SATURday

21

August

Pope St. Pius X

(1835 – 1914)

White

He was ordained to the priesthood at the age of 23. He was successively bishop of Mantua and of Venice, and was elected Pope, against his wishes, in 1903. He lived in great poverty even when he was Pope, and preached sermons every Sunday. The clamour for his canonization started immediately after his death.

Entrance Antiphon

The Lord chose him for himself as high priest, and, opening his treasure house, made him rich in all good things.

Collect

O God, who to safeguard the Catholic faith and to restore all things in Christ, filled Pope Saint Pius the Tenth with heavenly wisdom and apostolic fortitude, graciously grant that, following his teaching and example, we may gain an eternal prize. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

First reading: Ruth 2:1-3,8-11,4:13-17

Naomi had a kinsman on her husband’s side, well-to-do and of Elimelech’s clan. His name was Boaz. Ruth the Moabitess said to Naomi, ‘Let me go into the fields and glean among the ears of corn in the footsteps of some man who will look on me with favour.’ And she said to her, ‘Go, my daughter.’ So she set out and went to glean in the fields after the reapers. And it chanced that she came to that part of the fields which belonged to Boaz of Elimelech’s clan. Boaz said to Ruth, ‘Listen, my daughter, and understand this. You are not to glean in any other field, do not leave here but stay with my servants. Keep your eyes on whatever part of the field they are reaping and follow behind. I have ordered my servants not to molest you. And if you are thirsty, go to the pitchers and drink what the servants have drawn.’ Then she fell on her face, bowing to the ground. And she said to him, ‘How have I so earned your favour that you take notice of me, even though I am a foreigner?’ And Boaz answered her, I have been told all you have done for your mother-in-law since your husband’s death, and how you left your own father and mother and the land where you were born to come among a people whom you knew nothing about before you came here.’ So Boaz took Ruth and she became his wife. And when they came together, the Lord made her conceive and she bore a son. And the women said to Naomi, ‘Blessed be the Lord who has not left the dead man without next of kin this day to perpetuate his name in Israel. The child will be a comfort to you and the prop of your old age, for your daughter-in-law who loves you and is more to you than seven sons has given him birth.’ And Naomi took the child to her own bosom and she became his nurse. And the women of the neighbourhood gave him a name. ‘A son has been born for Naomi’ they said; and they named him Obed. This was the father of David’s father, Jesse.

Psalm 127(128):1-5

R/     Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord.

1.     O blessed are those who fear the Lord and walk in his ways! By the labour of your hands you shall eat. You will be happy and prosper.

2.     Your wife will be like a fruitful vine in the heart of your house; your children like shoots of the olive, around your table.

3.     Indeed thus shall be blessed the man who fears the Lord. May the Lord bless you from Zion all the days of your life!

Gospel Acclamation: Ps118:36,29

Alleluia, alleluia! Bend my heart to your will, O Lord, and teach me your law. Alleluia!

Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Addressing the people and his disciples Jesus said, ‘The scribes and the Pharisees occupy the chair of Moses. You must therefore do what they tell you and listen to what they say; but do not be guided by what they do: since they do not practise what they preach. They tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men’s shoulders, but will they lift a finger to move them? Not they! Everything they do is done to attract attention, like wearing broader phylacteries and longer tassels, like wanting to take the place of honour at banquets and the front seats in the synagogues, being greeted obsequiously in the market squares and having people call them Rabbi. ‘You, however, must not allow yourselves to be called Rabbi, since you have only one master, and you are all brothers. You must call no one on earth your father, since you have only one Father, and he is in heaven. Nor must you allow yourselves to be called teachers, for you have only one Teacher, the Christ. The greatest among you must be your servant. Anyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and anyone who humbles himself will be exalted.’

Prayer over the Offerings

Receive with kindness our oblations and grant, O Lord, we pray, that, following the teachings of Pope Saint Pius, we may celebrate these divine mysteries with sincere reverence and receive them in a spirit of faith. Through Christ our Lord.

Communion Antiphon:  Jn 10: 11

The Good Shepherd has laid down his life for his sheep.

Prayer after Communion

Celebrating the Memorial of Pope Saint Pius, we pray, O Lord our God, that by the power of this heavenly table we may be made constant in the faith and be of one accord in your love. Through Christ our Lord.

Meditation

God has called the scribes and Pharisees to be servants, but they consider the call as a privilege rather than to vocation, as an honour rather than a service. They conceive of themselves as responsible to God for enforcing high standards rather than helping people to attain these standards. Jesus, however, offers an easy yoke and a light burden. Those called to humble service are often seduced and eventually derailed by titles and honorifics. But the Kingdom of God is one where the rules are the opposite of the world’s rules. It is a place where the humble are exalted, just like God exalts Ruth in the First Reading for her humble and selfless service to Naomi. Jesus calls us not to be like the Scribes and Pharisees, but to be humble servants to be exalted in Heaven.