June 5, 2004, Memorial of St. Boniface, Bishop and Martyr.

A reading from the second letter of St. Paul to Timothy.

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the promise of life in Christ Jesus,

to Timothy, my dear child.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus, our Lord.

I am grateful to God, whom I worship with a clear conscience as my ancestors did,

as I remember you constantly in my prayers, night and day.

For this reason, I remind you to stir into flame the gift of God that you have through

the imposition of my hands, for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice, but rather of power

and love and self-control.

So do not be ashamed of your testimony to our Lord,

nor of me, a prisoner for his sake,

but bear your share of hardship for the gospel

with the strength that comes from God.

He saved us and called us to a holy life,

not according to our works, but according to his own design and the grace bestowed on us in Christ Jesus before time began, but now made manifest

through the appearance of our Savior Christ Jesus, who destroyed death and brought life and immortality to light through

the gospel for which I was appointed preacher and apostle and teacher.

On this account, I am suffering these things, but I am not ashamed, for I know him in whom I have believed

and am confident that he is able to guard what has been entrusted to me until that day.

The word of the Lord.

The response oral psalm.

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