb! 43 How is it that the mother of my Lord comes to me? 44 The moment your greeting sounded in my ears, the baby within me suddenly leapt for joy. 45 Blessed are you who be­lieved that the Lord’s word would come true!” 46 And Mary said: “My soul proclaims the greatness of the Lord, 47 my spirit exults in God my savior! 48 He has looked upon his servant in her lowliness, and people forever will call me blessed. 49 The Mighty One has done...

Holy Gospel according to Saint John, Chapter 16, Verses 20 - 23 First Reading, Acts of the Apostles by Saint Paul Chapter 18, Verses 9 -18 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms  47: 2 -7 Holy Gospel: 20 Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy. 21 A woman in childbirth is in distress because her time is at hand. But after the child is born, she no longer remembers her suffering because of such great joy: a human being is born into the world. 22 You feel sorrowful now, but I will see you again, and your hearts will rejoice. And no one will take your joy from you. 23 When that day comes you will not ask me anything. Truly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in my Name, he will give you. First Reading : 9 One night, in a vision, the Lord said to Paul, “Do not be afraid, but continue speaking and do not be silent, 10 for many people in this city are mine. I am wit...

Holy Gospel according to Saint John, Chapter 16, Verses 16 - 20 First Reading, Acts of the Apostles by Saint Paul Chapter 18, Verses 1 - 8 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms  98: 1 - 4 Holy Gospel: 16 A little while and you will see me no more; and then a little while, and you will see me.” 17 Some of the disciples wondered, “What does he mean by: ‘A little while and you will not see me, and then a little while and you will see me’? And why did he say: ‘I go to the Father’?” 18And they said to one another, “What does he mean by ‘a little while’? We don’t understand.” 19 Jesus knew that they wanted to question him; so he said to them, “You are puzzled be­cause I told you that in a little while you will see me no more, and then a little while later you will see me. 20 Truly, I say to you, you will weep and mourn while the world rejoices. You will be sorrowful, but your sorrow will turn to joy First Reading: 1 After this, Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. 2 T...

Holy Gospel according to Saint John, Chapter 16, Verses 12 - 15 First Reading, Acts of the Apostles by Saint Paul Chapter 17, Verses 15, 22 - 18:1 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms  148: 1-2, 11-12, 13-14 Holy Gospel: 12 I still have many things to tell you, but you cannot bear them now. 13 When he, the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you into the whole truth. He has nothing to say of himself but he will speak of what he hears, and he will tell you of the things to come. 14 He will take what is mine and make it known to you; in doing this, he will glorify me. 15 All that the Father has is mine; because of this I have just told you, that the Spirit will take what is mine and make it known to you.” First Reading: 15 Paul was taken as far as Athens by his escort, who then returned to Beroea with instructions for Silas and Timothy to come to him as soon as possible. 22 Then Paul stood up in the Areopagus hall and said, “Athenian citizens, I note that in ever...

Holy Gospel according to Saint John, Chapter 16, Verses 5 - 11 First Reading, Acts of the Apostles by Saint Paul Chapter 16, Verses 22 - 34 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms  138: 1-3, 7-8 Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop Holy Gospel: 5 But now I am going to the One who sent me and none of you asks me where I am going; 6 instead you are overcome with grief because of what I have said. 7 Indeed believe me: It is better for you that I go away, because as long as I do not leave, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go away, it is to send him to you, 8 and when he comes, he will vindicate the truth in face of the world with regard to sin, to the way of righteousness, and to the Judgment. 9 What has been the sin? They did not believe in me. 10 What is the way of righteousness? I am on the way to the Father, meanwhile you will not see me. 11 What Judgment? The prince of this world has himself been condemned. First Reading: 22 You feel sorro...

Holy Gospel according to Saint John, Chapter 15, Verses 26 - 16: 4 First Reading, Acts of the Apostles by Saint Paul Chapter 16, Verses 11 - 15 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms  149: 1-6, 9 Holy Gospel: 26 From the Father, I will send you the Spirit of truth. When this Helper has come from the Father, he will be my witness, 27 and you, too, will be my witnesses for you have been with me from the beginning. 16.1 I tell you all this to keep you from stumbling and falling away. 2 They will put you out of the Jewish communities. Still more, the hour is coming when anyone who kills you will claim to be serving God; 3 they will do this because they have not known the Father or me. 4 I tell you all these things now so that when the time comes you may remember that I told you. First Reading: 11 So we put out to sea from Troas and sailed straight across to Samo­thrace Island, and the next day to Neapolis. 12 From there we went inland to Philippi, the leading city of the district of M...