DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saints Cosmas And Damian, 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, 6

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.

++++++++++

Originally posted 9/26/2025.

DR Squared: Saturday Of The Twenty-Fifth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Ecclesiastes 11:9—12:8

Rejoice therefore, O young man, in thy youth, and let thy heart be in that which is good in the days of thy youth, and walk in the ways of thy heart, and in the sight of thy eyes: and know that for all these God will bring thee into judgment. Remove anger from thy heart, and put away evil from thy flesh. For youth and pleasure are vain. Remember thy Creator in the days of thy youth, before the time of affliction come, and the years draw nigh of which thou shalt say: They please me not:  Before the sun, and the light, and the moon, and the stars be darkened, and the clouds return after the rain:  When the keepers of the house shall tremble, and the strong men shall stagger, and the grinders shall be idle in a small number, and they that look through the holes shall be darkened:  And they shall shut the doors in the street, when the grinder's voice shall be low, and they shall rise up at the voice of the bird, and all the daughters of music shall grow deaf. And they shall fear high things, and they shall be afraid in the way, the almond tree shall flourish, the locust shall be made fat, and the caper tree shall be destroyed: because man shall go into the house of his eternity, and the mourners shall go round about in the street. Before the silver cord be broken, and the golden fillet shrink back, and the pitcher be crushed at the fountain, and the wheel be broken upon the cistern, And the dust return into its earth, from whence it was, and the spirit return to God, who gave it. Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes, and all things are vanity.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 90 (89):1; V. 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14 and 17

R.  Lord, thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation.

V.  Turn not man away to be brought low:

     and thou hast said: Be converted, O ye sons of men.

     For a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday, which is past.

     And as a watch in the night,

V.  Things that are counted nothing,

     shall their years be.

     In the morning man shall grow up like grass; in the morning he shall flourish and pass away:

     in the evening he shall fall, grow dry, and wither.

V.  Can number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known:

     and men learned in heart, in wisdom.

     Return, O Lord, how long?

     and be entreated in favour of thy servants.

V.  We are filled in the morning with thy mercy:

     and we have rejoiced, and are delighted all our days.

     And let the brightness of the Lord our God be upon us:

     and direct thou the works of our hands over us;

     yea, the work of our hands do thou direct.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 9:43b-45  (DR--44-45)

And all were astonished at the mighty power of God. But while all wondered at all the things he did, he said to his disciples: Lay you up in your hearts these words, for it shall come to pass, that the Son of man shall be delivered into the hands of men. But they understood not this word; and it was hid from them, so that they perceived it not. And they were afraid to ask him concerning this word.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Friday Of The Twenty-Fifth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Ecclesiastes 3:1-11

All things have their season, and in their times all things pass under heaven. A time to be born and a time to die. A time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted. A time to kill, and a time to heal. A time to destroy, and a time to build. A time to weep, and a time to laugh. A time to mourn, and a time to dance. A time to scatter stones, and a time to gather. A time to embrace, and a time to be far from embraces. A time to get, and a time to lose. A time to keep, and a time to cast away. A time to rend, and a time to sew. A time to keep silence, and a time to speak. A time of love, and a time of hatred. A time of war, and a time of peace. What hath man more of his labour? I have seen the trouble, which God hath given the sons of men to be exercised in it. He hath made all things good in their time, and hath delivered the world to their consideration, so that man cannot find out the work which God hath made from the beginning to the end.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 144 (143):1b; V. 1b and 2abc, 3-4

R.  Blessed be the Lord my God,

V.  Blessed be the Lord my God,

     My mercy, and my refuge:

     my support, and my deliverer:

     My protector, and I have hoped in him:

V.  Lord, what is man, that thou art made known to him?

     or the son of man, that thou makest account of him?

     Man is like to vanity:

     his days pass away like a shadow.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 9:18-22

And it came to pass, as he was alone praying, his disciples also were with him: and he asked them, saying: Whom do the people say that I am? But they answered, and said: John the Baptist; but some say Elias; and others say that one of the former prophets is risen again. And he said to them: But whom do you say that I am? Simon Peter answering, said: The Christ of God. But he strictly charging them, commanded they should tell this to no man. Saying: The Son of man must suffer many things, and be rejected by the ancients and chief priests and scribes, and be killed, and the third day rise again.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Thursday Of The Twenty-Fifth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Ecclesiastes 1:2-11

Vanity of vanities, said Ecclesiastes vanity of vanities, and all is vanity. What hath a man more of all his labour, that he taketh under the sun? One generation passeth away, and another generation cometh: but the earth standeth for ever. The sun riseth, and goeth down, and returneth to his place: and there rising again, Maketh his round by the south, and turneth again to the north: the spirit goeth forward surveying all places round about, and returneth to his circuits. All the rivers run into the sea, yet the sea doth not overflow: unto the place from whence the rivers come, they return, to flow again. All things are hard: man cannot explain them by word. The eye is not filled with seeing, neither is the ear filled with hearing. What is it that hath been? the same thing that shall be. What is it that hath been done? the same that shall be done. Nothing under the sun is new, neither is any man able to say: Behold this is new: for it hath already gone before in the ages that were before us. There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance with them that shall be in the latter end.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 90 (89):1b; V. 3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17bc

R.  Lord, thou hast been our refuge from generation to generation.

V.  Turn not man away to be brought low:

     and thou hast said: Be converted, O ye sons of men.

     For a thousand years in thy sight are as yesterday, which is past.

     And as a watch in the night,

V.  Things that are counted nothing,

     shall their years be.

     In the morning man shall grow up like grass; in the morning he shall flourish and pass         away:

     in the evening he shall fall, grow dry, and wither.

V.  Can number thy wrath? So make thy right hand known:

     and men learned in heart, in wisdom.

     Return, O Lord, how long?

     and be entreated in favour of thy servants.

V.  We are filled in the morning with thy mercy:

     and we have rejoiced, and are delighted all our days.

     (A)nd direct thou the works of our hands over us;

     yea, the work of our hands do thou direct.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 9:7-9

Now Herod, the tetrarch, heard of all things that were done by him; and he was in a doubt, because it was said By some, that John was risen from the dead: but by other some, that Elias had appeared; and by others, that one of the old prophets was risen again. And Herod said: John I have beheaded; but who is this of whom I hear such things? And he sought to see him.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Memorial Of Saint Pius Of Pietrelcina, Priest

First Reading:  Galatians 2:19-20

For I, through the law, am dead to the law, that I may live to God: with Christ I am nailed to the cross. And I live, now not I; but Christ liveth in me. And that I live now in the flesh: I live in the faith of the Son of God, who loved me, and delivered himself for me.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 128 (127):1a; V. 1-2, 3, 4-5

R.  Blessed are all they that fear the Lord:

V.  Blessed are all they that fear the Lord:

     that walk in his ways.

     For thou shalt eat the labours of thy hands:

     blessed art thou, and it shall be well with thee.

V.  Thy wife as a fruitful vine,

     on the sides of thy house.

     Thy children as olive plants,

     round about thy table.

V.  Behold, thus shall the man be blessed

     that feareth the Lord.

     May the Lord bless thee out of Sion:

     and mayest thou see the good things of Jerusalem

     all the days of thy life. 

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 16:24-27

Then Jesus said to his disciples: If any man will come after me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and follow me. For he that will save his life, shall lose it: and he that shall lose his life for my sake, shall find it. For what doth it profit a man, if he gain the whole world, and suffer the loss of his own soul? Or what exchange shall a man give for his soul? For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels: and then will he render to every man according to his works.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

++++++++++

Originally posted 9/23/2025.

DR Squared: Wednesday Of The Twenty-Fifth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Proverbs 30:5-9

Every word of God is fire tried: he is a buckler to them that hope in him. Add not any thing to his words, lest thou be reproved, and found a liar:  Two things I have asked of thee, deny them not to me before I die. Remove far from me vanity, and lying words. Give me neither beggary, nor riches: give me only the necessaries of life:  Lest perhaps being filled, I should be tempted to deny, and say: Who is the Lord? or being compelled by poverty, I should steal, and forswear the name of my God.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 119 (118):105a; V. 29, 72, 89, 101, 104, 163

R.  Thy word is a lamp to my feet,

V.  Remove from me the way of iniquity:

     and out of thy law have mercy on me.

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

     above thousands of gold and silver.

V.  For ever, O Lord,

     thy word standeth firm in heaven.

V.  I have restrained my feet from every evil way:

     that I may keep thy words.

V.  By thy commandments I have had understanding:

     therefore have I hated every way of iniquity.

V.  I have hated and abhorred iniquity;

     but I have loved thy law. 

Gospel Reading:  Luke 9:1-6

Then calling together the twelve apostles, he gave them power and authority over all devils, and to cure diseases. And he sent them to preach the kingdom of God, and to heal the sick. And he said to them: Take nothing for your journey; neither staff, nor scrip, nor bread, nor money; neither have two coats. And whatsoever house you shall enter into, abide there, and depart not from thence. And whosoever will not receive you, when ye go out of that city, shake off even the dust of your feet, for a testimony against them.  And going out, they went about through the towns, preaching the gospel, and healing everywhere. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Tuesday Of The Twenty-Fifth Week In Ordinary Time (Year II)

First Reading:  Proverbs 21:1-6, 10-13

As the divisions of waters, so the heart of the king is in the hand of the Lord: whithersoever he will he shall turn it. Every way of a man seemeth right to himself: but the Lord weigheth the hearts. To do mercy and judgment, pleaseth the Lord more than victims. Haughtiness of the eyes is the enlarging of the heart: the lamp of the wicked is sin. The thoughts of the industrious always bring forth abundance: but every sluggard is always in want. He that gathereth treasures by a lying tongue, is vain and foolish, and shall stumble upon the snares of death. The soul of the wicked desireth evil, he will not have pity on his neighbour. When a pestilent man is punished, the little one will be wiser: and if he follow the wise, he will receive knowledge. The just considereth seriously the house of the wicked, that he may withdraw the wicked from evil. He that stoppeth his ear against the cry of the poor, shall also cry himself and shall not be heard.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 119 (118):35a; V. 1, 27, 30, 34, 35, 44

R.  Lead me into the path of thy commandments;

V.  Blessed are the undefiled in the way,

     who walk in the law of the Lord.

V.  Make me to understand the way of thy justifications:

     and I shall be exercised in thy wondrous works.

V.  I have chosen the way of truth:

     thy judgments I have not forgotten.

V.  Give me understanding, and I will search thy law;

     and I will keep it with my whole heart.

V.  Lead me into the path of thy commandments;

     for this same I have desired.

V.  So shall I always keep thy law,

     for ever and ever.

Gospel Reading:  Luke 8:19-21

And his mother and brethren came unto him; and they could not come at him for the crowd. And it was told him: Thy mother and thy brethren stand without, desiring to see thee. Who answering, said to them: My mother and my brethren are they who hear the word of God, and do it.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Feast Of Saint Matthew, Apostle And Evangelist

First Reading:  Ephesians 4:1-7, 11-13

I therefore, a prisoner in the Lord, beseech you that you walk worthy of the vocation in which you are called, With all humility and mildness, with patience, supporting one another in charity. Careful to keep the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace. One body and one Spirit; as you are called in one hope of your calling. One Lord, one faith, one baptism. One God and Father of all, who is above all, and through all, and in us all. But to every one of us is given grace, according to the measure of the giving of Christ. And he gave some apostles, and some prophets, and other some evangelists, and other some pastors and doctors, For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ:  Until we all meet into the unity of faith, and of the knowledge of the Son of God, unto a perfect man, unto the measure of the age of the fulness of Christ;

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 19:2-3, 4-5

R.  (A)nd their words unto the ends of the world.

V.  The heavens shew forth the glory of God,

     and the firmament declareth the work of his hands.

     Day to day uttereth speech,

     and night to night sheweth knowledge.

V.  There are no speeches nor languages,

     where their voices are not heard.

     Their sound hath gone forth into all the earth:

     and their words unto the ends of the world.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 9:9-13

And when Jesus passed on from hence, he saw a man sitting in the custom house, named Matthew; and he saith to him: Follow me. And he rose up and followed him. And it came to pass as he was sitting at meat in the house, behold many publicans and sinners came, and sat down with Jesus and his disciples. And the Pharisees seeing it, said to his disciples: Why doth your master eat with publicans and sinners? But Jesus hearing it, said: They that are in health need not a physician, but they that are ill. Go then and learn what this meaneth, I will have mercy and not sacrifice. For I am not come to call the just, but sinners. 

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Twenty-Fifth Sunday In Ordinary Time (Year A)

First Reading:  Isaiah 55:6-9

Seek ye the Lord, while he may be found: call upon him, while he is near. Let the wicked forsake his way, and the unjust man his thoughts, and let him return to the Lord, and he will have mercy on him, and to our God: for he is bountiful to forgive. For my thoughts are not your thoughts: nor your ways my ways, saith the Lord. For as the heavens are exalted above the earth, so are my ways exalted above your ways, and my thoughts above your thoughts.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 145 (144):18a; V. 2-3, 8-9, 17-18

R.  The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him:

V.  Every day I will bless thee:

     and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.

     Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised:

     and of his greatness there is no end.

V.  The Lord is gracious and merciful:

     patient and plenteous in mercy.

     The Lord is sweet to all:

     and his tender mercies are over all his works.

V.  The Lord is just in all his ways:
     and holy in all his works.

     The Lord is nigh unto all them that call upon him:

     to all that call upon him in truth.

Second Reading:  Philippians 1:20c-24, 27a

(S)o now also shall Christ be magnified in my body, whether it be by life, or by death. For to me, to live is Christ; and to die is gain. And if to live in the flesh, this is to me the fruit of labour, and what I shall choose I know not. But I am straitened between two: having a desire to be dissolved and to be with Christ, a thing by far the better. But to abide still in the flesh, is needful for you. Only let your conversation be worthy of the gospel of Christ:

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 20:1-16a

The kingdom of heaven is like to an householder, who went out early in the morning to hire labourers into his vineyard. And having agreed with the labourers for a penny a day, he sent them into his vineyard. And going out about the third hour, he saw others standing in the market place idle. And he said to them: Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just. And they went their way. And again he went out about the sixth and the ninth hour, and did in like manner. But about the eleventh hour he went out and found others standing, and he saith to them: Why stand you here all the day idle? They say to him: Because no man hath hired us. He saith to them: Go you also into my vineyard. And when evening was come, the lord of the vineyard saith to his steward: Call the labourers and pay them their hire, beginning from the last even to the first. When therefore they were come, that came about the eleventh hour, they received every man a penny. But when the first also came, they thought that they should receive more: and they also received every man a penny. And receiving it they murmured against the master of the house, Saying: These last have worked but one hour, and thou hast made them equal to us, that have borne the burden of the day and the heats. But he answering said to one of them: Friend, I do thee no wrong: didst thou not agree with me for a penny? Take what is thine, and go thy way: I will also give to this last even as to thee. Or, is it not lawful for me to do what I will? is thy eye evil, because I am good? So shall the last be first, and the first last.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Januarius, Bishop And Martyr

First Reading:  Hebrews 10:32-36

But call to mind the former days, wherein, being illuminated, you endured a great fight of afflictions. And on the one hand indeed, by reproaches and tribulations, were made a gazingstock; and on the other, became companions of them that were used in such sort. For you both had compassion on them that were in bands, and took with joy the being stripped of your own goods, knowing that you have a better and a lasting substance. Do not therefore lose your confidence, which hath a great reward. For patience is necessary for you; that, doing the will of God, you may receive the promise.

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:  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.

++++++++++

Originally posted 9/19/2025.