by L'équipe de publication | Nov 25, 2025 | Evangelium
\Saint Leonard of Porto Maurizio
(1676 – 1751)
Psalter: Week II
White
Leonard was born in Porto Maurizio in 1676. He joined the Franciscan order and for forty-seven years preached, wrote letters and sermons, and travelled the whole length of Italy. The popularity of the Stations of the Cross is much due to the impetus he gave to the devotion. He died at Rome in 1751.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 84: 9
The Lord speaks of peace to his people and his holy ones and to those who turn to him.
Collect
Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O Lord, that, striving more eagerly to bring your divine work to fruitful completion, they may receive in greater measure the healing remedies your kindness bestows. 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 : Daniel 5:1-6,13-14,16-17,23-28
King Belshazzar gave a great banquet for his noblemen; a thousand of them attended, and he drank wine in company with this thousand. As he sipped his wine, Belshazzar gave orders for the gold and silver vessels to be brought which his father Nebuchadnezzar had looted from the sanctuary in Jerusalem, so that the king, his noblemen, his wives and his singing women could drink out of them. The gold and silver vessels looted from the sanctuary of the Temple of God in Jerusalem were brought in, and the king, his noblemen, his wives and his singing women drank out of them. They drank their wine and praised their gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone. Suddenly the fingers of a human hand appeared, and began to write on the plaster of the palace wall, directly behind the lamp-stand; and the king could see the hand as it wrote. The king turned pale with alarm: his thigh-joints went slack and his knees began to knock. Daniel was brought into the king’s presence; the king said to Daniel, ‘Are you the Daniel who was one of the Judaean exiles brought by my father the king from Judah? I am told that the spirit of God Most Holy lives in you, and that you are known for your perception, intelligence and marvellous wisdom. As I am told that you are able to give interpretations and to unravel difficult problems, if you can read the writing and tell me what it means, you shall be dressed in purple, and have a chain of gold put round your neck, and be third in rank in the kingdom.’ Then Daniel spoke up in the presence of the king. ‘Keep your gifts for yourself,’ he said ‘and give your rewards to others. I will read the writing to the king without them, and tell him what it means. You have defied the Lord of heaven, you have had the vessels from his Temple brought to you, and you, your noblemen, your wives and your singing women have drunk your wine out of them. You have praised gods of gold and silver, of bronze and iron, of wood and stone, which cannot either see, hear or understand; but you have given no glory to the God who holds your breath and all your fortunes in his hands. That is why he has sent the hand which, by itself, has written these words. The writing reads: Mene, Mene, Tekel and Parsin. The meaning of the words is this: Mene: God has measured your sovereignty and put an end to it; Tekel: you have been weighed in the balance and found wanting; Parsin: your kingdom has been divided and given to the Medes and the Persians.’
Responsorial Psalm : Daniel 3:62-67
R/ Give glory and eternal praise to him!
Sun and moon! bless the Lord.
Stars of heaven! bless the Lord.
Showers and dews! all bless the Lord.
Winds! all bless the Lord.
Fire and heat! bless the Lord.
Cold and heat! bless the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation : Lk21:36
Alleluia, alleluia! Stay awake, praying at all times for the strength to stand with confidence before the Son of Man. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 21:12-19
Jesus said to his disciples: ‘Men will seize you and persecute you; they will hand you over to the synagogues and to imprisonment, and bring you before kings and governors because of my name – and that will be your opportunity to bear witness. Keep this carefully in mind: you are not to prepare your defence, because I myself shall give you an eloquence and a wisdom that none of your opponents will be able to resist or contradict. You will be betrayed even by parents and brothers, relations and friends; and some of you will be put to death. You will be hated by all men on account of my name, but not a hair of your head will be lost. Your endurance will win you your lives.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, the sacred offerings which at your bidding we dedicate to your name and, in order that through these gifts we may become worthy of your love, grant us unfailing obedience to your commands. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 116: 1, 2
O praise the Lord, all you nations, for his merciful love towards us is great.
Prayer after Communion
We pray, almighty God, that those to whom you give the joy of participating in divine mysteries may never be parted from you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds us that following Him may bring forth challenges and difficulties, including persecution, betrayal, and hatred. Instead of discouraging us, these words serve to prepare us for the realities of the Christian journey. In the face of trials, Jesus assures us of His constant presence and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, emphasising that we are not alone in our struggles. He provides the strength and wisdom needed to bear witness to our faith. He instructs his disciples to endure persecution, underlying endurance as the key to overcoming trials and tribulations. When we endure persecution with patience and humility, we show the world that our faith is real and worth fighting for. Therefore, when confronted with challenges in our Christian journey, let us take heart. Through faith and endurance, we can find strength and growth even in all trials. Our ultimate hope resides in the promise of eternal life, where every challenge will find its true significance and purpose.
by L'équipe de publication | Nov 24, 2025 | Evangelium
Saint Catherine of Alexandria,
Virgin, Martyr (d. 305)
Psalter: Week II
White
St Catherine was very outspoken at the time of the persecutions of Christians. She even protested openly to the emperor Maxentius who had her arrested, tortured on the wheel and decapitated in 305. St Catherine’s courage is a great challenge to all African Christians in their struggle for justice and peace.
Entrance Antiphon : Ps 84: 9
The Lord speaks of peace to his people and his holy ones and to those who turn to him.
Collect
Stir up the will of your faithful, we pray, O Lord, that, striving more eagerly to bring your divine work to fruitful completion, they may receive in greater measure the healing remedies your kindness bestows. 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 : Daniel 2:31-45
Daniel said to Nebuchadnezzar, ‘You have had a vision, O king; this is what you saw: a statue, a great statue of extreme brightness, stood before you, terrible to see. The head of this statue was of fine gold, its chest and arms were of silver, its belly and thighs of bronze, its legs of iron, its feet part iron, part earthenware. While you were gazing, a stone broke away, untouched by any hand, and struck the statue, struck its feet of iron and earthenware and shattered them. And then, iron and earthenware, bronze, silver, gold all broke into small pieces as fine as chaff on the threshing-floor in summer. The wind blew them away, leaving not a trace behind. And the stone that had struck the statue grew into a great mountain, filling the whole earth. This was the dream; now we will explain to the king what it means. ‘You, O king, king of kings, to whom the God of heaven has given sovereignty, power, strength and glory – the sons of men, the beasts of the field, the birds of heaven, wherever they live, he has entrusted to your rule, making you king of them all – you are the golden head. And after you another kingdom will rise, not so great as you, and then a third, of bronze, which will rule the whole world. There will be a fourth kingdom, hard as iron, as iron that shatters and crushes all. Like iron that breaks everything to pieces, it will crush and break all the earlier kingdoms. The feet you saw, part earthenware, part iron, are a kingdom which will be split in two, but which will retain something of the strength of iron, just as you saw the iron and the clay of the earthenware mixed together. The feet were part iron, part earthenware: the kingdom will be partly strong and partly weak. And just as you saw the iron and the clay of the earthenware mixed together, so the two will be mixed together in the seed of man; but they will not hold together any more than iron will blend with earthenware. In the time of these kings the God of heaven will set up a kingdom which shall never be destroyed, and this kingdom will not pass into the hands of another race: it will shatter and absorb all the previous kingdoms, and itself last for ever – just as you saw the stone untouched by hand break from the mountain and shatter iron, bronze, earthenware, silver and gold. The great God has shown the king what is to take place. The dream is true, the interpretation exact.’
Responsorial Psalm : Psalm Daniel 3:57-61
R/ Give glory and eternal praise to him!
All things the Lord has made, bless the Lord.
Angels of the Lord! all bless the Lord.
Heavens! bless the Lord.
Waters above the heavens! bless the Lord.
Powers of the Lord! all bless the Lord.
Gospel Acclamation : Lk21:28
Alleluia, alleluia! Stand erect, hold your heads high, because your liberation is near at hand. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 21:5-11
When some were talking about the Temple, remarking how it was adorned with fine stonework and votive offerings, Jesus said, ‘All these things you are staring at now – the time will come when not a single stone will be left on another: everything will be destroyed.’ And they put to him this question: ‘Master,’ they said ‘when will this happen, then, and what sign will there be that this is about to take place?’ ‘Take care not to be deceived,’ he said ‘because many will come using my name and saying, “I am he” and, “The time is near at hand.” Refuse to join them. And when you hear of wars and revolutions, do not be frightened, for this is something that must happen but the end is not so soon.’ Then he said to them, ‘Nation will fight against nation, and kingdom against kingdom. There will be great earthquakes and plagues and famines here and there; there will be fearful sights and great signs from heaven.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, O Lord, the sacred offerings which at your bidding we dedicate to your name and, in order that through these gifts we may become worthy of your love, grant us unfailing obedience to your commands. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon : Ps 116: 1, 2
O praise the Lord, all you nations, for his merciful love towards us is great.
Prayer after Communion
We pray, almighty God, that those to whom you give the joy of participating in divine mysteries may never be parted from you. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
Jesus’ warnings about the end times are not intended to instill fear in us but rather to prepare us for them. His desire is for us to be ready for whatever may come. Rather than a source of fear, the end times signify a period of new beginnings. As the old world passes away, a new world emerges, one charactrised by peace, justice, and love. However, to partake in this new world, we must be ready. This readiness involves cleansing ourselves of sins and turning towards God. Living holy and righteous lives becomes integral to this readiness. To prepare for the end times, consistent prayer, regular Bible reading, attendance at Mass, frequent confession of sins, and the pursuit of a holy and righteous life, are crucial. Engaging in these practices ensures our preparedness for the transformative period ahead. Through these actions, we will be ready to enter the new world that God is preparing for us.
by L'équipe de publication | Nov 24, 2025 | Agenda Biblique
Saint catherine d’alexandrie
Psautier: II
Rouge
Celle qui était la plus jolie et la plus savante des jeunes filles de tout l’Empire était mystiquement fiancée à la Sagesse éternelle. Son inspiration lui fit écarter avec succès les objections des philosophes chargés de la convaincre de la stupidité du Christianisme.
Antienne d’ouverture
Le Seigneur annonce la paix pour son peuple et ses fidèles, et pour ceux qui reviennent vers lui.
Prière d’ouverture
Réveille, Seigneur, le courage de tes fidèles : Qu’ils soient plus ardents à profiter de tes grâces, pour obtenir de toi de plus puissants secours. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Daniel 2, 31-45
En ces jours-là, Daniel dit à Nabucodonosor : « Ô roi, voici ta vision: une énorme statue se dressait devant toi, une grande statue, extrêmement brillante et d’un aspect terrifiant. Elle avait la tête en or fin ; la poitrine et les bras, en argent; le ventre et les cuisses, en bronze ; ses jambes étaient en fer, et ses pieds, en partie de fer, en partie d’argile. Tu étais en train de regarder : soudain une pierre se détacha d’une montagne, sans qu’on y ait touché; elle vint frapper les pieds de fer et d’argile de la statue et les pulvérisa. Alors, furent pulvérisés tout ensemble le fer et l’argile, le bronze, l’argent et l’or ; ils devinrent comme la paille qui s’envole en été au moment du battage : ils furent emportés par le vent sans laisser de traces. Quant à la pierre qui avait frappé la statue elle devint un énorme rocher qui remplit toute la terre. Voici le songe ; et maintenant, en présence du roi, nous allons en donner l’interprétation. C’est à toi, le roi des rois, que le Dieu du ciel a donné royauté, puissance, force et gloire. C’est à toi qu’il a remis les enfants des hommes, les bêtes des champs et les oiseaux du ciel, quelle que soit leur demeure ; c’est toi qu’il a rendu maître de toute chose : la tête d’or, c’est toi. Après toi s’élèvera un autre royaume, inférieur au tien, ensuite un troisième royaume, un royaume de bronze qui dominera la terre entière. Il y aura encore un quatrième royaume, dur comme le fer. De même que le fer brise et écrase tout, de même, il pulvérisera et brisera tous les royaumes. Tu as vu les pieds qui étaient en partie d’argile et en partie de fer : en effet, ce royaume sera divisé ; il aura en lui la force du fer, comme tu as vu du fer mêlé à l’argile. Ces pieds en partie de fer et en partie d’argile signifient que le royaume sera en partie fort et en partie faible. Tu as vu le fer associé à l’argile parce que les royaumes s’uniront par des mariages ; mais ils ne tiendront pas ensemble, de même que le fer n’adhère pas à l’argile. Or, au temps de ces rois, le Dieu du ciel suscitera un royaume qui ne sera jamais détruit et dont la royauté ne passera pas à un autre peuple. Ce dernier royaume pulvérisera et anéantira tous les autres, mais lui-même subsistera à jamais. C’est ainsi que tu as vu une pierre se détacher de la montagne sans qu’on y ait touché, et pulvériser le fer, le bronze, l’argile, l’argent et l’or. Le grand Dieu a fait connaître au roi ce qui doit ensuite advenir. Le songe disait vrai, l’interprétation est digne de foi. »
Cantique : Dn 3, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61
R/ À lui, haute gloire, louange éternelle!
Toutes les œuvres du Seigneur, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
Vous, les anges du Seigneur, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
Vous, les cieux, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
Et vous, les eaux par-dessus le ciel, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
Et toutes les puissances du Seigneur, bénissez le Seigneur. R/
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Sois fidèle jusqu’à la mort, dit le Seigneur, et je te donnerai la couronne de la vie. Alléluia.
Évangile : Luc 21, 5-11
En ce temps-là, comme certains parlaient du Temple, des belles pierres et des ex-voto qui le décoraient, Jésus leur déclara : « Ce que vous contemplez, des jours viendront où il n’en restera pas pierre sur pierre : tout sera détruit. » Ils lui demandèrent : « Maître, quand cela arrivera-t-il ? Et quel sera le signe que cela est sur le point d’arriver ? » Jésus répondit : « Prenez garde de ne pas vous laisser égarer, car beaucoup viendront sous mon nom, et diront : “C’est moi”, ou encore : “Le moment est tout proche. Ne marchez pas derrière eux! Quand vous entendrez parler de guerres et de désordres, ne soyez pas terrifiés : il faut que cela arrive d’abord, mais ce ne sera pas aussitôt la fin. » Alors Jésus ajouta : « On se dressera nation contre nation, royaume contre royaume. Il y aura de grands tremblements de terre et, en divers lieux, des famines et des épidémies ; des phénomènes effrayants surviendront, et de grands signes venus du ciel. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Tu nous as demandé, Seigneur, de te consacrer ces présents : accepte-les ; et pour qu’ils nous disposent à te plaire, fais-nous garder tes commandements. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion
Louez le Seigneur, tous les peuples. Fort est son amour pour nous, pour toujours sa vérité.
Prière après la communion
Nous t’en supplions, Dieu tout-puissant : ne permets pas que soient jamais séparés de toi ceux que tu fais communier à la joie du ciel. Par Jésus.
Méditation :
Jésus prophétise sur les événements à venir, y compris les troubles et les catastrophes. Il nous rappelle que le monde peut être rempli de tumulte et d’incertitude. Les bouleversements peuvent sembler effrayants, mais Il nous encourage à ne pas être troublés. Méditons sur notre réponse à l’incertitude de la vie. Au milieu des tempêtes, gardons notre foi enracinée dans l’espérance et la confiance en Dieu. En nous préparant spirituellement et en nous appuyant sur la foi, nous pouvons trouver la paix intérieure même lorsque le monde extérieur est en tumulte. Que cette méditation nous rappelle que, malgré les défis, la grâce de Dieu est notre ancre solide.
by L'équipe de publication | Nov 23, 2025 | Agenda Biblique
Saints andre dung-lac,Pretre,
et ses compagnons
Psautier: II
Rouge
Saint André Dung-Lac et ses compagnons furent martyrs au Vietnam, † 1845-1862.
Antienne d’ouverture
Que notre seule fierté soit la croix de notre Seigneur Jésus-Christ. Le langage de la croix est puissance de Dieu pour ceux qui vont vers leur salut.
Prière d’ouverture
Seigneur Dieu, source et origine de toute paternité, tu as donné aux saint martyrs André et ses compagnons la grâce d’être fidèles à la croix de ton Fils jusqu’à l’effusion de leur sang ; accorde-nous, par leur intercession, de propager ton amour parmi nos frères, afin de pouvoir être appelés fils de Dieu et de l’être vraiment. Par Jésus.
1ère lecture : Daniel 1, 1-6.8-20
La troisième année du règne de Joakim, roi de Juda, Nabucodonosor, roi de Babylone, arriva devant Jérusalem et l’assiégea. Le Seigneur livra entre ses mains Joakim, roi de Juda, ainsi qu’une partie des objets de la maison de Dieu. Il les emporta au pays de Babylone, et les déposa dans le trésor de ses dieux. Le roi ordonna à Ashpénaz, chef de ses eunuques de faire venir quelques jeunes Israélites de race royale ou de famille noble. Ils devaient être sans défaut corporel, de belle figure, exercés à la sagesse, instruits et intelligents, pleins de vigueur, pour se tenir à la cour du roi et apprendre l’écriture et la langue des Chaldéens. Le roi leur assignait pour chaque jour une portion des mets royaux et du vin de sa table. Ils devaient être formés pendant trois ans, et ensuite ils entreraient au service du roi. Parmi eux se trouvaient Daniel, Ananias, Misaël et Azarias,qui étaient de la tribu de Juda. Daniel eut à cœur de ne pas se souiller avec les mets du roi et le vin de sa table, il supplia le chef des eunuques de lui épargner cette souillure. Dieu permit à Daniel de trouver auprès de celui-ci faveur et bienveillance. Mais il répondit à Daniel: « J’ai peur de mon Seigneur le roi, qui a fixé votre nourriture et votre boisson; s’il vous voit le visage plus défait qu’aux jeunes gens de votre âge, c’est moi qui, à cause de vous, risquerai ma tête devant le roi. » Or, le chef des eunuques avait confié Daniel, Ananias, Azarias et Misaël à un intendant. Daniel lui dit : « Fais donc pendant dix jours un essai avec tes serviteurs : qu’on nous donne des légumes à manger et de l’eau à boire. Tu pourras comparer notre mine avec celle des jeunes gens qui mangent les mets du roi et tu agiras avec tes serviteurs suivant ce que tu auras constaté. » L’intendant consentit à leur demande et les mit à l’essai pendant dix jours. Au bout de dix jours, ils avaient plus belle mine et meilleure santé que tous les jeunes gens qui mangeaient des mets du roi. L’intendant supprima définitivement leurs mets et leur ration de vin et leur fit donner des légumes. À ces quatre jeunes gens, Dieu accorda science et habileté en matière d’écriture et de sagesse. Daniel, en outre, savait interpréter les visions et les songes. Au terme fixé par le roi Nabucodonosor pour qu’on lui amenât tous les jeunes gens, le chef des eunuques les conduisit devant lui. Le roi s’entretint avec eux et pas un seul n’était comparable à Daniel, Ananias, Misaël et Azarias. Ils entrèrent donc au service du roi. Sur toutes les questions demandant sagesse et intelligence que le roi leur posait il les trouvait dix fois supérieurs à tous les magiciens et mages de tout son royaume.
Cantique : Daniel 3, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56
R/ À toi, louange et gloire éternellement ! (Dn 3, 52)
Béni sois-tu, Seigneur, Dieu de nos pères : R/
Béni soit le nom très saint de ta gloire : R/
Béni sois-tu dans ton saint temple de gloire : R/
Béni sois-tu sur le trône de ton règne : R/
Béni sois-tu, toi qui sondes les abîmes : R/
Toi qui sièges au-dessus des Kéroubim : R/
Béni sois-tu au firmament, dans le ciel, R/
Acclamation
Alléluia. Alléluia. Veillez, tenez-vous prêts: c’est à l’heure où vous n’y pensez pas que le Fils de l’homme viendra. Alléluia.
Évangile : Lc 21, 1-4
En ce temps-là, comme Jésus enseignait dans le Temple, levant les yeux, il vit les gens riches qui mettaient leurs offrandes dans le Trésor. Il vit aussi une veuve misérable y mettre deux petites pièces de monnaie. Alors il déclara : « En vérité, je vous le dis : cette pauvre veuve a mis plus que tous les autres. Car tous ceux-là, pour faire leur offrande ont pris sur leur superflu mais elle, elle a pris sur son indigence : elle a mis tout ce qu’elle avait pour vivre. »
Prière sur les offrandes
Reçois, Père très saint, les offrandes que nous te présentons en célébrant les saints martyrs du Vietnam, pour qu’au milieu des difficultés de notre vie nous puissions être trouvés toujours fidèles et nous offrir à toi en sacrifice qui te plaise. Par Jésus.
Antienne de communion
Heureux ceux qui sont persécutés pour la justice, car le Royaume des cieux est à eux.
Prière après la communion
Nourris et fortifiés par un même pain en la fête de tes saints martyrs André et ses compagnons, nous te supplions, Seigneur : garde-nous unis dans ton amour, afin que nous obtenions la récompense éternelle, promise à ceux qui souffrent pour toi. Par Jésus.
Méditation :
Jésus observe une veuve qui donne deux petites pièces de monnaie dans le trésor du temple. La générosité de la veuve est un exemple d’amour désintéressé. Elle donne tout ce qu’elle a, même si cela semble insignifiant. Méditons sur la valeur de notre générosité. Il ne s’agit pas de la quantité, mais de l’intention du cœur. Dieu voit nos offrandes avec amour et reconnaissance. La veuve nous enseigne que chaque acte de générosité compte aux yeux de Dieu. Sachons donner avec un cœur ouvert, sachant que notre petite contribution peut faire une grande différence pour ceux dans le besoin et plaire à Dieu.
by L'équipe de publication | Nov 23, 2025 | Evangelium
Saints Andrew Dung-Lac and his
Companions
Psalter: Week II
White
Andrew Dung Lac was born in Vietnam in 1785. He became a Catholic priest. He was beheaded on December 21, 1839 in Hanoi, Vietnam, for the offense of being a priest. Many martyrs died at the hands of religious persecutors following Andrew’s death. We remember them all today.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Gal 6: 14; cf. 1 Cor 1: 18
May we never boast, except in the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ. For the word of the Cross is the power of God to us who have been saved.
Collect
O God, source and origin of all fatherhood, who kept the Martyrs Saint Andrew Dũng-Lac and his companions faithful to the Cross of your Son, even to the shedding of their blood, grant, through their intercession, that, spreading your love among our brothers and sisters, we may be your children both in name and in truth. 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 : Daniel 1:1-6,8-20
In the third year of the reign of Jehoiakim king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched on Jerusalem and besieged it. The Lord delivered Jehoiakim king of Judah into his hands, with some of the furnishings of the Temple of God. He took them away to the land of Shinar, and stored the sacred vessels in the treasury of his own gods. The king ordered Ashpenaz, his chief eunuch, to select from the Israelites a certain number of boys of either royal or noble descent; they had to be without any physical defect, of good appearance, trained in every kind of wisdom, well-informed, quick at learning, suitable for service in the palace of the king. Ashpenaz himself was to teach them the language and literature of the Chaldaeans. The king assigned them a daily allowance of food and wine from his own royal table. They were to receive an education lasting for three years, after which they were expected to be fit for the king’s society. Among them were Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah, who were Judaeans. Daniel, who was most anxious not to defile himself with the food and wine from the royal table, begged the chief eunuch to spare him this defilement; and by the grace of God Daniel met goodwill and sympathy on the part of the chief eunuch. But he warned Daniel, ‘I am afraid of my lord the king: he has assigned you food and drink, and if he sees you looking thinner in the face than the other boys of your age, my head will be in danger with the king because of you.’ At this Daniel turned to the guard whom the chief eunuch had assigned to Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. He said, ‘Please allow your servants a ten days’ trial, during which we are given only vegetables to eat and water to drink. You can then compare our looks with those of the boys who eat the king’s food; go by what you see, and treat your servants accordingly.’ The man agreed to do what they asked and put them on ten days’ trial. When the ten days were over they looked and were in better health than any of the boys who had eaten their allowance from the royal table; so the guard withdrew their allowance of food and the wine they were to drink, and gave them vegetables. And God favoured these four boys with knowledge and intelligence in everything connected with literature, and in wisdom; while Daniel had the gift of interpreting every kind of vision and dream. When the period stipulated by the king for the boys’ training was over, the chief eunuch presented them to Nebuchadnezzar. The king conversed with them, and among all the boys found none to equal Daniel, Hananiah, Mishael and Azariah. So they became members of the king’s court, and on whatever point of wisdom or information he might question them, he found them ten times better than all the magicians and enchanters in his entire kingdom.
Responsorial Psalm : Daniel 3:52-56
R/ To you glory and praise for evermore.
You are blest, Lord God of our fathers.
Blest your glorious holy name.
You are blest in the temple of your glory.
You are blest on the throne of your kingdom.
You are blest who gaze into the depths.
You are blest in the firmament of heaven.
Gospel Acclamation : Rv2:10
Alleluia, alleluia! Even if you have to die, says the Lord, keep faithful, and I will give you the crown of life. Alleluia!
Gospel : Luke 21:1-4
As Jesus looked up, he saw rich people putting their offerings into the treasury; then he happened to notice a poverty-stricken widow putting in two small coins, and he said, ‘I tell you truly, this poor widow has put in more than any of them; for these have all contributed money they had over, but she from the little she had has put in all she had to live on.’
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O holy Father, the offerings we bring as we venerate the passion of the holy Martyrs, so that amid the trials of this life we may always be found faithful and may offer ourselves to you as an acceptable sacrifice. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 5: 10
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Prayer after Communion
Renewed by the one Bread as we commemorate the holy Martyrs, we humbly beseech you, O Lord, that, abiding as one in your love, we may merit by endurance an eternal prize. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
The widow in today’s Gospel passage serves as a good example of generosity, offering everything she has despite its minimal quantity. Fearlessly, she gives her all to God, exemplifying a spirit of selflessnes. This portrayal urges us to embrace generosity in various aspects of our lives by sharing our time, talents, and resources with others. The call to be generous extends beyond individual acts of kindness. It encompasses freely giving to those in need without expecting anything in return. Additionally, contributing generously to the Church supports her mission of evangelisation and service. Generosity becomes a visible sign of our love for God and our neighbour. When we are generous, we show our trust in God’s providence and our willingness to share our blessings with others.
