October 2, 2004. Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels

A reading from the book of Job.

Job answered his friends and said,

I know well that it is so, but how can a man be justified before God?

Should one wish to contend with him, he could not answer him once and a thousand times.

God is wise in heart and mighty in strength.

Who has withstood him and remained unscathed?

He removes the mountains before they know it.

He overturns them in his anger.

He shakes the earth out of its place, and the pillars beneath it tremble.

He commands the sun, and it rises not. He seals up the stars. He alone stretches out the heavens,

and treads upon the crests of the sea. He made the bear and Orion, the Pleiades, and the constellations of the South. He does great

things past finding out, marvelous things beyond reckoning. Should he come near me, I see him not.

Should he pass by, I am not aware of him. Should he seize me forcibly, who can say him nay?

Who can say to him, what are you doing?

How much less shall I give him any answer, or choose out arguments against him?

Even though I were right, I could not answer him, but should rather beg for what was due me.

If I appealed to him him and he answered my call,

I could not believe that he would hearken to my words.

The word of the Lord.

Responsorial Psalm.

The response is,

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