Saturday of the Second Week of Easter
Featured Saints
St. Kateri Tekakwitha, virgin (†1680 Kahnawake – Canada.) Memorial in Canada. 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.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 6:1-7
As the number of disciples continued to grow, the Hellenists complained against the Hebrews because their widows were being neglected in the daily distribution. So the Twelve called together the community of the disciples and said, “It is not right for us to neglect the word of God to serve at table. Brothers, select from among you seven reputable men, filled with the Spirit and wisdom, whom we shall appoint to this task, whereas we shall devote ourselves to prayer and to the ministry of the word.” The proposal was acceptable to the whole community, so they chose Stephen, a man filled with faith and the Holy Spirit, also Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas, and Nicholas of Antioch, a convert to Judaism. They presented these men to the Apostles who prayed and laid hands on them. The word of God continued to spread, and the number of the disciples in Jerusalem increased greatly; even a large group of priests were becoming obedient to the faith.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 33:1-2, 4-5, 18-19 (R.22)
R. Lord, let your mercy be on us, as we place our trust in You.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Exult, you just, in the LORD;
praise from the upright is fitting.
Give thanks to the LORD on the harp;
with the ten-stringed lyre chant his praises. R.
Upright is the word of the LORD,
and all his works are trustworthy.
He loves justice and right;
of the kindness of the LORD the earth is full. R.
See, the eyes of the LORD are upon those who fear Him,
upon those who hope for his kindness,
To deliver them from death
and preserve them in spite of famine. R.
Gospel – Jn 6:16-21
When it was evening, the disciples of Jesus went down to the sea,
embarked in a boat, and went across the sea to Capernaum.
It had already grown dark, and Jesus had not yet come to them.
The sea was stirred up because a strong wind was blowing.
When they had rowed about three or four miles,
they saw Jesus walking on the sea and coming near the boat,
and they began to be afraid.
But He said to them, “It is I. Do not be afraid.”
They wanted to take him into the boat,
but the boat immediately arrived at the shore
to which they were heading.
