September 23rd, 2025, Memorial of St. Pius of Pietrochina, priest.

A reading from the Book of Ezra.

King Darius issued an order to the officials of West of Euphrates.

Let the governor and the elders of the Jews continue the work on that house of God.

They are to rebuild it on its former site.

I also issue this decree concerning your dealing with these elders of the Jews in the rebuilding of that House of God.

From the royal revenue, the taxes of West of Euphrates,

let these men be repaid for their expenses in full and without delay. I, Darius,

have issued this decree. Let it be carefully executed. The elders of the Jews continued

to make progress in the building, supported by the message of the prophets, Hagai and Zechariah,

the son of ito. They finished the building, according to the command of the

God of Israel, and the decrees of Cyrus and Darius and of Artaxerxes, King of Persia. They completed

this house on the third day of the month Adar in the sixth year of the reign of King Darius. The children

of Israel, priests, Levites, and the other returned exiles,

celebrated the dedication of this House of God with joy. For the dedication of this House of God,

they offered 100 bulls, 200 rams, and 400 lambs, together with 12 he goats as a sin offering for all Israel, in keeping with the number of the tribes of Israel.

Finally, they set up the priests in their classes and the Levites in their divisions for the service of God in Jerusalem, as is prescribed in the Book of Moses.

The exiles kept the Passover on the 14th day of the first month.

The Levites, every one of whom had purified himself for the occasion,

sacrificed the Passover for the rest of the exiles,

for their brethren the priests, and for themselves.

The Word of the Lord. The response Oriol Psalm. The word of the Lord.

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