Thursday in the 4th Week of Easter
Optional Memorials of St. Pancras, martyr (†fourth century). Optional Memorial. Youth of 14 years who preferred to die than to renounce his faith in Christ. And of Sts. Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs (†304). Optional Memorial. Roman soldiers who converted to the Christian Faith and were beheaded in Rome during the Diocletian persecution.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 13:13-25
From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out, and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish. From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.’”
Responsorial Psalm – 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27 (R.2)
R. For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim your faithfulness.
For you have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in heaven you have confirmed your faithfulness. R.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.” R.
“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.’” R.
Gospel – Jn 13:16-20
When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, he said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me.”
Featured Saints
St. Dominic of the Causeway, priest (†1109). To help pilgrims on the way to Santiago de Compostela, he built, in the Spanish city that today bears his name, streets, bridges, a hospital and a lodging house, where he tended to them as host and nurse.
St. Modoaldo, bishop (†circa 647). In the Diocese of Treveris, Germany, he built several churches and monasteries and founded communities of virgins.
St. Rictrudis, abbess (†c. 688). After the violent death of her husband, she became a religious on the advice of St. Amand, becoming the superior of the monastery of Marchiennes, France.
Blessed Imelda Lambertini, virgin (†1333). Admitted to a Dominican monastery as a child, she ardently desired to receive the Eucharist. She died at age thirteen, after receiving First Communion in a miraculous manner.
Blessed Joanna of Portugal, virgin (†1490). The daughter of King Alfonso V. Of exceptional beauty, she refused every marriage proposal and joined the Dominican monastery of Aveiro.
Image gallery
