- Readings for the Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children Reading 1 1 Samuel 18:6-9; 19:1-7 When David and Saul approached(on David’s return after slaying the Philistine),women came out from each of the cities of Israel to meet King Saul,singing and dancing, with tambourines, joyful songs, and sistrums.The women played and sang:“Saul has slain his thousands,and David his ten thousands.”Saul was very angry and resentful of the song, for he thought:“They give David ten thousands, but only thousands to me.All that remains for him is the kingship.”And from that day on, Saul was jealous of David.Saul discussed […]
- Readings for the Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin and Martyr Reading 1 1 Samuel 17:32-33, 37, 40-51 David spoke to Saul:"Let your majesty not lose courage.I am at your service to go and fight this Philistine."But Saul answered David,"You cannot go up against this Philistine and fight with him,for you are only a youth, while he has been a warrior from his youth."David continued:"The LORD, who delivered me from the claws of the lion and the bear,will also keep me safe from the clutches of this Philistine."Saul answered David, "Go! the LORD will be with you."Then, staff in hand, David […]
- Reading I 1 Samuel 16:1-13 The LORD said to Samuel:“How long will you grieve for Saul,whom I have rejected as king of Israel?Fill your horn with oil, and be on your way.I am sending you to Jesse of Bethlehem,for I have chosen my king from among his sons.”But Samuel replied:“How can I go?Saul will hear of it and kill me.”To this the LORD answered:“Take a heifer along and say,‘I have come to sacrifice to the LORD.’Invite Jesse to the sacrifice, and I myself will tell you what to do;you are to anoint for me the one I point out to […]
- Reading 1 1 Samuel 15:16-23 Samuel said to Saul:“Stop! Let me tell you what the LORD said to me last night.”Saul replied, “Speak!”Samuel then said: “Though little in your own esteem,are you not leader of the tribes of Israel?The LORD anointed you king of Israel and sent you on a mission, saying,‘Go and put the sinful Amalekites under a ban of destruction.Fight against them until you have exterminated them.’Why then have you disobeyed the LORD?You have pounced on the spoil, thus displeasing the LORD.”Saul answered Samuel: “I did indeed obey the LORDand fulfill the mission on which the LORD sent […]
- Reading 1 Isaiah 49:3, 5-6 The LORD said to me: You are my servant,Israel, through whom I show my glory.Now the LORD has spokenwho formed me as his servant from the womb,that Jacob may be brought back to himand Israel gathered to him;and I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD,and my God is now my strength!It is too little, the LORD says, for you to be my servant,to raise up the tribes of Jacob,and restore the survivors of Israel;I will make you a light to the nations,that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth. […]
- Readings for the Memorial of Saint Anthony, abbot Reading I 1 Samuel 9:1-4, 17-19; 10:1 There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish,who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror,son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man.There was no other child of Israel more handsome than Saul;he stood head and shoulders above the people.Now the asses of Saul’s father, Kish, had wandered off.Kish said to his son Saul, “Take one of the servants with youand go out and hunt for the asses.”Accordingly they went through the hill […]
- Reading I 1 Samuel 8:4-7, 10-22a All the elders of Israel came in a body to Samuel at Ramahand said to him, “Now that you are old,and your sons do not follow your example,appoint a king over us, as other nations have, to judge us.”Samuel was displeased when they asked for a king to judge them.He prayed to the LORD, however, who said in answer:“Grant the people’s every request.It is not you they reject, they are rejecting me as their king.”Samuel delivered the message of the LORD in fullto those who were asking him for a king.He told them:“The rights […]
- Reading I 1 Samuel 4:1-11 The Philistines gathered for an attack on Israel.Israel went out to engage them in battle and camped at Ebenezer,while the Philistines camped at Aphek.The Philistines then drew up in battle formation against Israel.After a fierce struggle Israel was defeated by the Philistines,who slew about four thousand men on the battlefield.When the troops retired to the camp, the elders of Israel said“Why has the LORD permitted us to be defeated todayby the Philistines?Let us fetch the ark of the Lord from Shilohthat it may go into battle among usand save us from the grasp of our […]
