St. Blaise, Bishop and Martyr (Optional Memorial)

February 3, 2023

Saints

Daily Readings:

First Option

  • First Reading

    Hebrews 13:1-8

    1Let brotherly love continue. 2Do not neglect to show hospitality to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares. 3Remember those who are in prison, as though in prison with them; and those who are ill-treated, since you also are in the body. 4Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled; for God will judge the immoral and adulterous. 5Keep your life free from love of money, and be content with what you have; for he has said, "I will never fail you nor forsake you." 6Hence we can confidently say, "The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid; what can man do to me?" 7Remember your leaders, those who spoke to you the word of God; consider the outcome of their life, and imitate their faith. 8Jesus Christ is the same yesterday and today and for ever.

  • Responsorial Psalm

    Psalms 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9

    1The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? 3Though a host encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. 5For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent, he will set me high upon a rock. 8Thou hast said, "Seek ye my face." My heart says to thee, "Thy face, LORD, do I seek." 9Hide not thy face from me. Turn not thy servant away in anger, thou who hast been my help. Cast me not off, forsake me not, O God of my salvation!

  • Gospel

    Mark 6:14-29

    14King Herod heard of it; for Jesus' name had become known. Some said, "John the baptizer has been raised from the dead; that is why these powers are at work in him." 15But others said, "It is Eli'jah." And others said, "It is a prophet, like one of the prophets of old." 16But when Herod heard of it he said, "John, whom I beheaded, has been raised." 17For Herod had sent and seized John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Hero'di-as, his brother Philip's wife; because he had married her. 18For John said to Herod, "It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife." 19And Hero'di-as had a grudge against him, and wanted to kill him. But she could not, 20for Herod feared John, knowing that he was a righteous and holy man, and kept him safe. When he heard him, he was much perplexed; and yet he heard him gladly. 21But an opportunity came when Herod on his birthday gave a banquet for his courtiers and officers and the leading men of Galilee. 22For when Hero'di-as' daughter came in and danced, she pleased Herod and his guests; and the king said to the girl, "Ask me for whatever you wish, and I will grant it." 23And he vowed to her, "Whatever you ask me, I will give you, even half of my kingdom." 24And she went out, and said to her mother, "What shall I ask?" And she said, "The head of John the baptizer." 25And she came in immediately with haste to the king, and asked, saying, "I want you to give me at once the head of John the Baptist on a platter." 26And the king was exceedingly sorry; but because of his oaths and his guests he did not want to break his word to her. 27And immediately the king sent a soldier of the guard and gave orders to bring his head. He went and beheaded him in the prison, 28and brought his head on a platter, and gave it to the girl; and the girl gave it to her mother. 29When his disciples heard of it, they came and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.

Second Option

  • First Reading

    Romans 5:1-5

    1Therefore, since we are justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ. 2Through him we have obtained access to this grace in which we stand, and we rejoice in our hope of sharing the glory of God. 3More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, 4and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, 5and hope does not disappoint us, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit which has been given to us.

  • Responsorial Psalm

    Psalms 117:1-2

    1Praise the LORD, all nations! Extol him, all peoples! 2For great is his steadfast love toward us; and the faithfulness of the LORD endures for ever. Praise the LORD!

  • Gospel

    Mark 16:15-20

    15And he said to them, "Go into all the world and preach the gospel to the whole creation. 16He who believes and is baptized will be saved; but he who does not believe will be condemned. 17And these signs will accompany those who believe: in my name they will cast out demons; they will speak in new tongues; 18they will pick up serpents, and if they drink any deadly thing, it will not hurt them; they will lay their hands on the sick, and they will recover." 19So then the Lord Jesus, after he had spoken to them, was taken up into heaven, and sat down at the right hand of God. 20And they went forth and preached everywhere, while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the message by the signs that attended it. Amen.