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. Agilulfus, bishop (†751/752). Bishop of Cologne, Germany, renowned for his preaching and holy life.
Blessed Joan of Toulouse, virgin (†fourteenth century). Noblewoman who met St. Simon Stock in Toulouse, France, and was received by him into the Carmelite Order. She is venerated as the first tertiary and co-founder of the Carmelite Third Order.
St. Balbina, virgin and martyr (†c. 130). Of noble birth, she received numerous marriage proposals, but remained faithful to her vow of virginity. She was imprisoned together with her father, by order of Emperor Hadrian, and beheaded after prolonged torture.
St. Benjamin, deacon and martyr (†c. 420). He was tortured and killed during the reign of Varahran V for persisting in preaching the Word of God in Persia.
St. Guy, abbot (†1046). Abbot of the Benedictine Monastery of Pomposa, and there welcomed many new followers, and rebuilt sacred edifices in that region. He died in Borgo San Donnino, Italy.
Blessed Bonaventure of Forli, priest (†1491). Servite priest who became the Vicar General of his Order. Pope Sixtus IV entrusted to him the preaching of missions in the Pontifical States, and by his preaching he moved great numbers to penance.
Blessed Christopher Robinson, priest and martyr (†1597). He ministered to oppressed Catholics in England during the Reign of Elizabeth I until, condemned for the crime of priesthood, he was hanged at Carlisle.
Blessed Natalia Tulasiewicz, martyr (†1945). Polish teacher who, during the German military occupation, voluntarily accompanied women from Poland to forced labour camps in Germany to give them spiritual aid. Discovered by the Gestapo, she was tortured and sent to the Rawensbruck concentration camp, where she was killed in the gas chamber.
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