Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 8:1b-8
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.”
Featured Saints
St. Raphael Arnáiz Barón, religious (†1938). Monk of the Cistercian Monastery of St. Isidore of Dueñas in Palencia, Spain. He endured the illness that led to his death at age 27 with heroic patience. See also: Maxims and Reflections of St. Raphael Arnaíz – The Value of Intention
St. Anacletus, Pope (†circa 88). He was the second successor of St. Peter to preside over the Roman Church.
St. Stephen of Perm, bishop (†1396). Monk in the monastery of St. Gregory Nazianzen, in Rostov, Russia; as the first bishop of the Russian diocese of Perm, he invented an alphabet and translated the Bible and liturgy into the Permian dialect. He built churches, struck down idols and painted religious icons, founded schools and promoted native vocations.
St. Paschasius Radbertus, abbot (†865 – Corbie, France).
St. Richarius, monk (†645). Pagan from Celles, France who was converted to Christianity through the teachings he received from Irish missionaries. He founded a monastic community in Crecy, where he lived as a contemplative.
Blesseds Dominic and Gregory, priests (†thirteenth century). Dominican priests who begged for their daily fare, crossing the lands of Aragon, Spain,announcing the Word of God.
Blessed Júlio Junyer Padern, priest and martyr (†1938). Member of the Salesian congregation. During the anti-Catholic persecutions of the Spanish Civil War, he was accused of espionage and treason for helping other Salesians escape. He was killed by firings squad in Barcelona, offering his life for the good of the Church and of Spain.
Blessed Stanislaus Kubista, priest and martyr (†1942). Polish priest from the Congregation of the Divine Word, who surrendered his soul after terrible tortures in Sachsenhausen concentration camp in Germany.
Image gallery
