Thursday in the 4th Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 13:13-25
From Paphos, Paul and his companions set sail and arrived at Perga in Pamphylia. But John left them and returned to Jerusalem. They continued on from Perga and reached Antioch in Pisidia. On the sabbath they entered into the synagogue and took their seats. After the reading of the law and the prophets, the synagogue officials sent word to them, “My brothers, if one of you has a word of exhortation for the people, please speak.” So Paul got up, motioned with his hand, and said, “Fellow children of Israel and you others who are God-fearing, listen. The God of this people Israel chose our ancestors and exalted the people during their sojourn in the land of Egypt. With uplifted arm he led them out, and for about forty years he put up with them in the desert. When he had destroyed seven nations in the land of Canaan, he gave them their land as an inheritance at the end of about four hundred and fifty years. After these things he provided judges up to Samuel the prophet. Then they asked for a king. God gave them Saul, son of Kish, a man from the tribe of Benjamin, for forty years. Then he removed him and raised up David as their king; of him he testified, I have found David, son of Jesse, a man after my own heart; he will carry out my every wish. From this man’s descendants God, according to his promise, has brought to Israel a savior, Jesus. John heralded his coming by proclaiming a baptism of repentance to all the people of Israel; and as John was completing his course, he would say, ‘What do you suppose that I am? I am not he. Behold, one is coming after me; I am not worthy to unfasten the sandals of his feet.'”
Responsorial Psalm – Ps 89:2-3, 21-22, 25 and 27 (R. 2)
R.For ever I will sing the goodness of the Lord.
or:
R. Alleluia.
The favors of the LORD I will sing forever;
through all generations my mouth shall proclaim Your faithfulness.
For You have said, “My kindness is established forever”;
in Heaven You have confirmed Your faithfulness. R.
“I have found David, my servant;
with my holy oil I have anointed him,
That my hand may be always with him,
and that my arm may make him strong.” R.
“My faithfulness and my mercy shall be with him,
and through my name shall his horn be exalted.
He shall say of me, ‘You are my father,
my God, the Rock, my savior.'” R.
Gospel – Jn 13:16-20
When Jesus had washed the disciples’ feet, He said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, no slave is greater than his master nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him. If you understand this, blessed are you if you do it. I am not speaking of all of you. I know those whom I have chosen. But so that the Scripture might be fulfilled, The one who ate my food has raised his heel against me. From now on I am telling you before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe that I AM. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever receives the one I send receives Me, and whoever receives Me receives the one who sent Me.”
Featured Saints
Sts. John Houghton, Robert Lawrence, Augustine Webster and Richard Reynolds, priests and martyrs (†1535). Feast in England. The first men to die as martyrs during the reign of king Henry VIII for refusing to take the Oath of Supremacy. The first three were the first from the Carthusian Order and the fourth was a Brigidine monk.
In Canada: Optional memorial of Blessed Marie-Leonie Paradis, virgin (†1912) in Canada. She founded the Congregation of the Little Sisters of the Holy Family in Canada, to serve the clergy through the domestic care of rectories, seminaries and colleges.
St. Sylvanus of Gaza, bishop, and companions, martyrs (†circa 304). He was condemned to forced labour and finally beheaded in the mines of Phoenon, Palestine, with 39 other Christians, by order of Emperor Maximinus Daia.
St. Florian, martyr (†304). Roman soldier condemned for being Christian during the persecution of Diocletian; he was cast into the Enns River in Lorch, Germany, with a stone around his neck.
St. Antonina, martyr (†third/ fourth century). She was imprisoned for two years, tortured, and finally burned at the stake in Nicea for refusing to renounce the Faith.
Blessed Ladislaus of Gielnow, priest (†1505). Franciscan religious from Warsaw, he preached the Passion of Our Lord with extraordinary zeal, and composed hymns.
Blessed Jean-Martin Moÿe, priest (†1793). Priest from the Foreign Missions, founded the Institute of Sisters of Divine Providence in France, and went on mission to China. He died in exile in Germany during the French Revolution.
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