Universal Roman Catholic Faith and Traditions

 23rd Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5 Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1 - 6 Holy Gospel: Matthew 25: 14 - 30 Holy Gospel According to Saint Matthew Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. He gave five talents of silver to one, then two to another, and one to a third, each one according to his ability; and he went away. He who received five talents went at once to do business with the money and gained another five. The one who received two did the same and gained another two. But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master’s money. After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. The one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with them.’ The master answered: ‘Very well, good and faithful servant, s...

30th Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Sirach 35: 12 - 14, 16 - 18 Psalm 34 Second Reading: 2 Timothy 4: 6 - 8, 16 - 18 Holy Gospel: Luke 18: 9 - 14 Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke: Jesus told another parable to some persons fully convinced of their own righteousness, who looked down on others, “Two men went up to the Temple to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other a tax collector. The Pharisee stood by himself and said: ‘I thank you, God, that I am not like other people, grasping, crooked, adulterous, or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week and give the tenth of all my income to the Temple.’ In the meantime the tax collector, standing far off, would not even lift his eyes to heaven, but beat his breast saying: ‘O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.’ I tell you, when this man went down to his house, he had been set right with God, but not the other. For whoever makes himself out to be great will be humbled, and whoever humbles himself will be raised.” ...

2nd Sunday of Lent First Reading: Genesis 15: 5 - 12, 17 - 18 Psalm 27 Second Reading: Philippians 3: 17 - 4: 1 Gospel: Luke 9: 28 - 36 Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke: About eight days after Jesus had said all this, he took Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. And while he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became dazzling white. Two men were talking with Jesus: Moses and Elijah. They had just appeared in heavenly glory and were telling him about his departure that had to take place in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had fallen asleep, but they awoke suddenly and saw Jesus’ Glory and the two men standing with him. As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said to him, “Master, how good it is for us to be here for we can make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For Peter didn’t know what to say. And no sooner had he spoken than a cloud appeared and covered them; and the disciples were afr...

8th Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Sirach 27: 4 - 7 Psalm 103 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 54 - 58 Gospel: Luke 6: 39 - 45 The Holy Gospel According to Saint Luke: And Jesus offered this example, “Can a blind person lead another blind person? Surely both will fall into a ditch. A disciple is not above the master; but when fully trained, he will be like the master. So why do you pay attention to the speck in your brother’s eye while you have a log in your eye and are not conscious of it? How can you say to your neighbor: ‘Friend, let me take this speck out of your eye,’ when you can’t remove the log in your own? You hypocrite! First remove the log from your own eye and then you will see clearly enough to remove the speck from your neighbor’s eye. No healthy tree bears bad fruit, no poor tree bears good fruit. And each tree is known by the fruit it bears: you don’t gather figs from thorns, or grapes from brambles. Similarly the good person draws good things from ...

7th Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: 1 Samuel 26: 2, 7 - 9, 12 - 13, 22 - 23 Psalm 103 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 45 - 49 Gospel: Luke 6: 27 - 38 Holy Gospel: But I say to you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you. Bless those who curse you and pray for those who treat you badly. To the one who strikes you on the cheek, turn the other cheek; from the one who takes your coat, do not keep back your shirt. Give to the one who asks and if anyone has taken something from you, do not demand it back. Do to others as you would have others do to you. If you love only those who love you, what kind of graciousness is yours? Even sinners love those who love them. If you do favors to those who are good to you, what kind of graciousness is yours? Even sinners do the same. If you lend only when you expect to receive, what kind of graciousness is yours? For sinners also lend to sinners, expecting to receive something in return. But love your enemies a...

6th Sunday in Ordinary Time First Reading: Jeremiah 17: 5 - 8 Psalm 1 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15: 12, 16 - 20 Holy Gospel: Luke 6: 17, 20 - 26 Holy Gospel: Coming down the hill with them, Jesus stood on a level place. Many of his disciples were there and a large crowd of people who had come from all parts of Judea and Jerusalem and from the coastal cities of Tyre and Sidon. Then looking at his disciples, Jesus said, “Fortunate are you who are poor, the kingdom of God is yours.” Fortunate are you who are hungry now, for you will be filled. Fortunate are you who weep now, for you will laugh. Fortunate are you when people hate you, when they reject you and insult you and number you among criminals, because of the Son of Man. Rejoice in that day and leap for joy, for a great reward is kept for you in heaven. Remember that is how the ancestors of this people treated the prophets. But alas for you who have wealth, for you have been comforted now. Alas for you who ...

Holy Gospel according to Saint John, Chapter 14, Verses 15-21 First Reading, Acts of the Apostles by Saint Paul Chapter 8, Verses 5-8, 14-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms  66: 1-3, 4-5, 6-7, 16, 20 Second Reading: 1 Peter 3: 15-18 Sixth Sunday of Easter Holy Gospel: 15 If you love me, you will keep my com­mandments; 16 and I will ask the Father and he will give you another Helper to be with you forever, 17 that Spirit of truth whom the world cannot receive because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him for he is with you and will be in you. 18 I will not leave you orphans, I am coming to you. 19 A little while and the world will see me no more, but you will see me because I live and you will also live. 20 On that day you will know that I am in my Father and you in me, and I in you. 21 Whoever keeps my commandments is the one who loves me. If he loves me, he will also be loved by my Father; I too shall love him and show myself clearly to ...

Holy Gospel according to Saint John, Chapter 14, Verses 1 - 12 First Reading, Acts of the Apostles by Saint Paul Chapter 6, Verses 1 - 7 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms  33: 1-2, 4-5, 18-19 Second Reading: 1 Peter 2:4-9 Fifth Sunday of Easter Holy Gospel: 1 “Do not be troubled; trust in God and trust in me. 2 In my Father’s house there are many rooms. Otherwise I would not have told you that I go to prepare a place for you. 3 After I have gone and prepared a place for you, I shall come again and take you to me, so that where I am, you also may be. 4 Yet you know the way where I am going.” 5 Thomas said to him, “Lord, we don’t know where you are going; how can we know the way?” 6 Jesus said, “I am the way, the truth and the life; no one comes to the Father but through me. 7 If you know me, you will know the Father also; indeed you know him and you have seen him.” 8 Philip asked him,“Lord, show us the Father and that is enough.” 9 Jesus sai...

Second Sunday of Lent First Reading: Genesis 15: 5-12, 17-18 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27: 1, 7-9, 13-14 Second Reading: Philippians 3: 17-4:1 Holy Gospel: Luke 9: 28-36 Holy Gospel: 28 About eight days after Jesus had said all this, he took Peter, John and James and went up the mountain to pray. 29 And while he was praying, the aspect of his face was changed and his clothing became dazzling white. 30 Two men were talking with Jesus: Moses and Elijah. 31 They had just appeared in heavenly glory and were telling him about his departure that had to take place in Jerusalem. 32 Peter and his companions had fallen asleep, but they awoke suddenly and saw Jesus’ Glory and the two men standing with him. 33 As Moses and Elijah were about to leave, Peter said to him, “Master, how good it is for us to be here for we can make three tents, one for you, one for Moses and one for Elijah.” For Peter didn’t know what to say. 34 And no sooner had he spoken than a cloud appeared and covered t...

First Reading: Ezekiel 2: 2-5 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 123: 1-2, 2, 3-4 Second Reading: Second Corinthians 12: 7-10 Holy Gospel: Mark 6: 1-6 Holy Gospel: 1 Leaving that place, Jesus returned to his own country, and his disciples followed him. 2 When the Sabbath came, he began teaching in the synagogue, and most of those who heard him were astonished. They commented, “How did this come to him? What kind of wisdom has been given to him that he also performs such miracles? 3 Who is he but the carpenter, the son of Mary and the brother of James and Joset and Judas and Simon? His sisters, too, are they not here among us?” So they took offense at him. 4 And Jesus said to them, “Prophets are despised only in their own country, among their relatives and in their own family.” 5 And he could work no miracles there, but only healed a few sick people by laying his hands on them. 6 Jesus himself was astounded at their unbelief. Second Reading: 7 However, I better give up lest some...

First Reading: Acts 2: 1-11 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 104: 1, 24, 29-30, 31, 34 Second Reading: First Corinthians 12: 3-7, 12-13 Holy Gospel: John 20: 19-23 Holy Gospel: 19  On the evening of that day, the first day after the Sabbath, the doors were locked where the disciples were, because of their fear of the Jews, but Jesus came and stood in their midst. He said to them, “Peace be with you”; 20  then he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples kept looking at the Lord and were full of joy. 21  Again Jesus said to them, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” 22  After saying this he breathed on them and said to them, “Re­ceive the Holy Spirit; 23  for those whose sins you forgive, they are forgiven; for those whose sins you retain, they are retained.” First Reading: 1  When the day of Pentecost came, they were all together in one place. 2  And suddenly out of the sky came a sound like a strong rushing wind and it fi...

First Reading: Acts 1: 15-17, 20-26 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 103: 1-2, 11-12, 19-20 Second Reading: First John 4: 11-16 Holy Gospel: John 17:11-19 Holy Gospel: 11  I am no longer in the world, but they are in the world whereas I am going to you. Holy Father, keep them in your Name (that you have given me,) so that they may be one, just as we are. 12  When I was with them, I kept them safe in your Name, and not one was lost except the one who was already lost, and in this the Scripture was fulfilled. 13  But now I am coming to you and I leave these my words in the world that my joy may be complete in them. 14  I have given them your word and the world has hated them because they are not of the world; just as I am not of the world. 15  I do not ask you to remove them from the world but to keep them from the evil one. 16  They are not of the world, just as I am not of the world; 17  consecrate them in the truth – your word is truth. 18  I have se...

First Reading: Exodus 20: 1-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 19: 8, 9, 10, 11 Second Reading: First Corinthians 1: 22-25 Holy Gospel: John 2: 13-25 Holy Gospel: 13 As the Passover of the Jews was at hand, Jesus went up to Jerusalem. 14 In the Temple court he found merchants selling oxen, sheep and doves, and money-changers seated at their tables. 15 Making a whip of cords, he drove them all out of the Temple court, together with the oxen and sheep. He knocked over the tables of the money-changers, scattering the coins, 16 and ordered the people selling doves, “Take all this away and stop turning my Father’s house into a marketplace!” 17 His disciples recalled the words of Scripture: Zeal for your House devours me as a fire. 18 The Jews then questioned Jesus, “Where are the miraculous signs which give you the right to do this?” 19 And Jesus said, “Destroy this temple and in three days I will raise it up.” 20 The Jews then replied, “The building of th...

First Reading: Isaiah 43: 18-19, 21-22, 24-25 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 41: 2-3, 4-5, 13 Second Reading: Second Corinthians 1: 18-22 Holy Gospel: Mark 2: 1-12 Holy Gospel: 1 After some days Jesus returned to Capernaum. As the news spread that he was at home, 2 so many peo­ple gathered that there was no longer room even outside the door. While Jesus was preaching the Word to them, 3 some people brought a paralyzed man to him. 4 The four men who carried him couldn’t get near Jesus because of the crowd, so they opened the roof above the room where Jesus was and, through the hole, lowered the man on his mat. 5 When Jesus saw the faith of these people, he said to the paralytic, “My son, your sins are forgiven.” 6 Now, some teachers of the Law who were sitting there wondered within them­selves, 7 “How can he speak like this insulting God? Who can forgive sins except God?” 8 At once Jesus knew through his spirit what they were thinkin...

First Reading: Leviticus 13:1-2, 44-46 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32: 1-2, 5, 11 Second Reading: First Corinthians 10:31-11:1 Holy Gospel: Mark 1:40-45 Holy Gospel: 40 A leper came to Jesus and beg­ged him, “If you so will, you can make me clean.” 41 Moved with pity, Jesus stretched out his hand and touched him, saying, “I will; be clean.” 42 The leprosy left the man at once and he was made clean. 43 As Jesus sent the man away, he sternly warned him, 44 “Don’t tell anyone about this, but go and show yourself to the priest and for the cleansing bring the offering ordered by Moses; in this way you will make your declaration.” 45 However, as soon as the man went out, he began spreading the news everywhere, so that Jesus could no longer openly enter any town. But even though he stayed in the rural areas, people came to him from everywhere. Second Reading: 31 Then, whether you eat, or drink, or whatever you do, do it for the glory of God. 32...

First Reading: Ezekiel 34: 11-12, 15-17 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 23: 1-2, 2-3, 5, 6 Second Reading: 1 Corinthians 15:20-26, 28 Holy Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46 Holy Gospel: 31 “When the Son of Man comes in his glory with all his angels, he will sit on the throne of his Glory. 32 All the nations will be brought before him, and as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats, 33 so will he do with them, placing the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. 34 The King will say to those on his right: ‘Come, blessed of my Father! Take possession of the kingdom prepared for you from the beginning of the world. 35 For I was hungry and you fed me, I was thirsty and you gave me drink. 36 I was a stranger and you welcomed me into your house. I was naked and you clothed me. I was sick and you visited me. I was in prison and you came to see me.’ 37 Then the good people will ask him: ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and give you food; thirsty and give you drink, 38 or a stranger and w...

First Reading: Proverbs 31: 10-13, 19-20, 30-31 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 128: 1-2, 3, 4-5 Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 5: 1-6 Holy Gospel: Matthew 25: 14-30 Holy Gospel 14 Imagine someone who, before going abroad, summoned his servants to entrust his property to them. 15 He gave five talents of silver to one, then two to another, and one to a third, each one according to his ability; and he went away. 16 He who received five talents went at once to do business with the money and gained another five. 17 The one who received two did the same and gained another two.18 But the one with one talent dug a hole and hid his master’s money. 19 After a long time, the master of those servants returned and asked for a reckoning. 20 The one who received five talents came with another five talents, saying: ‘Lord, you entrusted me with five talents, but see I have gained five more with them.’ 21 The master answered: ‘Very well, good and faithful servant, since you have been faithful in a few thin...

First Reading: Malachi 1:14-2:2, 8-10 Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 131:1, 2, 3 second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 2: 7-9, 13 Holy Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12 Holy Gospel: 1 Then Jesus said to the crowds and to his disciples: 2 “The teachers of the Law and the Pharisees sat on the seat of Moses. 3 So you shall do and observe all they say, but do not do as they do, 4 for they do not do what they say. They tie up heavy burdens and load them on the shoulders of the people, but they do not even raise a finger to move them. 5 They do everything in order to be seen by people; so they wear very wide bands of the Law around their foreheads, and robes with large tassels. 6 They enjoy the first place at feasts and reserved seats in the synagogues, 7 and being greeted in the marketplace and being called ‘Master’ by the people. 8 But you, do not let yourselves be called Master because you have only one Master, and all of you are brothers and sisters. 9 Neither sh...

First Reading: Exodus 22:20-26 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 18:2-3, 3-4, 47, 51 Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1:5-10 Holy Gospel: Matthew 22:34-40 Holy Gospel: 34 When the Pharisees heard how Jesus had silenced the Sadducees, they came together. 35 One of them, a teacher of the Law, tried to test him with this question, 36 “Teacher, which is the most important commandment in the Law?” 37 Jesus answered, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your soul and with all your mind. 38 This is the first and the most important of the commandments. 39 But after this there is another one very similar to it: You shall love your neighbor as yourself. 40 The whole Law and the Prophets are founded on these two commandments.” Second Reading: 5 The gospel we brought you was such not only in words. Miracles, Holy Spirit and plenty of everything were given to you. You also know how we dealt with you for your sake. 6 In return, you bec...

First Reading: Isaiah 45: 1, 4-6 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96: 1, 3, 4-5, 7-8, 9-10 Second Reading: 1 Thessalonians 1: 1-5 Holy Gospel: Matthew 22: 15-21 Holy Gospel: 15 The Pharisees went out and took counsel on how they could trap Jesus with his own words. 16 They then sent their disciples with the members of Herod’s party for this purpose. They said to Jesus, “Master, we know that you are an honest man and truly teach God’s way; you are not influenced by others nor are you afraid of anyone. 17 Tell us, then, what you think: is it against the Law to pay taxes to Caesar or not?” 18 But Jesus understood their evil intent, and said to them, “Hypocrites! Why are you testing me? 19 Show me the coin with which you pay the taxes.” They showed him a denarius, 20 and Jesus said to them, “Whose head is this, and whose name?” 21 They answered, “Caesar’s.” Then Jesus replied, “Therefore, return to Caesar what is Caesar’s, and to God what is God’s.” Second ...