Ordinary Time: June 14th
Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time; Ember Saturday
Other Commemorations: Elisha the Prophet (RM)
MASS READINGS
June 14, 2025 (Readings on USCCB website)
PROPERS [Show]
COLLECT PRAYER
Tenth Week in Ordinary Time: O God, from whom all good things come, grant that we, who call on you in our need, may at your prompting discern what is right, and by your guidance do it. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. for ever and ever.
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The Roman Martyrology commemorates the Old Testament Prophet, Elisha, the successor of Elijah. His feast day is observed by the Carmelites who claim descent from Elijah and Elisha who lived on Mount Carmel. He is also called Eliseus.
It is the traditional Ember Saturday of the Summer or Pentecost Embertide. This is the Ember Week's thanksgiving day. Ember Saturday was originally a nocturnal Vigil, a Vigil with a rich collection of Lessons and prayers, as preparation for Sunday's ordinations. The twelve Lessons in use before the time of St. Gregory the Great were reduced by him to six. Some are connected with Pentecost; the rest with the feasts of the Ember days. For the Offertory a tithe is brought from the past quarter year (in certain communities and parishes wheat for the altar bread is presented) and joyously voice our gratitude over the spiritual harvest marking the close of Easter time.
The two principal reasons why the traditional liturgy of today stresses gratitude are: 1) it is harvest time; 2) the Lord has also led us out of Egypt (at Easter) into a land flowing with milk and honey (the kingdom of God). We offer the first fruits of the land and "feast in all the good things the Lord has given us" (the Eucharist: 3rd Lesson).
God's promises to Israel were destined to be fulfilled perfectly only in the Church. If we are God's obedient children, then prosperity, wine and bread will be ours in abundance (the Eucharist: we will enjoy peace and overcome our enemies. "I will set my tabernacle in the midst of you...I will walk among you and be your God, and you will be My people" (4th Lesson) (Adapted from Fernand Cabrol and Pius Parsch).
See Summer or Pentecost Ember Days and Contemporary Observation of Ember Days for more information.
Ember Saturday after Pentecost
Station with San Pietro in Vaticano (St. Peter's in the Vatican):
We celebrate this closing and thanksgiving day of Ember Week "in the house of Peter." It is the night between Saturday and Sunday as in the spirit of the ancient Church we gather at St. Peter's, the station for all Christendom. For the Offertory we bring our tithe from the past quarter year (in certain communities and parishes wheat for the altar bread is presented) and joyously voice our gratitude over the spiritual harvest marking the close of Ember Week.
For more on San Pietro in Vaticano, see:
For further information on the Station Churches, see The Stational Church.
Elisha the Prophet
Elisha, whose name in Hebrew means "God is Salvation," was the son of Shaphat. He was called by the prophet Elijah while plowing his father's fields. Elijah came and cast his mantle upon him, indicating thereby that Elisha was to succeed him.
Before Elijah was taken up in a fiery chariot and into the whirlwind, Elisha asked to "inherit a double-portion" of Elijah's spirit.
Throughout the whole course of his life the prophet, Elisha accomplished a significant number of miracles:
- He won the gratitude of the people of Jericho for healing its barren ground by adding salt to its waters.
- When the armies of Judah, Israel and Edom, then allied against Mesa, the Moabite king, were being tortured by drought in the Idumæan desert, Elisha consented to intervene. His double prediction regarding relief from drought and victory over the Moabites was fulfilled on the following morning (2 Kgs 3:4-24).
To relieve the widow importuned by a hard creditor, Elisha so multiplied a little oil as to enable her, not only to pay her indebtedness, but to provide for her family needs (2 Kgs 4:1-7).- To reward the rich lady of Shunam for her hospitality, he restored to life her son (2 Kgs 4:18-37)
- To nourish the sons of the prophets pressed by famine, Elisha changed into wholesome food the pottage made from poisonous gourds (2 Kgs 4:38-41).
- During the military incursions of Syria into Israel, Elisha cured Naaman the Syrian of his leprosy by simply sending him word that he was to bathe in the Jordan seven times. At first reluctant, Naaman obeyed the Prophet, and after washed seven times in the Jordan, he was healed. Jesus referred to this when he said: "And there were many lepers in Israel in the time of Elisha the prophet: and none of them was cleansed but Naaman the Syrian" (Luke 4:27).
Elisha's life and activities are found in 1 and 2 Kings and he is commemorated on this date in the 2004 Roman Martyrology.
—Excerpted from The Daily Gospel
Highlights and Things to Do:
- Read more about the Prophet Elisha:
- Read more about the Carmelite spirituality and St. Elisha, Prophet.
