Catholic Missal of the day: Wednesday, April 11 2018
Wednesday of the Second week of Easter
Wednesday of the Second week of Easter
1. ReadingActs of the Apostles
5,17-26.]The high priest rose up and all his companions, that is, the party of the Sadducees, and, filled with jealousy,
]laid hands upon the apostles and put them in the public jail.
]But during the night, the angel of the Lord opened the doors of the prison, led them out, and said,
]"Go and take your place in the temple area, and tell the people everything about this life."
]When they heard this, they went to the temple early in the morning and taught. When the high priest and his companions arrived, they convened the Sanhedrin, the full senate of the Israelites, and sent to the jail to have them brought in.
]But the court officers who went did not find them in the prison, so they came back and reported,
]"We found the jail securely locked and the guards stationed outside the doors, but when we opened them, we found no one inside."
]When they heard this report, the captain of the temple guard and the chief priests were at a loss about them, as to what this would come to.
]Then someone came in and reported to them, "The men whom you put in prison are in the temple area and are teaching the people."
]Then the captain and the court officers went and brought them in, but without force, because they were afraid of being stoned by the people.
Psalms
34(33),2-3.4-5.6-7.8-9.]I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
]Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad.
]Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
]I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears.
]Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
]When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him.
]The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
]Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John
3,16-21.]God so loved the world that he gave his only-begotten Son, so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.
]For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through him.
]Whoever believes in him will not be condemned, but whoever does not believe has already been condemned, because he has not believed in the name of the only Son of God.
]And this is the verdict, that the light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light, because their works were evil.
]For everyone who does wicked things hates the light and does not come toward the light, so that his works might not be exposed.
]But whoever lives the truth comes to the light, so that his works may be clearly seen as done in God.
St. Stanislas(Bishop and Martyr (1030-1079))
SAINT STANISLAS Bishop and Martyr (1030-1079) St. Stanislas was born in answer to his elderly parents' prayers. With gratitude, they dedicated him to God. He was ordained, received holy orders and in time was elected bishop of Cracow. The King of Poland, Boleslas II, scandalized his countrymen by kidnapping the wife of one of his nobles. Against this injustice, Bp. Stanislas alone raised his voice. He went to the palace, rebuked the king and threatened excommunication. King Boleslas compelled the nephews of one Paul, lately deceased, to bring false testimony against Bp. Stanislas. They swore their uncle had never been paid for land bought by the bishop for the Church. Bp. Stanislas braved the king's tribunal even when all his witnesses forsook him. St. Stanislas' cult may have given rise to popular legend. Tradition states that he brought a dead man to life so the latter would witness for him. Bp. Stanislas raised Paul to life, led him before the king and was vindicated. King Boleslas relapsed, unfortunately and Bp. Stanislaus excommunicated him. In defiance of the censure, on April 11, 1079, King Boleslas sent three companies of soldiers to kill St. Stanislaus while the latter celebrated Mass. Each company was turned away saying they had been repelled by a light from heaven. The king then rushed in and murdered the bishop. St. Stanislaus was martyred for Christ and freedom of speech. He is the patron of Poland and Kraków.
St. Gemma Galgani((1878-1903))
St. Gemma Galgani(1878-1903) St. Gemma Galgani was born in a small Italian town near Lucca on March 12, 1878. At a very young age, she began praying regularly and frequently. She made her First Communion on June 17, 1887. At the school run by the Sisters of St. Zita, Gemma was loved by her teachers and her fellow pupils. Although quiet and reserved, she always had a smile for everyone. She was a good student, but had to quit school due to chronic ill health. Throughout her life, Gemma was favored with many mystical experiences and special graces. These were often misunderstood by others, causing ridicule. Gemma suffered these heartaches as reparations, remembering that Our Lord had been misunderstood and ridiculed. Gemma had an immense love for the poor and helped them in any way she could. After her father's death, the 19-year-old took charge of raising her seven brothers and sisters. When some were old enough to share the responsibility, she lived briefly with a married aunt. At this time, two young men proposed to her. However, she wanted silence and retirement, and to pray and speak only with God. Gemma returned home and almost immediately became very ill with meningitis. The illness caused her to feel like she was a burden on the relatives who cared for her. She recognized temptation and prayed for help to the Venerable Passionist, Gabriel Possenti (Gabriel was later canonized). Through his intercession, she was miraculously cured. Gemma's poor health prevented her from becoming a nun. She offered this disappointment to God as a sacrifice. She predicted that the Passionists would establish a monastery in Lucca; and it happened two years after her death. Today, her relics are enshrined at the Passionist monastery in Lucca. On June 8, 1899, Gemma had an interior warning that some unusual grace was to be granted to her. She had pain in her hands, feet and heart, and blood poured from them. Every Thursday evening, Gemma fell into rapture and the wounds appeared. The stigmata remained until Friday afternoon or Saturday morning. Gemma's stigmata appeared until the last three years of her life, when her confessor forbade her from accepting them. Gemma's confessor arranged her stay with a family named Giannini, where she was allowed more freedom for her spiritual life. She had many ecstacies and her words spoken during these raptures were recorded by her confessor and a relative of her adoptive family. At the end of her ecstacies, she returned to normal and went on quietly and serenely. She often saw her guardian angel, who she was on familiar terms with. She often sent her guardian angel on errands, usually to deliver a letter or oral message to her confessor in Rome. In January of 1903, Gemma was diagnosed with tuberculosis. She died quietly in the company of the parish priest on April 11, at age 25. The parish priest said, "She died with a smile which remained upon her lips, so that I could not convince myself that she was really dead." During the apostolic investigations into her life, all witnesses testified that there was no artfulness in Gemma's manner. Most of her severe penances and sacrifices were hidden from those who knew her. She was beatified in 1933 and canonized on May 2, 1940, only 37 years after her death.
St. Gemma Galgani (1878 - 1903)()
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2018 / Catholic Missal of april 2018
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:19Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:19Z