DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Our Lady Of Mount Carmel

First Reading:  Zechariah 2:14-17 (DR--10-13)

Sing praise, and rejoice, O daughter of Sion: for behold I come, and I will dwell in the midst of thee: saith the Lord. And many nations shall be joined to the Lord in that day, and they shall be my people, and I will dwell in the midst of thee: and thou shalt know that the Lord of hosts hath sent me to thee. And the Lord shall possess Juda his portion in the sanctified land: and he shall yet choose Jerusalem. Let all flesh be silent at the presence of the Lord: for he is risen up out of his. holy habitation.

Responsorial Psalm:  Luke 1:49; V. 46-47, 48-49, 50-51, 52-53, 54-55

R.  Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me; and holy is his name. 

OR 

R.  O Blessed Virgin Mary, you carried the Son of the eternal Father. 

V.  My soul doth magnify the Lord. 

     And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.

V.  Because he hath regarded the humility of his handmaid;

     for behold from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.

     Because he that is mighty, hath done great things to me;

     and holy is his name.

V.  And his mercy is from generation unto generations,

     to them that fear him.

     He hath shewed might in his arm:

     he hath scattered the proud in the conceit of their heart.

V.  He hath put down the mighty from their seat,

     and hath exalted the humble.

     He hath filled the hungry with good things;

     and the rich he hath sent empty away.

V.  He hath received Israel his servant,

     being mindful of his mercy:

     As he spoke to our fathers,

     to Abraham and to his seed for ever.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 12:46-50

As he was yet speaking to the multitudes, behold his mother and his brethren stood without, seeking to speak to him. And one said unto him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren stand without, seeking thee. But he answering him that told him, said: Who is my mother, and who are my brethren? And stretching forth his hand towards his disciples, he said: Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of my Father, that is in heaven, he is my brother, and sister, and mother.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 7/16/2025.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The Fifteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Isaiah 26:7-9, 12, 16-19

The way of the just is right, the path of the just is right to walk in. And in the way of thy judgments, O Lord, we have patiently waited for thee: thy name, and thy remembrance are the desire of the soul. My soul hath desired thee in the night: yea, and with my spirit within me in the morning early I will watch to thee. When thou shalt do thy judgments on the earth, the inhabitants of the world shall learn justice. Lord, thou wilt give us peace: for thou hast wrought all our works for us. Lord, they have sought after thee in distress, in the tribulation of murmuring thy instruction was with them. As a woman with child, when she draweth near the time of her delivery, is in pain, and crieth out in her pangs: so are we become in thy presence, O Lord. We have conceived, and been as it were in labour, and have brought forth wind: we have not wrought salvation on the earth, therefore the inhabitants of the earth have not fallen. Thy dead men shall live, my slain shall rise again: awake, and give praise, ye that dwell in the dust: for thy dew is the dew of the light: and the land of the giants thou shalt pull down into ruin.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 102 (101):20b; V. 13-14ab and 15, 16-18, 19-21 (DR--13-15, 16-18, 

R.  (F)rom heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth.

V.  But thou, O Lord, endurest for ever:

     and thy memorial to all generations.

     Thou shalt arise and have mercy on Sion:

     for it is time to have mercy on it, for the time is come.

     For the stones thereof have pleased thy servants:

     and they shall have pity on the earth thereof.

V.  And the Gentiles shall fear thy name, O Lord,

     and all the kings of the earth thy glory.

     For the Lord hath built up Sion:

     and he shall be seen in his glory.

     He hath had regard to the prayer of the humble:

     and he hath not despised their petition.

V.  Let these things be written unto another generation:

     and the people that shall be created shall praise the Lord:

     Because he hath looked forth from his high sanctuary:

     from heaven the Lord hath looked upon the earth.

     That he might hear the groans of them that are in fetters:

     that he might release the children of the slain:

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:28-30

Come to me, all you that labour, and are burdened, and I will refresh you. Take up my yoke upon you, and learn of me, because I am meek, and humble of heart: and you shall find rest to your souls. For my yoke is sweet and my burden light.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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

First Reading:  Ephesians 3:14-19

For this cause I bow my knees to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ,  15 Of whom all paternity in heaven and earth is named, That he would grant you, according to the riches of his glory, to be strengthened by his Spirit with might unto the inward man, That Christ may dwell by faith in your hearts; that being rooted and founded in charity, You may be able to comprehend, with all the saints, what is the breadth, and length, and height, and depth:  To know also the charity of Christ, which surpasseth all knowledge, that you may be filled unto all the fulness of God.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 119 (118):12b; V. 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14

R.  O Lord: teach me thy justifications.

V.  By what doth a young man correct his way?

     by observing thy words. 

V.  With my whole heart have I sought after thee:

     let me not stray from thy commandments.

V.  Thy words have I hidden in my heart,

     that I may not sin against thee.

V.  Blessed art thou, O Lord:

     teach me thy justifications.

V. With my lips I have pronounced

     all the judgments of thy mouth.

V.  I have been delighted in the way of thy testimonies,

     as in all riches.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 23:8-12

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 7/15/2025.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Fifteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Isaiah 10:5-7, 13-16

Woe to the Assyrian, he is the rod and the staff of my anger, and my indignation is in their hands. I will send him to a deceitful nation, and I will give him a charge against the people of my wrath, to take away the spoils, and to lay hold on the prey, and to tread them down like the mire of the streets. But he shall not take it so, and his heart shall not think so: but his heart shall be set to destroy, and to cut off nations not a few. For he hath said: By the strength of my own hand I have done it, and by my own wisdom I have understood: and I have removed the bounds of the people, and have taken the spoils of the princes, and as a mighty man hath pulled down them that sat on high. And my hand hath found the strength of the people as a nest; and as eggs are gathered, that are left, so have I gathered all the earth: and there was none that moved the wing, or opened the mouth, or made the least noise. Shall the axe boast itself against him that cutteth with it? or shall the saw exalt itself against him by whom it is drawn? as if a rod should lift itself up against him that lifteth it up, and a staff exalt itself, which is but wood. Therefore the sovereign Lord, the Lord of hosts, shall send leanness among his fat ones: and under his glory shall be kindled a burning, as it were the burning of a fire.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 94 (93):14b; V. 5-6, 7-8, 9-10, 14-15

R.  For the Lord will not cast off his people:

V.  Thy people, O Lord, they have brought low:

     and they have afflicted thy inheritance.

     They have slain the widow and the stranger:

     and they have murdered the fatherless.

V.  And they have said: The Lord shall not see:

     neither shall the God of Jacob understand.

     Understand, ye senseless among the people:

     and, you fools, be wise at last.

V.  He that planted the ear, shall he not hear?

     or he that formed the eye, doth he not consider?

     He that chastiseth nations, shall he not rebuke:

     he that teacheth man knowledge?

V.  For the Lord will not cast off his people:

     neither will he forsake his own inheritance.

     Until justice be turned into judgment:

     and they that are near it are all the upright in heart.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:25-27

At that time Jesus answered and said: I confess to thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because thou hast hid these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed them to the little ones. Yea, Father; for so hath it seemed good in thy sight. All things are delivered to me by my Father. And no one knoweth the Son, but the Father: neither doth any one know the Father, but the Son, and he to whom it shall please the Son to reveal him.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin [In the Dioceses of the United States]

There are no assigned readings; they may be selected from the Common of Virgins (#731-736). This post will not have a Douay-Rhimes submission.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Fifteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Isaiah 7:1-9

And it came to pass in the days of Achaz the son of Joathan, the son of Ozias, king of Juda, that Rasin king of Syria, and Phacee the son of Romelia king of Israel, came up to Jerusalem, to fight against it: but they could not prevail over it. And they told the house of David, saying: Syria hath rested upon Ephraim, and his heart was moved, and the heart of his people, as the trees of the woods are moved with the wind. And the Lord said to Isaias: Go forth to meet Achaz, thou and Jasub thy son that is left, to the conduit of the upper pool, in the way of the fuller's field. And thou shalt say to him: See thou be quiet: fear not, and let not thy heart be afraid of the two tails of these fire brands, smoking with the wrath of the fury of Rasin king of Syria, and of the son of Romelia. Because Syria hath taken counsel against thee, unto the evil of Ephraim and the son of Romelia, saying:  Let us go up to Juda, and rouse it up, and draw it away to us, and make the son of Tabeel king in the midst thereof. Thus saith the Lord God: It shall not stand, and this shall not be. But the head of Syria is Damascus, and the head of Damascus is Rasin: and within threescore and five years, Ephraim shall cease to be a people:  And the head of Ephraim is Samaria and the head of Samaria the son of Romelia. If you will not believe, you shall not continue.

Responsorial Psalm: cf. Psalm 48 (47):9d; V. 2-3a, 3b-4, 5-6, 7-8

R.  God hath founded it for ever.

V.  Great is the Lord, and exceedingly to be praised

     in the city of our God,

     in his holy mountain.

     With the joy of the whole earth

V.  (I)s mount Sion founded, on the sides of the north, 

     the city of the great king.

     In her houses shall God be known,

     when he shall protect her.

V.  For behold the kings of the earth assembled themselves:

     they gathered together.

     So they saw, and they wondered,

     they were troubled, they were moved:

V.  Trembling took hold of them.

     There were pains as of a woman in labour.

     With a vehement wind thou shalt break

     in pieces the ships of Tharsis.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 11:20-24

Then began he to upbraid the cities wherein were done the most of his miracles, for that they had not done penance. Woe to thee, Corozain, woe to thee, Bethsaida: for if in Tyre and Sidon had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in you, they had long ago done penance in sackcloth and ashes. But I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for Tyre and Sidon in the day of judgment, than for you. And thou Capharnaum, shalt thou be exalted up to heaven? thou shalt go down even unto hell. For if in Sodom had been wrought the miracles that have been wrought in thee, perhaps it had remained unto this day. But I say unto you, that it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom in the day of judgment, than for thee.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Henry

First Reading:  Micah 6:6-8

What shall I offer to the Lord that is worthy? wherewith shall I kneel before the high God? shall I offer holocausts unto him, and calves of a year old? May the Lord be appeased with thousands of rams, or with many thousands of fat he goats? shall I give my firstborn for my wickedness, the fruit of my body for the sin of my soul? I will shew thee, O man, what is good, and what the Lord requireth of thee: Verily, to do judgment, and to love mercy, and to walk solicitous with thy God.

Responsorial Psalm:  V. Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6

R.  {Psalm 40 (39):5a}  Blessed is the man whose trust is in the name of the Lord;

OR

R.  {Psalm 1:2a}  But his will is in the law of the Lord,

OR

R.  {cf. Psalm 92 (91):13-14}  The just shall flourish like the palm tree:...in the courts of the house of our God.

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:  Matthew 7:21-27

Not every one that saith to me, Lord, Lord, shall enter into the kingdom of heaven: but he that doth the will of my Father who is in heaven, he shall enter into the kingdom of heaven. Many will say to me in that day: Lord, Lord, have not we prophesied in thy name, and cast out devils in thy name, and done many miracles in thy name? And then will I profess unto them, I never knew you: depart from me, you that work iniquity. Every one therefore that heareth these my words, and doth them, shall be likened to a wise man that built his house upon a rock, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell not, for it was founded on a rock. And every one that heareth these my words, and doth them not, shall be like a foolish man that built his house upon the sand, And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew, and they beat upon that house, and it fell, and great was the fall thereof.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Monday Of The Fifteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Isaiah 1:10-17

Hear the word of the Lord, ye rulers of Sodom, give ear to the law of our God, ye people of Gomorrha. To what purpose do you offer me the multitude of your victims, saith the Lord? I am full, I desire not holocausts of rams, and fat of fatlings, and blood of calves, and lambs, and buck goats. When you came to appear before me, who required these things at your hands, that you should walk in my courts? Offer sacrifice no more in vain: incense is an abomination to me. The new moons, and the sabbaths, and other festivals I will not abide, your assemblies are wicked. My soul hateth your new moons, and your solemnities: they are become troublesome to me, I am weary of bearing them. And when you stretch forth your hands, I will turn away my eyes from you: and when you multiply prayer, I will not hear: for your hands are full of blood. 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.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 50 (49):23b; V. 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 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 10:34-11:1

Do not think that I came to send peace upon earth: I came not to send peace, but the sword. For I came to set a man at variance against his father, and the daughter against her mother, and the daughter in law against her mother in law. And a man's enemies shall be they of his own household. He that loveth father or mother more than me, is not worthy of me; and he that loveth son or daughter more than me, is not worthy of me. And he that taketh not up his cross, and followeth me, is not worthy of me. He that findeth his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for me, shall find it. He that receiveth you, receiveth me: and he that receiveth me, receiveth him that sent me. He that receiveth a prophet in the name of a prophet, shall receive the reward of a prophet: and he that receiveth a just man in the name of a just man, shall receive the reward of a just man. And whosoever shall give to drink to one of these little ones a cup of cold water only in the name of a disciple, amen I say to you, he shall not lose his reward. And it came to pass, when Jesus had made an end of commanding his twelve disciples, he passed from thence, to teach and preach in their cities.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Fifteenth Sunday In Ordinary Time (Year A)

First Reading:  Isaiah 55:10-11

And as the rain and the snow come down from heaven, and return no more thither, but soak the earth, and water it, and make it to spring, and give seed to the sower, and bread to the eater: So shall my word be, which shall go forth from my mouth: it shall not return to me void, but it shall do whatsoever I please, and shall prosper in the things for which I sent it. 

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Luke 8:8; V. Psalm 65 (64):10, 11, 12-13, 14

R.  And other some fell upon good ground; and being sprung up, yielded fruit a hundredfold.

V.  Thou hast visited the earth, and hast plentifully watered it;

     thou hast many ways enriched it.

     The river of God is filled with water,

     thou hast prepared their food: for so is its preparation.

V.  Fill up plentifully the streams thereof,

     multiply its fruits;

     it shall spring up 

     and rejoice in its showers.

V.  Thou shalt bless the crown of the year of thy goodness:

     and thy fields shall be filled with plenty.

     The beautiful places of the wilderness shall grow fat:

     and the hills shall be girded about with joy,

V.  The rams of the flock are clothed,

     and the vales shall abound with corn:

     they shall shout, yea they shall sing a hymn.

Second Reading:  Romans 8:18-23

For I reckon that the sufferings of this time are not worthy to be compared with the glory to come, that shall be revealed in us. For the expectation of the creature waiteth for the revelation of the sons of God. For the creature was made subject to vanity, not willingly, but by reason of him that made it subject, in hope:  Because the creature also itself shall be delivered from the servitude of corruption, into the liberty of the glory of the children of God. For we know that every creature groaneth and travaileth in pain, even till now. And not only it, but ourselves also, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption of the sons of God, the redemption of our body.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 13:1-23

The same day Jesus going out of the house, sat by the sea side. And great multitudes were gathered unto him, so that he went up into a boat and sat: and all the multitude stood on the shore. And he spoke to them many things in parables, saying: Behold the sower went forth to sow. And whilst he soweth some fell by the way side, and the birds of the air came and ate them up. And other some fell upon stony ground, where they had not much earth: and they sprung up immediately, because they had no deepness of earth. And when the sun was up they were scorched: and because they had not root, they withered away. And others fell among thorns: and the thorns grew up and choked them. And others fell upon good ground: and they brought forth fruit, some an hundredfold, some sixtyfold, and some thirtyfold. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And his disciples came and said to him: Why speakest thou to them in parables? Who answered and said to them: Because to you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven: but to them it is not given. For he that hath, to him shall be given, and he shall abound: but he that hath not, from him shall be taken away that also which he hath. Therefore do I speak to them in parables: because seeing they see not, and hearing they hear not, neither do they understand. And the prophecy of Isaias is fulfilled in them, who saith: By hearing you shall hear, and shall not understand: and seeing you shall see, and shall not perceive. For the heart of this people is grown gross, and with their ears they have been dull of hearing, and their eyes they have shut: lest at any time they should see with their eyes, and hear with their ears, and understand with their heart, and be converted, and I should heal them. But blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. For, amen, I say to you, many prophets and just men have desired to see the things that you see, and have not seen them, and to hear the things that you hear and have not heard them. Hear you therefore the parable of the sower. When any one heareth the word of the kingdom, and understandeth it not, there cometh the wicked one, and catcheth away that which was sown in his heart: this is he that received the seed by the way side. And he that received the seed upon stony ground, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy. Yet hath he not root in himself, but is only for a time: and when there ariseth tribulation and persecution because of the word, he is presently scandalized. And he that received the seed among thorns, is he that heareth the word, and the care of this world and the deceitfulness of riches choketh up the word, and he becometh fruitless. But he that received the seed upon good ground, is he that heareth the word, and understandeth, and beareth fruit, and yieldeth the one an hundredfold, and another sixty, and another thirty.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Benedict, Abbot

First Reading:  Proverbs 2:1-9

My son, if thou wilt receive my words, and wilt hide my commandments with thee, That thy ear may hearken to wisdom: Incline thy heart to know prudence:  For if thou shalt call for wisdom, and incline thy heart to prudence:  If thou shalt seek her as money, and shalt dig for her as for a treasure:  Then shalt thou understand the fear of the Lord, and shalt find the knowledge of God. Because the Lord giveth wisdom: and out of his mouth cometh prudence and knowledge. He will keep the salvation of the righteous, and protect them that walk in simplicity. Keeping the paths of justice, and guarding the ways of saints. Then shalt thou understand justice, and judgment, and equity, and every good path.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 34 (33):9a; V. 2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11

R.  O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet:

V.  I will bless the Lord at all times,

     his praise shall be always in my mouth.

     In the Lord shall my soul be praised:

     let the meek hear and rejoice.

V.  O magnify the Lord with me;

     and let us extol his name together.

     I sought the Lord, and he heard me;

     and he delivered me from all my troubles.

V.  Come ye to him and be enlightened:

     and your faces shall not be confounded.

     This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him:

     and saved him out of all his troubles.

V.  The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him:

     and shall deliver them.

     O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet:

     blessed is the man that hopeth in him.

V.  Fear the Lord, all ye his saints:

     for there is no want to them that fear him.

     The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger:

     but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 19:27-29

Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have? And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel. And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.

The readings form the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 7/11/2025.