Tuesday of Holy Week
Mass Readings
First Reading – Is 49:1-6
Hear me, O islands, listen, O distant peoples. The LORD called me from birth, from my mother’s womb he gave me my name. He made of me a sharp-edged sword and concealed me in the shadow of his arm. He made me a polished arrow, in his quiver he hid me. You are my servant, he said to me, Israel, through whom I show my glory. Though I thought I had toiled in vain, and for nothing, uselessly, spent my strength, Yet my reward is with the LORD, my recompense is with my God. For now the LORD has spoken who formed me as His servant from the womb, That Jacob may be brought back to Him and Israel gathered to Him; And I am made glorious in the sight of the LORD, and my God is now my strength! It is too little, he says, for you to be my servant, to raise up the tribes of Jacob, and restore the survivors of Israel; I will make you a light to the nations, that my salvation may reach to the ends of the earth.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 71:1-2, 3-4a, 5ab-6ab, 15 and 17 (R. see 15ab)
R. I will sing of your salvation.
In cou, O LORD, I take refuge;
let me never be put to shame.
In vour justice rescue me, and deliver me;
incline your ear to me, and save me. R.
Be my rock of refuge,
a stronghold to give me safety,
for You are my rock and my fortress.
O my God, rescue me from the hand of the wicked. R.
For You are my hope, O LORD;
my trust, O God, from my youth.
On You I depend from birth;
from my mother’s womb You are my strength. R.
My mouth shall declare Your justice,
day by day Your salvation.
O God, You have taught me from my youth,
and till the present I proclaim Your wondrous deeds R.
Gospel – Jn 13:21-33, 36-38
Reclining at table with His disciples, Jesus was deeply troubled and testified, “Amen, amen, I say to you, one of you will betray Me.” The disciples looked at one another, at a loss as to whom He meant. One of His disciples, the one whom Jesus loved, was reclining at Jesus’ side. So Simon Peter nodded to Him to find out whom He meant. He leaned back against Jesus’ chest and said to Him, “Master, who is it?” Jesus answered, “It is the one to whom I hand the morsel after I have dipped it.” So He dipped the morsel and took it and handed it to Judas, son of Simon the Iscariot. After Judas took the morsel, Satan entered him. So Jesus said to him, “What you are going to do, do quickly.” Now none of those reclining at table realized why He said this to him. Some thought that since Judas kept the money bag, Jesus had told him, “Buy what we need for the feast,” or to give something to the poor. So Judas took the morsel and left at once. And it was night. When he had left, Jesus said, “Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in Him. If God is glorified in Him, God will also glorify Him in Himself, and He will glorify Him at once. My children, I will be with you only a little while longer. You will look for Me, and as I told the Jews, ‘Where I go you cannot come,’ so now I say it to you.” Simon Peter said to him, “Master, where are you going?” Jesus answered him, “Where I am going, you cannot follow Me now, though you will follow later.” Peter said to Him, “Master, why can I not follow You now? I will lay down my life for you.” Jesus answered, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Amen, amen, I say to you, the cock will not crow before you deny Me three times.”
Featured Saints
St. Isidore of Seville, bishop and Doctor of the Church (†636). A disciple of his brother Sr. Leander, whom he succeeded to the episcopal See in Seville. A great writer, he is held as one of the great masters of medieval Europe. He founded the School of Seville for the formation of the clergy. He is the brother, as well, of St. Fulgentius, bishop, and St. Florentina, abbess.
Blessed Francisco Marto (†1919). One of the seers of Fatima. After the apparitions of Our Lady, he was moved by the sole desire to “console and give joy to Jesus.” With this intention he endured terrible sufferings and died with a smile on his lips, shortly before his eleventh birthday.
Blessed Peter of Poitiers, bishop (†1115). Unshakable upholder of integrity and justice, he denounced and excommunicated the French king Philip I for his unlawful second marriage. He was exiled to Chauvigny, where he died.
St. Gaetano Catanoso, priest (†1963). Parish priest from the Diocese of Reggio Calabria, founder of the Congregation of the Veronica Sisters of the Holy Face.
St. Plato, abbot (†814). Abbot of Sakkudion monastery in Constantinople, he ardently fought the Iconoclasts. He was exiled with his nephew, St. Theodore Studites, for opposing the divorce and remarriage of the emperor.
St. Benedict Massarari, religious (†1589). Member of the Order of Friars Minor, he carried out the duties of cook, superior and master of novices in Palermo.
Blessed William Cuffitelli, hermit (†1411). Franciscan tertiary who renounced a passion for hunting to embrace hermitic life in Scicli, Sicily, spending 57 years in solitude and poverty.
Blessed Joseph Benedict Dusmet, Bishop (†1894). Benedictine monk, appointed Bishop of Catania (Sicily). He promoted divine worship and Christian instruction for the people, with special concern for the poor.
Image gallery
