Tuesday of the 3rd Week of Easter
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.”
Featured Saints
St. Anselm, bishop and Doctor of the Church (†1109). 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. 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. 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. 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.
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