Today, October 9
Feast of the Day
No feast of the day
Saint of the Day
Little is known about the life and death of Denis, first Bishop of Paris. During a 3rd century persecution, the missionary Denis was preaching at Lutetia Parisorum (now Paris) when he and two companions, perhaps a priest and a deacon, suffered martyrdom. Later, a chapel was built over their tomb (on Montmartre, "the mount of martyrs") and grew into the great abbey of Saint Denis. During the Middle Ages the cult of Saint Denis was extremely popular. Denis is patron saint of France.
Saint John Leonardi
John Leonardi, born in Lucca about 1550, during the Catholic Reformation, was an assistant pharmacist when he decided to study for the priesthood. After ordination in 1572, he worked with the sick and imprisoned. His way of life soon attracted others and together they decided to form a new congregation of secular priests, the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God. He also helped establish the forerunner to the Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples. He died in Rome on this day in 1609, having caught the plague from those he tended.
©2011 Living with Christ, Novalis - Bayard Press Canada Inc., http://www.livingwithchrist.ca/. Reprinted with permission.
Readings of the Day
Letter to the Galatians 3,7-14.
Brothers and sisters: Realize that it is those who have faith who are children of Abraham. Scripture, which saw in advance that God would justify the Gentiles by faith, foretold the good news to Abraham, saying, "Through you shall all the nations be blessed." Consequently, those who have faith are blessed along with Abraham who had faith. For all who depend on works of the law are under a curse; for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who does not persevere in doing all the things written in the book of the law." And that no one is justified before God by the law is clear, for "the one who is righteous by faith will live." But the law does not depend on faith; rather, "the one who does these things will live by them." Christ ransomed us from the curse of the law by becoming a curse for us, for it is written, "Cursed be everyone who hangs on a tree," that the blessing of Abraham might be extended to the Gentiles through Christ Jesus, so that we might receive the promise of the Spirit through faith.
Psalms 111(110),1-2.3-4.5-6.
I will give thanks to the LORD with all my heart in the company and assembly of the just. Great are the works of the LORD, exquisite in all their delights. Majesty and glory are his work, and his justice endures forever. He has won renown for his wondrous deeds; gracious and merciful is the LORD. He has given food to those who fear him; He will forever be mindful of his covenant. He has made known to his people the power of his works, giving them the inheritance of the nations.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Luke 11,15-26.
When Jesus had driven out a demon, some of the crowd said: "By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons." Others, to test him, asked him for a sign from heaven. But he knew their thoughts and said to them, "Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters." When an unclean spirit goes out of someone, it roams through arid regions searching for rest but, finding none, it says, 'I shall return to my home from which I came.' But upon returning, it finds it swept clean and put in order. Then it goes and brings back seven other spirits more wicked than itself who move in and dwell there, and the last condition of that person is worse than the first."
Daily Reflection
At the sacred fountain of purity Where You created me anew, The demons of evil departed from me— Those that had entered through the serpent. As for them, wandering through arid places, Seeking souls free from vice, They found no resting place there, For they felt no ease within them. But because the source of the sickness of sin Wells up endlessly within me, And my very soul is arranged As a house and dwelling for him, Having taken seven companions— The most wicked for their depraved ways— The first demon gathered them to himself And returned with them to the house of my soul. My final state became worse Than the first in wickedness; For one can no longer be cleansed at the spring Save through asceticism and mortification. But he, being exceedingly cunning, Having occupied the fortress, Dominated it once again, Following his old tactic. Do You cast him out once more Into the desert of the abyss— Not according to the Law, But according to Your abundant grace. And in place of the seven evil spirits That You shall cast out as Adversaries, Deign to make the Spirit dwell within me— The Spirit of the seven gifts of Your grace.