Make a Daily Offering for the Pope's Intention: For the formation of men and women religious, and seminarians (Watch video) (Read Reflection) "Let us pray that men and women religious, and seminarians, grow in their own vocational journey through human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, that leads them to be credible witnesses of the Gospel."
16 Thursday
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Thursday in the Seventh Week of Easter
Mass of the day.
Preface of Ascension or of Easter "...in this time."
Cycle II
[300] Acts 22:30; 23:6-11;Ps 16:1-2a+5, 7-8, 9-10, 11; John 17:20-26.
Hours of the day.
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St Andrew Bobola, priest and martyr [SJ] Texts in the Jesuit Supplement. (Download Mass texts and Divine Office texts here)
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(From the Common of Martyrs Readings from the Common of Saints: Common of Martyrs: Readings outside Easter Time I. Wisdom 10:10-14; Ps 116(115):10+15, 16-17, 18-19; John 15:9-17. II. Phil 1:20b-26; Ps 31(30):3b-4, 6-8a, 16b-17, 21; Matt 10:16-22. III. 1 Pet 3:14-17; Ps 124(123):2-3, 4-5, 7cd-8; John 12:24-26. Common of Martyrs: Readings during Easter Time I. Rev 12:10-12b; Ps 34(33):2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9; John 17:11b-19.)
Anniversary:
111th anniversary of the death of F. Francis Ostrowski (59) d. 1913 at Chishawasha, BSA Co..
Anniversary:
62nd anniversary of the death of P. Bernard Whiteside (80) d. 1962 at Roehampton, England.
Birthday:
69th birthday of P. Gerard KARAS (born this day in 1955).
Birthday:
44th birthday of P. Tilimboyi Vincent NCHIMUNYA (born this day in 1980).
On this day in our Jesuit history...
Saint Andrew Bobola, Priest and Martyr (Optional Memorial)
Andrew Bobola (1591-1657) was born in Poland. In 1611 he entered the Jesuit novitiate in Vilnius, was ordained a priest in 1622, and then appointed to parishes in Nesvizh and Vilnius. In 1630 he was transferred to Bobruisk, a stronghold of Cossacks who persecuted Catholics. In 1657 he was captured and subjected to the most appalling tortures ever recorded of a martyr. Bobola’s battered corpse was interred in the cellar of the Jesuit church at Pinsk and discovered incorrupt forty-five years later. In 2002 Bobola was declared Patron Saint of Poland and of Warsaw archdiocese.
1578
Fr. Antonio Possevino received the abjuration of heresy and conversion to Catholicism of King John III of Sweden. The king later reverted to Protestantism.
1650
At Rome, in a General Chapter of the Discalced Carmelites, the Society was spoken of with great affection. A certain Carmelite was severely reprimanded and his life of St. Teresa condemned because he omitted from her writings all passages where she speaks in praise of the Society.
1657
St. Andrew Bobola, Memorial. He was martyred at Janow, Poland.
1657
The martyrdom at Janóv, Poland, of St. Andrzej Bobola, killed by Cossacks for his defense of faith.
1887
Traditional feast of St. John Nepomucene. Secondary Patron and Protector of the Society of Jesus. (1340-93, Patron of the Seal of Confession). He was declared Protector of our Reputation in 1887.
1988
In Paraguay, Pope John Paul II canonizes Roque Gonzalez, Alfonso Rodriguez and Juan del Castillo.
