Wednesday in the 3rd Week of Easter
Mass Readings
First Reading – Acts 8:1b-8
There broke out a severe persecution of the Church in Jerusalem, and all were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles. Devout men buried Stephen and made a loud lament over him. Saul, meanwhile, was trying to destroy the Church; entering house after house and dragging out men and women, he handed them over for imprisonment. Now those who had been scattered went about preaching the word. Thus Philip went down to the city of Samaria and proclaimed the Christ to them. With one accord, the crowds paid attention to what was said by Philip when they heard it and saw the signs he was doing. For unclean spirits, crying out in a loud voice, came out of many possessed people, and many paralyzed and crippled people were cured. There was great joy in that city.
Responsorial Psalm – 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a (R.1)
R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
or:
R. Alleluia.
Shout joyfully to God, all the earth,
sing praise to the glory of his name;
proclaim his glorious praise.
Say to God, “How tremendous are your deeds!” R.
“Let all on earth worship and sing praise to you,
sing praise to your name!”
Come and see the works of God,
his tremendous deeds among the children of Adam. R.
He has changed the sea into dry land;
through the river they passed on foot;
therefore let us rejoice in him.
He rules by his might forever. R.
Gospel – Jn 6:35-40
Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what he gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in him may have eternal life, and I shall raise him on the last day.”
Featured Saints
St. Domitilla, martyr (†1st/2nd century). According to the Church history of Eusebius, she was the niece of the Roman Consul Flavius Clemens. Under the Emperor Domitian she was accused of renouncing pagan gods and was deported to the island of Ponza, where she underwent a long martyrdom.
Blessed Gisela, queen (†1060). Of Bavarian origin, she was married to St. King Stephen I of Hungary and collaborated in the evangelization of that nation, building monasteries and churches. As a widow, she entered the Benedictine Abbey of Niedernburg.
St. Augustino Roscelli, priest (†1902). Founded the Congregation of the Sisters of the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Genoa, Italy.
St. Anthony of Kiev, hermit (†1073). He was born in Ukraine, and lived for years as a monk on Mount Athos in Greece Returning to his native land, he founded the Monastery of the Caves, together with St. Theodosius, in Kiev.
Blessed Rose Venerini, virgin (†1728). Born in Viterbo, Italy, she founded public schools dedicated to the Christian formation of girls according to the spirituality of St. Ignatius of Loyola.
Blessed Francesco Paleari, priest (†1939). Priest from the Cottolengo Institute, he dedicated his life to teaching and to the care of the poor and sick of the Little House of the Providence, in Turin, Italy.
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