Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter
Featured Saints
St. Agnes of Montepulciano, virgin (†1317). At only nine years of age, she took the veil of the consecrated virgins. She founded a Dominican Monastery in Montepulciano, Italy. Her life was replete with marvelous episodes, miracles, and mystical graces. She died at age 48.
St. Anicetus, Pope (†circa 166). He received St. Polycarp of Smyrna as a guest to discuss the date of Easter with him.
St. Marcellinus of Embrun, bishop (†c. 374). A native of North Africa, he evangelized the region of the Maritime Alps and was ordained bishop by St. Eusebius of Vercelli.
St. Anastasius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (†609). Patriarch of Antioch (presentday Turkey), cruelly killed by hired assassins in the time of Byzantine Emperor Phocas.
Blessed Dominic Vernagalli, priest (†1218). Priest of the Camaldulense Order. Founded an orphanage, in Pisa, Italy, for abandoned children.
Blessed Simon Rinalducci, priest (†1322). Religious from the Order of Augustinian Hermits; carried out a fruitful apostolate in Bologna among young students.
Blesseds Richard Sergeant and William Thomson, priests and martyrs (†1584). Ordained priests in France, they returned to England to carry out their ministry. For this reason, they were hanged at the gallows at Tyburn.
Blessed Maurice Mackenraghty, priest and martyr (†1585). Irish priest who was beheaded after two years of imprisonment, for maintaining his fidelity to the Pope and refusing to recognize the spiritual authority of Queen Elizabeth I.
Blessed Anastasius Pankiewicz, priest and martyr (†1942). Franciscan Polish priest, killed while being taken from Dachau to Hartheim, Austria. He gave witness to his faith until death.
Blessed Claire Bosatta, virgin (†1887). With the help of St. Louis Guanella, she founded the Little House of Divine Providence. She died in Pianello, Italy.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 7:51—8:1a
Stephen said to the people, the elders, and the scribes: “You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always oppose the Holy Spirit; you are just like your ancestors. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They put to death those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, whose betrayers and murderers you have now become. You received the law as transmitted by angels, but you did not observe it.” When they heard this, they were infuriated, and they ground their teeth at him. But Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, looked up intently to heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God, and Stephen said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.” But they cried out in a loud voice, covered their ears, and rushed upon him together. They threw him out of the city, and began to stone him. The witnesses laid down their cloaks at the feet of a young man named Saul. As they were stoning Stephen, he called out, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” Then he fell to his knees and cried out in a loud voice, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them”; and when he said this, he fell asleep. Now Saul was consenting to his execution.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab(R.6a)
R. Into your hands, O Lord, I commend my spirit.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety.
You are my rock and my fortress;
for your name’s sake you will lead and guide me.R.
Into your hands I commend my spirit;
You will redeem me, O LORD, O faithful God.
My trust is in the LORD;
I will rejoice and be glad of your mercy. R.
Let your face shine upon your servant;
save me in your kindness.
You hide them in the shelter of your presence
from the plottings of men. R.
Gospel – Jn 6:30-35
The crowd said to Jesus:
“What sign can You do, that we may see and believe in You?
What can You do?
Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written:
He gave them bread from heaven to eat.”
So Jesus said to them,
“Amen, amen, I say to you,
it was not Moses who gave the bread from heaven;
my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.
For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven
and gives life to the world.”
So they said to Jesus,
“Sir, give us this bread always.”
Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to Me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.”
