Monday in the 2nd Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 4:23-31
After their release Peter and John went back to their own people and reported what the chief priests and elders had told them. And when they heard it, they raised their voices to God with one accord and said, “Sovereign Lord, maker of heaven and earth and the sea and all that is in them, You said by the Holy Spirit through the mouth of our father David, Your servant: Why did the Gentiles rage and the peoples entertain folly? The kings of the earth took their stand and the princes gathered together against the Lord and against his anointed. Indeed they gathered in this city against your holy servant Jesus whom you anointed, Herod and Pontius Pilate, together with the Gentiles and the peoples of Israel, to do what Your hand and Your will had long ago planned to take place. And now, Lord, take note of their threats, and enable Your servants to speak Your word with all boldness, as You stretch forth Your hand to heal, and signs and wonders are done through the name of Your holy servant Jesus.” As they prayed, the place where they were gathered shook, and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and continued to speak the word of God with boldness.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 2:1-3, 4-7a, 7b-9 (R. see 11d)
R. Blessed are all who take refuge in the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Why do the nations rage
and the peoples utter folly?
The kings of the earth rise up,
and the princes conspire together
against the LORD and against His anointed:
“Let us break their fetters
and cast their bonds from us!” R.
He who is throned in Heaven laughs;
the LORD derides them.
Then in anger He speaks to them;
He terrifies them in His wrath:
“I myself have set up my king
on Zion, my holy mountain.”
I will proclaim the decree of the LORD. R.
The LORD said to me, “You are my Son;
this day I have begotten you.
Ask of me and I will give you
the nations for an inheritance
and the ends of the earth for your possession.
You shall rule them with an iron rod;
you shall shatter them like an earthen dish.” R.
Gospel – Jn 3:1-8
There was a Pharisee named Nicodemus, a ruler of the Jews. He came to Jesus at night and said to Him, “Rabbi, we know that you are a teacher who has come from God, for no one can do these signs that you are doing unless God is with him.” Jesus answered and said to him, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born from above, he cannot see the Kingdom of God.” Nicodemus said to him, “How can a man once grown old be born again? Surely he cannot re-enter his mother’s womb and be born again, can he?” Jesus answered, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless one is born of water and Spirit he cannot enter the Kingdom of God. What is born of flesh is flesh and what is born of spirit is spirit. Do not be amazed that I told you, ‘You must be born from above.’ The wind blows where it wills, and you can hear the sound it makes, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes; so it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit.”
Featured Saints
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin (†1680.) Memorial in Canada. North American Indian, daughter of a Mohawk chief. She was baptized as a young woman by a Jesuit missionary and consecrated her virginity to God, for which she suffered threats and ill-treatment until she was able to flee to a Christian village in French Canada, where she died at the age of 24. She is called the Lily of the Mohawks.
St. Robert of Molesme, abbot (†1111). Founder of the Abbey of Cîteaux, France, Motherhouse of the Cistercian Order.
Sts. Elias, Paul and Isidore, martyrs (†856). Killed in Cordoba, Spain, for their fidelity for their confession of Faith before the Moorish judge.
Blessed James of Cerqueto, priest (†1367). Member of the Order of Hermits of St. Augustine, he demonstrated his heroic virtue by his resignation and peaceful acceptance of infirmities.
Blessed Clare Gambacorta, abbess (†1419). After the death of her husband, while still young, she founded the first Dominican monastery of strict observance in Pisa, Italy, encouraged by St. Catherine of Siena.
Blessed Mariana of Jesus, virgin (†1624). Overcoming her father’s opposition, she took the habit of the Mercedarian Order in Madrid, and led a life of prayer and penance.
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