Friday in the 3rd Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 9:1-20
Saul, still breathing murderous threats against the disciples of the Lord, went to the high priest and asked him for letters to the synagogues in Damascus, that, if he should find any men or women who belonged to the Way, he might bring them back to Jerusalem in chains. On his journey, as he was nearing Damascus, a light from the sky suddenly flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to him, “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?” He said, “Who are you, sir?” The reply came, “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting. Now get up and go into the city and you will be told what you must do.” The men who were traveling with him stood speechless, for they heard the voice but could see no one. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing; so they led him by the hand and brought him to Damascus. For three days he was unable to see, and he neither ate nor drank. There was a disciple in Damascus named Ananias, and the Lord said to him in a vision, “Ananias.” He answered, “Here I am, Lord.” The Lord said to him, “Get up and go to the street called Straight and ask at the house of Judas for a man from Tarsus named Saul. He is there praying, and in a vision he has seen a man named Ananias come in and lay his hands on him, that he may regain his sight.” But Ananias replied, “Lord, I have heard from many sources about this man, what evil things he has done to your holy ones in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the chief priests to imprison all who call upon your name.” But the Lord said to him, “Go, for this man is a chosen instrument of mine to carry My name before Gentiles, kings, and children of Israel, and I will show him what he will have to suffer for My name.” So Ananias went and entered the house; laying his hands on him, he said, “Saul, my brother, the Lord has sent me, Jesus who appeared to you on the way by which you came, that you may regain your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit.” Immediately things like scales fell from his eyes and he regained his sight. He got up and was baptized, and when he had eaten, he recovered his strength. He stayed some days with the disciples in Damascus, and he began at once to proclaim Jesus in the synagogues, that he is the Son of God.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 117:1bc, 2 (R. Mark 16:15)
R.Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify Him, all you peoples! R.
For steadfast is His kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever. R.
Gospel – Jn 6:52-59
The Jews quarreled among themselves, saying, “How can this man give us his Flesh to eat?” Jesus said to them, “Amen, amen, I say to you, unless you eat the Flesh of the Son of Man and drink his Blood, you do not have life within you. Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks my Blood has eternal life, and I will raise him on the last day. For My Flesh is true food, and My Blood is true drink. Whoever eats My Flesh and drinks My Blood remains in Me and I in him. Just as the living Father sent Me and I have life because of the Father, so also the one who feeds on Me will have life because of Me. This is the bread that came down from heaven. Unlike your ancestors who ate and still died, whoever eats this bread will live forever.” These things he said while teaching in the synagogue in Capernaum.
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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