Mass Readings

First Reading – Acts 16:11-15

We set sail from Troas, making a straight run for Samothrace, and on the next day to Neapolis, and from there to Philippi, a leading city in that district of Macedonia and a Roman colony. We spent some time in that city. On the sabbath we went outside the city gate along the river where we thought there would be a place of prayer. We sat and spoke with the women who had gathered there. One of them, a woman named Lydia, a dealer in purple cloth, from the city of Thyatira, a worshiper of God, listened, and the Lord opened her heart to pay attention to what Paul was saying. After she and her household had been baptized, she offered us an invitation, “If you consider me a believer in the Lord, come and stay at my home,” and she prevailed on us.

Responsorial Psalm – 149:1b-2, 3-4, 5-6a and 9b(R.see 4a)

R. The Lord takes delight in his people.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song
of praise in the assembly of the faithful.
Let Israel be glad in their maker,
let the children of Zion rejoice in their king. R.

Let them praise his name in the festive dance,
let them sing praise to him with timbrel and harp.
For the LORD loves his people,
and he adorns the lowly with victory. R.

Let the faithful exult in glory;
let them sing for joy upon their couches.
Let the high praises of God be in their throats.
This is the glory of all his faithful. Alleluia. R.

Gospel – Jn 15:26—16:4a

Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

Featured Saints

St. Desiderius, Bishop and martyr (†c. 355). On behalf of his flock in Langres, France, oppressed by Vandals, he solicited the aid of the king, who became outraged and ordered him to be beheaded.

St. Michael of Synnada, bishop (†826). Archbishop of Synnada (in modernTurkey), he fostered peace between Greeks and Latins, and died in exile for defending the cult of sacred images.

St. John Baptist de Rossi, priest (†1764). Exercised his ministry in Rome, dedicating his time and resources to the poor and prisoners.

St. Eutychius, abbot (†circa 487). Elected prior of the Monastery of Nursia, he sought to rekindle the monks’ contemplative fervour and faithfulness to the rule.

St. Honoratus of Subiaco, abbot (†sixth century). He was superior of the community founded by St. Benedict, in Subiaco, Italy.

St. Guibert, monk (†962). Abandoning his military career, he built a monastery on lands that he owned in Gembloux, Belgium, and withdrew to the Monastery of Gorze, France.

Blesseds Joseph Kurzawa and Vincent Matuszewski, priests and martyrs (†1940). Killed for their Faith in the city of Witowo, during the Nazi occupation of Poland.