Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter
Readings for the Vigil of Pentecost: See Pentecost Sunday
Featured Saints
St. Rita of Cascia, religious (†1457). Optional Memorial. Revered as a patroness of seemingly impossible cases. She patiently bore the harsh treatment of her violent husband. After his death that of her two sons, she entered the Augustinian convent at Cascia where she was an exemplary religious, and was favoured with mystical visions and a permanent wound on her forehead associated with the crown of thorns.
St. Atto, bishop (†c. 1153). After serving as abbot of the Order of Vallumbrosa, he was elect ed to the Episcopal Seat of Pistoia, Italy.
St. Dominic Ngon, martyr (†1862). Father of a family who was decapitated during the persecutions in Vietnam, for refusing to renounce his Faith.
St. John Forest, priest and martyr († 1538). Franciscan priest, burned alive during the reign of Henry VIII of England, for defending the unity of the Catholic Church.
Blessed Matthias of Arima, martyr (†1620). Catechist from Oruma, Japan; tortured to death
for refusing to denounce the missionaries.
Blessed Humility (Rosanna), abbess (†1310). At twenty-four years of age, she and her husband decided to abandon the world and enter religious life. Drawn by her example, several young women joined her in the Monastery of St. Maria Novella, of which she became prioress.
Blessed Maria Domenica Brun Barbantini, religious (†1868). Widow who dedicated herself to helping the impoverished sick and founded the Congregation of the Sister Ministers of the Sick of St. Camillus in Lucca, Italy.
Blesseds Peter of the Assumption and John Baptist Machado, priests and martyrs (†1617) Franciscan priests beheaded in Kori, Japan, out of hatred for the Faith.
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 28:16-20, 30-31
When he entered Rome, Paul was allowed to live by himself, with the soldier who was guarding him. Three days later he called together the leaders of the Jews. When they had gathered he said to them, “My brothers, although I had done nothing against our people or our ancestral customs, I was handed over to the Romans as a prisoner from Jerusalem. After trying my case the Romans wanted to release me, because they found nothing against me deserving the death penalty. But when the Jews objected, I was obliged to appeal to Caesar, even though I had no accusation to make against my own nation. This is the reason, then, I have requested to see you and to speak with you, for it is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.” He remained for two full years in his lodgings. He received all who came to him, and with complete assurance and without hindrance he proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 11:4, 5 and 7 (R. cf.7b)
R. The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The LORD is in his holy temple;
the LORD’s throne is in heaven.
His eyes behold,
his searching glance is on mankind. R.
The LORD searches the just and the wicked;
the lover of violence He hates.
For the LORD is just, He loves just deeds;
the upright shall see his face. R.
Gospel – Jn 21:20-25
Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved,
the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper
and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?”
When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?”
Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?
You follow Me.”
So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die.
But Jesus had not told him that he would not die,
just “What if I want him to remain until I come?
What concern is it of yours?”
It is this disciple who testifies to these things
and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true.
There are also many other things that Jesus did,
but if these were to be described individually,
I do not think the whole world would contain the books
that would be written.
