ENG. Wednesday, Feb. 05, 2025. [홍/Red] Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr.

 

 

[Red] Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr.

Saint Agatha was born on the island of Sicily in southern Italy. From an early age, she was deeply devoted to God and chose to dedicate herself entirely to Him by living a life of virginity. In her commitment to preserving her purity, she endured severe torture and was martyred during the persecution of Emperor Decius (249–251 AD) at the hands of a local official who sought to possess her. Veneration of Saint Agatha spread widely throughout the early Church.

 

입당송  Introit Antiphon

Behold, now the brave virgin, a pure offering and a spotless sacrifice, follows the Lamb who was crucified for us.
< or >

The blessed virgin renounced herself and took up her cross, imitating the Lord, the Bridegroom of virgins and the King of martyrs.

 

 

본기도  Collect

Lord,
Blessed Agatha illumined the Church with the glory of virginity and martyrdom.
Hear her intercession and grant us Your mercy.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.…….

 

 

제 1독서   First Reading  
< The Lord disciplines those He loves. >

▥ A reading from the Letter to the Hebrews. Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15
Brothers and sisters:
In your struggle against sin
you have not yet resisted to the point of shedding blood.
You have also forgotten the exhortation addressed to you as children:

    My son, do not disdain the discipline of the Lord
        or lose heart when reproved by him;
    for whom the Lord loves, he disciplines;
        he scourges every son he acknowledges.

Endure your trials as “discipline”;
God treats you as his sons.
For what "son” is there whom his father does not discipline?
At the time, all discipline seems a cause not for joy but for pain,
yet later it brings the peaceful fruit of righteousness
to those who are trained by it.

So strengthen your drooping hands and your weak knees.
Make straight paths for your feet,
that what is lame may not be dislocated but healed.

Strive for peace with everyone,
and for that holiness without which no one will see the Lord.
See to it that no one be deprived of the grace of God,
that no bitter root spring up and cause trouble,
through which many may become defiled.


The Word of the Lord.
◎ Thanks be to God.

 

 

화답송  Responsorial Psalm Ps 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18a

◎ The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
○ Bless the LORD, O my soul; and all my being, bless his holy name.
      Bless the LORD, O my soul, and forget not all his benefits. ◎
○ The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
       As a father has compassion on his children,
       so the LORD has compassion on those who fear him,
       For he knows how we are formed; he remembers that we are dust. ◎
○ The Lord’s kindness is everlasting to those who fear him.
        But the kindness of the LORD is from eternity
        to eternity toward those who fear him,
        And his justice toward children’s children
        among those who keep his covenant. ◎

 

 

복음  환호송   Alleluia John 10:27

◎ Alleluia, alleluia.
○ My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.
◎ Alleluia, alleluia.

 

 

복음 Gospel
< A prophet is not without honor except
in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house. >

✠ The Holy Gospel according to Mark. Mark 6:1-6
Jesus departed from there and came to his native place,
accompanied by his disciples.
When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue,
and many who heard him were astonished.
They said, “Where did this man get all this?
What kind of wisdom has been given him?
What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands!
Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary,
and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon?
And are not his sisters here with us?”
And they took offense at him.
Jesus said to them,
“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place
and among his own kin and in his own house.”
So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there,
apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them.
He was amazed at their lack of faith.

The Gospel of the Lord.
◎ Praise to you, Lord Jesus Christ

< Alternatively, the memorial readings (1 Corinthians 1:26-31) and the Gospel (Luke 9:23-26) may be proclaimed. >

 

 

예물 기도  Prayer over the Gifts

Lord,
Just as You willingly accepted the life of Blessed Agatha,

who triumphed over persecution, as a worthy offering,
graciously accept this sacrifice which we offer in her honor.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.…….

 

 

감사송  Preface
< Preface of the Saints 1: The Glory of the Saints > 

Holy Father, almighty and eternal Lord God,
it is truly right and just, always and everywhere,
to give You thanks, for it is our duty and the way to salvation.
You are praised among the saints,
and You repay their merits, thus manifesting Your grace.
You also give us the saints as an example for our lives,
so that we may be united with them and receive their intercession.
We draw strength from these great witnesses,
fighting evil, overcoming trials, and running the course of our lives to the end,
to receive, through our Lord Jesus Christ,
with them, an imperishable crown of glory.
Therefore, with the angels, archangels, and all the hosts of saints,
we too give You praise and sing without end.

 

 

영성체송  Communion antiphon Revelation 7:17

The Lamb, who is in the center of the throne,

will shepherd them and lead them to springs of the water of life.

 

영성체 후 묵상  Meditation after Communion

< Let us take a moment to pray in our hearts, united with Christ. >

 

 

영성체 후 기도  Prayer after Communion

God,
You have granted Blessed Agatha, among the saints, the dual crowns of virginity and martyrdom.
Through the power of this sacrament, may we courageously overcome all evil and, in the end, attain the glory of heaven.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.…….

 

 

오늘의 묵상  Today's Meditation

In today's Gospel, the word "amazed" appears at both the beginning and the end, but the meaning differs. The amazement at Jesus' teachings and miracles should naturally lead to praise of the One who is the source of that amazement. However, the people in Jesus' hometown develop a twisted feeling of dissatisfaction toward Him.

What is the obstacle that prevents them from seeing the works of God for what they truly are? It is their own experiences and the framework of thoughts they believe to be true. Because they only knew Jesus superficially, having lived in the same town for thirty years, and because of their prejudice—thinking that a carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Judas could not possibly possess such profound teachings and miraculous powers—they failed to recognize the works of God. But God often bestows extraordinary grace in the midst of ordinary and natural circumstances.

The faith of those who wish to be healed activates the power of the healer. Jesus' statement, "He could not perform any mighty deed there" (Mark 6:5), reminds us that healing is not a one-sided or mechanical process but rather an interactive relationship through faith. Thus, while Jesus healed "everyone" in other places, in His hometown, He could only heal "a few sick people" (6:5). Unlike His words, "Let it be done according to your faith" (Matthew 9:29), in this case, things happened as they did because they lacked faith.

Let us ask for the ability to see the familiar in a new way within God, to look at what we think we know and see it anew, just as it truly is in this moment.

 

( Sister Bang Gracia, National Chunshim )