Wednesday, June 17, 2026

Wednesday of the Eleventh Week of Ordinary Time

Ordinary Time

Selected Mass Reading

First Reading — 2 Kings 2:1, 6-14

And it came to pass, when the Lord would take up Elias, into heaven, by a whirlwind, that Elias and Eliseus were going from Galgal. And Elias said to him: Stay here, because the Lord hath sent me as far as the Jordan. And he said: as the Lord liveth, and as thy soul liveth, I will not leave thee. And they two went on together. And fifty men, of the sons of the prophets, followed them, and stood in sight, at a distance: but they two stood by the Jordan. And Elias took his mantle, and folded it together, and struck the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, and they both passed over on dry ground. And when they were gone over, Elias said to Eliseus: Ask what thou wilt have me to do for thee, before I be taken away from thee. And Eliseus said: I beseech thee, that in me may be thy double spirit. And he answered: Thou hast asked a hard thing; nevertheless, if thou see me when I am taken from thee, thou shalt have what thou hast asked: but if thou see me not, thou shalt not have it. And as they went on, walking and talking together, behold, a fiery chariot and fiery horses parted them both asunder: and Elias went up by a whirlwind into heaven. And Eliseus saw him, and cried: My father, my father, the chariot of Israel, and the driver thereof. And he saw him no more: and he took hold of his own garments, and rent them in two pieces. And he took up the mantle of Elias, that fell from him: and going back, he stood on the bank of the Jordan; And he struck the waters with the mantle of Elias, that had fallen from him, and they were not divided. And he said: Where is now the God of Elias? And he struck the waters, and they were divided hither and thither, and Eliseus passed over.

Feast Days

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Himerius of Cremona Priest, Hermit 401–560

Saint Himerius of Cremona was born in Calabria in southern Italy, and died around June 17, about the year 560. Drawn early to silence and prayer, he first lived as a hermit, then embraced the monastic life, likely in one of the Umbrian monasteries near Spoleto or in the Valnerina Valley. His holiness was marked by striking austerity and a spirit of penance, and his reputation for wisdom and sanctity led to his election as bishop of Amelia. As a shepherd of souls, Himerius united the rigor of the monk with the charity of a bishop, remembered especially for his care for the poor. Though his name was not widely recorded in the earliest martyrologies, devotion to him endured, and he is honored in the Roman Martyrology and also among Western Rite Orthodox Christians. Centuries later his relics were translated from Amelia to Cremona, where they became a source of renewed veneration; after their rediscovery, many reported miracles at his tomb. He is invoked as a patron of Offlaga and Ripalta Vecchia. His feast day is celebrated on June 17.

Rainerius Catholic priest, Hermit, Pilgrim, Preacher 1118–1161

Saint Rainerius was born in Pisa around 1115–1117, the son of Gandulfo Scacceri, a prosperous merchant and shipowner, and Mingarda Buzzaccherini. In his youth he lived lightly and travelled as a musician, enjoying the world’s applause. Yet the Lord used a humble witness to awaken him: Rainerius met a holy man named Alberto, known for his austere life and love for the poor, and this encounter stirred him to deeper conversion. Seeking the Holy Land, Rainerius turned to trade to fund his voyage and soon gained wealth. There, however, he received a grace-filled warning that riches were hindering his total surrender to God. He renounced his possessions and spent seven years in the Holy Land as a poor pilgrim, visiting the sacred places of Christ and embracing severe penance. Returning to Pisa in 1153, he entered monastic life and became a fervent preacher, remembered for miracles and deliverance from evil. Venerated as patron of Pisa, travellers, and also of Guasticce and Monaco, he died in 1160. His feast day is June 17.

Ursus of Aosta Priest 550–600

Saint Ursus of Aosta was born in Italy’s Val d’Aosta, and flourished in the sixth century as a devoted monk and tireless evangelist. Entering religious life at the Abbey of San Giusto in Aosta, he grew in wisdom and zeal until he was appointed archdeacon under Bishop Jucundus. In an age when the faith was often tested by confusion and division, Ursus stood firmly for the true doctrine of Christ, resisting the spread of Arianism and strengthening the Church’s witness in the Alpine valleys. His love for God was expressed not only in preaching but also in building up the life of prayer among the people. Tradition credits him with constructing the Church of San Lorenzo, which later became the beloved Collegiate Church of Saint Ursus in Aosta, a lasting sign of his pastoral care. He also carried the Gospel into the region of Digne, helping to root Christian faith more deeply in the surrounding lands. Saint Ursus is honored as a patron of Cogne and Jovençan. His feast day is celebrated on June 17.