October 16
St Hedwig
Friday, week 28 in Ordinary Time — Year II
Canada : St. Marie-Marguerite d’Youville, religious
St Hedwig of Silesia, known in French as Ste Edwige, was a Duchess and later a religious, commemorated by the Church for her outstanding charity, piety, and devotion to Christ. Born towards the end of the twelfth century in Bavaria, she was married to Henry I, Duke of Silesia, with whom she had several children. After her husband's death, Hedwig entered the Cistercian monastery at Trzebnica, which she had generously supported throughout her life. Even while living in the world, Hedwig's lifestyle was marked by austerity, humility, and a special love for the poor, whom she served directly. Her spiritual life was shaped by her deep faith and unwavering devotion to God, attending Mass daily and supporting the Church. She is remembered for her efforts to promote peace and Christian ethics in times of social unrest and for her role in strengthening the faith and charitable works in Silesia (now part of Poland).
Today, St Hedwig serves as a model of charity, peacemaking, and self-denial, particularly for those in positions of influence. The Church honors her as a saint who translated her authority and resources into concrete works of mercy, showing how sanctity can blossom amid the responsibilities and trials of daily life.
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Local variations
- Canada — St. Marie-Marguerite d’Youville, religious
The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingEp 1, 11-14
Brothers,
in Christ, we have become
the special possession of God,
we were predestined for this
according to the plan of the one who accomplishes everything he has decided:
he wanted us to live for the praise of his glory,
we who have hoped beforehand in Christ.
In him, you also,
after having listened to the word of truth,
the Gospel of your salvation,
and after having believed in it,
you have received the seal of the Holy Spirit.
And the Spirit promised by God
is a down payment on our inheritance,
for the redemption we will obtain,
to the praise of his glory.
– The word of the Lord.
PsalmPs 32 (33), 1-2, 4-5, 12-13
Shout for joy to the Lord, you righteous!
Upright men, praise is yours!
Give thanks to the Lord with the lyre,
play for him on the ten-stringed harp.
Yes, the word of the Lord is upright;
he is faithful in all he does.
He loves righteousness and justice;
the earth is filled with his love.
Blessed the people whose God is the Lord,
blessed the nation he has chosen as his heritage!
From the heights of heaven, the Lord looks down:
he sees the human race.
GospelLc 12, 1-7
At that time,
as the crowd had gathered by the thousands
so that people were trampling on one another,
Jesus began to say to his disciples, first of all:
"Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,
that is, their hypocrisy.
Everything that is covered will be uncovered,
everything that is hidden will be known.
So whatever you have said in the dark
will be heard in the full light,
what you have whispered in the inner rooms
will be proclaimed from the rooftops.
I tell you, my friends:
Do not fear those who kill the body,
and after that can do no more.
I will show you whom you should fear:
fear the one who, after he has killed,
has the power to cast into Gehenna.
Yes, I tell you: fear him.
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies?
Yet not one of them is forgotten before God.
Even the hairs of your head are all counted.
Do not be afraid:
you are worth more than a multitude of sparrows."
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org