Wednesday in the 4th Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 12:24—13:5a
The word of God continued to spread and grow. After Barnabas and Saul completed their relief mission, they returned to Jerusalem, taking with them John, who is called Mark. Now there were in the Church at Antioch prophets and teachers: Barnabas, Symeon who was called Niger, Lucius of Cyrene, Manaen who was a close friend of Herod the tetrarch, and Saul. While they were worshiping the Lord and fasting, the Holy Spirit said, “Set apart for me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them.” Then, completing their fasting and prayer, they laid hands on them and sent them off. So they, sent forth by the Holy Spirit, went down to Seleucia and from there sailed to Cyprus. When they arrived in Salamis, they proclaimed the word of God in the Jewish synagogues.
Responsorial Psalm – 67:2-3, 5, 6 and 8 (R.4)
R. O God, let all the nations praise you!
or:
R. Alleluia.
May God have pity on us and bless us;
may he let his face shine upon us.
So may your way be known upon earth;
among all nations, your salvation. R.
May the nations be glad and exult
because you rule the peoples in equity;
the nations on the earth you guide. R.
May the peoples praise you, O God;
may all the peoples praise you!
May God bless us,
and may all the ends of the earth fear him! R.
Gospel – Jn 12:44-50
Jesus cried out and said, “Whoever believes in me believes not only in me but also in the one who sent me, and whoever sees me sees the one who sent me. I came into the world as light, so that everyone who believes in me might not remain in darkness. And if anyone hears my words and does not observe them, I do not condemn him, for I did not come to condemn the world but to save the world. Whoever rejects me and does not accept my words has something to judge him: the word that I spoke, it will condemn him on the last day, because I did not speak on my own, but the Father who sent me commanded me what to say and speak. And I know that his commandment is eternal life. So what I say, I say as the Father told me.”
Featured Saints
St. Francis de Geronimo, priest (†1716). Italian Jesuit who was dedicated himself to preaching retreats and popular missions in Naples, Italy, and to the apostolate with the poor and abandoned.
St. Mamertus, bishop (†c. 475). In a calamitous situation, he instituted the solemn triduum of litanies and rogations before the feast of the Ascension of Our Lord in Vienne, France.
St. Walter, priest (†1070). Superior of the monastery of Esterp, in Limoges, France; he shone for his meekness with his brothers and his charity toward the poor.
St. Ignatius of Laconi, religious (†1781). Capuchin friar; he collected alms for the poor for forty years in Cagliari, Italy. He was instrumental in the conversion of many sinners.
St. Matthew Le Van Gam, martyr (†1847). decapitated during the Vietnamese religious persecution, for bringing missionaries to Vietnam in his boat.
Blesseds John Rochester and James Walworth, priest and martyrs (†1537). Carthusian religious. They were hanged at York and their bodies left exposed on the gibbet for three days, for refusing to accept Henry VIII as head of the Church in England.
St. Majolus, abbot (†994). Fourth abbot of Cluny Abbey, France. He founded and re formed many monasteries in France and Italy.
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