DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Anthony, Abbot

First Reading: Ephesians 6:10-13, 18

Finally, brethren, be strengthened in the Lord, and in the might of his power. Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil. For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places. Therefore take unto you the armour of God, that you may be able to resist in the evil day, and to stand in all things perfect. By all prayer and supplication praying at all times in the spirit; and in the same watching with all instance and supplication for all the saints:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 16 (15):5a; V. 1-2a and 5, 7-8, 11

R. The Lord is the portion of my inheritance

V. Preserve me, O Lord, for I have put my trust in thee. I have said to the Lord, thou art          my God,

    The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup: it is thou that wilt restore my        inheritance to me.

V. I will bless the Lord, who hath given me understanding: moreover my reins also have          corrected me even till night.

    I set the Lord always in my sight: for he is at my right hand, that I be not moved.

V. Thou hast made known to me the ways of life, thou shalt fill me with joy with thy                 countenance: at thy right hand are delights even to the end.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 19:16-26

And behold one came and said to him: Good master, what good shall I do that I may have life everlasting Who said to him: Why asketh thou me concerning good? One is good, God. But if thou wilt enter into life, keep the commandments. He said to him: Which? And Jesus said: Thou shalt do no murder, Thou shalt not commit adultery, Thou shalt not steal, Thou shalt not bear false witness. Honour thy father and thy mother: and, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. The young man saith to him: All these I have kept from my youth, what is yet wanting to me? Jesus saith to him: If thou wilt be perfect, go sell what thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come follow me. And when the young man had heard this word, he went away sad: for he had great possessions. Then Jesus said to his disciples: Amen, I say to you, that a rich man shall hardly enter into the kingdom of heaven. And again I say to you: It is easier for a camel to pass through the eye of a needle, than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of heaven. And when they had heard this, the disciples wondered very much, saying: Who then can be saved? And Jesus beholding, said to them: With men this is impossible: but with God all things are possible.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.  

DR Squared: Thursday Of The First Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Hebrews 3:7-14

Wherefore, as the Holy Ghost saith: Today if you shall hear his voice, Harden not your hearts, as in the provocation; in the day of temptation in the desert, Where your fathers tempted me, proved and saw my works, Forty years: for which cause I was offended with this generation, and I said: They always err in heart. And they have not known my ways, As I have sworn in my wrath: If they shall enter into my rest. Take heed, brethren, lest perhaps there be in any of you an evil heart of unbelief, to depart from the living God. But exhort one another every day, whilst it is called today, that none of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. For we are made partakers of Christ: yet so, if we hold the beginning of his substance firm unto the end.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 95 (94):8; V. 6-7c, 8-9, 10-11

R. Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:

V. Come let us adore and fall down: and weep before the Lord that made us.

     For he is the Lord our God: and we are the people of his pasture and the sheep of his           hand.

V. Today if you shall hear his voice, harden not your hearts:  As in the provocation,                   according to the day of temptation in the wilderness:

     where your fathers tempted me, they proved me, and saw my works.

V. Forty years long was I offended with that generation, and I said: These always err in            heart.

    And these men have not known my ways: so I swore in my wrath that they shall not            enter into my rest.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 1:40-45

And there came a leper to him, beseeching him, and kneeling down said to him: If thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And Jesus having compassion on him, stretched forth his hand; and touching him, saith to him: I will. Be thou made clean. And when he had spoken, immediately the leprosy departed from him, and he was made clean. And he strictly charged him, and forthwith sent him away. And he saith to him: See thou tell no one; but go, shew thyself to the high priest, and offer for thy cleansing the things that Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. But he being gone out, began to publish and to blaze abroad the word: so that he could not openly go into the city, but was without in desert places: and they flocked to him from all sides.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The First Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Hebrews 2:14-18

Therefore because the children are partakers of flesh and blood, he also himself in like manner hath been partaker of the same: that, through death, he might destroy him who had the empire of death, that is to say, the devil:  And might deliver them, who through the fear of death were all their lifetime subject to servitude. For no where doth he take hold of the angels: but of the seed of Abraham he taketh hold. Wherefore it behoved him in all things to be made like unto his brethren, that he might become a merciful and faithful priest before God, that he might be a propitiation for the sins of the people. For in that, wherein he himself hath suffered and been tempted, he is able to succour them also that are tempted.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 105 (104):8a; V. 1-2, 3-4, 6-7, 8-9

R. He hath remembered his covenant for ever:

V. Give glory to the Lord, and call upon his name: declare his deeds among the Gentiles.

    Sing to him, yea sing praises to him: relate all his wondrous works.

V. Glory ye in his holy name: let the heart of them rejoice that seek the Lord.

     Seek ye the Lord, and be strengthened: seek his face evermore.

V. O ye seed of Abraham his servant; ye sons of Jacob his chosen.

    He is the Lord our God: his judgments are in all the earth.

V. He hath remembered his covenant for ever: the word which he commanded to a thousand                        generations.

    Which he made to Abraham; and his oath to Isaac:

Gospel Reading:  Mark 1:29-39

And immediately going out of the synagogue they came into the house of Simon and Andrew, with James and John. And Simon's wife's mother lay in a fit of a fever: and forthwith they tell him of her. And coming to her, he lifted her up, taking her by the hand; and immediately the fever left her, and she ministered unto them. And when it was evening, after sunset, they brought to him all that were ill and that were possessed with devils. And all the city was gathered together at the door. And he healed many that were troubled with divers diseases; and he cast out many devils, and he suffered them not to speak, because they knew him. And rising very early, going out, he went into a desert place: and there he prayed. And Simon, and they that were with him, followed after him. And when they had found him, they said to him: All seek for thee. And he saith to them: Let us go into the neighbouring towns and cities, that I may preach there also; for to this purpose am I come. And he was preaching in their synagogues, and in all Galilee, and casting out devils.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The First Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Hebrews 2:5-12

For God hath not subjected unto angels the world to come, whereof we speak. But one in a certain place hath testified, saying: What is man, that thou art mindful of him: or the son of man, that thou visitest him? Thou hast made him a little lower than the angels: thou hast crowned him with glory and honour, and hast set him over the works of thy hands:  Thou hast subjected all things under his feet. For in that he hath subjected all things to him, he left nothing not subject to him. But now we see not as yet all things subject to him. But we see Jesus, who was made a little lower than the angels, for the suffering of death, crowned with glory and honour: that, through the grace of God, he might taste death for all. For it became him, for whom are all things, and by whom are all things, who had brought many children into glory, to perfect the author of their salvation, by his passion. For both he that sanctifieth, and they who are sanctified, are all of one. For which cause he is not ashamed to call them brethren, saying:  I will declare thy name to my brethren; in the midst of the church will I praise thee. 

Responsorial Psalm:  cf. Psalm 8:7; V. 2ab and 5, 6-7, 8-9

R. And hast set him over the works of thy hands.

V. O Lord our Lord, how admirable is thy name in the whole earth! 

    What is man that thou art mindful of him? or the son of man that thou visitest him?

V. Thou hast made him a little less than the angels, thou hast crowned him with glory and         honour:

    And hast set him over the works of thy hands. Thou hast subjected all things under his        feet,

V. (A)ll sheep and oxen: moreover the beasts also of the fields.

     The birds of the air, and the fishes of the sea, that pass through the paths of the sea.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 1:21-28

And they entered into Capharnaum, and forthwith upon the sabbath days going into the synagogue, he taught them. And they were astonished at his doctrine. For he was teaching them as one having power, and not as the scribes. And there was in their synagogue a man with an unclean spirit; and he cried out, Saying: What have we to do with thee, Jesus of Nazareth? art thou come to destroy us? I know who thou art, the Holy One of God. And Jesus threatened him, saying: Speak no more, and go out of the man. And the unclean spirit tearing him, and crying out with a loud voice, went out of him. And they were all amazed, insomuch that they questioned among themselves, saying: What thing is this? what is this new doctrine? for with power he commandeth even the unclean spirits, and they obey him. And the fame of him was spread forthwith into all the country of Galilee.

The reading from the USCCB can be found here. 

DR Squared: Monday Of The First Week In Ordinary Time (Year I)

First Reading:  Hebrews 1:1-6

God, who, at sundry times and in divers manners, spoke in times past to the fathers by the prophets, last of all, In these days hath spoken to us by his Son, whom he hath appointed heir of all things, by whom also he made the world. Who being the brightness of his glory, and the figure of his substance, and upholding all things by the word of his power, making purgation of sins, sitteth on the right hand of the majesty on high. Being made so much better than the angels, as he hath inherited a more excellent name than they. For to which of the angels hath he said at any time, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee? And again, I will be to him a Father, and he shall be to me a Son? And again, when he bringeth in the first begotten into the world, he saith: And let all the angels of God adore him.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 97 (96):7c; V. 1 and 2b, 6 and 7c, 9

R. Adore him, all you his angels:

V. The Lord hath reigned, let the earth rejoice: let many islands be glad.

     (J)ustice and judgment are the establishment of his throne.

V. The heavens declared his justice: and all people saw his glory.

     Adore him, all you his angels:

V. For thou art the most high Lord over all the earth: thou art exalted exceedingly above all          gods.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 1:14-20

And after that John was delivered up, Jesus came into Galilee, preaching the gospel of the kingdom of God, And saying: The time is accomplished, and the kingdom of God is at hand: repent, and believe the gospel. And passing by the sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and Andrew his brother, casting nets into the sea (for they were fishermen). And Jesus said to them: Come after me, and I will make you to become fishers of men. And immediately leaving their nets, they followed him. And going on from thence a little farther, he saw James the son of Zebedee, and John his brother, who also were mending their nets in the ship:  And forthwith he called them. And leaving their father Zebedee in the ship with his hired men, they followed him.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: The Baptism Of The Lord

First Reading:  Isaiah 42:1-4, 6-7 or Isaiah 40:1-5, 9-11

Behold my servant, I will uphold him: my elect, my soul delighteth in him: I have given my spirit upon him, he shall bring forth judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not cry, nor have respect to person, neither shall his voice be heard abroad. The bruised reed he shall not break, and smoking flax he shall not quench: he shall bring forth judgment unto truth. He shall not be sad, nor troublesome, till he set judgment in the earth: and the islands shall wait for his law. (T)he Lord have called thee in justice, and taken thee by the hand, and preserved thee. And I have given thee for a covenant of the people, for a light of the Gentiles:  That thou mightest open the eyes of the blind, and bring forth the prisoner out of prison, and them that sit in darkness out of the prison house.

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Be comforted, be comforted, my people, saith your God. Speak ye to the heart of Jerusalem, and call to her: for her evil is come to an end, her iniquity is forgiven: she hath received of the hand of the Lord double for all her sins. The voice of one crying in the desert: Prepare ye the way of the Lord, make straight in the wilderness the paths of our God. Every valley shall be exalted, and every mountain and hill shall be made low, and the crooked shall become straight, and the rough ways plain. And the glory of the Lord shall be revealed, and all flesh together shall see, that the mouth of the Lord hath spoken. Get thee up upon a high mountain, thou that bringest good tidings to Sion: lift up thy voice with strength, thou that bringest good tidings to Jerusalem: lift it up, fear not. Say to the cities of Juda: Behold your God:  Behold the Lord God shall come with strength, and his arm shall rule: Behold his reward is with him and his work is before him. He shall feed his flock like a shepherd: he shall gather together the lambs with his arm, and shall take them up in his bosom, and he himself shall carry them that are with young.  

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 29 (28):11b: V. 1-2, 3-4, 8, 9b-10 or Psalm 104 (103):1a; V. 1b-2, 3-4, 24-25, 27-28, 29-30

R. (T)he Lord will bless his people with peace.

V. Bring to the Lord, O ye children of God:...Bring to the Lord glory and honour:

     bring to the Lord glory to his name: adore ye the Lord in his holy court.

V. The voice of the Lord is upon the waters;...The Lord is upon many waters.

     The voice of the Lord is in power; the voice of the Lord in magnificence.

V. The voice of the Lord shaketh the desert:  and in his temple all shall speak his glory. 

     The Lord maketh the flood to dwell: and the Lord shall sit king for ever.

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R. Bless the Lord, O my soul

V. O Lord my God, thou art exceedingly great. Thou hast put on praise and beauty:

     And art clothed with light as with a garment. Who stretchest out the heaven like a                 pavilion:

V. Who coverest the higher rooms thereof with water. Who makest the clouds thy chariot:         who walkest upon the wings of the winds.

     Who makest thy angels spirits: and thy ministers a burning fire.

V. How great are thy works, O Lord? thou hast made all things in wisdom: the earth is            filled with thy riches.

    So is this great sea, which stretcheth wide its arms: there are creeping things without            number: Creatures little and great.

V. All expect of thee that thou give them food in season.

    What thou givest to them they shall gather up: when thou openest thy hand, they shall          all be filled with good.

V. But if thou turnest away thy face, they shall be troubled: thou shalt take away their              breath, and they shall fail, and shall return to their dust.

    Thou shalt send forth thy spirit, and they shall be created: and thou shalt renew the face      of the earth.  

Second Reading: Acts 10:34-38 or Titus 2:11-14; 3:4-7

And Peter opening his mouth, said: In very deed I perceive, that God is not a respecter of persons. But in every nation, he that feareth him, and worketh justice, is acceptable to him. God sent the word to the children of Israel, preaching peace by Jesus Christ: (he is Lord of all.) You know the word which hath been published through all Judea: for it began from Galilee, after the baptism which John preached, Jesus of Nazareth: how God anointed him with the Holy Ghost, and with power, who went about doing good, and healing all that were oppressed by the devil, for God was with him.

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For the grace of God our Saviour hath appeared to all men; Instructing us, that, denying ungodliness and worldly desires, we should live soberly, and justly, and godly in this world, Looking for the blessed hope and coming of the glory of the great God and our Saviour Jesus Christ, Who gave himself for us, that he might redeem us from all iniquity, and might cleanse to himself a people acceptable, a pursuer of good works. But when the goodness and kindness of God our Saviour appeared:  Not by the works of justice, which we have done, but according to his mercy, he saved us, by the laver of regeneration, and renovation of the Holy Ghost; Whom he hath poured forth upon us abundantly, through Jesus Christ our Saviour:  That, being justified by his grace, we may be heirs, according to hope of life everlasting.    

Gospel Reading:  Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

And as the people were of opinion, and all were thinking in their hearts of John, that perhaps he might be the Christ; John answered, saying unto all: I indeed baptize you with water; but there shall come one mightier than I, the latchet of whose shoes I am not worthy to loose: he shall baptize you with the Holy Ghost, and with fire:  Now it came to pass, when all the people were baptized, that Jesus also being baptized and praying, heaven was opened; And the Holy Ghost descended in a bodily shape, as a dove upon him; and a voice came from heaven: Thou art my beloved Son; in thee I am well pleased. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Saturday After Epiphany

First Reading:  1 John 5:14-21

And this is the confidence which we have towards him: That, whatsoever we shall ask according to his will, he heareth us. And we know that he heareth us whatsoever we ask: we know that we have the petitions which we request of him. He that knoweth his brother to sin a sin which is not to death, let him ask, and life shall be given to him, who sinneth not to death. There is a sin unto death: for that I say not that any man ask. All iniquity is sin. And there is a sin unto death. We know that whosoever is born of God, sinneth not: but the generation of God preserveth him, and the wicked one toucheth him not. We know that we are of God, and the whole world is seated in wickedness. And we know that the Son of God is come: and he hath given us understanding that we may know the true God, and may be in his true Son. This is the true God and life eternal. Little children, keep yourselves from idols. Amen.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 149:4a: V. 1-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b

R. For the Lord is well pleased with his people:

V. Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle: let his praise be in the church of the saints.

     Let Israel rejoice in him that made him: and let the children of Sion be joyful in their           king.

V. Let them praise his name in choir: let them sing to him with the timbrel and the psaltery.

     For the Lord is well pleased with his people: and he will exalt the meek unto salvation.

V. The saints shall rejoice in glory: they shall be joyful in their beds.

     The high praise of God shall be in their mouth:  this glory is to all his saints. Alleluia.

Gospel Reading:  John 3:22-30

After these things Jesus and his disciples came into the land of Judea: and there he abode with them, and baptized. And John also was baptizing in Ennon near Salim; because there was much water there; and they came and were baptized. For John was not yet cast into prison. And there arose a question between some of John's disciples and the Jews concerning purification:  And they came to John, and said to him: Rabbi, he that was with thee beyond the Jordan, to whom thou gavest testimony, behold he baptizeth, and all men come to him. John answered, and said: A man cannot receive any thing, unless it be given him from heaven. You yourselves do bear me witness, that I said, I am not Christ, but that I am sent before him. He that hath the bride, is the bridegroom: but the friend of the bridegroom, who standeth and heareth him, rejoiceth with joy because of the bridegroom's voice. This my joy therefore is fulfilled. He must increase, but I must decrease.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Friday After Epiphany

First Reading:  1 John 5:5-13

Who is he that overcometh the world, but he that believeth that Jesus is the Son of God? This is he that came by water and blood, Jesus Christ: not by water only, but by water and blood. And it is the Spirit which testifieth, that Christ is the truth. And there are three who give testimony in heaven, the Father, the Word, and the Holy Ghost. And these three are one. And there are three that give testimony on earth: the spirit, and the water, and the blood: and these three are one. If we receive the testimony of men, the testimony of God is greater. For this is the testimony of God, which is greater, because he hath testified of his Son. He that believeth in the Son of God, hath the testimony of God in himself. He that believeth not the Son, maketh him a liar: because he believeth not in the testimony which God hath testified of his Son. And this is the testimony, that God hath given to us eternal life. And this life is in his Son. He that hath the Son, hath life. He that hath not the Son, hath not life. These things I write to you, that you may know that you have eternal life, you who believe in the name of the Son of God.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 147:12a; V. 12-13, 14-15, 19-20

R. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem:

V. Praise the Lord, O Jerusalem: praise thy God, O Sion.

    Because he hath strengthened the bolts of thy gates, he hath blessed thy children within        thee.

V. Who hath placed peace in thy borders: and filleth thee with the fat of corn.

     Who sendeth forth his speech to the earth: his word runneth swiftly.

V. Who declareth his word to Jacob: his justices and his judgments to Israel.

     He hath not done in like manner to every nation: and his judgments he hath not made           manifest to them. Alleluia.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 5:12-16

And it came to pass, when he was in a certain city, behold a man full of leprosy, who seeing Jesus, and falling on his face, besought him, saying: Lord, if thou wilt, thou canst make me clean. And stretching forth his hand, he touched him, saying: I will. Be thou cleansed. And immediately the leprosy departed from him. And he charged him that he should tell no man, but, Go, shew thyself to the priest, and offer for thy cleansing according as Moses commanded, for a testimony to them. But the fame of him went abroad the more, and great multitudes came together to hear, and to be healed by him of their infirmities. And he retired into the desert, and prayed. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Thursday After Epiphany

First Reading:  1 John 4:19–5:4

Let us therefore love God, because God first hath loved us. If any man say, I love God, and hateth his brother; he is a liar. For he that loveth not his brother, whom he seeth, how can he love God, whom he seeth not? Whosoever believeth that Jesus is the Christ, is born of God. And every one that loveth him who begot, loveth him also who is born of him. In this we know that we love the children of God: when we love God, and keep his commandments. For this is the charity of God, that we keep his commandments: and his commandments are not heavy. For whatsoever is born of God, overcometh the world: and this is the victory which overcometh the world, our faith.  

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 72 (71):11a; V. 1-2, 14 and 15bc, 17

R. And all kings of the earth shall adore him:

V. Give to the king thy judgment, O God: and to the king's son thy justice:

     To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.

V.  He shall redeem their souls from usuries and iniquity: and their names shall be                      honourable in his sight.

     (F)or him they shall always adore: they shall bless him all the day.

V. Let his name be blessed for evermore: his name continueth before the sun.

     And in him shall all the tribes of the earth be blessed: all nations shall magnify him.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 4:14-22

And Jesus returned in the power of the spirit, into Galilee, and the fame of him went out through the whole country. And he taught in their synagogues, and was magnified by all. And he came to Nazareth, where he was brought up: and he went into the synagogue, according to his custom, on the sabbath day; and he rose up to read. And the book of Isaias the prophet was delivered unto him. And as he unfolded the book, he found the place where it was written:  The Spirit of the Lord is upon me. Wherefore he hath anointed me to preach the gospel to the poor, he hath sent me to heal the contrite of heart, To preach deliverance to the captives, and sight to the blind, to set at liberty them that are bruised, to preach the acceptable year of the Lord, and the day of reward. And when he had folded the book, he restored it to the minister, and sat down. And the eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him. And he began to say to them: This day is fulfilled this scripture in your ears. And all gave testimony to him: and they wondered at the words of grace that proceeded from his mouth,

The readings from the USCCB can be found here,

DR Squared: Wednesday After Epiphany

First Reading:  1 John 4:11-18

My dearest, if God hath so loved us; we also ought to love one another. No man hath seen God at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity is perfected in us. In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us: because he hath given us of his spirit. And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father hath sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God. And we have known, and have believed the charity, which God hath to us. God is charity: and he that abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him. In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world. Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 72 (71):11a; V. 1-2, 10, 12-13

R. And all kings of the earth shall adore him:

V. Give to the king thy judgment, O God: and to the king's son thy justice:

     To judge thy people with justice, and thy poor with judgment.

V. The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents:

     the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts:

V. For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had no helper.

    He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the poor. 

Gospel Reading:  Mark 6:45-52

And immediately he obliged his disciples to go up into the ship, that they might go before him over the water to Bethsaida, whilst he dismissed the people. And when he had dismissed them, he went up to the mountain to pray. And when it was late, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and himself alone on the land. And seeing them labouring in rowing, (for the wind was against them,) and about the fourth watch of the night, he cometh to them walking upon the sea, and he would have passed by them. But they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried out. For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he spoke with them, and said to them: Have a good heart, it is I, fear ye not. And he went up to them into the ship, and the wind ceased: and they were far more astonished within themselves:  For they understood not concerning the loaves; for their heart was blinded.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.