Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

1And so I make known to you, brothers, the Gospel that I preached to you, which you also received, and on which you stand. 2By the Gospel, too, you are being saved, if you hold to the understanding that I preached to you, lest you believe in vain. 3For I handed on to you, first of all, what I also received: that Christ died for our sins, according to the Scriptures; 4and that he was buried; and that he rose again on the third day, according to the Scriptures; 5and that he was seen by Cephas, and after that by the eleven. 6Next he was seen by more than five hundred brothers at one time, many of whom remain, even to the present time, although some have fallen asleep. 7Next, he was seen by James, then by all the Apostles. 8And last of all, he was seen also by me, as if I were someone born at the wrong time. 9For I am the least of the Apostles. I am not worthy to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. 10But, by the grace of God, I am what I am. And his grace in me has not been empty, since I have labored more abundantly than all of them. Yet it is not I, but the grace of God within me. 11For whether it is I or they: so we preach, and so you have believed.

1Alleluia. Confess to the Lord, for he is good, for his mercy is forever.

2Let Israel now say: For he is good, for his mercy is forever.

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16The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue. The right hand of the Lord has exalted me. The right hand of the Lord has wrought virtue.

17I will not die, but I will live. And I will declare the works of the Lord.

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28You are my God, and I will confess to you. You are my God, and I will exalt you. I will confess to you, for you have heeded me. And you have become my salvation.

36Then certain Pharisees petitioned him, so that they might eat with him. And he went into the house of the Pharisee, and he reclined at table. 37And behold, a woman who was in the city, a sinner, found out that he was reclining at table in the house of the Pharisee, so she brought an alabaster container of ointment. 38And standing behind him, beside his feet, she began to wash his feet with tears, and she wiped them with the hair of her head, and she kissed his feet, and she anointed them with ointment. 39Then the Pharisee, who had invited him, upon seeing this, spoke within himself, saying, “This man, if he were a prophet, would certainly know who and what kind of woman is this, who is touching him: that she is a sinner.” 40And in response, Jesus said to him, “Simon, I have something to say to you.” So he said, “Speak, Teacher.” 41“A certain creditor had two debtors: one owed five hundred denarii, and the other fifty. 42And since they did not have the ability to repay him, he forgave them both. So then, which of them loves him more?” 43In response, Simon said, “I suppose that it is he to whom he forgave the most.” And he said to him, “You have judged correctly.” 44And turning to the woman, he said to Simon: “Do you see this woman? I entered into your house. You gave me no water for my feet. But she has washed my feet with tears, and has wiped them with her hair. 45You gave no kiss to me. But she, from the time that she entered, has not ceased to kiss my feet. 46You did not anoint my head with oil. But she has anointed my feet with ointment. 47Because of this, I tell you: many sins are forgiven her, because she has loved much. But he who is forgiven less, loves less.” 48Then he said to her, “Your sins are forgiven you.” 49And those who sat at table with him began to say within themselves, “Who is this, who even forgives sins?” 50Then he said to the woman: “Your faith has brought you salvation. Go in peace.”