Friday of the Fifth week of Easter

Acts 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."

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St. Bernardine of Siena (1380-1444)()

SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA Franciscan Priest (1380-1444) In 1408, St. Vincent Ferrer once suddenly interrupted his sermon to declare that there was among his hearers a young Franciscan who would one day be a greater preacher than himself. This unknown friar was Bernardine. In his youth, Bernardine undertook the charge of a holy elderly woman, a relation of his, who had been left destitute. She was blind and bedridden, and during her long illness could only utter the Holy Name. Bernardine cared for her till she passed away, and thus learned the devotion of his life. Owing to a speech impediment, Bernardine's success as a preacher seemed doubtful, but, by the prayers of Our Lady, this obstacle was miraculously removed, and Bernardine began an apostolate which lasted thirty-eight years. By his inspired words, and the Holy Name of Jesus which he displayed on a tablet at the end of his sermons, Bernardine obtained miraculous conversions and reformed the greater part of Italy. Bernardine's success had to be exalted by the cross. The Saint was denounced as a heretic and his devotion as idolatrous. After many trials, he lived to see his innocence proved, and a lasting memorial of his work established in a church. The Feast of the Holy Name commemorates at once his sufferings and his triumph. Bernardine passed away on Ascension Eve, 1444 while his brethren were chanting the antiphon, "Father, I have manifested Thy Name to men."

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2022 / Catholic Missal of may 2022