September 28, 2004, Saturday of the 25th week in ordinary time.

A reading from the book of Ecclesiastes.

Rejoice, O young man, while you are young, and let your heart be glad in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart in the days of your youth.

Follow the ways of your heart, the vision of your eyes.

Yet understand that as regards all this, God will bring you to judgment.

Ward off grief from your heart and put away trouble from your presence,

though the dawn of youth is fleeting. Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, before the evil days come and the years

approach of which you will say, I have no pleasure in them.

Before the sun is darkened and the light and the moon and the stars while the clouds return after the rain.

When the guardians of the house tremble and the strong men are bent,

and the grinders are idle because they are few, and they who look through the windows grow blind.

When the doors to the street are shut, and the sound of the mill is low,

when one waits for the chirp of a bird, but all the daughters of song are suppressed,

and one fears heights and perils in the street, when the almond tree blooms and the locust grows sluggish,

and the caperberry is without effect,

because man goes to his lasting home,

and mourners go about the streets.

Before the silver cord is snapped, and the golden bowl is broken,

and the pitcher is shattered at the spring,

and the broken pulley falls into the well.

And the dust returns to the earth as it once was,

...