August 21st, 2025.

Memorial of St. Pius the 10th, Pope.

A reading from the book of judges.

The spirit of the Lord came upon Jeptha.

He passed through Gilead and Manasseh,

and through Mitzpah Gilead as well.

And from there he went on to the Ammonites.

Jephtha made a vow to the Lord.

If you deliver the Ammonites into my power, he said, whoever comes out of the doors of my house to meet me when I return in triumph from the Ammonites shall belong to the Lord. I shall offer him up

as a burnt offering. Jeptha then went on to the Ammonites to fight against

them, and the Lord delivered them into his power, so that he inflicted a severe defeat on them.

From a rower to the approach of Minnith, 20 cities and all, and as far as Abel Karaman.

Thus were the Ammonites brought into subjection by the children of Israel.

When Jephtha returned to his house in Mitzpah, it was his daughter who came forth,

playing the tambourines and dancing.

She was an only child. He had neither son nor daughter besides

her. When he saw her, he rent his garments and said, Alas, daughter, you have struck me down,

and brought calamity upon me, for I have made a vow to the Lord and I cannot retract. She replied,

Father, you have made a vow to the Lord and I cannot retract. She replied,

Father, you have made a vow to the Lord.

Do with me as you have vowed,

because the Lord has wrought vengeance for you on your enemies, the Ammonites.

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