Tuesday in the Octave of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 2:36-41
On the day of Pentecost, Peter said to the Jewish people, “Let the whole house of Israel know for certain that God has made him both Lord and Christ, this Jesus whom you crucified.” Now when they heard this, they were cut to the heart, and they asked Peter and the other Apostles, “What are we to do, my brothers?” Peter said to them, “Repent and be baptized, every one of you, in the name of Jesus Christ, for the forgiveness of your sins; and you will receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is made to you and to your children and to all those far off, whomever the Lord our God will call.” He testified with many other arguments, and was exhorting them, “Save yourselves from this corrupt generation.” Those who accepted his message were baptized, and about three thousand persons were added that day.
Responsorial Psalm – 33:4-5, 18-19, 20 and 22 (R.5b)
R. The earth is full of the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
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.
Our soul waits for the LORD,
who is our help and our shield.
May your kindness, O LORD, be upon us
who have put our hope in you. R.
Gospel – Jn 20:11-18
Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them, ‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.
Featured Saints
St. Leo IX, Pope (†1054). As Bishop of Toul, France, he ardently defended the rights of the Church. Elected Pope, he convoked several synods to reform the clergy and eradicate simony.
St. Alphege, bishop and martyr (†1012). He was Bishop of Canterbury at the time of the Danish invasion of England. When he refused to abandon his flock, he was imprisoned and brutally murdered for refusing to pay his own ransom with alms collected from the poor.
St. Geroldus, hermit (†circa 978). A nobleman from Saxony, he led a life of penance and prayer in the region of Vorarlberg, in the Bavarian Alps.
Blessed Bernard, penitent (†1182). To expiate for the sins of his youth, he set out on pilgrimage to the Holy Land barefoot and with frugal provisions; he died in the Abbey of Saint-Bertin, France.
St. Mappalicus and companions, martyrs (†250). Killed during the Decian persecution for refusing to sacrifice to idols.
St. Martha of Persia, virgin and martyr (†341). Suffered martyrdom one day after her father Pusai in ancient Persia during the persecutions of King Shapur II.
Blessed James Duckett, martyr (†1602). Imprisoned for selling Catholic books, he was hanged after nine years in prison, during the reign of Elizabeth I of England.
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