Catholic Missal of the day: Friday, April 29 2016
Friday of the Fifth week of Easter
Friday of the Fifth week of Easter
1. ReadingActs of the Apostles
15,22-31.]The apostles and presbyters, in agreement with the whole church, decided to choose representatives and to send them to Antioch with Paul and Barnabas. The ones chosen were Judas, who was called Barsabbas, and Silas, leaders among the brothers.
]This is the letter delivered by them: "The apostles and the presbyters, your brothers, to the brothers in Antioch, Syria, and Cilicia of Gentile origin: greetings.
]Since we have heard that some of our number (who went out) without any mandate from us have upset you with their teachings and disturbed your peace of mind,
]we have with one accord decided to choose representatives and to send them to you along with our beloved Barnabas and Paul,
]who have dedicated their lives to the name of our Lord Jesus Christ.
]So we are sending Judas and Silas who will also convey this same message by word of mouth:
]'It is the decision of the holy Spirit and of us not to place on you any burden beyond these necessities,
]namely, to abstain from meat sacrificed to idols, from blood, from meats of strangled animals, and from unlawful marriage. If you keep free of these, you will be doing what is right. Farewell.'"
]And so they were sent on their journey. Upon their arrival in Antioch they called the assembly together and delivered the letter.
]When the people read it, they were delighted with the exhortation.
Psalms
57(56),8-9.10-12.]My heart is steadfast, O God; my heart is steadfast;
I will sing and chant praise.
]Awake, O my soul; awake, lyre and harp!
I will wake the dawn.
]I will give thanks to you among the peoples, O LORD,
I will chant your praise among the nations.
]For your mercy towers to the heavens,
and your faithfulness to the skies.
]Be exalted above the heavens, O God;
above all the earth be your glory!
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John
15,12-17.]Jesus said to his disciples: "This is my commandment: love one another as I love you.
]No one has greater love than this, to lay down one's life for one's friends.
]You are my friends if you do what I command you.
]I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father.
]It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you.
]This I command you: love one another."
St. Catherine of Siena(Doctor of the Church (1347-1380))
SAINT CATHERINE OF SIENA Virgin and Doctor of the ChurchCo patron of Europe - Feast in Europe (1347-1380) St. Catherine, the daughter of a tradesman, became one of the Church's most daring saints. As a child, she prayed a Hail Mary on each step of the stairs and was granted a vision of Christ in glory. She made a vow of virginity at 7 years old and later endured resentment and mistreatment for her decision. She mystically received Jesus' Heart in exchange for her own, Holy Communion from an angel and the five sacred wounds (stigmata). St. Catherine entered the Third Order of St. Dominic when she was 15 years old. She lived at her father's shop and united a life of active charity with contemplative prayer. From her relatively obscure home, she arose to defend the Church. She received support thanks to her brilliance and the work of the Holy Spirit. She travelled throughout Italy with three confessors and subdued rebellious churchmen to the Holy See. Against impossible odds, St. Catherine sought out Gregory XI in Avignon, brought him back to Rome, and by her letters to the kings and queens of Europe made good the papal cause. She was the counsellor of Pope Urban VI and sternly rebuked disloyal cardinals who elected an antipope. She also foretold the terrible schism, which began ere she died. St. Catherine prayed ceaselessly for unity and peace. However, the devil incited the Roman people to kill the pope; and she saw the city full of demons. Violence was averted through her prayers, but devils took revenge by scourging her. Her experience of the demonic is similar to that of St. Padre Pio and other saints. In 1380, at 33 years old, St. Catherine passed away in Rome. She was canonized in 1461 and was declared a doctor of the Church in 1970. She is a mighty intercessor and the help of Christians.
St. Hugh of Cluny(Abbot (1024-1109))
SAINT HUGH Abbot of Cluny (1024-1109) Saint Hugh was a prince related to the sovereign house of the dukes of Burgundy. He was educated by Bishop Hugh of Auxerre, his great-uncle. As a youth, he prayed and meditated regularly, and his life was remarkably innocent and holy. St. Hugh heard about the sanctity of the monks of Cluny under St. Odilo. He was deeply moved by their fervor and set out to join them. After a rigid novitiate, he made his profession in 1039 at 16 years old. When St. Odilo passed away in 1049, the 25-year-old Hugh was elected as leader of the great abbey, which he governed for 62 years. St. Hugh received to the religious state Duke Hugh of Burgundy. He passed away on April 29, 1109.He was canonized 12 years later by Pope Calixtus II.
Bl. Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation((1770-1824))
Bl. Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation Foundress, Perpetual Adorers of the Blessed Sacrament (1770-1824) Caterina Sordini was born on April 16, 1770, in Grosseto, Italy; the fourth of nine children. At 17 years old, her father arranged her marriage to a maritime merchant. She reluctantly agreed and was given a casket of jewels. Once, when she admired herself, Our Crucified Lord asked her: "Do you want to leave me for another?" She thus pursued her vocation. In February 1788, Caterina visited the Franciscan Tertiary Monastery in Ischia di Castro. She began her novitiate immediately, which surprised her father, who thought she was only visiting. Caterina received the habit six months later and took the name Sr. Mary Magdalene of the Incarnation. On February 19, 1789, Sr. Mary fell into ecstasy and saw a vision. She saw "Jesus seated on a throne of grace in the Blessed Sacrament, surrounded by virgins adoring him." He told her: "I have chosen you to establish the work of perpetual adorers who, day and night, will offer me their humble adoration..." She understood that she would be a foundress who adored Jesus in the Eucharist. Sr. Mary was elected abbess on April 20, 1802. The period of her governance was accompanied by extraordinary phenomena and increased fervor. When her spiritual director and the bishop consented to her new order's perpetual adoration of the Eucharist, she drafted the rule. On May 31, 1807, she set out for Rome. On July 8, Abb. Mary moved into Sts. Joachim and Anne convent near the Trevi Fountain. However, the convent was confiscated during the French occupation, the Order was suppressed and Abb. Mary was exiled to Tuscany. On March 19, 1814, she settled in Rome's Sant'Anna al Quirinale. On February 13, 1818, Pope Pius VII approved her Order's dedication to the perpetual exposition of the Most Blessed Sacrament. Mother Mary Magdalene passed away on April 29, 1824. She was buried in Rome's Sant'Anna al Quirinale. In 1839, her remains were translated to the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena, the new generalate of the Perpetual Adorers in Rome.Pope John Paul II decreed her heroic virtues in 2001. She was beatified by Pope Benedict XVI on May 3, 2008.
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2016 / Catholic Missal of april 2016
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:03Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:03Z