Mass Readings

First Reading – 1 Cor 15:1-11

I am reminding you, brothers and sisters, of the Gospel I preached to you, which you indeed received and in which you also stand. Through it you are also being saved, if you hold fast to the word I preached to you, unless you believed in vain. For I handed on to you as of first importance what I also received: that Christ died for our sins in accordance with the Scriptures; that He was buried; that He was raised on the third day in accordance with the Scriptures; that He appeared to Cephas, then to the Twelve. After that, He appeared to more than five hundred brothers at once, most of whom are still living, though some have fallen asleep. After that He appeared to James, then to all the Apostles. Last of all, as to one born abnormally, He appeared to me. For I am the least of the Apostles, not fit to be called an Apostle, because I persecuted the Church of God. But by the grace of God I am what I am, and His grace to me has not been ineffective. Indeed, I have toiled harder than all of them; not I, however, but the grace of God that is with me. Therefore, whether it be I or they, so we preach and so you believed.

Responsorial Psalm – Ps 118:1b-2, 16ab-17, 28 (R. 1)

R. Give thanks to the Lord, for He is good.

Give thanks to the LORD, for He is good,
for His mercy endures forever.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.” R.

“The right hand of the LORD is exalted;
the right hand of the LORD has struck with power.”
I shall not die, but live,
and declare the works of the LORD. R.

You are my God, and I give thanks to You;
O my God, I extol You. R.

Gospel – Jn 19:25-27

Standing by the cross of Jesus were His mother and His mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. When Jesus saw His mother and the disciple there whom He loved He said to his mother, “Woman, behold, your son.” Then He said to the disciple, “Behold, your mother.” And from that hour the disciple took her into his home.

Or: Lk 2:33-35

Jesus’ father and mother were amazed at what was said about Him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary His mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted and you yourself a sword will pierce so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”

Featured Saints

St. Catherine Fieschi, widow (†1510). From a noble family of Genoa, she became a model of love of God and neighbour after abandoning worldliness. She was one of the inspirers of the Oratory of Divine Love, founded for the reform of customs among clergy and the laity.

Blessed Anton Maria Schwartz, priest. (†1929). Founder, in Vienna, of the Congregation of Christian Workers of St. Joseph Calasanz.

Blessed Camillus Costanzo, priest and martyr (†1622). Italian Jesuit burned alive during persecutions in Japan. Even from within the fire, he continued preach faith in Christ.

Blessed Paul Manna, priest (†1952). Priest from the Pontifical Institute for Foreign Missions; when forced to leave missionary activity in Burma due to his weak health, he evangelized in Italy.

St. Mirin, hermit (†c.620). An Irish monk and missionary, disciple of St. Comgall, he was prior of Bangor Abbey in Northern Ireland before travelling to a yet-pagan region of western Scotland, where he founded a religious community which grew to become Paisley Abbey.

Blessed Ladislaus Miegon, priest and martyr (†1942). Polish priest deported to Dachau concentration camp, where he died under torture.

Blesseds John Baptist and Hyacinth of the Angels, martyrs (†1700). Zapotec Indians, martyred in Santo Domingo Xagacia (Mexico) for being catechists and refusing to adore pagan idols.

Image gallery

Our Lady of Sorrows

1 of 6