June 19th, 2006, Friday of the 11th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the second book of kings.

When Natalia, the mother of Ahazaya, saw that her son was dead, she began to kill off the whole royal family.

But Jehoshaba, daughter of King Jehoram and sister of Ahesia, took Joash, his son, and spirited him away,

along with his nurse, from the bedroom where the princes were about to be slain.

She concealed him from Italia, and so he did not die.

For six years he remained hidden in the Temple of the Lord, while Italia ruled the land.

But in the seventh year, Jehoiada summoned the captains of the Carians and of the guards.

He had them come to him in the Temple of the Lord, exacted from them a sworn commitment, and then showed

them the king's son. The captains did, just as Jehoiada the priest commanded. Each one with his

men, both those going on duty for the Sabbath, and those going off duty that week, came to

Jehoiada, the priest. He gave the captain's King David's spears and shields,

which were in the temple of the Lord. And the guards, withdrawn weapons, lined up from the

southern to the northern limit of the enclosure, surrounding the altar and the temple on the

king's behalf. Then Jehoiada led out the king's son

and put the crown and the insignia upon him.

They proclaimed him king and anointed him,

clapping their hands and shouting, long live the king.

Atalia heard the noise made by the people

and appeared before them in the temple of the Lord.

When she saw the king standing by the pillar,

as was the custom, and the captains and trumpeters near him, with all the people of the land,

...