Second Sunday of Easter – Sunday of Divine Mercy
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Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 5:12-16
Many signs and wonders were done among the people at the hands of the apostles. They were all together in Solomon’s portico. None of the others dared to join them, but the people esteemed them. Yet more than ever, believers in the Lord, great numbers of men and women, were added to them. Thus they even carried the sick out into the streets and laid them on cots and mats so that when Peter came by, at least his shadow might fall on one or another of them. A large number of people from the towns in the vicinity of Jerusalem also gathered, bringing the sick and those disturbed by unclean spirits, and they were all cured.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 118:2-4, 13-15, 22-24 (R.1)
R. Give thanks to the Lord for he is good, his love is everlasting.
or:
R Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the LORD say,
“His mercy endures forever.” R.
I was hard pressed and was falling,
but the LORD helped me.
My strength and my courage is the LORD,
and he has been my savior.
The joyful shout of victory
in the tents of the just: R.
The stone which the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the LORD has this been done;
it is wonderful in our eyes.
This is the day the LORD has made;
let us be glad and rejoice in it. R.
Second Reading – Rev 1:9-11a, 12-13, 17-19
I, John, your brother, who share with you the distress, the kingdom, and the endurance we have in Jesus, found myself on the island called Patmos because I proclaimed God’s word and gave testimony to Jesus. I was caught up in spirit on the Lord’s day and heard behind me a voice as loud as a trumpet, which said, “Write on a scroll what you see.” Then I turned to see whose voice it was that spoke to me, and when I turned, I saw seven gold lampstands and in the midst of the lampstands one like a son of man, wearing an ankle-length robe, with a gold sash around his chest. When I caught sight of him, I fell down at his feet as though dead. He touched me with his right hand and said, “Do not be afraid. I am the first and the last, the one who lives. Once I was dead, but now I am alive forever and ever. I hold the keys to death and the netherworld. Write down, therefore, what you have seen, and what is happening, and what will happen afterwards.”
Gospel – Jn 20:19-31
On the evening of that first day of the week, when the doors were locked, where the disciples were, for fear of the Jews, Jesus came and stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side. The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord. Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you. As the Father has sent me, so I send you.” And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them, “Receive the Holy Spirit. Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them, and whose sins you retain are retained.” Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve, was not with them when Jesus came. So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.” But he said to them, “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nailmarks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.” Now a week later his disciples were again inside and Thomas was with them. Jesus came, although the doors were locked, and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.” Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands, and bring your hand and put it into my side, and do not be unbelieving, but believe.” Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.” Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples that are not written in this book. But these are written that you may come to believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that through this belief you may have life in his name.
Featured Saints
St. Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, virgin (†1868). Nun of the Order of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge. She founded the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity of the Good Shepherd of Angers, France, to mercifully receive repentant public sinners, “Magdalenes”, who wished to enter religious life.
St. Mary of Cleophas and St. Salome. Together with St. Mary Magdalene, they went early on Easter Sunday to the Sepulchre of the Lord, to anoint His Body, and received the first announcement of the Resurrection.
St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr (†1622). A lawyer by profession, he entered the Order of Friars Minor Chapuchins and was an outstanding preacher. He was sent to bolster true doctrine in Switzerland, and was killed by heretics in Seewis.
St. Mellitus of Canterbury, Bispo (†624). A monk from Rome sent by St. Gregory I the Great to help St. Augustine of Canterbury in the evangelization of he Anglo people. He was consecrated Bishop and eventually appointed Archbishop of Canterbury.
St. Egbert, priest (†729). Priest and monk who evangelized several regions of Europe. He died on the Island of Iona, Scotland, after celebrating the solemnity of Easter.
St. Benedict Menni, priest (†1914). Restored the Hospitaller Order of St. John of God in Spain, Portugal and Mexico and founded the Congregation of the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus in Madrid. He died in Dinan, France.
St. William Firmatus, hermit (†1103). Canon and physician in Tours, France, he made a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and spent the rest of his life in solitude.
Blessed Mary Elizabeth Hesselblad, virgin (†1957). Religious of Swedish origin who died in Rome. She helped to revive the Order of St. Bridget.
St. Deodatus, deacon and abbot (†fourth century). After leading a life as an anchorite, he formed a community in Blois (France) with a group of disciples attracted by his example. He refused priestly ordination, considering himself unworthy.
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