Mass Readings

First Reading – Acts 16:22-34

The crowd in Philippi joined in the attack on Paul and Silas, and the magistrates had them stripped and ordered them to be beaten with rods. After inflicting many blows on them, they threw them into prison and instructed the jailer to guard them securely. When he received these instructions, he put them in the innermost cell and secured their feet to a stake. About midnight, while Paul and Silas were praying and singing hymns to God as the prisoners listened, there was suddenly such a severe earthquake that the foundations of the jail shook; all the doors flew open, and the chains of all were pulled loose. When the jailer woke up and saw the prison doors wide open, he drew his sword and was about to kill himself, thinking that the prisoners had escaped. But Paul shouted out in a loud voice, “Do no harm to yourself; we are all here.” He asked for a light and rushed in and, trembling with fear, he fell down before Paul and Silas. Then he brought them out and said, “Sirs, what must I do to be saved?” And they said, “Believe in the Lord Jesus and you and your household will be saved.” So they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to everyone in his house. He took them in at that hour of the night and bathed their wounds; then he and all his family were baptized at once. He brought them up into his house and provided a meal and with his household rejoiced at having come to faith in God.

Responsorial Psalm – 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8 (R.7c)

R. Your right hand saves me, O Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple,
and give thanks to your name. R.

Because of your kindness and your truth,
you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me. R.

Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands. R.

Gospel – Jn 16:5-11

Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”

Featured Saints

Blessed John of Prado, priest and martyr (†1631). Spanish Franciscan sent to North Africa to spiritually minister to enslaved Christians. Taken prisoner, he vigorously confessed the Faith before the tyrant Mulay alWalid and was condemned to death by fire.

St. Vincent of Lérins, priest and monk (†circa 450). Famous for his holiness of life and knowledge of Sacred Scripture, he wrote the Commonitory, which St. Robert Bellarmine described as “a golden book.”

St. Simeon Stylites the Younger, priest and anchorite (†592). For 45 years he lived on a column on Mount Admirable, Syria. He wrote several treatises on the ascetic life.

St. Augustine Yi Kwang-hon and companions, martyrs (†1839). Lay Catholics tortured and beheaded during the anti-Christian persecution in Korea.

St. Manaen. Formerly a member of the court of Herod Antipas. He is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, together with St. Lucius of Cyrene, among the prophets and teachers of Antioch, the place of his death.

Sts. Donatian and Rogatian, martyrs (†circa 304). Young brothers from Nantes, France who were tortured and beheaded for holding fast to the Faith.

Blessed Louis-Zéphirin Moreau, bishop (†1901). Promoted clerical formation and enkindled religious fervour in the Diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe, Canada. He founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Institute of the Sisters of St. Martha.

Blessed Joanna. Wife of Cuza, procurator of Herod, one of the Holy Women who followed Jesus and provided Him with material assistance.