Friday of the 4th Week of Lent
Mass Readings
First Reading – Wis 2:1a, 12-22
The wicked said among themselves, thinking not aright: “Let us beset the just one, because he is obnoxious to us; he sets himself against our doings, Reproaches us for transgressions of the law and charges us with violations of our training. He professes to have knowledge of God and styles himself a child of the LORD. To us he is the censure of our thoughts; merely to see him is a hardship for us, Because his life is not like that of others, and different are his ways. He judges us debased; he holds aloof from our paths as from things impure. He calls blest the destiny of the just and boasts that God is his Father. Let us see whether his words be true; let us find out what will happen to him. For if the just one be the son of God, he will defend him and deliver him from the hand of his foes. With revilement and torture let us put him to the test that we may have proof of his gentleness and try his patience. Let us condemn him to a shameful death; for according to his own words, God will take care of him.” These were their thoughts, but they erred; for their wickedness blinded them, and they knew not the hidden counsels of God; neither did they count on a recompense of holiness nor discern the innocent souls’ reward.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 34:17-18, 19-20, 21 and 23 (R. 19a)
R. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted.
The LORD confronts the evildoers,
to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
When the just cry out, the LORD hears them,
and from all their distress He rescues them. R.
The LORD is close to the brokenhearted;
and those who are crushed in spirit He saves.
Many are the troubles of the just man,
but out of them all the LORD delivers him. R.
He watches over all his bones;
not one of them shall be broken.
The LORD redeems the lives of His servants;
no one incurs guilt who takes refuge in Him. R.
Gospel – Jn 7:1-2, 10, 25-30
Jesus moved about within Galilee; He did not wish to travel in Judea, because the Jews were trying to kill Him. But the Jewish feast of Tabernacles was near. But when His brothers had gone up to the feast, He Himself also went up, not openly but as it were in secret. Some of the inhabitants of Jerusalem said, “Is He not the one they are trying to kill? And look, He is speaking openly and they say nothing to Him. Could the authorities have realized that He is the Christ? But we know where He is from. When the Christ comes, no one will know where He is from.” So Jesus cried out in the temple area as he was teaching and said, “You know Me and also know where I am from. Yet I did not come on My own, but the One who sent Me, Whom you do not know, is true. I know Him, because I am from Him, and He sent Me.” So they tried to arrest Him, but no one laid a hand upon Him, because His hour had not yet come.
Blessed Francisco de Jesus Maria José Palau, priest (†1872). A religious of the Order of Discalced Carmelites. He suffered violent persecutions in the exercise of his priestly ministry and, owing to false accusations, was exiled to the Isle of Ibiza. Providence richly favoured him with mystical gifts, including visions of future happenings in the Church. See also: Do Not Permit the Demons this Outrage; “My Relations with the Church” – The True Face of the Church
St. John Nepomucene, priest and martyr (†1393). A great preacher, he was called to the court of Prague by King Wenceslaus IV. For refusing to reveal the queen’s Confession to the king, the latter ordered him to be tortured and drowned in the Vitava River.
St. Martin of Braga, bishop (†circa 579). Bishop of Braga, Portugal, who converted the Spanish Seuvi of his diocese from the Arian heresy. He enriched the Church with his writings.
St. Joseph Bilczewski, bishop (†1923). He did much pastoral activity in the Diocese of Lviv, Ukraine, and with ardent charity dedicated himself to the development of customs and doctrinal formation of the clergy and the faithful.
St. Archippus, companion of St. Paul the Apostle, mentioned in the letters to Philemon and the Colossians.
St. Mary Josepha of the Heart of Jesus, virgin (†1912). Foundress of the Congregation of the Servants of Jesus in Bilbao, Spain.
Blessed Hippolytus Galantini, layman (†1619). Founder of the Brotherhood of Christian Doctrine, he dedicated himself to the catechetical formation of the poor and humble.
Blessed Jeanne Véron, virgin and martyr (†1794). Companion of Blessed Françoise Trehét in caring for the sick children of Dampierre, France. She was guillotined for sheltering priests who had refused to take the oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy.
