Mass Readings

First Reading – Acts 18:1-8

Paul left Athens and went to Corinth. There he met a Jew named Aquila, a native of Pontus, who had recently come from Italy with his wife Priscilla because Claudius had ordered all the Jews to leave Rome. He went to visit them and, because he practiced the same trade, stayed with them and worked, for they were tentmakers by trade. Every sabbath, he entered into discussions in the synagogue, attempting to convince both Jews and Greeks. When Silas and Timothy came down from Macedonia, Paul began to occupy himself totally with preaching the word, testifying to the Jews that the Christ was Jesus. When they opposed him and reviled him, he shook out his garments and said to them, “Your blood be on your heads! I am clear of responsibility. From now on I will go to the Gentiles.” So he left there and went to a house belonging to a man named Titus Justus, a worshiper of God; his house was next to a synagogue. Crispus, the synagogue official, came to believe in the Lord along with his entire household, and many of the Corinthians who heard believed and were baptized.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (R. see 2b)

R.The Lord has revealed to the nations his saving power.
or:  
R. Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for He has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for Him,
His holy arm. R.

The LORD has made His salvation known:
in the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice.
He has remembered His kindness and His faithfulness
toward the house of Israel. R.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise. R.

Gospel – Jn 16:16-20

Jesus said to His disciples: “A little while and you will no longer see Me, and again a little while later and you will see Me.” So some of His disciples said to one another, “What does this mean that He is saying to us, ‘A little while and you will not see Me, and again a little while and you will see Me,’ and ‘Because I am going to the Father’?” So they said, “What is this ‘little while’ of which He speaks? We do not know what He means.” Jesus knew that they wanted to ask Him, so He said to them, “Are you discussing with one another what I said, ‘A little while and you will not see Me, and again a little while and you will see Me’? Amen, amen, I say to you, you will weep and mourn, while the world rejoices; you will grieve, but your grief will become joy.”

Featured Saints

St. Felix of Cantalice, religious (†1587). Capuchin friar; he customarily spent most of the night in prayer. By day he begged for alms in the streets of Rome and cared for the poor and sick.

St. Eric IX, king and martyr (†1161). Upon ascending the throne of Sweden, he won the veneration of his faithful subjects by his ardent charity and zeal for the cause of God. He built churches and sent a bishop, St. Henry, to spread the Gospel in Finland. He was brutally murdered by his enemies, while attending Mass.

Blessed Burchard, priest (†12th century). A parish priest in Beinwil, Switzerland who distinguished himself for his zeal in administering the Sacraments and his ardent charity in caring for the spiritual needs of his parishioners.

Blessed Martin Oprzadek, priest and martyr (†1942). Franciscan Polish priest, who died in a gas chamber in Hartheim, Austria, during the Second World War, for his fidelity to Christ.

Blessed Stanislaus Kubski, priest and martyr (†1942). Was killed in the gas chambers of the concentration camp of Dachau, Germany out of hatred for the Faith.

Blessed Blandina Merten, virgin (†1918). Religious from the Order of St. Ursula, who died in Trier, Germany; she united contemplative life with initiatives to promote the human and Christian formation of youth.

Blessed Gerard Mecatti, hermit (†1245). Following the example of St. Francis of Assisi, he distributed his possessions to the poor and went to live in a hermitage where he devoted himself to receiving pilgrims and helping the sick.