DR Squared: Friday Of The Second Week Of Lent

First Reading:  Genesis 37:3-4, 12-13a, 17b-28a

Now Israel loved Joseph above all his sons, because he had him in his old age: and he made him a coat of divers colours. And his brethren seeing that he was loved by his father, more than all his sons, hated him, and could not speak peaceably to him. And when his brethren abode in Sichem feeding their father's flocks, Israel said to him: Thy brethren feed the sheep in Sichem: come, I will send thee to them. And Joseph went forward after his brethren, and found them in Dothain. And when they saw him afar off, before he came nigh them, they thought to kill him. And said one to another: Behold the dreamer cometh. Come, let us kill him, and cast him into some old pit: and we will say: Some evil beast hath devoured him: and then it shall appear what his dreams avail him:  And Ruben hearing this, endeavoured to deliver him out of their hands, and said:  Do not take away his life, nor shed his blood: but cast him into this pit, that is in the wilderness, and keep your hands harmless: now he said this, being desirous to deliver him out of their hands and to restore him to his father. And as soon as he came to his brethren, they forthwith stript him of his outside coat, that was of divers colours:  And cast him into an old pit, where there was no water. And sitting down to eat bread, they saw some Ismaelites on their way coming from Galaad, with their camels, carrying spices, and balm, and myrrh to Egypt. And Juda said to his brethren: What will it profit us to kill our brother, and conceal his blood? It is better that he be sold to the Ismaelites, and that our hands be not defiled: for he is our brother and our flesh. His brethren agreed to his words. And when the Madianite merchants passed by, they drew him out of the pit, and sold him to the Ismaelites, for twenty pieces of silver:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 105 (104):5a; V. 16-17, 18-19, 20-21

R.  Remember his marvellous works which he hath done;

V.  And he called a famine upon the land:

     and he broke in pieces all the support of bread.

     He sent a man before them:

     Joseph, who was sold for a slave.

V.  They humbled his feet in fetters:

     the iron pierced his soul,

     Until his word came.

     The word of the Lord inflamed him.

V.  The king sent, and he released him:

     the ruler of the people, and he set him at liberty.

     He made him master of his house,

     and ruler of all his possession.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Hear ye another parable. There was a man an householder, who planted a vineyard, and made a hedge round about it, and dug in it a press, and built a tower, and let it out to husbandmen; and went into a strange country. And when the time of the fruits drew nigh, he sent his servants to the husbandmen that they might receive the fruits thereof.  And the husbandmen laying hands on his servants, beat one, and killed another, and stoned another. Again he sent other servants more than the former; and they did to them in like manner. And last of all he sent to them his son, saying: They will reverence my son. But the husbandmen seeing the son, said among themselves: This is the heir: come, let us kill him, and we shall have his inheritance. And taking him, they cast him forth out of the vineyard, and killed him. When therefore the lord of the vineyard shall come, what will he do to those husbandmen? They say to him: He will bring those evil men to an evil end; and will let out his vineyard to other husbandmen, that shall render him the fruit in due season. Jesus saith to them: Have you never read in the Scriptures: The stone which the builders rejected, the same is become the head of the corner? By the Lord this has been done; and it is wonderful in our eyes. Therefore I say to you, that the kingdom of God shall be taken from you, and shall be given to a nation yielding the fruits thereof.  And when the chief priests and Pharisees had heard his parables, they knew that he spoke of them. And seeking to lay hands on him, they feared the multitudes: because they held him as a prophet.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 3/21/2025.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The Second Week Of Lent

First Reading:  Jeremiah 17:5-10

Thus saith the Lord: Cursed be the man that trusteth in man, and maketh flesh his arm, and whose heart departeth from the Lord. For he shall be like tamaric in the desert, and he shall not see when good shall come: but he shall dwell in dryness in the desert in a salt land, and not inhabited. Blessed be the man that trusteth in the Lord, and the Lord shall be his confidence. And he shall be as a tree that is planted by the waters, that spreadeth out its roots towards moisture: and it shall not fear when the heat cometh. And the leaf thereof shall be green, and in the time of drought it shall not be solicitous, neither shall it cease at any time to bring forth fruit. The heart is perverse above all things, and unsearchable, who can know it? I am the Lord who search the heart and prove the reins: who give to every one according to his way, and according to the fruit of his devices.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 40 (39):5a; V. Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R.  Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord;

V.  Blessed is the man who hath not walked

     in the counsel of the ungodly,

     nor stood in the way of sinners,

     nor sat in the chair of pestilence.

     But his will is in the law of the Lord,

     and on his law he shall meditate day and night.

V.  And he shall be like a tree

     which is planted near the running waters,

     which shall bring forth its fruit, in due season.

     And his leaf shall not fall off:

     and all whatsoever he shall do shall prosper.

V.  Not so the wicked, not so:

     but like the dust, which the wind driveth from the face of the earth.

     For the Lord knoweth the way of the just:

     and the way of the wicked shall perish.

  Gospel Reading:  Luke 16:19-31

There was a certain rich man, who was clothed in purple and fine linen; and feasted sumptuously every day. And there was a certain beggar, named Lazarus, who lay at his gate, full of sores, Desiring to be filled with the crumbs that fell from the rich man's table, and no one did give him; moreover the dogs came, and licked his sores. And it came to pass, that the beggar died, and was carried by the angels into Abraham's bosom. And the rich man also died: and he was buried in hell. And lifting up his eyes when he was in torments, he saw Abraham afar off, and Lazarus in his bosom:  And he cried, and said: Father Abraham, have mercy on me, and send Lazarus, that he may dip the tip of his finger in water, to cool my tongue: for I am tormented in this flame. And Abraham said to him: Son, remember that thou didst receive good things in thy lifetime, and likewise Lazarus evil things, but now he is comforted; and thou art tormented. And besides all this, between us and you, there is fixed a great chaos: so that they who would pass from hence to you, cannot, nor from thence come hither. And he said: Then, father, I beseech thee, that thou wouldst send him to my father's house, for I have five brethren, That he may testify unto them, lest they also come into this place of torments. And Abraham said to him: They have Moses and the prophets; let them hear them. But he said: No, father Abraham: but if one went to them from the dead, they will do penance. And he said to him: If they hear not Moses and the prophets, neither will they believe, if one rise again from the dead.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 3/20/2025.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Casimir

First Reading:  Philippians 3:8-14

Furthermore I count all things to be but loss for the excellent knowledge of Jesus Christ my Lord; for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and count them but as dung, that I may gain Christ:  And may be found in him, not having my justice, which is of the law, but that which is of the faith of Christ Jesus, which is of God, justice in faith:  That I may know him, and the power of his resurrection, and the fellowship of his sufferings, being made conformable to his death, If by any means I may attain to the resurrection which is from the dead. Not as though I had already attained, or were already perfect; but I follow after, if I may by any means apprehend, wherein I am also apprehended by Christ Jesus. Brethren, I do not count myself to have apprehended. But one thing I do: forgetting the things that are behind, and stretching forth myself to those that are before, I press towards the mark, to the prize of the supernal vocation of God in Christ Jesus.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 15 (14):1; V. 2-3ab, 3cd-4ab, 5

R.  Lord, who shall dwell in thy tabernacle? or who shall rest in thy holy hill?

V.  He that walketh without blemish, and worketh justice:

     He that speaketh truth in his heart,

     who hath not used deceit in his tongue:

V.  Nor hath done evil to his neighbour:

     nor taken up a reproach against his neighbours.

     In his sight the malignant is brought to nothing:

     but he glorifieth them that fear the Lord.

V.  He that hath not put out his money to usury,

     nor taken bribes against the innocent:

     He that doth these things

     shall not be moved for ever.

Gospel Reading:  John 15:9-17

As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father's commandments, and do abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you. I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you. You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Second Week Of Lent

First Reading:  Jeremiah 18:18-20

And they said: Come, and let us invent devices against Jeremias: for the law shall not perish from the priest, nor counsel from the wise, nor the word from the prophet: come, and let us strike him with the tongue, and let us give no heed to all his words. Give heed to me, O Lord, and hear the voice of my adversaries. Shall evil be rendered for good, because they have digged a pit for my soul? Remember that I have stood in thy sight, to speak good for them, and to turn away thy indignation from them.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 31 (30):17b; V. 5-6, 14, 15-16

R.  (S)ave me in thy mercy.

V.  Thou wilt bring me out of this snare, which they have hidden for me:

     for thou art my protector.

     Into thy hands I commend my spirit:

     thou hast redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.

V.  For I have heard the blame of many that dwell round about.

     While they assembled together against me, they consulted to take away my life.

V.  But I have put my trust in thee, O Lord:

     I said: Thou art my God.

     My lots are in thy hands. Deliver me out of the hands of my enemies;

     and from them that persecute me. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 20:17-28

And Jesus going up to Jerusalem, took the twelve disciples apart, and said to them:  Behold we go up to Jerusalem, and the Son of man shall be betrayed to the chief priests and the scribes, and they shall condemn him to death. And shall deliver him to the Gentiles to be mocked, and scourged, and crucified, and the third day he shall rise again. Then came to him the mother of the sons of Zebedee with her sons, adoring and asking something of him. Who said to her: What wilt thou? She saith to him: Say that these my two sons may sit, the one on thy right hand, and the other on thy left, in thy kingdom. And Jesus answering, said: You know not what you ask. Can you drink the chalice that I shall drink? They say to him: We can. He saith to them: My chalice indeed you shall drink; but to sit on my right or left hand, is not mine to give to you, but to them for whom it is prepared by my Father. And the ten hearing it, were moved with indignation against the two brethren. But Jesus called them to him, and said: You know that the princes of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that are the greater, exercise power upon them. It shall not be so among you: but whosoever will be the greater among you, let him be your minister:  And he that will be first among you, shall be your servant. Even as the Son of man is not come to be ministered unto, but to minister, and to give his life a redemption for many.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Katharine Drexel, Virgin [In The Dioceses Of The United States]

There are no assigned readings; they may be selected from the Common of Virgins or Common of Holy Men and Women. This post will not have a Douay-Rhimes submission.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Second Week Of Lent

First Reading:  Isaiah 1:10, 16-20

Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrha. Wash yourselves, be clean, take away the evil of your devices from my eyes: cease to do perversely, Learn to do well: seek judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge for the fatherless, defend the widow. And then come, and accuse me, saith the Lord: if your sins be as scarlet, they shall be made as white as snow: and if they be red as crimson, they shall be white as wool. If you be willing, and will hearken to me, you shall eat the good things of the land. But if you will not, and will provoke me to wrath: the sword shall devour you because the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 50 (49):23b; V. 8-9, 16bc-17, 21 and 23

R. (A)nd there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.

V.  I will not reprove thee for thy sacrifices:

     and thy burnt offerings are always in my sight.

     I will not take calves out of thy house:

     nor he goats out of thy flocks.

V.  Why dost thou declare my justices,

     and take my covenant in thy mouth?

      Seeing thou hast hated discipline:

     and hast cast my words behind thee.

V.  These things hast thou done, and I was silent.

      Thou thoughtest unjustly that I should be like to thee:

      but I will reprove thee, and set before thy face.

      The sacrifice of praise shall glorify me:

      and there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 23:1-12

Then Jesus spoke to the multitudes and to his disciples, Saying: The scribes and the Pharisees have sitten on the chair of Moses.  All things therefore whatsoever they shall say to you, observe and do: but according to their works do ye not; for they say, and do not. For they bind heavy and insupportable burdens, and lay them on men's shoulders; but with a finger of their own they will not move them. And all their works they do for to be seen of men. For they make their phylacteries broad, and enlarge their fringes. And they love the first places at feasts, and the first chairs in the synagogues, And salutations in the market place, and to be called by men, Rabbi. But be not you called Rabbi. For one is your master; and all you are brethren. And call none your father upon earth; for one is your father, who is in heaven. Neither be ye called masters; for one is your master, Christ. He that is the greatest among you shall be your servant. And whosoever shall exalt himself shall be humbled: and he that shall humble himself shall be exalted.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 3/18/2025.

March 2026 Morning Offering Prayer Intention

Here is the intention for this month when praying the Morning Offering:

For Disarmament And Peace. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

A link is provided for further reflection.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Second Week In Lent

First Reading:  Daniel 9:4b-10

I beseech thee, O Lord God, great and terrible, who keepest the covenant, and mercy to them that love thee, and keep thy commandments. We have sinned, we have committed iniquity, we have done wickedly, and have revolted: and we have gone aside from thy commandments, and thy judgments. We have not hearkened to thy servants the prophets, that have spoken in thy name to our kings, to our princes, to our fathers, and to all the people of the land. To thee, O Lord, justice: but to us confusion of face, as at this day to the men of Juda, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, and to all Israel to them that are near, and to them that are far off in all the countries whither thou hast driven them, for their iniquities by which they have sinned against thee. O Lord, to us belongeth confusion of face, to our princes, and to our fathers that have sinned. But to thee, the Lord our God, mercy and forgiveness, for we have departed from thee:  And we have not hearkened to the voice of the Lord our God, to walk in his law, which he set before us by his servants the prophets.

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 103 (102):10a;V. 79 (78):8, 9, 11 and 13

R.  He hath not dealt with us according to our sins:

V.  Remember not our former iniquities:

      let thy mercies speedily prevent us,

     for we are become exceeding poor.

V.  Help us, O God, our saviour:

     and for the glory of thy name,

     O Lord, deliver us: and forgive us our sins

     for thy name's sake:

V.  Let the sighing of the prisoners come in before thee.

     According to the greatness of thy arm, take possession of the children of them that have been put to         death.

     But we thy people, and the sheep of thy pasture,

     will give thanks to thee for ever.

     We will shew forth thy praise, unto generation and generation.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 6:36-38

Be ye therefore merciful, as your Father also is merciful. Judge not, and you shall not be judged. Condemn not, and you shall not be condemned. Forgive, and you shall be forgiven. Give, and it shall be given to you: good measure and pressed down and shaken together and running over shall they give into your bosom. For with the same measure that you shall mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 3/17/2025.

DR Squared: Second Sunday Of Lent (Year A)

First Reading:  Genesis 12:1-4a

And the Lord said to Abram: Go forth out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and out of thy father's house, and come into the land which I shall shew thee. And I will make of thee a great nation, and I will bless thee, and magnify thy name, and thou shalt be blessed. I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee, and IN THEE shall all the kindred of the earth be blessed:  So Abram went out as the Lord had commanded him,

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 33 (32):22; V. 4-5, 18-19, 20, 22

R.  Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us, as we have hoped in thee.

V.  For the word of the Lord is right,

     and all his works are done with faithfulness.

     He loveth mercy and judgment;

     the earth is full of the mercy of the Lord.

V.  Behold the eyes of the Lord are on them that fear him:

     and on them that hope in his mercy.

     To deliver their souls from death;

     and feed them in famine.

V.  Our soul waiteth for the Lord:

     for he is our helper and protector.

     Let thy mercy, O Lord, be upon us,

     as we have hoped in thee.

Second Reading:  2 Timothy 1:8b-10

(B)ut labour with the gospel, according to the power of God, Who hath delivered us and called us by his holy calling, not according to our works, but according to his own purpose and grace, which was given us in Christ Jesus before the times of the world. But is now made manifest by the illumination of our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath destroyed death, and hath brought to light life and incorruption by the gospel:

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 17:1-9

And after six days Jesus taketh unto him Peter and James, and John his brother, and bringeth them up into a high mountain apart:  And he was transfigured before them. And his face did shine as the sun: and his garments became white as snow. And behold there appeared to them Moses and Elias talking with him. And Peter answering, said to Jesus: Lord, it is good for us to be here: if thou wilt, let us make here three tabernacles, one for thee, and one for Moses, and one for Elias. And as he was yet speaking, behold a bright cloud overshadowed them. And lo, a voice out of the cloud, saying: This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased: hear ye him. And the disciples hearing, fell upon their face, and were very much afraid. And Jesus came and touched them: and said to them, Arise, and fear not. And they lifting up their eyes saw no one but only Jesus. And as they came down from the mountain, Jesus charged them, saying: Tell the vision to no man, till the Son of man be risen from the dead.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The First Week Of Lent

First Reading:  Deuteronomy 26:16-19

This day the Lord thy God hath commanded thee to do these commandments and judgments: and to keep and fulfill them with all thy heart, and with all thy soul. Thou hast chosen the Lord this day to be thy God, and to walk in his ways and keep his ceremonies, and precepts, and judgments, and obey his command. And the Lord hath chosen thee this day, to be his peculiar people, as he hath spoken to thee, and to keep all his commandments:  And to make thee higher than all nations which he hath created, to his own praise, and name, and glory: that thou mayst be a holy people of the Lord thy God, as he hath spoken.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 119 (118):1; V. 1-2, 4-5, 7-8

R.  Blessed are the undefiled in the way, who walk in the law of the Lord.

V.  Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

     who walk in the law of the Lord.

     Blessed are they who search his testimonies:

     that seek him with their whole heart.

V.  Thou hast commanded thy commandments

     to be kept most diligently.

     O! that my ways may be directed

     to keep thy justifications.

V.  I will praise thee with uprightness of heart,

     when I shall have learned the judgments of thy justice.

     I will keep thy justifications:

     O! do not thou utterly forsake me.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 5:43-48

You have heard that it hath been said, Thou shalt love thy neighbour, and hate thy enemy. But I say to you, Love your enemies: do good to them that hate you: and pray for them that persecute and calumniate you:  That you may be the children of your Father who is in heaven, who maketh his sun to rise upon the good, and bad, and raineth upon the just and the unjust. For if you love them that love you, what reward shall you have? do not even the publicans this? And if you salute your brethren only, what do you more? do not also the heathens this? Be you therefore perfect, as also your heavenly Father is perfect.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 3/15/2025