WEDNESDAY WITHIN THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA, VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH PATRON OF EUROPE
St Catherine (1347-1380) was born in Siena, one of twenty-five children. At a young age she decided to dedicate herself to the Lord and resist the attempts of her family to find her a suitable husband. She became a Dominican Tertiary and both her writings and her stigmata reveal her intimate union with God. Despite her retired life, St Catherine was actively involved in public affairs and persuaded the Pope, Gregory XI, to return to Rome from Avignon. She later tried to unite the Church during the Great Schism and moved to Rome, where she died aged thirty-three. She was proclaimed patroness of Italy in 1939, Doctor of the Church in 1970 and a patron of Europe in 1999.Sign of the Cross
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.Examen
Before listening to the Word of God take a moment to reflect. For what am I grateful to God for today? Where did I stray from God: through words, actions or things I did not do. How might I do better tomorrow? What grace do I ask from God in order to live more closely in his love? You may wish to conclude by saying: Lord Jesus, you have revealed yourself as the way to the Father: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy. You have poured out on your people the Spirit of truth: Christ, have mercy. Christ, have mercy. You are the Good Shepherd, leading us to eternal life: Lord, have mercy. Lord, have mercy.Gloria
Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace to people of good will. We praise you, we bless you, we adore you, we glorify you, we give you thanks for your great glory, Lord God, heavenly King, O God, almighty Father. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son, Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us; you take away the sins of the world. receive our prayer; you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us. For you alone are the Holy One, you alone are the Lord, you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ, with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.Collect
Be present to your family, O Lord, we pray, and graciously ensure those you have endowed with the grace of faith an eternal share in the Resurrection of your Only Begotten Son. Who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.First Reading
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles 8: 1-8
They went from place to place preaching the Good News.
That day a bitter persecution started against the church in Jerusalem, and everyone except the apostles fled to the country districts of Judaea and Samaria. There were some devout people, however, who buried Stephen and made great mourning for him. Saul then worked for the total destruction of the Church; he went from house to house arresting both men and women and sending them to prison. Those who had escaped went from place to place preaching the Good News. One of them was Philip who went to a Samaritan town and proclaimed the Christ to them. The people united in welcoming the message Philip preached, either because they had heard of the miracles he worked or because they saw them for themselves. There were, for example, unclean spirits that came shrieking out of many who were possessed, and several paralytics and cripples were cured. There was great rejoicing in that town as a result. The word of the Lord.Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 65: 1-7. R. v.1
Cry out with joy to God all the earth. Cry out with joy to God all the earth, O sing to the glory of his name. O render him glorious praise. Say to God: ‘How tremendous your deeds!’ R. ‘Before you all the earth shall bow; shall sing to you, sing to your name.’ Come and see the works of God, tremendous his deeds among men. R. He turned the sea into dry land, they passed through the river dry-shod. Let our joy then be in him; he rules for ever by his might. R.Gospel Acclamation
Alleluia, Alleluia! The sheep that belong to me listen to my voice, says the Lord; I know them and they follow me. Alleluia!Gospel
A reading from the holy Gospel according to John 6: 35-40
It is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son shall have eternal life.
Jesus said to the crowd: ‘I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never be hungry; he who believes in me will never thrust. But, as I have told you, you can see me and still you do not believe. All that the Father gives me will come to me, and whoever comes to me I shall not turn him away; because I have come from heaven, not to do my own will, but to do the will of the one who sent me. Now the will of him who sent me is that I should lose nothing of all that he has given to me, and that I should raise it up on the last day. Yes, it is my Father’s will that whoever sees the Son and believes in him shall have eternal life, and that I shall raise him up on the last day.’ The Gospel of the Lord.Profession of Faith
The Apostles’ Creed
I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of heaven and earth, and in Jesus Christ, his only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died, and was buried; he descended into hell; on the third day he rose again from the dead; he ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right hand of God the Father almighty; from there he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and life everlasting. Amen,