DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Jane Frances De Chantal, Religious

First Reading:  Proverbs 31:10-13, 19-20, 30-31

Who shall find a valiant woman? far and from the uttermost coasts is the price of her. The heart of her husband trusteth in her, and he shall have no need of spoils. She will render him good, and not evil, all the days of her life. She hath sought wool and flax, and hath wrought by the counsel of her hands. She hath put out her hand to strong things, and her fingers have taken hold of the spindle. She hath opened her hand to the needy, and stretched out her hands to the poor. Favour is deceitful, and beauty is vain: the woman that feareth the Lord, she shall be praised. Give her of the fruit of her hands: and let her works praise her in the gates.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 131 (130):1bcde, 2, 3

R.  (NB:  I did not find a corresponding verse to this.)

V.  Lord, my heart is not exalted:

     nor are my eyes lofty.

     Neither have I walked in great matters,

     nor in wonderful things above me.

V.  If I was not humbly minded,

     but exalted my soul:

     As a child that is weaned is towards his mother,

     so reward in my soul.

V.  Let Israel hope in the Lord,

     from henceforth now and for ever.

Gospel Reading:  Mark 3:31-35

And his mother and his brethren came; and standing without, sent unto him, calling him. And the multitude sat about him; and they say to him: Behold thy mother and thy brethren without seek for thee. And answering them, he said: Who is my mother and my brethren? And looking round about on them who sat about him, he saith: Behold my mother and my brethren. For whosoever shall do the will of God, he is my brother, and my sister, and mother.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 8/12/2025

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

First Reading:  Ezekiel 9:1-7; 10:18-22

And he cried in my ears with a loud voice, saying: The visitations of the city are at hand, and every one hath a destroying weapon in his hand. And behold six men came from the way of the upper gate, which looketh to the north: and each one had his weapon of destruction in his hand: and there was one man in the midst of them clothed with linen, with a writer's inkhorn at his reins: and they went in, and stood by the brazen altar. And the glory of the Lord of Israel went up from the cherub, upon which he was, to the threshold of the house: and he called to the man that was clothed with linen, and had a writer's inkhorn at his loins. And the Lord said to him: Go through the midst of the city, through the midst of Jerusalem: and mark Thau upon the foreheads of the men that sigh, and mourn for all the abominations that are committed in the midst thereof. And to the others he said in my hearing: Go ye after him through the city, and strike: let not your eyes spare, nor be ye moved with pity. Utterly destroy old and young, maidens, children and women: but upon whomsoever you shall see Thau, kill him not, and begin ye at my sanctuary. So they began at the ancient men who were before the house. And he said to them: Defile the house, and ill the courts with the slain: go ye forth. And they went forth, and slew them that were in the city. And the glory of the Lord went forth from the threshold of the temple: and stood over the cherubims. And the cherubims lifting up their wings, were raised from the earth before me: and as they went out, the wheels also followed: and it stood in the entry of the east gate of the house of the Lord: and the glory of the God of Israel was over them. This is the living creature, which I saw under the God of Israel by the river Chobar: and I understood that they were cherubims. Each one had four faces, and each one had four wings: and the likeness of a man's hand was under their wings. And as to the likeness of their faces, they were the same faces which I had seen by the river Chobar, and their looks, and the impulse of every one to go straight forward.

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

R.  (A)nd his glory above the heavens.

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?

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 18:15-20

But if thy brother shall offend against thee, go, and rebuke him between thee and him alone. If he shall hear thee, thou shalt gain thy brother. And if he will not hear thee, take with thee one or two more: that in the mouth of two or three witnesses every word may stand. And if he will not hear them: tell the church. And if he will not hear the church, let him be to thee as the heathen and publican. Amen I say to you, whatsoever you shall bind upon earth, shall be bound also in heaven; and whatsoever you shall loose upon earth, shall be loosed also in heaven. Again I say to you, that if two of you shall consent upon earth, concerning any thing whatsoever they shall ask, it shall be done to them by my Father who is in heaven. For where there are two or three gathered together in my name, there am I in the midst of them.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Clare, Virgin

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

R.  The Lord is the portion of my inheritance and of my cup:

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 19:27-29

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 from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 8/11/2025. 

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

First Reading:  Ezekiel 2:8-3:4

But thou, O son of man, hear all that I say to thee: and do not thou provoke me, as that house provoketh me: open thy mouth, and eat what I give thee. And I looked, and behold, a hand was sent to me, wherein was a book rolled up: and he spread it before me, and it was written within and without: and there were written in it lamentations, and canticles, and woe. And he said to me: Son of man, eat all that thou shalt find: eat this book, and go speak to the children of Israel. And I opened my mouth, and he caused me to eat that book:  3 And he said to me: Son of man, thy belly shall eat, and thy bowels shall be filled with this book, which I give thee. And I did eat it: and it was sweet as honey in my mouth. And he said to me: Son of man, go to the house of Israel, and thou shalt speak my words to them.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 119 (118):103a; V. 14, 24, 72, 103, 111, 131

R.  How sweet are thy words to my palate!

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

     as in all riches.

V.  For thy testimonies are my meditation:

     and thy justifications my counsel.

V.  The law of thy mouth is good to me,

     above thousands of gold and silver.

V.  How sweet are thy words to my palate!

     more than honey to my mouth.

V.  I have purchased thy testimonies for an inheritance for ever:

     because they are a joy to my heart.

V.  I opened my mouth and panted:

     because I longed for thy commandments.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 18:1-5, 10, 12-14

At that hour the disciples came to Jesus, saying: Who thinkest thou is the greater in the kingdom of heaven? And Jesus calling unto him a little child, set him in the midst of them, And said: Amen I say to you, unless you be converted, and become as little children, you shall not enter into the kingdom of heaven. Whosoever therefore shall humble himself as this little child, he is the greater in the kingdom of heaven. And he that shall receive one such little child in my name, receiveth me. See that you despise not one of these little ones: for I say to you, that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father who is in heaven. What think you? If a man have an hundred sheep, and one of them should go astray: doth he not leave the ninety-nine in the mountains, and go to seek that which is gone astray?  And if it so be that he find it: Amen I say to you, he rejoiceth more for that, than for the ninety-nine that went not astray. Even so it is not the will of your Father, who is in heaven, that one of these little ones should perish.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Feast Of Saint Lawrence, Deacon And Martyr

First Reading:  2 Corinthians 9:6-10

Now this I say: He who soweth sparingly, shall also reap sparingly: and he who soweth in blessings, shall also reap blessings. Every one as he hath determined in his heart, not with sadness, or of necessity: for God loveth a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound in you; that ye always, having all sufficiency in all things, may abound to every good work, As it is written: He hath dispersed abroad, he hath given to the poor: his justice remaineth for ever. And he that ministereth seed to the sower, will both give you bread to eat, and will multiply your seed, and increase the growth of the fruits of your justice:

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 112:5a; V. 1-2, 5-6, 7-8, 9 (DR--1-2,5-7a, 7b-8, 9)

R.  Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth:

V.  Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord:

     he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

     His seed shall be mighty upon earth:

     the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

V.  Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth:

     he shall order his words with judgment:

     Because he shall not be moved for ever.

     The just shall be in everlasting remembrance:

V.  (H)e shall not fear the evil hearing.

     His heart is ready to hope in the Lord:

     His heart is strengthened, he shall not be moved

     until he look over his enemies.

V.  He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor:

     his justice remaineth for ever and ever:

     his horn shall be exalted in glory.

Gospel Reading:  John 12:24-26

Amen, amen I say to you, unless the grain of wheat falling into the ground die, Itself remaineth alone. But if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit. He that loveth his life shall lose it; and he that hateth his life in this world, keepeth it unto life eternal. If any man minister to me, let him follow me; and where I am, there also shall my minister be. If any man minister to me, him will my Father honour.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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

First Reading:  1 Kings 19:9a, 11-13a

And when he was come thither, he abode in a cave:  And he said to him: Go forth, and stand upon the mount before the Lord: and behold the Lord passeth, and a great and strong wind before the Lord over throwing the mountains, and breaking the rocks in pieces: the Lord is not in the wind, and after the wind an earthquake: the Lord is not in the earthquake. And after the earthquake a fire: the Lord is not in the fire, and after the fire a whistling of a gentle air. And when Elias heard it, he covered his face with his mantle, and coming forth stood in the entering in of the cave,

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 85 (84):8; V. 9a, 10, 11-12, 13-14

R.  Shew us, O Lord, thy mercy; and grant us thy salvation.

V.  I will hear what the Lord God will speak in me: 

     for he will speak peace unto his people:

     Surely his salvation is near to them that fear him:

     that glory may dwell in our land.

V.  Mercy and truth have met each other:

     justice and peace have kissed.

     Truth is sprung out of the earth:

     and justice hath looked down from heaven.

V.  For the Lord will give goodness:

     and our earth shall yield her fruit.

     Justice shall walk before him:

     and shall set his steps in the way.

Second Reading:  Romans 9:1-5

I speak the truth in Christ, I lie not, my conscience bearing me witness in the Holy Ghost:  That I have great sadness, and continual sorrow in my heart. For I wished myself to be an anathema from Christ, for my brethren, who are my kinsmen according to the flesh, Who are Israelites, to whom belongeth the adoption as of children, and the glory, and the testament, and the giving of the law, and the service of God, and the promises:  Whose are the fathers, and of whom is Christ, according to the flesh, who is over all things, God blessed for ever. Amen.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 14:22-33

And forthwith Jesus obliged his disciples to go up into the boat, and to go before him over the water, till he dismissed the people. And having dismissed the multitude, he went into a mountain alone to pray. And when it was evening, he was there alone. But the boat in the midst of the sea was tossed with the waves: for the wind was contrary. And in the fourth watch of the night, he came to them walking upon the sea. And they seeing him walk upon the sea, were troubled, saying: It is an apparition. And they cried out for fear. And immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying: Be of good heart: it is I, fear ye not. And Peter making answer, said: Lord, if it be thou, bid me come to thee upon the waters. And he said: Come. And Peter going down out of the boat, walked upon the water to come to Jesus. But seeing the wind strong, he was afraid: and when he began to sink, he cried out, saying: Lord, save me. And immediately Jesus stretching forth his hand took hold of him, and said to him: O thou of little faith, why didst thou doubt? And when they were come up into the boat, the wind ceased. And they that were in the boat came and adored him, saying: Indeed thou art the Son of God.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Dominic, Priest

First Reading:  1 Corinthians 2:1-10a

And I, brethren, when I came to you, came not in loftiness of speech or of wisdom, declaring unto you the testimony of Christ. For I judged not myself to know anything among you, but Jesus Christ, and him crucified. And I was with you in weakness, and in fear, and in much trembling. And my speech and my preaching was not in the persuasive words of human wisdom, but in shewing of the Spirit and power; That your faith might not stand on the wisdom of men, but on the power of God. Howbeit we speak wisdom among the perfect: yet not the wisdom of this world, neither of the princes of this world that come to nought; But we speak the wisdom of God in a mystery, a wisdom which is hidden, which God ordained before the world, unto our glory:  Which none of the princes of this world knew; for if they had known it, they would never have crucified the Lord of glory. But, as it is written: That eye hath not seen, nor ear heard, neither hath it entered into the heart of man, what things God hath prepared for them that love him. But to us God hath revealed them, by his Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 96 (95):3; V. 1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8a, 10

R.  Declare his glory among the Gentiles: his wonders among all people.

V.  Sing ye to the Lord a new canticle:

     sing to the Lord, all the earth.

     Sing ye to the Lord and bless his name:

V.  (S)hew forth his salvation from day to day.

     Declare his glory among the Gentiles:

     his wonders among all people.

V.  Bring ye to the Lord, O ye kindreds of the Gentiles,

     bring ye to the Lord glory and honour:

     Bring to the Lord glory unto his name.

V.  Say ye among the Gentiles, the Lord hath reigned.

     For he hath corrected the world, which shall not be moved:

     he will judge the people with justice.

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 8/8/2025.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Eighteenth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Habakkuk 1:12—2:4

Wast thou not from the beginning, O Lord my God, my holy one, and we shall not die? Lord, thou hast appointed him for judgment: and made him strong for correction. Thy eyes are too pure to behold evil, and thou canst not look on iniquity. Why lookest thou upon them that do unjust things, and holdest thy peace when the wicked devoureth the man that is more just than himself? And thou wilt make men as the fishes of the sea, and as the creeping things that have no ruler. He lifted up all them with his hook, he drew them in his drag, and gathered them into his net: for this he will be glad and rejoice. Therefore will he offer victims to his drag, and he will sacrifice to his net: because through them his portion is made fat, and his meat dainty. For this cause therefore he spreadeth his net, and will not spare continually to slay the nations. I will stand upon my watch, and fix my foot upon the tower: and I will watch, to see what will be said to me, and what I may answer to him that reproveth me. And the Lord answered me, and said: Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables: that he that readeth it may run over it. For as yet the vision is far off, and it shall appear at the end, and shall not lie: if it make any delay, wait for it: for it shall surely come, and it shall not be slack. Behold, he that is unbelieving, his soul shall not be right in himself: but the just shall live in his faith.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 9:11b; V. 8-9, 10-11, 12-13

R.  (F)or thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord.

V.  But the Lord remaineth for ever.

     He hath prepared his throne in judgment:

     And he shall judge the world in equity,

     he shall judge the people in justice.

V.  And the Lord is become a refuge for the poor:

     a helper in due time in tribulation.

     And let them trust in thee who know thy name:

     for thou hast not forsaken them that seek thee, O Lord.

V.  Sing ye to the Lord, who dwelleth in Sion:

     declare his ways among the Gentiles:

     For requiring their blood he hath remembered them:

     he hath not forgotten the cry of the poor.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 17:14-20

And when he was come to the multitude, there came to him a man falling down on his knees before him, saying: Lord, have pity on my son, for he is a lunatic, and suffereth much: for he falleth often into the fire, and often into the water. And I brought him to thy disciples, and they could not cure him. Then Jesus answered and said: O unbelieving and perverse generation, how long shall I be with you? How long shall I suffer you? bring him hither to me. And Jesus rebuked him, and the devil went out of him, and the child was cured from that hour. Then came the disciples to Jesus secretly, and said: Why could not we cast him out? Jesus said to them: Because of your unbelief. For, amen I say to you, if you have faith as a grain of mustard seed, you shall say to this mountain, Remove from hence hither, and it shall remove; and nothing shall be impossible to you. But this kind is not cast out but by prayer and fasting.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Sixtus II, Pope And Martyr, And His Companions, Martyrs

First Reading:  Wisdom 3:1-9

But the souls of the just are in the hand of God, and the torment of death shall not touch them. In the sight of the unwise they seemed to die: and their departure was taken for misery:  And their going away from us, for utter destruction: but they are in peace. And though in the sight of men they suffered torments, their hope is full of immortality. Afflicted in few things, in many they shall be well rewarded: because God hath tried them, and found them worthy of himself. As gold in the furnace he hath proved them, and as a victim of a holocaust he hath received them, and in time there shall be respect had to them. The just shall shine, and shall run to and fro like sparks among the reeds. They shall judge nations, and rule over people, and their Lord shall reign for ever. They that trust in him, shall understand the truth: and they that are faithful in love shall rest in him: for grace and peace is to his elect. 

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 126 (125):5; V. 1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, (DR -7)

R.  They that sow in tears shall reap in joy.

V.  When the Lord brought back the captivity of Sion,

     we became like men comforted.

     Then was our mouth filled with gladness;

     and our tongue with joy.

V.  Then shall they say among the Gentiles:

     The Lord hath done great things for them.

     The Lord hath done great things for us:

     we are become joyful.

V.  Turn again our captivity, O Lord,

     as a stream in the south.

     They that sow in tears

     shall reap in joy.

V.  Going they went and wept,

     casting their seeds.

     But coming they shall come with joyfulness,

     carrying their sheaves.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 10:28-33

And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell. Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and not one of them shall fall on the ground without your Father. But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not therefore: better are you than many sparrows. Every one therefore that shall confess me before men, I will also confess him before my Father who is in heaven. But he that shall deny me before men, I will also deny him before my Father who is in heaven.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 8/7/2025.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Cajetan, Priest

First Reading:  Sirach 2:7-11

Ye that fear the Lord, wait for his mercy: and go not aside from him, lest ye fall. Ye that fear the Lord, believe him: and your reward shall not be made void. Ye that fear the Lord, hope in him: and mercy shall come to you for your delight. Ye that fear the Lord, love him, and your hearts shall be enlightened. My children behold the generations of men: and know ye that no one hath hoped in the Lord, and hath been confounded.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 112:1a; V. 1-2, 3-4, 5-7a, 7b-8, 9

R.  Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord:

V.  Blessed is the man that feareth the Lord:

     he shall delight exceedingly in his commandments.

     His seed shall be mighty upon earth:

     the generation of the righteous shall be blessed.

V.  Glory and wealth shall be in his house:

     and his justice remaineth for ever and ever.

     To the righteous a light is risen up in darkness:

     he is merciful, and compassionate and just.

V.  Acceptable is the man that sheweth mercy and lendeth:

     he shall order his words with judgment:

     Because he shall not be moved for ever.

     The just shall be in everlasting remembrance:

V.  (H)e shall not fear the evil hearing.

     His heart is ready to hope in the Lord:

     His heart is strengthened,

     he shall not be moved until he look over his enemies.

V.  He hath distributed, he hath given to the poor:

     his justice remaineth for ever and ever:

     his horn shall be exalted in glory.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 12:32-34

Fear not, little flock, for it hath pleased your Father to give you a kingdom. Sell what you possess and give alms. Make to yourselves bags which grow not old, a treasure in heaven which faileth not: where no thief approacheth, nor moth corrupteth. For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 8/7/2025.