12 November is the memorial of St. Josaphat, a Catholic of the Ruthenian rite. Josaphat Kuncewitcz born in the Ukraine of Orthodox parents about the year 1580. In 1604 he joined the Ukrainian Order of Saint Basil (Basilians) and later became as a famous preacher who worked to bring unity among the faithful, and bring strayed Christians back to the Church. n 1614 he was appointed archimandrite of Vilna, Russia and four years later archbishop of Polotzk; in this position he worked untiringly for Church reunion. On day when he visited Vitebsk (now in Russia), his enemies attacked his lodging and murdered a number of his companions. Meekly the man of God hastened toward the mob and, full of love, cried, "My children, what are you doing? If you have something against me, see, here I am." With furious cries of "Kill the papist!", they rushed upon him with gun and sword. Josaphat's body was thrown into the river but emerged, surrounded by rays of light, and was recovered. His murderers, when sentenced to death, repented their crime and became Catholics. In 1867, Josaphat was canonized by Pope Pius IX, becoming the first saint of the Eastern Church to be formally canonized by Rome. St. Josaphat is the patron saint of the Ukraine.
Stir up in your Church, we pray, O Lord, the Spirit that filled Saint Josaphat as he laid down his life for the sheep, so that through his intercession we, too, may be strengthened by the same Spirit and not be afraid to lay down our life for others. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. AMEN.
St. Josaphat, Bishop, Martyr (Memorial)
| Wisdom 2: 23 - 24 - 3: 1 - 9 | |
| 23 | for God created man for incorruption, and made him in the image of his own eternity, |
| 24 | but through the devil's envy death entered the world, and those who belong to his party experience it. |
| 1 | But the souls of the righteous are in the hand of God, and no torment will ever touch them. |
| 2 | In the eyes of the foolish they seemed to have died, and their departure was thought to be an affliction, |
| 3 | and their going from us to be their destruction; but they are at peace. |
| 4 | For though in the sight of men they were punished, their hope is full of immortality. |
| 5 | Having been disciplined a little, they will receive great good, because God tested them and found them worthy of himself; |
| 6 | like gold in the furnace he tried them, and like a sacrificial burnt offering he accepted them. |
| 7 | In the time of their visitation they will shine forth, and will run like sparks through the stubble. |
| 8 | They will govern nations and rule over peoples, and the Lord will reign over them for ever. |
| 9 | Those who trust in him will understand truth, and the faithful will abide with him in love, because grace and mercy are upon his elect, and he watches over his holy ones. |
Psalm
| Psalms 34: 2 - 3, 16 - 19 | |
| 2 | My soul makes its boast in the LORD; let the afflicted hear and be glad. |
| 3 | O magnify the LORD with me, and let us exalt his name together! |
| 16 | The face of the LORD is against evildoers, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth. |
| 17 | When the righteous cry for help, the LORD hears, and delivers them out of all their troubles. |
| 18 | The LORD is near to the brokenhearted, and saves the crushed in spirit. |
| 19 | Many are the afflictions of the righteous; but the LORD delivers him out of them all. |
Gospel
| Luke 17: 7 - 10 | |
| 7 | "Will any one of you, who has a servant plowing or keeping sheep, say to him when he has come in from the field, `Come at once and sit down at table'? |
| 8 | Will he not rather say to him, `Prepare supper for me, and gird yourself and serve me, till I eat and drink; and afterward you shall eat and drink'? |
| 9 | Does he thank the servant because he did what was commanded? |
| 10 | So you also, when you have done all that is commanded you, say, `We are unworthy servants; we have only done what was our duty.'" |
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