Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Reading 1 Wis 6:1-11

Hear, O kings, and understand;
learn, you magistrates of the earth's expanse!
Hearken, you who are in power over the multitude
and lord it over throngs of peoples!
Because authority was given you by the Lord
and sovereignty by the Most High,
who shall probe your works and scrutinize your counsels.
Because, though you were ministers of his kingdom, you judged not rightly,
and did not keep the law,
nor walk according to the will of God,
Terribly and swiftly shall he come against you,
because judgment is stern for the exalted–
For the lowly may be pardoned out of mercy
but the mighty shall be mightily put to the test.
For the Lord of all shows no partiality,
nor does he fear greatness,
Because he himself made the great as well as the small,
and he provides for all alike;
but for those in power a rigorous scrutiny impends.
To you, therefore, O princes, are my words addressed
that you may learn wisdom and that you may not sin.
For those who keep the holy precepts hallowed shall be found holy,
and those learned in them will have ready a response.
Desire therefore my words;
long for them and you shall be instructed.

Responsorial Psalm Ps 82:3-4, 6-7

R. (8a) Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.
Defend the lowly and the fatherless;
render justice to the afflicted and the destitute.
Rescue the lowly and the poor;
from the hand of the wicked deliver them.
R. Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.
I said: "You are gods,
all of you sons of the Most High;
yet like men you shall die,
and fall like any prince."
R. Rise up, O God, bring judgment to the earth.

Alleluia 1 Thes 5:18

R. Alleluia, alleluia.
In all circumstances, give thanks,
for this is the will of God for you in Christ Jesus.
R. Alleluia, alleluia.

Gospel Lk 17:11-19

As Jesus continued his journey to Jerusalem,
he traveled through Samaria and Galilee.
As he was entering a village, ten lepers met him.
They stood at a distance from him and raised their voice, saying,
"Jesus, Master! Have pity on us!"
And when he saw them, he said,
"Go show yourselves to the priests."
As they were going they were cleansed.
And one of them, realizing he had been healed,
returned, glorifying God in a loud voice;
and he fell at the feet of Jesus and thanked him.
He was a Samaritan.
Jesus said in reply,
"Ten were cleansed, were they not?
Where are the other nine?
Has none but this foreigner returned to give thanks to God?"
Then he said to him, "Stand up and go;
your faith has saved you."

For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, please go here.

From: Wisdom 6:1-11

Exhortation to rulers

[1] Listen, therefore, O kings, and understand;
learn, O judges of the ends of the earth.
[2] Give ear, you that rule over multitudes,
and boast of many nations.
[3] For your dominion was given you from the Lord,
and your sovereignty from the Most High,
who will search out your works and inquire into your plans.
[4] Because as servants of his kingdom you did not rule rightly,
not keep the law.
nor walk according to the purpose of God,
[5] he will come upon you terribly and swiftly,
because severe judgment falls on those in high places.
[6] For the lowliest man may be pardoned in mercy,
but mighty men will be mightily tested.
[7] For the Lord of all will not stand in awe of any one,
nor show deference to greatness;
because he himself made both small and great,
and he takes thought for all alike.
[8] But a strict inquiry is in story for the mighty.
[9] To you then, O monarchs, my words are directed,
that you may learn wisdom and not transgress.
[10] For they will be made holy who observe holy things in holiness,
and those who have been taught them will find a defence.
[11] Therefore set your desire on my words;
long for them, and you will be instructed.

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Commentary:

6:1-11. God will be particularly severe with kings and rulers when he judges
them; and there can be no appeal. His scrutiny will extend beyond their doings,
into their most hidden thoughts. But to the lowly he will be kind. This is an idea
we find in the song of Hannah, the mother of Samuel (cf. 1 Sam 2:4, 8-10), and
in the Magnificat of our Lady (cf. Lk 1:51-53): God will exalt the lowly and the
“poor”, those who cannot raise themselves up, but who trust in God; but he will
topple the “mighty” and the proud. It is a divine paradox, which seems to invert
human values (cf. Phil 2:6-11).

*********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

From: Luke 17:11-19

The Ten Lepers

[11] On the way to Jerusalem He (Jesus) was passing along between Samaria
and Galilee. [12] And as He entered the village, He was met by ten lepers, who
stood at a distance [13] and lifted up their voices and said, “Jesus, Master, have
mercy on us.” [14] When He saw them He said to them, “Go and show your-
selves to the priests.” And as they went they were cleansed. [15] Then one of
them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, praising God with a loud
voice; [16] and he fell on his face at Jesus’ feet, giving Him thanks. Now he was
a Samaritan. [17] Then said Jesus, “Were not ten cleansed? Where are the
nine? [18] Was no one found to return and give praise to God except this foreig-
ner?” [19] And He said to him, “Rise and go your way; your faith has made you
well.”

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Commentary:

11-19. The setting of this episode explains how a Samaritan could be in the com-
pany of Jews. There was no love lost between Jews and Samaritans (cf. John 4:
9), but shared pain, in the case of these lepers, overcame racial antipathy.

The Law of Moses laid down, to prevent the spread of the disease, that lepers
should live away from other people and should let it be known that they were suf-
fering from this disease (cf. Leviticus 13:45-46). This explains why they did not
come right up to Jesus and His group, but instead begged His help by shouting
from a distance. Before curing them our Lord orders them to go to the priests to
have their cure certified (cf. Leviticus 14:2ff), and to perform the rites laid down.
The lepers’ obedience is a sign of faith in Jesus’ words. And, in fact, soon after
setting out they are cleansed.

However, only one of them, the Samaritan, who returns praising God and sho-
wing his gratitude for the miracle, is given a much greater gift than the cure of le-
prosy. Jesus says as much: “Your faith has made you well” (verse 19) and prai-
ses the man’s gratefulness. The Gospel records this event to teach us the value
of gratefulness: “Get used to lifting your heart to God, in acts of thanksgiving,
many times a day. Because He gives you this and that. Because you have been
despised. Because you haven’t what you need or because you have.

“Because He made His Mother so beautiful, His Mother who is also your Mo-
ther. Because He created the sun and the moon and this animal and that plant.
Because He made that man eloquent and you He left tongue-tied ....

“Thank Him for everything, because everything is good” (St. J. Escriva, “The
Way”, 268).

********************************************************************************************
Source: “The Navarre Bible: Text and Commentaries”. Biblical text from the
Revised Standard Version and New Vulgate. Commentaries by members of
the Faculty of Theology, University of Navarre, Spain.

Published by Four Courts Press, Kill Lane, Blackrock, Co. Dublin, Ireland, and
by Scepter Publishers in the United States.

Scripture readings from the Jerusalem Bible by Darton, Longman & Todd

Readings at Mass

Liturgical Colour: Green.

First reading	Wisdom 6:1-11 ©

Kings, your power is a gift to you from the Lord

Listen, kings, and understand;

rulers of remotest lands, take warning;

hear this, you who have thousands under your rule,

who boast of your hordes of subjects.

For power is a gift to you from the Lord,

sovereignty is from the Most High;

he himself will probe your acts and scrutinise your intentions.

If, as administrators of his kingdom, you have not governed justly

nor observed the law,

nor behaved as God would have you behave,

he will fall on you swiftly and terribly.

Ruthless judgement is reserved for the high and mighty;

the lowly will be compassionately pardoned,

the mighty will be mightily punished.

For the Lord of All does not cower before a personage,

he does not stand in awe of greatness,

since he himself has made small and great

and provides for all alike;

but strict scrutiny awaits those in power.

Yes, despots, my words are for you,

that you may learn what wisdom is and not transgress;

for they who observe holy things holily will be adjudged holy,

and, accepting instruction from them, will find their defence in them.

Look forward, therefore, to my words;

yearn for them, and they will instruct you.

Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 81(82):3-4,6-7 ©

Arise, O God, to judge the earth.

Do justice for the weak and the orphan,

defend the afflicted and the needy.

Rescue the weak and the poor;

set them free from the hand of the wicked.

Arise, O God, to judge the earth.

I have said to you: “You are gods

and all of you, sons of the Most High.”

And yet, you shall die like men,

you shall fall like any of the princes.’

Arise, O God, to judge the earth.

Gospel Acclamation	cf.2Th2:14

Alleluia, alleluia!

Through the Good News God called us

to share the glory of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Alleluia!

Or:	1Th5:18

Alleluia, alleluia!

For all things give thanks,

because this is what God expects you to do in Christ Jesus.

Alleluia!

Gospel	Luke 17:11-19 ©

No-one has come back to praise God, only this foreigner

On the way to Jerusalem Jesus travelled along the border between Samaria and Galilee. As he entered one of the villages, ten lepers came to meet him. They stood some way off and called to him, ‘Jesus! Master! Take pity on us.’ When he saw them he said, ‘Go and show yourselves to the priests.’ Now as they were going away they were cleansed. Finding himself cured, one of them turned back praising God at the top of his voice and threw himself at the feet of Jesus and thanked him. The man was a Samaritan. This made Jesus say, ‘Were not all ten made clean? The other nine, where are they? It seems that no one has come back to give praise to God, except this foreigner.’ And he said to the man, ‘Stand up and go on your way. Your faith has saved you.’

Luke
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Luke 17
11.	And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.	Et factum est, dum iret in Jerusalem, transibat per mediam Samariam et Galilæam.	και εγενετο εν τω πορευεσθαι αυτον εις ιερουσαλημ και αυτος διηρχετο δια μεσου σαμαρειας και γαλιλαιας
12.	And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off;	Et cum ingrederetur quoddam castellum, occurrerunt ei decem viri leprosi, qui steterunt a longe :	και εισερχομενου αυτου εις τινα κωμην απηντησαν αυτω δεκα λεπροι ανδρες οι εστησαν πορρωθεν
13.	And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us.	et levaverunt vocem, dicentes : Jesu præceptor, miserere nostri.	και αυτοι ηραν φωνην λεγοντες ιησου επιστατα ελεησον ημας
14.	Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean.	Quos ut vidit, dixit : Ite, ostendite vos sacerdotibus. Et factum est, dum irent, mundati sunt.	και ιδων ειπεν αυτοις πορευθεντες επιδειξατε εαυτους τοις ιερευσιν και εγενετο εν τω υπαγειν αυτους εκαθαρισθησαν
15.	And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God.	Unus autem ex illis, ut vidit quia mundatus est, regressus est, cum magna voce magnificans Deum,	εις δε εξ αυτων ιδων οτι ιαθη υπεστρεψεν μετα φωνης μεγαλης δοξαζων τον θεον
16.	And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan.	et cecidit in faciem ante pedes ejus, gratias agens : et hic erat Samaritanus.	και επεσεν επι προσωπον παρα τους ποδας αυτου ευχαριστων αυτω και αυτος ην σαμαρειτης
17.	And Jesus answering, said, Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine?	Respondens autem Jesus, dixit : Nonne decem mundati sunt ? et novem ubi sunt ?	αποκριθεις δε ο ιησους ειπεν ουχι οι δεκα εκαθαρισθησαν οι δε εννεα που
18.	There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger.	Non est inventus qui rediret, et daret gloriam Deo, nisi hic alienigena.	ουχ ευρεθησαν υποστρεψαντες δουναι δοξαν τω θεω ει μη ο αλλογενης ουτος
19.	And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.	Et ait illi : Surge, vade : quia fides tua te salvum fecit.	και ειπεν αυτω αναστας πορευου η πιστις σου σεσωκεν σε

11. And it came to pass, as he went to Jerusalem, that he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee.
12. And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, which stood afar off:
13. And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy on us.
14. And when he saw them, he said to them, Go show yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, that, as they went, they were cleansed.
15. And one of them, when he saw that he was healed, turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God,
16. And fell down on his face at his feet, giving him thanks: and he was a Samaritan.
17. And Jesus answering said, Were there not ten cleansed? but where are the nine?
18. There are not found that returned to give glory to God, save this stranger.
19. And he said to him, Arise, go your way: your faith has made you whole.

AMBROSE; After speaking the foregoing parable, our Lord censures the ungrateful;

TITUS BOST. saying, And it came to pass, showing that the Samaritans were indeed well disposed towards the mercies above mentioned, but the Jews not so. For there was enmity between the Jews and the Samaritans, and He to allay this, passed into the midst of both nations, that he might cement both into one new man.

CYRIL; The Savior next manifests His glory by drawing over Israel to the faith. As it follows, And as he entered into a certain village, there met him ten men that were lepers, men who were banished from the towns and cities, and counted unclean, according to the rites of the Mosaic law.

TITUS BOST. They associated together from the sympathy they felt as partakers of the same calamity, and were waiting till Jesus passed, anxiously looking out to see Him approach. As it is said, Which stood afar off, for the Jewish law esteems leprosy unclean, whereas the law of the Gospel calls unclean not the outward, but the inward leprosy.

THEOPHYL. They therefore stand afar off as if ashamed of the uncleanness which was impaled to them, thinking that Christ would loathe them as others did. Thus they stood afar off, but were made nigh to Him by their prayers. For the Lord is nigh to all them that call upon him in truth. Therefore it follows, And they lifted up their voices, and said, Jesus, Master, have mercy upon us.

TITUS BOST. They pronounce the name of Jesus, and gain to themselves the reality. For Jesus is by interpretation Savior. They say, Have mercy upon us, because they were sensible of His power, and sought neither for gold and silver, but that their bodies might put on again a healthful appearance.

THEOPHYL. They do not merely supplicate or entreat Him as if He were a man, but they call Him Master or Lord, as if almost they looked upon Him as God. But He bids them show themselves to the priests, as it follows, And when he saw them, he said, Go, show yourselves to the priests. For they were examined whether they were cleansed from their leprosy or not.

CYRIL; The law also ordered, that those who were cleansed from leprosy should offer sacrifice for the sake of their purification.

THEOPHYL. Therefore in bidding them go to the priests he meant nothing more than that they were just about to be healed; and so it follows, And it came to pass that as they went they were healed.

CYRIL; Whereby the Jewish priests who were jealous of His glory might know that it was by Christ granting them health that they were suddenly and miraculously healed.

THEOPHYL. But out of the ten, the nine Israelites were ungrateful, whereas the Samaritan stranger returned and lifted up his voice in thanksgiving, as it follows, And one of them turned back, and with a loud voice glorified God.

TITUS BOST. When he found that he was cleansed, he had boldness to draw near, as it follows, And fell down on his face at his feet giving him thanks. Thus by his prostration and prayers shelving at once both his faith and his gratitude. It follows, And he was a Samaritan.

THEOPHYL. We may gather from this that a man is not one whit hindered from pleasing God because he comes from a cursed race, only let him bear in his heart an honest purpose. Further, let not him that is born of saints boast himself, for the nine who were Israelites were ungrateful; and hence it follows, And Jesus answering him said, Were there not ten cleansed?

TITUS BOST. Wherein it is shown, that strangers were more ready to receive the faith, but Israel was slow to believe; and so it follows, And he said to him, Arise, go your way, your faith has made you whole.

AUG. The lepers may be taken mystically for those who, having no knowledge of the true faith, profess various erroneous doctrines. For they do not conceal their ignorance, but brazen it forth as the highest wisdom, making a vain show of it with boasting words. But since leprosy is a blemish in color, when true things appear clumsily mixed up with false in a single discourse or narration, as in the color of a single body, they represent a leprosy streaking and disfiguring as it were with true and false dyes the color of the human form. Now these lepers must be so put away from the Church, that being as far removed as possible, they may with loud shouts call upon Christ. But by their calling Him Teacher, I think it is plainly implied that leprosy is truly the false doctrine which the good teacher may wash away. Now we find that of those upon whom our Lord bestowed bodily mercies, not one did He send to the priests, save the lepers, for the Jewish priesthood was a figure of that priesthood which is in the Church. All vices our Lord corrects and heals by His own power working inwardly in the conscience, but the teaching of infusion by means of the Sacrament, or of catechizing by word of mouth, was assigned to the Church. And as they went, they were cleansed; just as the Gentiles to whom Peter came, having not yet received the sacrament of Baptism, whereby we come spiritual to the priests, are declared cleansed by the infusion of the Holy Spirit. Whoever then follows true and sound doctrine in the fellowship of the Church, proclaiming himself to be free from the confusion of lies, as it were a leprosy, yet still ungrateful to his Cleanser does not prostrate himself with pious humility of thanksgiving, is like to those of whom the Apostle says, that when they knew God, they glorified him not as God, nor were thankful. Such then will remain in the ninth number as imperfect. For the nine need one, that by a certain form of unity they may be cemented together, in order to become ten. But he who gave thanks was approved of as a type of the one only Church. And since these were Jews, they are declared to have lost through pride the kingdom of heaven, wherein most of all unity is preserved. But the man who was a Samaritan, which is by interpretation “guardian,” giving back to Him who gave it that which he had received, according to the Psalm, My strength will I preserve for you, has kept the unity of the kingdom with humble devotion.

BEDE; He fell upon his face, because he blushes with shame when he remembers the evils he had committed. And he is commended to rise and walk, because he who, knowing his own weakness, lies lowly on the ground, is led to advance by the consolation of the divine word to mighty deeds. But if faith made him whole, who hurried himself back to give thanks, therefore does unbelief destroy those who have neglected to give glory to God for mercies received. Wherefore that we ought to increase our faith by humility, as it is declared in the former parable, so in this is it exemplified in the actions themselves.

Catena Aurea Luke 17

November 13 - Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini’s Story

Frances Xavier Cabrini was the first United States citizen to be canonized. Her deep trust in the loving care of her God gave her the strength to be a valiant woman doing the work of Christ.

Refused admission to the religious order which had educated her to be a teacher, she began charitable work at the House of Providence Orphanage in Cadogno, Italy. In September 1877, she made her vows there and took the religious habit.

When the bishop closed the orphanage in 1880, he named Frances prioress of the Missionary Sisters of the Sacred Heart. Seven young women from the orphanage joined her.

Since her early childhood in Italy, Frances had wanted to be a missionary in China but, at the urging of Pope Leo XIII, Frances went west instead of east. She traveled with six sisters to New York City to work with the thousands of Italian immigrants living there.

She found disappointment and difficulties with every step. When she arrived in New York, the house intended to be her first orphanage in the United States was not available. The archbishop advised her to return to Italy. But Frances, truly a valiant woman, departed from the archbishop’s residence all the more determined to establish that orphanage. And she did.

In 35 years, Frances Xavier Cabrini founded 67 institutions dedicated to caring for the poor, the abandoned, the uneducated and the sick. Seeing great need among Italian immigrants who were losing their faith, she organized schools and adult education classes.

As a child, she was always frightened of water, unable to overcome her fear of drowning. Yet, despite this fear, she traveled across the Atlantic Ocean more than 30 times. She died of malaria in her own Columbus Hospital in Chicago.

Reflection

The compassion and dedication of Mother Cabrini is still seen in hundreds of thousands of her fellow citizens who care for the sick in hospitals, nursing homes, and state institutions. We complain of increased medical costs in an affluent society, but the daily news shows us millions who have little or no medical care, and who are calling for new Mother Cabrinis to become citizen-servants of their land.

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini is the Patron Saint of:

Hospital Administrators
Immigrants
Impossible Causes
India

franciscanmedia.org

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November 13 2019

Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, Virgin

Reading 1 Wis 6:1-11

Responsorial Psalm Ps 82:3-4, 6-7

Alleluia 1 Thes 5:18

Gospel Lk 17:11-19

For the readings of the Memorial of Saint Francis Xavier Cabrini, please go here.

Readings at Mass

November 13 - Memorial of Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini’s Story

Reflection

Saint Frances Xavier Cabrini is the Patron Saint of: