July 20
The commemoration of Saint Elijah the Tishbite, who, being a prophet of the Lord in the days of Ahab and Ahaziah, kings of Israel, vindicated the rights of the one true God before an unfaithful people with such strength of soul that he prefigured not only John the Baptist but even Christ himself; he left no written oracle, but his memory is faithfully preserved, especially at Mount Carmel.
The commemoration of blessed Joseph, who was called Barsabbas and whose cognomen was Justus, a disciple of the Lord, whom they put together with the blessed apostle Matthias so as to choose one of them to fulfill the apostolate of Judas the betrayer; but when the lot fell to Matthias, Joseph devoted himself nonetheless to the office of preaching and of holiness.
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May Holy Mary and all the saints intercede to the Lord for us, that we may merit to be helped and saved by him who lives and reigns for ever and ever.
V. Precious in the sight of the Lord
R. Is the death of his holy ones.
V. May the Lord bless us, protect us from all evil, and bring us to everlasting life. And may the souls of the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in peace.
R. Amen
[To learn about praying this and other Martyrology entries, see this page.]
