Catholic Missal of the day: Friday, May 13 2016
Friday of the Seventh week of Easter
Friday of the Seventh week of Easter
1. ReadingActs of the Apostles
25,13b-21.]King Agrippa and Bernice arrived in Caesarea on a visit to Festus.
]Since they spent several days there, Festus referred Paul's case to the king, saying, "There is a man here left in custody by Felix.
]When I was in Jerusalem the chief priests and the elders of the Jews brought charges against him and demanded his condemnation.
]I answered them that it was not Roman practice to hand over an accused person before he has faced his accusers and had the opportunity to defend himself against their charge.
]So when (they) came together here, I made no delay; the next day I took my seat on the tribunal and ordered the man to be brought in.
]His accusers stood around him, but did not charge him with any of the crimes I suspected.
]Instead they had some issues with him about their own religion and about a certain Jesus who had died but who Paul claimed was alive.
]Since I was at a loss how to investigate this controversy, I asked if he were willing to go to Jerusalem and there stand trial on these charges.
]And when Paul appealed that he be held in custody for the Emperor's decision, I ordered him held until I could send him to Caesar."
Psalms
103(102),1-2.11-12.19-20ab.]Bless the LORD, O my soul;
and all my being, bless his holy name.
]Bless the LORD, O my soul,
and forget not all his benefits.
]For as the heavens are high above the earth,
so surpassing is his kindness toward those who fear him.
]As far as the east is from the west,
so far has he put our transgressions from us.
]The LORD has established his throne in heaven,
and his kingdom rules over all.
]Bless the LORD, all you his angels,
]you mighty in strength, who do his bidding.
Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint John
21,15-19.]After Jesus had revealed himself to his disciples and eaten breakfast with them, he said to Simon Peter, "Simon, son of John, do you love me more than these?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Feed my lambs."
]He then said to him a second time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" He said to him, "Yes, Lord, you know that I love you." He said to him, "Tend my sheep."
]He said to him the third time, "Simon, son of John, do you love me?" Peter was distressed that he had said to him a third time, "Do you love me?" and he said to him, "Lord, you know everything; you know that I love you." (Jesus) said to him, "Feed my sheep.
]Amen, amen, I say to you, when you were younger, you used to dress yourself and go where you wanted; but when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands, and someone else will dress you and lead you where you do not want to go."
]He said this signifying by what kind of death he would glorify God. And when he had said this, he said to him, "Follow me."
Bl. Julian of Norwich(Religious (1342-1420))
Julian of NorwichAnchorite (c. 1342 - 1420) British men and women who became hermits in the 14th century were known as anchorites. Their hermitage was a small room attached to a local church. They received Communion through one window and food through another. Hence, their hearts were always open to Christ and to the world. Julian became an anchorite at the Church of St. Edmund and St. Julian in Norwich, 100 miles northeast of London. When she was 30 years old, she contracted a severe illness. On her deathbed, she had a series of intense visions of Jesus,which ended by the time she recovered on May 13, 1373. She wrote about her visions immediately, entitled Revelations of Divine Love. It is believed to be the earliest surviving book written in English by a woman. Twenty to thirty years later, perhaps in the early 1390s, Julian began writing a theological exploration of the meaning of the visions, known as The Long Text. This work seems to have gone through many revisions before it was finished in the first or second decade of the fifteenth century.Until her passing around 1420 at the age of 78, Julian stayed in her simple room. She prayed, fasted, sewed clothes, read books and gave spiritual advice. In Revelations of Divine Love, Julian described her sixteen visions of Jesus. Her book is about God’s great compassion for us. She developed a special vocabulary, calling the Creator our mother and our father. She called Jesus the Redeemer our brother. Revelations is a celebrated work in Catholicism and Anglicanism because of the clarity and depth of Julian's visions of God. She is now recognized as one of England's most important mystics. Julian's optimistically spoke about God's love in terms of joy and compassion as opposed to law and duty. When the Black Death and peasant uprisings shaped popular theology that God inflicts suffering, Julian believed that God loves and wants to save everyone. Suffering is not a punishment, and behind the reality of hell is a greater mystery of God's love. She has been classified as a proto-universalist, although she only hoped everyone could be saved. At the time of Julian’s death, people of every nationality traveled to her cell and asked for advice. The Church never formally declared her a saint, but through the ages, people have called her Blessed. She is quoted saying,“If there is anywhere on earth a lover of God is always kept safe, I know nothing of it, for it was not shown to me. But this was shown: that in falling and rising again we are always kept in that same precious love.”
St. John the Silent(Bishop (454 - c. 558))
SAINT JOHN THE SILENT Bishop (454 - c. 558) St. John was born in 454 to a ruling family in Nicopolis, Armenia. He received faith from his parents. When they passed away, he and ten companions built a church in honor of the Blessed Virgin and also a monastery, all by the age of 18. He was quiet, contemplative and discreet. St. John was consecrated bishop of Colonia, Armenia, by the archbishop of Sebaste in 482. In this dignity, he preserved his spirit of recollection and monastic discipline. One night in prayer, he saw a bright cross. A voice said, "If you desire to be saved, follow this light." The vision pointed to St. Sabas' monastery where 150 monks lived. St. John abdicated his episcopal office and began a novitiate there at 38 years old. At the monastery, St. John routinely fetched water, carried stones and performed manual labor. When he was presented to Patriarch Elias for consecration, his priestly character was discovered. He then departed and St. Sabas could not prevail on him to stay. In 503, St. John withdrew to a neighboring wilderness. He returned after seven years and lived for forty years in holy solitude. St. John, by his example and counsels, conducted many fervent souls to God. He emulated the angels as much as his nature allowed. Soon after the year 558, he passed from this world and joined the Church Triumphant in Heaven. He lived in holy solitude for 76 years with the exception of 9 spent in the episcopal see.
Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2016 / Catholic Missal of may 2016
Published: 2026-07-14T18:16:10Z | Modified: 2026-07-14T18:16:10Z