DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Bernardine Of Siena, Priest

First Reading:  Acts 4:8-12

Then Peter, filled with the Holy Ghost, said to them: Ye princes of the people, and ancients, hear:  If we this day are examined concerning the good deed done to the infirm man, by what means he hath been made whole:  Be it known to you all, and to all the people of Israel, that by the name of our Lord Jesus Christ of Nazareth, whom you crucified, whom God hath raised from the dead, even by him this man standeth here before you whole. This is the stone which was rejected by you the builders, which is become the head of the corner. Neither is there salvation in any other. For there is no other name under heaven given to men, whereby we must be saved. 

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 40 (39):8a and 9a; V. 2, 4(a), 7-8, 8-9, 10, 11

R.  Then said I, Behold I come. That I should do thy will:

V.  With expectation I have waited for the Lord,

     and he was attentive to me.

     And he put a new canticle into my mouth,

     a song to our God.

V.  Sacrifice and oblation thou didst not desire;

     but thou hast pierced ears for me.

     Burnt offering and sin offering thou didst not require:

     Then said I, Behold I come.

V.  In the head of the book it is written of me

     That I should do thy will:

     O my God, I have desired it,

     and thy law in the midst of my heart.

V.  I have declared thy justice in a great church,

     lo, I will not restrain my lips: O Lord, thou knowest it.

     I have not hid thy justice within my heart: I have declared thy truth and thy salvation.

     I have not concealed thy mercy and thy truth from a great council. 

Gospel Reading:  Luke 9:57-62

And it came to pass, as they walked in the way, that a certain man said to him: I will follow thee whithersoever thou goest. Jesus said to him: The foxes have holes, and the birds of the air nests; but the Son of man hath not where to lay his head. But he said to another: Follow me. And he said: Lord, suffer me first to go, and to bury my father. And Jesus said to him: Let the dead bury their dead: but go thou, and preach the kingdom of God. And another said: I will follow thee, Lord; but let me first take my leave of them that are at my house. Jesus said to him: No man putting his hand to the plough, and looking back, is fit for the kingdom of God.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 5/20/2025.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Seventh Week Of Easter

First Reading:  Acts 20:28-38

Take heed to yourselves, and to the whole flock, wherein the Holy Ghost hath placed you bishops, to rule the church of God, which he hath purchased with his own blood. I know that, after my departure, ravening wolves will enter in among you, not sparing the flock. And of your own selves shall arise men speaking perverse things, to draw away disciples after them. Therefore watch, keeping in memory, that for three years I ceased not, with tears to admonish every one of you night and day. And now I commend you to God, and to the word of his grace, who is able to build up, and to give an inheritance among all the sanctified. I have not coveted any man's silver, gold, or apparel, as You yourselves know: for such things as were needful for me and them that are with me, these hands have furnished. I have shewed you all things, how that so labouring you ought to support the weak, and to remember the word of the Lord Jesus, how he said: It is a more blessed thing to give, rather than to receive. And when he had said these things, kneeling down, he prayed with them all. And there was much weeping among them all; and falling on the neck of Paul, they kissed him, Being grieved most of all for the word which he had said, that they should see his face no more. And they brought him on his way to the ship.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 68 (67):33a; V. 29-30, 33-35a, 35bc-36ab

R.  Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth:

V.  Command thy strength, O God:

     confirm, O God, what thou hast wrought in us.

     From thy temple in Jerusalem,

     kings shall offer presents to thee.

V.  Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth:

     sing ye to the Lord: Sing ye to God,

     Who mounteth above the heaven of heavens, to the east.

     Behold he will give to his voice the voice of power:

     Give ye glory to God

V.  (F)or Israel, his magnificence,

     and his power is in the clouds.

     God is wonderful in his saints:

     the God of Israel is he who will give power and strength to his people.   

Gospel Reading:  John 17:11b-19

Holy Father, keep them in thy name whom thou has given me; that they may be one, as we also are. While I was with them, I kept them in thy name. Those whom thou gavest me have I kept; and none of them is lost, but the son of perdition, that the scripture may be fulfilled. And now I come to thee; and these things I speak in the world, that they may have my joy filled in themselves. I have given them thy word, and the world hath hated them, because they are not of the world; as I also am not of the world. I pray not that thou shouldst take them out of the world, but that thou shouldst keep them from evil. They are not of the world, as I also am not of the world. Sanctify them in truth. Thy word is truth. As thou hast sent me into the world, I also have sent them into the world. And for them do I sanctify myself, that they also may be sanctified in truth.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 6/4/2025.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Seventh Week Of Easter

First Reading:  Acts 20:17-27

And sending from Miletus to Ephesus, he called the ancients of the church. And when they were come to him, and were together, he said to them:  You know from the first day that I came into Asia, in what manner I have been with you, for all the time, Serving the Lord with all humility, and with tears, and temptations which befell me by the conspiracies of the Jews; How I have kept back nothing that was profitable to you, but have preached it to you, and taught you publicly, and from house to house, Testifying both to Jews and Gentiles penance towards God, and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. And now, behold, being bound in the spirit, I go to Jerusalem: not knowing the things which shall befall me there: Save that the Holy Ghost in every city witnesseth to me, saying: That bands and afflictions wait for me at Jerusalem. But I fear none of these things, neither do I count my life more precious than myself, so that I may consummate my course and the ministry of the word which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify the gospel of the grace of God. And now behold, I know that all you, among whom I have gone preaching the kingdom of God, shall see my face no more. Wherefore I take you to witness this day, that I am clear from the blood of all men;  For I have not spared to declare unto you all the counsel of God.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 68 (67):33a; V. 10-11, 20-21

R.  Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth:

V.  Thou shalt set aside for thy inheritance a free rain, O God:

     and it was weakened, but thou hast made it perfect.

     In it shall thy animals dwell;

     in thy sweetness, O God, thou hast provided for the poor.

V.  Blessed be the Lord day by day:

     the God of our salvation will make our journey prosperous to us.

     Our God is the God of salvation:

     and of the Lord, of the Lord are the issues from death.

Gospel Reading:  John 17:1-11a

These things Jesus spoke, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said: Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he may give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. Now this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now glorify thou me, O Father, with thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with thee. I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast given me out of the world. Thine they were, and to me thou gavest them; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known, that all things which thou hast given me, are from thee:  Because the words which thou gavest me, I have given to them; and they have received them, and have known in very deed that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me: because they are thine:  And all my things are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 6/3/2025.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint John I, Pope, Martyr

First Reading:  Revelation 3:14b, 20-22

These things saith the Amen, the faithful and true witness, who is the beginning of the creation of God:  Behold, I stand at the gate, and knock. If any man shall hear my voice, and open to me the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me. To him that shall overcome, I will give to sit with me in my throne: as I also have overcome, and am set down with my Father in his throne. He that hath an ear, let him hear what the Spirit saith to the churches.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 23:1-3a, 4, 5, 6

R.  The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.

V.  The Lord ruleth me: and I shall want nothing.

     He hath set me in a place of pasture.

     He hath brought me up, on the water of refreshment:

     He hath converted my soul.

V.  For though I should walk in the midst of the shadow of death,

     I will fear no evils,

     for thou art with me.

     Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.

V.  Thou hast prepared a table before me 

     against them that afflict me.

     Thou hast anointed my head with oil; 

     and my chalice which inebriateth me, how goodly is it!

V.  And thy mercy will follow me

     all the days of my life.

     And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

     unto length of days.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 22:24-30

And there was also a strife amongst them, which of them should seem to be the greater. And he said to them: The kings of the Gentiles lord it over them; and they that have power over them, are called beneficent. But you not so: but he that is the greater among you, let him become as the younger; and he that is the leader, as he that serveth. For which is greater, he that sitteth at table, or he that serveth? Is it not he that sitteth at table? But I am in the midst of you, as he that serveth:  And you are they who have continued with me in my temptations:  And I dispose to you, as my Father hath disposed to me, a kingdom; That you may eat and drink at my table, in my kingdom: and may sit upon thrones, judging the twelve tribes of Israel.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Seventh Week Of Easter

First Reading:  Acts 19:1-8

And it came to pass, while Apollo was at Corinth, that Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples. And he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since ye believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost. And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John's baptism. Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of penance, saying: That they should believe in him who was to come after him, that is to say, in Jesus. Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied. And all the men were about twelve. And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for the space of three months, disputing and exhorting concerning the kingdom of God.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 68 (67):33a; V. 2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab

R.  Sing to God, ye kingdoms of the earth:

V.  Let God arise, and let his enemies be scattered:

     and let them that hate him flee from before his face. 

     As smoke vanisheth, so let them vanish away:

     as wax melteth before the fire,

V.  And let the just feast, and rejoice before God:

     and be delighted with gladness.

     Sing ye to God, sing a psalm to his name, 

     the Lord is his name.

V.  Who is the father of orphans, and the judge of widows.

     God in his holy place:

     God who maketh men of one manner to dwell in a house:

     Who bringeth out them that were bound in strength; 

Gospel Reading:  John 16:29-33

His disciples say to him: Behold, now thou speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb. Now we know that thou knowest all things, and thou needest not that any man should ask thee. By this we believe that thou camest forth from God. Jesus answered them: Do you now believe? Behold, the hour cometh, and it is now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me. These things I have spoken to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 6/2/2025.

DR Squared: Seventh Sunday Of Easter (Year A)

First Reading:  Acts 1:12-14

Then they returned to Jerusalem from the mount that is called Olivet, which is nigh Jerusalem, within a sabbath day's journey. And when they were come in, they went up into an upper room, where abode Peter and John, James and Andrew, Philip and Thomas, Bartholomew and Matthew, James of Alpheus, and Simon Zelotes, and Jude the brother of James. All these were persevering with one mind in prayer with the women, and Mary the mother of Jesus, and with his brethren.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 27 (26):13; V. 1, 4, 7-8

R.  I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living.

V.  The Lord is my light and my salvation,

     whom shall I fear?

     The Lord is the protector of my life:

     of whom shall I be afraid?

V.  One thing I have asked of the Lord,

     this will I seek after;

     that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

     all the days of my life.

     That I may see the delight of the Lord,

     and may visit his temple.

V.  Hear, O Lord, my voice, with which I have cried to thee:

     have mercy on me and hear me.

     My heart hath said to thee:

     My face hath sought thee: thy face, O Lord, will I still seek.

Second Reading:  1 Peter 4:13-16

But if you partake of the sufferings of Christ, rejoice that when his glory shall be revealed, you may also be glad with exceeding joy. If you be reproached for the name of Christ, you shall be blessed: for that which is of the honour, glory, and power of God, and that which is his Spirit, resteth upon you. But let none of you suffer as a murderer, or a thief, or a railer, or a coveter of other men's things. But if as a Christian, let him not be ashamed, but let him glorify God in that name.

Gospel Reading:  John 17:1-11a

These things Jesus spoke, and lifting up his eyes to heaven, he said: Father, the hour is come, glorify thy Son, that thy Son may glorify thee. As thou hast given him power over all flesh, that he may give eternal life to all whom thou hast given him. Now this is eternal life: That they may know thee, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom thou hast sent. I have glorified thee on the earth; I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do. And now glorify thou me, O Father, with thyself, with the glory which I had, before the world was, with thee. I have manifested thy name to the men whom thou hast given me out of the world. Thine they were, and to me thou gavest them; and they have kept thy word. Now they have known, that all things which thou hast given me, are from thee:  Because the words which thou gavest me, I have given to them; and they have received them, and have known in very deed that I came out from thee, and they have believed that thou didst send me. I pray for them: I pray not for the world, but for them whom thou hast given me: because they are thine:  And all my things are thine, and thine are mine; and I am glorified in them. And now I am not in the world, and these are in the world, and I come to thee.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Sixth Week Of Easter

First Reading:  Acts 18:23-28

And after he had spent some time there, he departed, and went through the country of Galatia and Phrygia, in order, confirming all the disciples. Now a certain Jew, named Apollo, born at Alexandria, an eloquent man, came to Ephesus, one mighty in the scriptures. This man was instructed in the way of the Lord; and being fervent in spirit, spoke, and taught diligently the things that are of Jesus, knowing only the baptism of John. This man therefore began to speak boldly in the synagogue. Whom when Priscilla and Aquila had heard, they took him to them, and expounded to him the way of the Lord more diligently. And whereas he was desirous to go to Achaia, the brethren exhorting, wrote to the disciples to receive him. Who, when he was come, helped them much who had believed. For with much vigour he convinced the Jews openly, shewing by the scriptures, that Jesus is the Christ.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 47 (46):8a; V. 2-3, 8-9, 10

R.  For God is the king of all the earth:

V.  O clap your hands, all ye nations:

     shout unto God with the voice of Joy,

     For the Lord is high, terrible:

     a great king over all the earth.

V.  For God is the king of all the earth:

     sing ye wisely.

     God shall reign over the nations:

     God sitteth on his holy throne.

V.  The princes of the people are gathered together,

     with the God of Abraham:

     for the strong gods of the earth

     are exceedingly exalted.

Gospel Reading:  John 16:23b-28

Amen, amen I say to you: if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you. Hitherto you have not asked any thing in my name. Ask, and you shall receive; that your joy may be full. These things I have spoken to you in proverbs. The hour cometh, when I will no more speak to you in proverbs, but will shew you plainly of the Father. In that day you shall ask in my name; and I say not to you, that I will ask the Father for you:  For the Father himself loveth you, because you have loved me, and have believed that I came out from God. I came forth from the Father, and am come into the world: again I leave the world, and I go to the Father.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Saint Isidore, Bishop And Doctor Of The Church

First Reading:  2 Corinthians 4:1-2, 5-7

Therefore, seeing we have this ministration, according as we have obtained mercy, we faint not; But we renounce the hidden things of dishonesty, not walking in craftiness, nor adulterating the word of God; but by manifestation of the truth commending ourselves to every man's conscience, in the sight of God. For we preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord; and ourselves your servants through Jesus. For God, who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God, and not of us.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 37 (36):30a; V. 3-4, 5-6, 30-31

R.  The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom:

V.  Trust in the Lord, and do good, and dwell in the land,

     and thou shalt be fed with its riches.

     Delight in the Lord,

     and he will give thee the requests of thy heart.

V.  Commit thy way to the Lord, and trust in him,

     and he will do it.

     And he will bring forth thy justice as the light,

     and thy judgment as the noonday.

V.  The mouth of the just shall meditate wisdom:

     and his tongue shall speak judgment.

     The law of his God is in his heart,

     and his steps shall not be supplanted.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 6:43-45

For there is no good tree that bringeth forth evil fruit; nor an evil tree that bringeth forth good fruit. For every tree is known by its fruit. For men do not gather figs from thorns; nor from a bramble bush do they gather the grape. A good man out of the good treasure of his heart bringeth forth that which is good: and an evil man out of the evil treasure bringeth forth that which is evil. For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 4/4/2025.

DR Squared: Friday Of The Sixth Week Of Easter

First Reading:  Acts 18:9-18

And the Lord said to Paul in the night, by a vision: Do not fear, but speak; and hold not thy peace, Because I am with thee: and no man shall set upon thee, to hurt thee; for I have much people in this city. And he stayed there a year and six months, teaching among them the word of God. But when Gallio was proconsul of Achaia, the Jews with one accord rose up against Paul, and brought him to the judgment seat, Saying: This man persuadeth men to worship God contrary to the law. And when Paul was beginning to open his mouth, Gallio said to the Jews: If it were some matter of injustice, or an heinous deed, O Jews, I should with reason bear with you. But if they be questions of word and names, and of your law, look you to it: I will not be judge of such things. And he drove them from the judgment seat. And all laying hold on Sosthenes, the ruler of the synagogue, beat him before the judgment seat; and Gallio cared for none of those things. But Paul, when he had stayed yet many days, taking his leave of the brethren, sailed thence into Syria (and with him Priscilla and Aquila), having shorn his head in Cenchrae: for he had a vow.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 47 (46):8a; V. 2-3, 4-5, 6-7

R.  For God is the king of all the earth:

V.  O clap your hands, all ye nations:

     shout unto God with the voice of Joy, 

     For the Lord is high, terrible:

     a great king over all the earth.

V.  He hath subdued the people under us;

     and the nations under our feet.

     He hath chosen for us his inheritance

     the beauty of Jacob which he hath loved.

V.  God is ascended with jubilee,

     and the Lord with the sound of trumpet.

     Sing praises to our God, sing ye:

    sing praises to our king, sing ye.

Gospel Reading:  John 16:20-23

Amen, amen I say to you, that you shall lament and weep, but the world shall rejoice; and you shall be made sorrowful, but your sorrow shall be turned into joy. A woman, when she is in labour, hath sorrow, because her hour is come; but when she hath brought forth the child, she remembereth no more the anguish, for joy that a man is born into the world. So also you now indeed have sorrow; but I will see you again, and your heart shall rejoice; and your joy no man shall take from you. And in that day you shall not ask me any thing. Amen, amen I say to you: if you ask the Father any thing in my name, he will give it you.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 5/30/2025.

DR Squared: Feast Of Saint Matthias, Apostle

First Reading:  Acts 1:15-17, 20-26

In those days Peter rising up in the midst of the brethren, said: (now the number of persons together was about an hundred and twenty:)  Men, brethren, the scripture must needs be fulfilled, which the Holy Ghost spoke before by the mouth of David concerning Judas, who was the leader of them that apprehended Jesus:  Who was numbered with us, and had obtained part of this ministry. For it is written in the book of Psalms: Let their habitation become desolate, and let there be none to dwell therein. And his bishopric let another take. Wherefore of these men who have companied with us all the time that the Lord Jesus came in and went out among us, Beginning from the baptism of John, until the day wherein he was taken up from us, one of these must be made a witness with us of his resurrection. And they appointed two, Joseph, called Barsabas, who was surnamed Justus, and Matthias. And praying, they said: Thou, Lord, who knowest the hearts of all men, shew whether of these two thou hast chosen, To take the place of this ministry and apostleship, from which Judas hath by transgression fallen, that he might go to his own place. And they gave them lots, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was numbered with the eleven apostles. 

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 113 (112):8; V. 1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8

R.  That he may place him with princes, with the princes of his people. 

V.  Praise the Lord, ye children:

     praise ye the name of the Lord.

     Blessed be the name of the Lord,

     from henceforth now and for ever.

V.  From the rising of the sun unto the going down of the same,

     the name of the Lord is worthy of praise.

     The Lord is high above all nations;

     and his glory above the heavens.

V.  Who is as the Lord our God,

     who dwelleth on high:

     And looketh down on the low things

     in heaven and in earth?

V.  Raising up the needy from the earth,

     and lifting up the poor out of the dunghill:

     That he may place him with princes,

     with the princes of his people.

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.

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Originally posted 5/14/2025.