Saturday in the Octave of Easter
“O death, where is thy victory?” Resurrection – Easter Octave
Featured Saints
St. Magdalene of Canossa, virgin (†1855). Daughter of the Marquis of Canossa, she abandoned the world for the love of Christ. Founded the Institute of the Sons and Daughters of Charity in Verona, Italy, to foster the Christian formation of youth.
St. Michael de Sanctis, priests (†1625). Spanish religious from the Trinitarian Order. He died at age 33 in Valladolid, after giving himself to works of charity and the preaching of the word of God.
St. Palladius, bishop (†658). Abbot of the Monastery of Saint Germain he was elected Bishop of Auxerre, France. He participated in various Councils and strove to restore ecclesiastical discipline.
St. Fulbert, bishop (+1029). As prelate of the diocese of Chartres, he promoted devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary as the Queen of Mercy.
St. Bede the Younger, monk (†circa 883). After serving Emperor Charlemagne for 45 years, he lived out his days in a monastery in Venice, Italy.
Sts. Terence and companions, martyrs (†c. 250). During the persecution of Emperor Decius, they suffered cruelly and were beheaded for the practice of the Christian Faith.
Blessed Anthony Neyrot, priest and martyr (†1460). Dominican priest captured by pirates and
taken to Tunis (Africa), where he renounced the Faith. Repentant, he took back his habit, publicly proclaimed his Faith and was stoned to death.
Blessed Mark Fantucci of Bologna, priest (†1479). He embraced evangelical poverty as a Franciscan, preached the Word of God in various regions of Italy and was thrice elected Vicar-General of the Cismontane Observance
Blessed Boniface Zlukowski, priest and martyr (†1942). Franciscan Lithuanian-born religious; died of pneumonia in Auschwitz concentration camp.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 4:13-21
Observing the boldness of Peter and John and perceiving them to be uneducated, ordinary men, the leaders, elders, and scribes were amazed, and they recognized them as the companions of Jesus. Then when they saw the man who had been cured standing there with them, they could say nothing in reply. So they ordered them to leave the Sanhedrin, and conferred with one another, saying, “What are we to do with these men? Everyone living in Jerusalem knows that a remarkable sign was done through them, and we cannot deny it. But so that it may not be spread any further among the people, let us give them a stern warning never again to speak to anyone in this name.”
So they called them back and ordered them not to speak or teach at all in the name of Jesus. Peter and John, however, said to them in reply, “Whether it is right in the sight of God for us to obey you rather than God, you be the judges. It is impossible for us not to speak about what we have seen and heard.” After threatening them further, they released them, finding no way to punish them, on account of the people who were all praising God for what had happened.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 118:1 and 14-15ab, 16-18, 19-21(R. 21a)
R. I will give thanks to you, for you have answered me.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for his mercy endures forever.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and He has been my Savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just. R.
“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD.
Though the LORD has indeed chastised me,
yet He has not delivered me to death. R.
Open to me the gates of justice;
I will enter them and give thanks to the LORD.
This is the gate of the LORD;
the just shall enter it.
I will give thanks to You, for You have answered me
and have been my Savior. R.
Gospel – Mk 16:9-15
When Jesus had risen, early on the first day of the week,
He appeared first to Mary Magdalene,
out of whom He had driven seven demons.
She went and told his companions who were mourning and weeping.
When they heard that He was alive
and had been seen by her, they did not believe.
After this he appeared in another form
to two of them walking along on their way to the country.
They returned and told the others;
but they did not believe them either.
But later, as the Eleven were at table, He appeared to them
and rebuked them for their unbelief and hardness of heart
because they had not believed those
who saw Him after He had been raised.
He said to them, “Go into the whole world
and proclaim the Gospel to every creature.”
