Romans 12.1-3 (Epistle)

1Molim vas dakle, braæo, milosti Božije radi, da date tjelesa svoja u žrtvu živu, svetu, ugodnu Bogu; to da bude vaše duhovno bogomoljstvo. 2I ne vladajte se prema ovome vijeku, nego se promijenite obnovljenjem uma svojega, da biste mogli kušati koje je dobra i ugodna i savršena volja Božija. 3Jer kroz blagodat koja je meni data kažem svakome koji je meðu vama da ne mislite za sebe više nego što valja misliti; nego da mislite u smjernosti kao što je kome Bog udijelio mjeru vjere.

Matthew 10.37-11.1 (Gospel)

37Koji ljubi oca ili mater veæma nego mene, nije mene dostojan; i koji ljubi sina ili kæer veæma nego mene, nije mene dostojan. 38I koji ne uzme krsta svojega i ne poðe za mnom, nije mene dostojan. 39Koji èuva dušu svoju, izgubiæe je; a koji izgubi dušu svoju mene radi, naæi æe je. 40Koji vas prima, mene prima; a koji prima mene, prima onoga koji me je poslao. 41Koji prima proroka u ime proroèko, platu proroèku primiæe; a koji prima pravednika u ime pravednièko, platu pravednièku primiæe. 42I ako ko napoji jednoga od ovijeh malijeh samo èašom studene vode u ime uèenièko, zaista vam kažem, neæe mu plata propasti.

1I kad svrši Isus zapovijesti dvanaestorici uèenika svojijeh, otide odande dalje da uèi i da propovijeda po gradovima njihovijem.

Hieromartyr Pancratius, bishop of Taormina in Sicily (1st c.)

He was born in Antioch during the years that Christ walked in the flesh in Palestine. His parents, hearing of Christ’s miracles and teaching, journeyed to Jerusalem, bringing their young son Pancratius. There all three of them saw and listened to Jesus Himself, and met the disciple Peter as well. After the Ascension, Pancratius and his parents were baptised in Antioch (some accounts say by the Apostle Peter himself). The Apostle Peter installed Pancratius as bishop of Taormina in Sicily, where he worked great wonders and brought many to Christ.

A pagan general named Aquilinus, hearing that Taormina had become Christian, set out with his army to destroy the town. Pancratius instructed the faithful not to fear and went out to confront the army, armed only with the sign of the Cross. When the army came near the town, the soldiers were seized with confusion and fear, fell on their own weapons and attacked one another, and finally withdrew in terror. Thus the city was saved by the prayers of the holy bishop. Later, pagans stoned him to death, granting him a martyr’s end. His relics may still be venerated in Rome.