Dedication of the Basilica of Saint Mary Major

1“In that time, says the Lord, I will be the God of all the families of Israel, and they will be my people.” 2Thus says the Lord: “The people who had remained after the sword, found grace in the desert. Israel will go to his rest.” 3The Lord appeared to me from a distance: “And I have loved you in perpetual charity. Therefore, showing pity, I have drawn you. 4And I will build you up again. And you shall be built up, O virgin of Israel. Still shall you be adorned with your timbrels, and still shall you go forth to the singing of those who play. 5Still shall you plant vineyards on the mountains of Samaria. The planters will plant, and they will not gather the vintage until the time arrives. 6For there will be a day on which the guardians on mount Ephraim will cry out: ‘Arise! And let us ascend on Zion to the Lord our God!’ ” 7For thus says the Lord: “Exult in the joy of Jacob, and neigh before the head of the Gentiles. Shout, and sing, and say: ‘O Lord, save your people, the remnant of Israel!’

10Listen to the word of the Lord, O Gentiles, and announce it amid the islands that are far away, and say: “Whoever has scattered Israel will gather him, and he will guard him as a shepherd guards his flock.”

11For the Lord has redeemed Jacob, and he has freed him from the hand of one more powerful.

12And they will arrive and give praise on Mount Zion. And they will flow together, to the good things of the Lord, over grain, and wine, and oil, and the offspring of cattle and herds. And their soul will be like an irrigated garden, and they will no longer be hungry.

13Then the virgin will rejoice with singing, the young and the old together, and I will turn their mourning into gladness, and I will console them and gladden them after their sorrow.

21And departing from there, Jesus withdrew into the areas of Tyre and Sidon. 22And behold, a woman of Canaan, going out from those parts, cried out, saying to him: “Take pity on me, Lord, Son of David. My daughter is badly afflicted by a demon.” 23He did not say a word to her. And his disciples, drawing near, petitioned him, saying: “Dismiss her, for she is crying out after us.” 24And responding, he said, “I was not sent except to the sheep who have fallen away from the house of Israel.” 25But she approached and adored him, saying, “Lord, help me.” 26And responding, he said, “It is not good to take the bread of the children and cast it to the dogs.” 27But she said, “Yes, Lord, but the young dogs also eat from the crumbs that fall from the table of their masters.” 28Then Jesus, responding, said to her: “O woman, great is your faith. Let it be done for you just as you wish.” And her daughter was healed from that very hour.