Monday March 6:
Ninth Monday in Ordinary Time

Green vestments

First Reading: 2 Peter 1: 2-7
Responsorial: Psalm 91: 1-2, 14-16
Gospel Reading: Mark 12: 1-12

Tuesday March 7:
Feast of the the martyrs Saint Perpetua and Saint Felicity

Red vestments

First Reading: 2 Peter 3: 12-15, 17-18
Responsorial: Psalm 90: 2-4, 10, 14, 16
Gospel Reading: Mark 12: 13-17

    These two women were martyred at Carthage on the northern coast of what is today Libya by the Romans. Though persecution and the slaughter of Christians was terrible in Rome itself, the senseless slaying of Christians was even worse in Africa and Egypt. Though Perpetua's father tried to intercede so that she would not embarass the family, her faith was more important to her than family and she would not renounce her belief in Jesus Christ as her Savior. Her refusal to adhere to the pagan wishes of her father moved servants under her father to join her in her faith, one of which was Felicitas or Felicity as she has come to be known. A covey of wild animals from leopards to bears to wild bulls were unleashed on the helpless Christians in the great arena of Carthage and to the sadistic delight of thousands both Perpetua and Felicitas were gored to death by the bulls. They are commemorated daily in the Canon of the Mass among the mentioned martyrs.

          

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