Thursday of the 5th Week of Lent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Gn 17:3-9
When Abram prostrated himself, God spoke to him: “My covenant with you is this: you are to become the father of a host of nations. No longer shall you be called Abram; your name shall be Abraham, for I am making you the father of a host of nations. I will render you exceedingly fertile; I will make nations of you; kings shall stem from you. I will maintain my covenant with you and your descendants after you throughout the ages as an everlasting pact, to be your God and the God of your descendants after you. I will give to you and to your descendants after you the land in which you are now staying, the whole land of Canaan, as a permanent possession; and I will be their God.” God also said to Abraham: “On your part, you and your descendants after you must keep my covenant throughout the ages.”
Responsorial Psalm – 105:4-5, 6-7, 8-9 (R.8a)
R. The Lord remembers his covenant for ever.
Look to the LORD in his strength;
seek to serve him constantly.
Recall the wondrous deeds that he has wrought,
his portents, and the judgments he has uttered. R.
You descendants of Abraham, his servants,
sons of Jacob, his chosen ones!
He, the LORD, is our God;
throughout the earth his judgments prevail. R.
He remembers forever his covenant
which he made binding for a thousand generations –
Which he entered into with Abraham
and by his oath to Isaac. R.
Gospel – Jn 8:51-59
Jesus said to the Jews: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.” So the Jews said to him, “Now we are sure that you are possessed. Abraham died, as did the prophets, yet you say, ‘Whoever keeps my word will never taste death.’ Are you greater than our father Abraham, who died? Or the prophets, who died? Who do you make yourself out to be?” Jesus answered, “If I glorify myself, my glory is worth nothing; but it is my Father who glorifies me, of whom you say, ‘He is our God.’ You do not know him, but I know him. And if I should say that I do not know him, I would be like you a liar. But I do know him and I keep his word. Abraham your father rejoiced to see my day; he saw it and was glad.” So the Jews said to him, “You are not yet fifty years old and you have seen Abraham?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, before Abraham came to be, I AM.” So they picked up stones to throw at him; but Jesus hid and went out of the temple area.
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, priest (†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.
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