Mass Readings

First Reading – Acts 13:44-52

On the following sabbath almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. When the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and with violent abuse contradicted what Paul said. Both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly and said, “It was necessary that the word of God be spoken to you first, but since you reject it and condemn yourselves as unworthy of eternal life, we now turn to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, I have made you a light to the Gentiles, that you may be an instrument of salvation to the ends of the earth.”  The Gentiles were delighted when they heard this and glorified the word of the Lord. All who were destined for eternal life came to believe, and the word of the Lord continued to spread through the whole region. The Jews, however, incited the women of prominence who were worshipers and the leading men of the city, stirred up a persecution against Paul and Barnabas, and expelled them from their territory. So they shook the dust from their feet in protest against them and went to Iconium. The disciples were filled with joy and the Holy Spirit.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 98:1, 2-3ab, 3cd-4 (R. 3cd)

R.All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God.
or:
R. Alleluia.

Sing to the LORD a new song,
for He has done wondrous deeds;
His right hand has won victory for Him,
His holy arm. R.

The LORD has made His salvation known:
in the sight of the nations He has revealed His justice.
He has remembered His kindness and His faithfulness
toward the house of Israel. R.

All the ends of the earth have seen
the salvation by our God.
Sing joyfully to the LORD, all you lands;
break into song; sing praise. R.

Gospel – Jn 14:7-14

Jesus said to His disciples: “If you know Me, then you will also know My Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Jesus, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know Me, Philip? Whoever has seen Me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on My own. The Father who dwells in Me is doing His works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in Me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in Me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in My name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of Me in my name, I will do it.”

Featured Saints

St. Peter Nolasco, priest (†1245). Aided by St. Raymond de Peñafort and King James I of Aragon, he founded the Mercedarian Order in Spain, for the ransom of Christians from the Moors.

St. François de Laval, bishop (†1708). Memorial in Canada. Born to the illustrious Montmorency family, he renounced his rights as heir to embrace the clerical vocation. Becoming the first Bishop of Quebec, for 50 years he worked with missionary zeal to strengthen and build up the Church in his vast diocese.

St. Venerius, bishop (†409). Disciple and sucessor of St. Ambrose of Milan. He supported St. John Chrysostom in exile.

St. Lucius of Cyrene. He is mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles among the “prophets and doctors” (13:1) of the church at Antioch.

St. Benedicta, virgin (†sixth century). Roman nun; St. Gregory the Great relates that after insistently beseeching God, she died one month after the death of a beloved friend, St. Galla.

Blesseds Henry Kaczorowski and Casimir Gostynski, priests and martyrs (†1942). For their dedication and fervour in carrying out apostolic works in Poland, they were designated domestic prelates of the Pope. They died in the gas chamber of Dachau concentration camp in Germany.

Blessed Bartholomew Pucci Franceschi, priest (†1330). Feeling called to the religious life, he obtained the consent of his wife and children to enter the Franciscan monastery of Montepulciano, Italy.

Blessed Mary Catherine Troiani, virgin (†1887). Italian Franciscan religious, foundress of the Missionary Franciscan Sisters in Cairo, Egypt.

Blessed Anna Rosa Gattorno, religious (†1900). As a widow she founded the Congregation of the Daughters of St. Anne, Mother of Mary Immaculate, in Piacenza, Italy.