Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter
Featured Saints
St. Anselm, bishop and Doctor of the Church (†1109). Optional Memorial. Benedictine monk, he became the Archbishop of Canterbury and Primate of England. A great scholar and preacher, he is hailed as the “father of Escolasticism”.
St. Roman Adame Rosales, priest and martyr (†1927). Pastor, expelled from the parish rectory of Nochistlan, Mexico, he continued exercising his priestly ministry clandestinely, until he was betrayed and shot.
St. Anastasius of Sinai, abbot (†700). Native of Palestine, he was elected abbot of the monastery of Mount Sinai, where he fought against monophysism and wrote several polemical and exegetical works.
St. Malrubius, abbot (†722). He became a monk in the Abbey of Bangor, Ireland, and founded a monastery of missionary monks in Applecross, Scotland, in the land of the Picts, and evangelized that and many surrounding regions.
St. Conrad of Parzham, religious (†1891). Youth from a wealthy Bavarian family, Germany, who became a Capuchin monk and exercised the humble office of convent porter for more than 40 years.
St. Apollonius, philosopher and martyr (†185). Roman citizen, martyred after making a famous apology of Christianity before the prefect Perennis and the Roman Senate. He then sealed his testimony of the Faith with his blood.
Blessed Bartholomew of Cervere, priest and martyr (†1466). Dominican religious assassinated by Waldensian heretics on his way to Cervere, Italy.
Mass Readings
There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment.
Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a (R.1)
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” R.
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. R.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever. R.
Gospel – Jn 6:35-40
Jesus said to the crowds,
“I am the bread of life;
whoever comes to Me will never hunger,
and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.
But I told you that although you have seen Me,
you do not believe.
Everything that the Father gives me will come to Me,
and I will not reject anyone who comes to Me,
because I came down from heaven not to do my own will
but the will of the one who sent Me.
And this is the will of the one who sent Me,
that I should not lose anything of what He gave Me,
but that I should raise it on the last day.
For this is the will of my Father,
that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him
may have eternal life,
and I shall raise Him on the last day.”
