Thursday in the 2nd Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 5:27-33
When the court officers had brought the Apostles in and made them stand before the Sanhedrin, the high priest questioned them, “We gave you strict orders did we not, to stop teaching in that name. Yet you have filled Jerusalem with your teaching and want to bring this man’s blood upon us.” But Peter and the Apostles said in reply, “We must obey God rather than men. The God of our ancestors raised Jesus, though you had Him killed by hanging Him on a tree. God exalted Him at his right hand as leader and savior to grant Israel repentance and forgiveness of sins. We are witnesses of these things, as is the Holy Spirit whom God has given to those who obey Him.” When they heard this, they became infuriated and wanted to put them to death.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 34:2 and 9, 17-18, 19-20 (R. 7a)
R.The Lord hears the cry of the poor.
or:
R. Alleluia.
I will bless the LORD at all times;
His praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in Him. R.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress He rescues them. R.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit He saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him. R.
Gospel – Jn 3:31-36
The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what He has seen and heard, but no one accepts His testimony. Whoever does accept His testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration His gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to Him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.
Featured Saints
St. Engratia, virgin and martyr (+ fourth century). Christian from a noble family, martyred for boldly appearing before the Roman magistrate in Saragossa, Spain, to rebuke him for the atrocities he was committing against her fellow Christians.
St. Bernadette Soubirous, virgin (†1879 Nevers – France) Born to a poor family, she was favoured as a young girl with the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes; she later entered the Congregation of the Sisters of Charity of Nevers, where she was a model of humility. See also: The Spirituality of St. Bernadette Soubirous.
St. Benedict Joseph Labre, pilgrim (†1783). Wishing to lead a life of penance, he undertook exhausting pilgrimages to famous shrines, poorly clothed and living off alms. He died in Rome at 35 years of age.
St. Turibius of Astorga, bishop (†fifth century). Bishop of Astorga, in Hispania.
By mandate of Pope St. Leo the Great he fought the Priscillianist sect which was widespread in that region.
St. Fructuosus, bishop (†circa 665). Monk and founder of monasteries, he was Bishop of Dume and afterwards Archbishop of Braga, Portugal.
St. Magnus, martyr (†1116). Earl of the Orkney Islands, Scotland; he embraced the Catholic Faith and was traitorously killed during peace negotiations with his adversary in the principality.
St. Contardo of Este, pilgrim (†1249). Of noble lineage, he renounced worldly goods and adopted a life of extreme poverty. He died during a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.
St. Drogo, recluse (†c. 1186). Resolved to lead a simple and recollected life, he lived forty years in a small cell adjacent to the church of Sebourg, France, from where he attended Mass through a small window.
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