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

First Reading:  Ezekiel 34:11-16

For thus saith the Lord God: Behold I myself will seek my sheep, and will visit them. As the shepherd visiteth his flock in the day when he shall be in the midst of his sheep that were scattered, so will I visit my sheep, and will deliver them out of all the places where they have been scattered in the cloudy and dark day. And I will bring them out from the peoples, and will gather them out of the countries, and will bring them to their own land: and I will feed them in the mountains of Israel, by the rivers, and in all the habitations of the land. I will feed them in the most fruitful pastures, and their pastures shall be in the high mountains of Israel: there shall they rest on the green grass, and be fed in fat pastures upon the mountains of Israel. I will feed my sheep: and I will cause them to lie down, saith the Lord God. I will seek that which was lost: and that which was driven away, I will bring again: and I will bind up that which was broken, and I will strengthen that which was weak, and that which was fat and strong I will preserve: and I will feed them in judgment.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 23 (22):1; V. 1-3a, 3b-4, 5, 6

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

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

      He hath set me in a place of pasture.

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

      He hath converted my soul.

V.  He hath led me on the paths of justice, for his own name's sake.

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

      I will fear no evils, for thou art with me.

      Thy rod and thy staff, they have comforted me.

V.  Thou hast prepared a table before me

      against them that afflict me.

      Thou hast anointed my head with oil;

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

V.  And thy mercy will follow me

     all the days of my life.

     And that I may dwell in the house of the Lord

     unto length of days.  

Gospel Reading:  John 10:11-16

I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd giveth his life for his sheep. But the hireling, and he that is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and flieth: and the wolf catcheth, and scattereth the sheep:  And the hireling flieth, because he is a hireling: and he hath no care for the sheep. I am the good shepherd; and I know mine, and mine know me. As the Father knoweth me, and I know the Father: and I lay down my life for my sheep. And other sheep I have, that are not of this fold: them also I must bring, and they shall hear my voice, and there shall be one fold and one shepherd.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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

First Reading:  Micah 6:1-4, 6-8

Hear ye what the Lord saith: Arise, contend thou in judgment against the mountains, and let the hills hear thy voice. Let the mountains hear the judgment of the Lord, and the strong foundations of the earth: for the Lord will enter into judgment with his people, and he will plead against Israel. O my people, what have I done to thee, or in what have I molested thee? answer thou me. For I brought thee up out of the land of Egypt, and delivered thee out of the house of slaves: and I sent before thy face Moses, and Aaron, and Mary. 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:  Psalm 50 (49):23b; V. 5-6, 8-9, 16bc-17, 21, 23

R.  (A)nd there is the way by which I will shew him the salvation of God.

V.  Gather ye together his saints to him:

     who set his covenant before sacrifices.

     And the heavens shall declare his justice:

     for God is judge.

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 12:38-42

Then some of the scribes and Pharisees answered him, saying: Master we would see a sign from thee. Who answering said to them: An evil and adulterous generation seeketh a sign: and a sign shall not be given it, but the sign of Jonas the prophet. For as Jonas was in the whale's belly three days and three nights: so shall the Son of man be in the heart of the earth three days and three nights. The men of Ninive shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because they did penance at the preaching of Jonas. And behold a greater than Jonas here. The queen of the south shall rise in judgment with this generation, and shall condemn it: because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and behold a greater than Solomon here.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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

First Reading:  Wisdom 12:13, 16-19

For there is no other God but thou, who hast care of all, that thou shouldst shew that thou dost not give judgment unjustly. For thy power is the beginning of justice: and because thou art Lord of all, thou makest thyself gracious to all. For thou shewest thy power, when men will not believe thee to be absolute in power, and thou convincest the boldness of them that know thee not. But thou being master of power, judgest with tranquillity; and with great favour disposest of us: for thy power is at hand when thou wilt. But thou hast taught thy people by such works, that they must be just and humane, and hast made thy children to be of a good hope: because in judging thou givest place for repentance for sins.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 86 (85):5a; V. 5-6, 9-10, 15-16

R.  For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild:

V.  For thou, O Lord, art sweet and mild:

     and plenteous in mercy to all that call upon thee.

     Give ear, O Lord, to my prayer:

     and attend to the voice of my petition.

V.  All the nations thou hast made shall come and adore before thee, O Lord:

     and they shall glorify thy name.

     For thou art great and dost wonderful things:

     thou art God alone.

V.  And thou, O Lord, art a God of compassion,

     and merciful, patient, and of much mercy, and true.

     O look upon me, and have mercy on me:

     give thy command to thy servant, and save the son of thy handmaid.

Second Reading:  Romans 8:26-27

Likewise the Spirit also helpeth our infirmity. For we know not what we should pray for as we ought; but the Spirit himself asketh for us with unspeakable groanings. And he that searcheth the hearts, knoweth what the Spirit desireth; because he asketh for the saints according to God.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 13:24-43

Another parable he proposed to them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is likened to a man that sowed good seeds in his field. But while men were asleep, his enemy came and oversowed cockle among the wheat and went his way. And when the blade was sprung up, and had brought forth fruit, then appeared also the cockle. And the servants of the goodman of the house coming said to him: Sir, didst thou not sow good seed in thy field? whence then hath it cockle? And he said to them: An enemy hath done this. And the servants said to him: Wilt thou that we go and gather it up? And he said: No, lest perhaps gathering up the cockle, you root up the wheat also together with it. Suffer both to grow until the harvest, and in the time of the harvest I will say to the reapers: Gather up first the cockle, and bind it into bundles to burn, but the wheat gather ye into my barn. Another parable he proposed unto them, saying: The kingdom of heaven is like to a grain of mustard seed, which a man took and sowed in his field. Which is the least indeed of all seeds; but when it is grown up, it is greater than all herbs, and becometh a tree, so that the birds of the air come, and dwell in the branches thereof. Another parable he spoke to them: The kingdom of heaven is like to leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, until the whole was leavened. All these things Jesus spoke in parables to the multitudes: and without parables he did not speak to them. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by the prophet, saying: I will open my mouth in parables, I will utter things hidden from the foundation of the world. Then having sent away the multitudes, he came into the house, and his disciples came to him, saying: Expound to us the parable of the cockle of the field. Who made answer and said to them: He that soweth the good seed, is the Son of man. And the field, is the world. And the good seed are the children of the kingdom. And the cockle, are the children of the wicked one. And the enemy that sowed them, is the devil. But the harvest is the end of the world. And the reapers are the angels. Even as cockle therefore is gathered up, and burnt with fire: so shall it be at the end of the world. The Son of man shall send his angels, and they shall gather out of his kingdom all scandals, and them that work iniquity. And shall cast them into the furnace of fire: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Then shall the just shine as the sun, in the kingdom of their Father. He that hath ears to hear, let him hear.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

DR Squared: Optional Memorial Of Saint Camillus De Lellis, Priest [In the Dioceses of the United States]

First Reading:  1 John 3:14-18

We know that we have passed from death to life, because we love the brethren. He that loveth not, abideth in death. Whosoever hateth his brother is a murderer. And you know that no murderer hath eternal life abiding in himself. In this we have known the charity of God, because he hath laid down his life for us: and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren. He that hath the substance of this world, and shall see his brother in need, and shall shut up his bowels from him: how doth the charity of God abide in him? My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 112 (111):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:  John 15:9-17

As the Father hath loved me, I also have loved you. Abide in my love. If you keep my commandments, you shall abide in my love; as I also have kept my Father's commandments, and do abide in his love. These things I have spoken to you, that my joy may be in you, and your joy may be filled. This is my commandment, that you love one another, as I have loved you. Greater love than this no man hath, that a man lay down his life for his friends. You are my friends, if you do the things that I command you. I will not now call you servants: for the servant knoweth not what his lord doth. But I have called you friends: because all things whatsoever I have heard of my Father, I have made known to you. You have not chosen me: but I have chosen you; and have appointed you, that you should go, and should bring forth fruit; and your fruit should remain: that whatsoever you shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you. These things I command you, that you love one another.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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Originally posted 7/18/2025.

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

First Reading:  Micah 2:1-5

Woe to you that devise that which is unprofitable, and work evil in your beds: in the morning light they execute it, because their hand is against God. And they have coveted fields, and taken them by violence, and houses they have forcibly taken away: and oppressed a man and his house, a man and his inheritance. Therefore thus saith the Lord: Behold, I devise an evil against this family: from which you shall not withdraw your necks, and you shall not walk haughtily, for this is a very evil time. In that day a parable shall be taken up upon you, and a song shall be sung with melody by them that say: We are laid waste and spoiled: the portion of my people is changed: how shall he depart from me, whereas he is returning that will divide our land? Therefore thou shalt have none that shall cast the cord of a lot in the assembly of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm:  Psalm 10 (9):1-2, 3-4, 7-8 (DR--7-9a), 14 (NB:  Psalms 9 and 10 are found together in the DR; current translations separate them.)

R.  (F)orget not the poor.

V.  Why, O Lord, hast thou retired afar off?

     why dost thou slight us in our wants, in the time of trouble?

     Whilst the wicked man is proud, the poor is set on fire:

     they are caught in the counsels which they devise.

V.  For the sinner is praised in the desires of his soul:

     and the unjust man is blessed.

     The sinner hath provoked the Lord

     according to the multitude of his wrath he will not seek him:

V.  His mouth is full of cursing, and of bitterness, and of deceit:

     under his tongue are labour and sorrow.

     He sitteth in ambush with the rich in private places,

     that he may kill the innocent.

     His eyes are upon the poor man:

V.  Thou seest it, for thou considerest labour and sorrow:

     that thou mayst deliver them into thy hands.

     To thee is the poor man left:

     thou wilt be a helper to the orphan.  

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 12:14-21

And the Pharisees going out made a consultation against him, how they might destroy him. But Jesus knowing it, retired from thence: and many followed him, and he healed them all. And he charged them that they should not make him known. That it might be fulfilled which was spoken by Isaias the prophet, saying:  Behold my servant whom I have chosen, my beloved in whom my soul hath been well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him, and he shall shew judgment to the Gentiles. He shall not contend, nor cry out, neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets. The bruised reed he shall not break: and smoking flax he shall not extinguish: till he send forth judgment unto victory. And in his name the Gentiles shall hope.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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

First Reading:  Isaiah 38:1-6, 21-22, 7-8

In those days Ezechias was sick even to death, and Isaias the son of Amos the prophet came unto him, and said to him: Thus saith the Lord: Take order with thy house, for thou shalt die, and not live. And Ezechias turned his face toward the wall, and prayed to the Lord, And said: I beseech thee, O Lord, remember how I have walked before thee in truth, and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight. And Ezechias wept with great weeping. And the word of the Lord came to Isaias, saying:  Go and say to Ezechias: Thus saith the Lord the God of David thy father: I have heard thy prayer, and I have seen thy tears: behold I will add to thy days fifteen years:  And I will deliver thee and this city out of the hand of the king of the Assyrians, and I will protect it. Now Isaias had ordered that they should take a lump of figs, and lay it as it plaster upon the wound, and that he should be healed. And Ezechias had said: What shall be the sign that I shall go up to the house of the Lord? And this shall be a sign to thee from the Lord, that the Lord will do this word which he hath spoken:  Behold I will bring again the shadow of the lines, by which it is now gone down in the sun dial of Achaz with the sun, ten lines backward. And the sun returned ten lines by the degrees by which it was gone down.

Responsorial Psalm:  Isaiah 38:17b; V. 10, 11, 12abcd, 16

R.  (B)ut thou hast delivered my soul that it should not perish,

V.  I said:

     In the midst of my days I shall go to the gates of hell:

     I sought for the residue of my years.

V.  I said: I shall not see the Lord God

     in the land of the living.

     I shall behold man no more,

     nor the inhabitant of rest.

V.  My generation is at an end,

     and it is rolled away from me, as a shepherd's tent.

     My life is cut off, as by a weaver:

     whilst I was yet but beginning, he cut me off:

V.  O Lord, if man's life be such,

     and the life of my spirit be in such things as these,

     thou shalt correct me, and make me to live.

Gospel Reading:  Matthew 12:1-8

At that time Jesus went through the corn on the sabbath: and his disciples being hungry, began to pluck the ears, and to eat. And the Pharisees seeing them, said to him: Behold thy disciples do that which is not lawful to do on the sabbath days. But he said to them: Have you not read what David did when he was hungry, and they that were with him:  How he entered into the house of God, and did eat the loaves of proposition, which it was not lawful for him to eat, nor for them that were with him, but for the priests only? Or have ye not read in the law, that on the sabbath days the priests in the temple break the sabbath, and are without blame? But I tell you that there is here a greater than the temple. And if you knew what this meaneth: I will have mercy, and not sacrifice: you would never have condemned the innocent. For the Son of man is Lord even of the sabbath.

The readings from the USCCB can be found here.

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.