November 17, 2003, Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Hungary, religious.

A reading from the Book of Wisdom.

All men were by nature foolish, who were in ignorance of God,

and who from the good things seen did not succeed in knowing him who is,

and from studying the works did not discern the artisan.

But either fire or wind or the swift air, or the circuit of the stars, or the mighty water,

or the luminaries of heaven, the governors of the world, they considered gods. Now if out of joy in their beauty

they thought them gods, let them know how far more excellent is the Lord than these, for the

original source of beauty fashion them. Or if they were struck by their might and energy,

let them from these things realize how much more powerful is he who made them.

For from the greatness and the beauty of created things, their original author, by analogy, is seen.

But yet, for these the blame is less.

For they indeed have gone astray, perhaps,

though they seek God and wish to find him.

For they search busily among his works,

but are distracted by what they see,

because the things seen are fair. But again, not even these are pardonable.

For if they so far succeeded in knowledge that they could speculate about the world, how do they not more quickly find its lord? The word of the Lord.

The Responsorial Psalm. The Responsorial Psalm.

The response is,

The heavens proclaim the glory of God.

The heavens declare the glory of God,

...