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Daily Reading

Title: First Reading - 2 Sam 1:1-4a, 5-10a, 13-17

1 Now it came to pass, after Saul was dead, that David returned from the slaughter of the Amalecites, and abode two days in Siceleg.2 And on the third day, there appeared a man who came out of Saul's camp, with his garments rent, and dust strewed on his head: and when he came to David, he fell upon his face, and adored.3 And David said to him: From whence comest thou? And he said to him: I am fled out of the camp of Israel.4a And David said unto him: What is the matter that is come to pass? tell me. He said: The people are fled from the battle, and many of the people are fallen and dead: moreover Saul and Jonathan his son are slain.5 And David said to the young man that told him: How knowest thou that Saul and Jonathan his son, are dead?6 And the young man that told him, said: I came by chance upon mount Gelboe, and Saul leaned upon his spear: and the chariots and horsemen drew nigh unto him,7 And looking behind him, and seeing me, he called me. And I answered, Here am I.8 And he said to me: Who art thou? And I said to him: I am an Amalecite.9 And he said to me: Stand over me, and kill me: for anguish is come upon me, and as yet my whole life is in me.10a So standing over him, I killed him: for I knew that he could not live after the fall: and I took the diadem that was on his head, and the bracelet that was on his arm and have brought them hither to thee, my lord.13 And David said to the young man that told him: Whence art thou? He answered: I am the son of a stranger of Amalee.14 David said to him: Why didst thou not fear to put out thy hand to kill the Lord's anointed?15 And David calling one of his servants, said: Go near and fall upon him. And he struck him so that he died.16 And David said to him: Thy blood be upon thy own head: for thy own mouth hath spoken against thee, saying: I have slain the Lord's anointed.17 And David made this kind of lamentation over Saul, and over Jonathan his son.

Title: Psalm - Ps 50:3-4,5-6a,6bcd-7,10-11

3 Have mercy on me, O God, according to thy great mercy. And according to the multitude of thy tender mercies blot out my iniquity.4 Wash me yet more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin.5 For I know my iniquity, and my sin is always before me.6a To thee only have I sinned, and have done evil before thee: that thou mayst be justified in thy words and mayst overcome when thou art judged.6bcd For behold I was conceived in iniquities; and in sins did my mother conceive me.7 To my hearing thou shalt give joy and gladness: and the bones that have been humbled shall rejoice.10 Turn away thy face from my sins, and blot out all my iniquities.11 Create a clean heart in me, O God: and renew a right spirit within my bowels.

Title: Gospel - Mk 4:26-34

26 And he said: So is the kingdom of God, as if a man should cast seed into the earth,27 And should sleep, and rise, night and day, and the seed should spring, and grow up whilst he knoweth not.28 For the earth of itself bringeth forth fruit, first the blade, then the ear, afterwards the full corn in the ear.29 And when the fruit is brought forth, immediately he putteth in the sickle, because the harvest is come.30 And he said: To what shall we liken the kingdom of God? or to what parable shall we compare it?31 It is as a grain of mustard seed: which when it is sown in the earth, is less than all the seeds that are in the earth:32 And when it is sown, it groweth up, and becometh greater than all herbs, and shooteth out great branches, so that the birds of the air may dwell under the shadow thereof.33 And with many such parables, he spoke to them the word, according as they were able to hear.34 And without parable he did not speak unto them; but apart, he explained all things to his disciples.

Saint Of The Day

Title: St. Angela Merici

Angela Merici, foundress of the Ursuline Sisters, was born in the small Italian town of Desenzano on the shore of Lake Garda in 1474.
As a young girl, Angela lost in succession her sister and both of her parents. She went to live with a wealthy uncle in the town of Salo where, without benefit of formal schooling, Angela grew in poise, wisdom, and grace.
The age in which Angela lived and worked (the 16th Century), was a time which saw great suffering on the part of the poor in society. Injustices were carried on in the name of the government and the Church, which left many people both spiritually and materially powerless and hungry. The corruption of moral values left families split and hurting. Wars among nations and the Italian city-states left towns in ruins.
In 1516, Angela came to live in the town of Brescia, Italy. Here she became a friend of the wealthy nobles of the day and a servant of the poor and suffering. Angela spent her days in prayer and fasting and service. Her reputation spread and her advice was sought by both young and old, rich and poor, religious and secular, male and female. But still, Angela had not yet brought her vision to fruition.
After visiting the Holy Land, where she reportedly lost her sight, Angela returned to Brescia, which had become a haven for refugees from the many wars then wracking Italy. There she gathered around her a group of women who looked toward Angela as an inspirational leader and as a model of apostolic charity. It was these women, many of them daughters of the wealthy, some orphans themselves, who formed the nucleus of Angela's Company of St. Ursula. Angela named her company after St. Ursula because she regarded her as a model of consecrated virginity.
Angela and her original company worked out details of the rule of prayer, and promises, and practices by which they were to live. The Ursulines opened orphanages and schools. In 1535, the Institute of St. Ursula was formally recognized by the Pope and Angela was accorded the title of foundress.
During the five remaining years of her life, Angela devoted herself to composing a number of Counsels by which her daughters could happily live. She encouraged them to "live in harmony, united together in one heart and one will. Be bound to one another by the bond of charity, treating each other with respect, helping one another, bearing with one another in Christ Jesus; if you really try to live like this, there is no doubt that the Lord our God will be in your midst."
In 1580, Charles Borromeo, Bishop of Milan, inspired by the work of the Ursulines in Brescia, encouraged the foundation of Ursuline houses in all the dioceses of Northern Italy. Charles also encouraged the Ursulines to live together in community rather than in their own homes. He also exhorted them to publicly profess vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. These actions formalized Angela's original "company" into a religious order of women.
Angela Merici died on January 27, 1540, and was canonized in 1807.