SEPTEMBER 2  TWENTY-SECOND SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME
Dt 4:1-2, 6-8/Jas 1:17-18, 21b-22, 27/Mk 7:1-8, 14-15, 21-23 (125)

3 Monday Saint Gregory the Great, Pope and Doctor of the Church
Memorial
1 Cor 2:1-5/Lk 4:16-30 (431)

4 Tuesday
1 Cor 2:10b-16/Lk 4:31-37 (432)

5 Wednesday
1 Cor 3:1-9/Lk 4:38-44 (433)

6 Thursday
1 Cor 3:18-23/Lk 5:1-11 (434)

7 Friday
1 Cor 4:1-5/Lk 5:33-39 (435)

8 Saturday The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Feast
Mi 5:1-4a or Rom 8:28-30/Mt 1:1-16, 18-23 or 1:18-23 (636)

St.Gregory the Great (September 3) is one of 15 popes placed in the Roman calendar approved in 1969 by Pope Paul VI following the Second Vatican Council. Paul VI himself, to be canonized October 15th, will be added to that calendar joining Popes John XXIII and John Paul II, popes canonized since the Council.

Gregory’s celebration is an important memorial; the universal church honors and learns from him. His title “the Great” indicates his importance among the popes; he helped define the meaning of that office in the church. The eastern churches, the Anglican church and some Protestant churches honor him as a spiritual teacher.

As a teacher, Gregory pondered and commented on the scriptures, which he loved. He promoted the church’s liturgy as a school that forms us into the image of Christ. He was  a missionary who sought to bring the gospel to the ends of the earth.

Gregory is an important figure in the history of our church, particularly in the history of the papacy.

From now till the beginning of Advent we’ll be reading from Luke’s gospel at daily Mass, starting with chapter 4, the beginning of Jesus’ ministry in Galilee. Good readings to accompany Paul’s 1st Letter to the Corinthians, which describes that  young, troubled church. We’ill be reading Paul’s letter for the next few weeks.

On Saturday we celebrate The Nativity of the Blessed Virgin Mary, an important ecumenical feast that we share with the eastern churches since the 5th century.