Saturday in the 5th Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 16:1-10
Paul reached also Derbe and Lystra where there was a disciple named Timothy, the son of a Jewish woman who was a believer, but his father was a Greek. The brothers in Lystra and Iconium spoke highly of him, and Paul wanted him to come along with him. On account of the Jews of that region, Paul had him circumcised, for they all knew that his father was a Greek. As they traveled from city to city, they handed on to the people for observance the decisions reached by the Apostles and presbyters in Jerusalem. Day after day the churches grew stronger in faith and increased in number. They traveled through the Phrygian and Galatian territory because they had been prevented by the Holy Spirit from preaching the message in the province of Asia. When they came to Mysia, they tried to go on into Bithynia, but the Spirit of Jesus did not allow them, so they crossed through Mysia and came down to Troas. During the night Paul had a vision. A Macedonian stood before him and implored him with these words, “Come over to Macedonia and help us.” When he had seen the vision, we sought passage to Macedonia at once, concluding that God had called us to proclaim the Good News to them.
Responsorial Psalm – 100:1b-2, 3, 5 (R.2a)
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
serve the LORD with gladness;
come before him with joyful song. R.
Know that the LORD is God;
he made us, his we are;
his people, the flock he tends. R.
The LORD is good:
his kindness endures forever,
and his faithfulness, to all generations. R.
Gospel – Jn 15:18-21
Jesus said to his disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.”
Featured Saints
Our Lady Help of Cristians. Commemoration instituted by Pope St. Pius V in thanksgiving for the miraculous victory of the Christian fleet in the Battle of Lepanto in 1571.
Blessed Louis-Zéphirin Moreau, bishop (†1901). Optional Memorial in Canada. He promoted clerical formation and enkindled religious fervour in the Diocese of Saint-Hyacinthe, Quebec. He founded the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph and the Institute of the Sisters of St. Martha.
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 Joanna. Wife of Cuza, procurator of Herod, one of the Holy Women who followed Jesus and provided Him with material assistance.
Image gallery
