Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children

January 22, 2025

Saints

Daily Readings:

  • First Reading

    Hebrews 7:1-3, 15-17

    1For this Melchiz'edek, king of Salem, priest of the Most High God, met Abraham returning from the slaughter of the kings and blessed him; 2and to him Abraham apportioned a tenth part of everything. He is first, by translation of his name, king of righteousness, and then he is also king of Salem, that is, king of peace. 3He is without father or mother or genealogy, and has neither beginning of days nor end of life, but resembling the Son of God he continues a priest for ever. 15This becomes even more evident when another priest arises in the likeness of Melchiz'edek, 16who has become a priest, not according to a legal requirement concerning bodily descent but by the power of an indestructible life. 17For it is witnessed of him, "Thou art a priest for ever, after the order of Melchiz'edek."

  • Responsorial Psalm

    Psalms 110:1-4

    1The LORD says to my lord: "Sit at my right hand, till I make your enemies your footstool." 2The LORD sends forth from Zion your mighty scepter. Rule in the midst of your foes! 3Your people will offer themselves freely on the day you lead your host upon the holy mountains. From the womb of the morning like dew your youth will come to you. 4The LORD has sworn and will not change his mind, "You are a priest for ever after the order of Melchiz'edek."

  • Gospel

    Mark 3:1-6

    1Again he entered the synagogue, and a man was there who had a withered hand. 2And they watched him, to see whether he would heal him on the sabbath, so that they might accuse him. 3And he said to the man who had the withered hand, "Come here." 4And he said to them, "Is it lawful on the sabbath to do good or to do harm, to save life or to kill?" But they were silent. 5And he looked around at them with anger, grieved at their hardness of heart, and said to the man, "Stretch out your hand." He stretched it out, and his hand was restored. 6The Pharisees went out, and immediately held counsel with the Hero'di-ans against him, how to destroy him.