Saturday of the 4th Week of Lent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Jer 11:18-20
I knew their plot because the LORD informed me; at that time you, O LORD, showed me their doings. Yet I, like a trusting lamb led to slaughter, had not realized that they were hatching plots against me: “Let us destroy the tree in its vigor; let us cut him off from the land of the living, so that his name will be spoken no more.” But, you, O LORD of hosts, O just Judge, searcher of mind and heart, Let me witness the vengeance You take on them, for to You I have entrusted my cause!
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 7:2-3, 9bc-10, 11-12 (R.2a)
R. O Lord, my God, in You I take refuge.
O LORD, my God, in You I take refuge;
save me from all my pursuers and rescue me,
Lest I become like the lion’s prey,
to be torn to pieces, with no one to rescue me. R.
Do me justice, O LORD, because I am just,
and because of the innocence that is mine.
Let the malice of the wicked come to an end,
but sustain the just,
O searcher of heart and soul, O just God. R.
A shield before me is God,
who saves the upright of heart;
A just judge is God,
a God who punishes day by day. R.
Gospel – Jn 7:40-53
Some in the crowd who heard these words of Jesus said, “This is truly the Prophet.” Others said, “This is the Christ.” But others said, “The Christ will not come from Galilee, will he? Does not Scripture say that the Christ will be of David’s family and come from Bethlehem, the village where David lived?” So a division occurred in the crowd because of Him. Some of them even wanted to arrest Him, but no one laid hands on Him. So the guards went to the chief priests and Pharisees, who asked them, “Why did you not bring him?” The guards answered, “Never before has anyone spoken like this man.” So the Pharisees answered them, “Have you also been deceived? Have any of the authorities or the Pharisees believed in him? But this crowd, which does not know the law, is accursed.” Nicodemus, one of their members who had come to him earlier, said to them, “Does our law condemn a man before it first hears him and finds out what he is doing?” They answered and said to him, “You are not from Galilee also, are you? Look and see that no prophet arises from Galilee.” Then each went to his own house.
Featured Saints
St. Jean de Brébeuf, priest and mártir (†1649). One of eight Jesuit missionary from France who evangelized among the native peoples of North America, particularly of the Huron tribe, and were captured, tortured and killed by the Iroquois over a period of seven years. This is the date marks his individual death in present-day Midland, Canada. The collective feast feast of the North American Martyrs is celebrated on September 26 in Canada and October 19 in the General Calendar.
St. Hilary, bishop, and St. Tatian, deacon, martyrs. According to ancient tradition, they suffered martyrdom by decapitation in Aquileia, Italy, during the time of Emperor Numerianus, (circa 284).
St. Heribert of Cologne, bishop (†1021). He was chancellor of Emperor Otto III of Germany, before being appointed Archbishop of Cologne, an honour which he unwillingly accepted. He founded the Benedictine Abbey of Deutz.
St. Eusebia, abbess (†c. 680). After her father’s death she entered monastic life, along with her mother, St. Rictrudes. While yet an adolescent, she succeeded her grandmother, the widowed St. Gertrude the Elder, in the office of abbess of Hamay-sur-la-Scarpe, in Marchiennes, France.
Blessed John Sordi, Bishop and martyr (†1181). Noble from Cremona, he became a Benedictine religious and was exiled for his fidelity to the Pope. He was elected Bishop of Mantua and later of Vicenza. He died defending the liberty of the Church, killed by a hired assassin.
Blessed Robert Dalby, priest and martyr (†1589). English Protestant minister who converted and received priestly ordination in Rheims, France. Returning to England, he was imprisoned and condemned to death for exercising his ministry.
St. Julian of Anazarbus, martyr (†fourth century). After prolonged torture, he was bound in a sack with serpents and thrown into the sea in Cilicia, present-day Turkey.
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