OCTOBER 16 Mon Weekday [St Hedwig; St Margaret Mary] Rom 1:1-7/Lk 11:29-32 

17 Tue St Ignatius of Antioch, Rom 1:16-25/Lk 11:37-41

18 Wed St Luke,  2 Tm 4:10-17b/Lk 10:1-9 

19 Thu Sts John de Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues, Rom 3:21-30/Lk 11:47-54 

20 Fri St Paul of the Cross Rom 4:1-8/Lk 12:1-7 

21 Sat Weekday Rom 4:13, 16-18/Lk 12:8-12 

22 29th SUNDAY Is 45:1, 4-6/1 Thes 1:1-5b/Mt 22:15-21

We’re reading St.Paul’s important letter to the Romans for the next three weeks. “Of all the letters of Paul, that to the Christians at Rome has long held pride of place. It is the longest and most systematic unfolding of the apostle’s thought, expounding the gospel of God’s righteousness that saves all who believe (Rom 1:16–17); it reflects a universal outlook, with special implications for Israel’s relation to the church (Rom 9–11).” (Introduction, New American Bible)

Most of us look at the gospel and stop there. Fr. Frank Matera is his book “Preaching Romans” points out the benefit of taking a look at the letter, not in a classroom setting, analyzed exegetically, but in a worship setting that offers other readings, sacraments and saints that may throw light on its meaning. 

The semi-continuous reading of Romans is interrupted this week by important saints, like St. Paul of the Cross, this week. Still, it retains its own importance.

We can’t give attention to every reading and every saint. The liturgy is a feast and we have to choose our meal for the day, as it were. But the lectionary is also a school; it’s good to broaden the courses it offer. Also, like a school, it’s open tomorrow, next week, next year. 

In the United States the feast of St. Paul of the Cross was transferred to October 20th. The North American Jesuit martyrs keep the October 19th date.