J A N U A R Y    2 4

Feast of St. Francis de Sales

 

Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Principal Patron of the Congregation

 

 

 S O L E M N I T Y

 

 

 

FIRST READING

A reading from the Book of Proverbs    

(16:16-23, 32)

 

Gentleness and humility are the well-spring of a blessed eloquence.

How much better is wisdom than gold;

understanding is to be chosen rather than silver.

The highway of the upright turns aside from evil;

he who guards his way preserves his life.

Pride goes before destruction

and a haughty spirit before a fall.

It is better to be of lowly spirit with the poor

than to divide the spoil with the proud.

He who gives heed to the word will prosper,

and happy is he who trusts in the Lord.

The wise of heart is called a man of discernment,

and pleasant speech increases persuasiveness.

Wisdom is a fountain of life to him who has it,

but folly is the chastisement of fools.

The mind of the wise makes his speech judicious,

and adds persuasiveness to his lips.

He who is slow to anger is better than the mighty,

and he who rules his spirit than he who takes a city.

 

This is the Word of the Lord.

 

Responsorial Psalam

[111 (112):1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, 9]

 

R/. Happy the Man who fears the Lord.

 

Happy the man who fears the Lord,

who takes delight in all his commands.

His sons will be powerful on earth;

the children of the upright are blessed.   R/.

 

Riches and wealth are in his house;

his justice stands firm for ever.

He is a light in the darkness for the upright;

he is generous, merciful and just.   R/.

 

The good man takes pity and lends,

he conducts his affairs with honour

The just man will never waver:

he will be remembered for ever.   R/.

 

He has no fear of evil news;

with a firm heart he trusts in the Lord.

With a steadfast heart he will not fear;

he will see the downfall of his foes.   R/.

 

Open-handed he gives to the poor;

his justice stands firm for ever.

His head will be raised in glory.   R/.

 

 

SECOND READING

A reading from the First Letter of St. John

(4:7-16)

 

"Love and do what you will"   (St. Augustine)

 

My dear people,

let us love one another

since love comes from God

and everyone who loves is begotten by God and knows God.

Anyone who fails to love can never have known God,

because God is love.

God's love for us was revealed

when God sent into the world his only Son

so that we could have life through him:

this is the love I mean:

not our love for God,

but God's love for us when he sent his Son

to be the sacrifice that takes our sins away.

 

My dear people,

since God has loved us so much,

we too should love one another.

Not one has ever seen God;

but as long as we love one another.

God will live in us

and his love will be complete in us.

We can know that we are living in him

and he is living in us

because he lets us share his Spirit.

We ourselves saw and we testify

that the Father sent his Son

as saviour of the world.

 

If anyone acknowledges that Jesus is the Son of God,

God lives in him, and he in God.

We ourselves have known

and put our faith in God's love towards ourselves.

God is love

and anyone who lives in love lives in God,

and God lives in him.

 

This is the Word of the Lord.

 

Gospel Acclamation (Mt 5:16)

 

Alleluia, Alleluia!

Your light must shine in the sight of others,

so that, seeing your good works,

they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.

Alleluia!

 

GOSPEL

A reading from the holy Gospel according to Matthew

(5:13-19)

 

Keep them and teach them.

 

Jesus said to his disciples:  

"You  are the salt of the earth.

But if salt becomes tasteless

what can make it salty again?

It is good for nothing

and can only be thrown out

to be trampled underfoot by men.

 

"You are the light of the world.

A city built on a hill-top cannot be hidden.

No one lights a lamp to put it under a tub;

they put it on the lamp-stand

where it shines for everyone in the house.

In the same way your light must shine in the sight of men,

so that, seeing your good works,

they may give the praise to your Father in heaven.

 

"Do not imagine

that I have come to abolish the Law or the Prophets.

I have come not to abolish but to complete them.

I tell you solemnly,

till heaven and earth disappear,

not one dot, not one little stroke,

shall disappear from the Law

until its purpose is achieved.

Therefore, the man who infringes

even one of the least of these commandments

and teaches others to do the same

will be considered the least

in the kingdom of heaven;

but the man who keeps them

and teaches them

will be considered great in the kingdom of heaven".

 

This is the Gospel of the Lord.