• Thursday of the Third Week of EasterApril 18, 2024

  Reading 1 Acts 8:26-40

  The angel of the Lord spoke to Philip,
  “Get up and head south on the road
  that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza, the desert route.”
  So he got up and set out.
  Now there was an Ethiopian eunuch,
  a court official of the Candace,
  that is, the queen of the Ethiopians,
  in charge of her entire treasury,
  who had come to Jerusalem to worship, and was returning home.
  Seated in his chariot, he was reading the prophet Isaiah.
  The Spirit said to Philip,
  “Go and join up with that chariot.”
  Philip ran up and heard him reading Isaiah the prophet and said,
  “Do you understand what you are reading?”
  He replied,
  “How can I, unless someone instructs me?”
  So he invited Philip to get in and sit with him.
  This was the Scripture passage he was reading:
  
  Like a sheep he was led to the slaughter,
  and as a lamb before its shearer is silent,
  so he opened not his mouth.
  In his humiliation justice was denied him.
  Who will tell of his posterity?
  For his life is taken from the earth.
  
  Then the eunuch said to Philip in reply,
  “I beg you, about whom is the prophet saying this?
  About himself, or about someone else?”
  Then Philip opened his mouth and, beginning with this Scripture passage,
  he proclaimed Jesus to him.
  As they traveled along the road
  they came to some water,
  and the eunuch said, “Look, there is water.
  What is to prevent my being baptized?”
  Then he ordered the chariot to stop,
  and Philip and the eunuch both went down into the water,
  and he baptized him.
  When they came out of the water,
  the Spirit of the Lord snatched Philip away,
  and the eunuch saw him no more,
  but continued on his way rejoicing.
  Philip came to Azotus, and went about proclaiming the good news
  to all the towns until he reached Caesarea.
  

  Responsorial Psalm Ps 66:8-9, 16-17, 20

  R. (1) Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
  or:
  R. Alleluia.
  Bless our God, you peoples,
  loudly sound his praise;
  He has given life to our souls,
  and has not let our feet slip.
  R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
  or:
  R. Alleluia.
  Hear now, all you who fear God, while I declare
  what he has done for me.
  When I appealed to him in words,
  praise was on the tip of my tongue.
  R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
  or:
  R. Alleluia.
  Blessed be God who refused me not
  my prayer or his kindness!
  R. Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.
  or:
  R. Alleluia.
  

  Alleluia Jn 6:51

  R. Alleluia, alleluia.
  I am the living bread that came down from heaven,
  says the Lord;
  whoever eats this bread will live forever.
  R. Alleluia, alleluia.
  

  Gospel Jn 6:44-51

  Jesus said to the crowds:
  “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him,
  and I will raise him on the last day.
  It is written in the prophets:
  
  They shall all be taught by God.
  
  Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me.
  Not that anyone has seen the Father
  except the one who is from God;
  he has seen the Father.
  Amen, amen, I say to you,
  whoever believes has eternal life.
  I am the bread of life.
  Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died;
  this is the bread that comes down from heaven
  so that one may eat it and not die.
  I am the living bread that came down from heaven;
  whoever eats this bread will live forever;
  and the bread that I will give
  is my Flesh for the life of the world.”
  

  – – –
  

  Lectionary for Mass for Use in the Dioceses of the United States, second typical edition, Copyright © 2001, 1998, 1997, 1986, 1970 Confraternity of Christian Doctrine; Psalm refrain © 1968, 1981, 1997, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved. Neither this work nor any part of it may be reproduced, distributed, performed or displayed in any medium, including electronic or digital, without permission in writing from the copyright owner.

• Jueves de la III semana de PascuaApril 18, 2024

  Primera lectura Hch 8, 26-40

  En aquellos días, un ángel del Señor le dijo a Felipe: “Levántate y toma el camino del sur, que va de Jerusalén a Gaza y que es poco transitado”. Felipe se puso en camino. Y sucedió que un etíope, alto funcionario de Candaces, reina de Etiopía, y administrador de sus tesoros, que había venido a Jerusalén para adorar a Dios, regresaba en su carro, leyendo al profeta Isaías.
  
  Entonces el Espíritu le dijo a Felipe: “Acércate y camina junto a ese carro”. Corrió Felipe, y oyendo que el hombre leía al profeta Isaías, le preguntó: “¿Entiendes lo que estás leyendo?” Él le contestó: “¿Cómo voy a entenderlo, si nadie me lo explica?” Entonces invitó a Felipe a subir y a sentarse junto a él.
  
  El pasaje de la Escritura que estaba leyendo, era éste: Como oveja fue llevado a la muerte; como cordero que no se queja frente al que lo trasquila, así él no abrió la boca. En su humillación no se le hizo justicia. ¿Quién podrá hablar de su descendencia, puesto que su vida ha sido arrancada de la tierra?
  
  El etíope le preguntó a Felipe: “Dime, por favor: ¿De quién dice esto el profeta, de sí mismo o de otro?” Felipe comenzó a hablarle y partiendo de aquel pasaje, le anunció el Evangelio de Jesús. Siguieron adelante, llegaron a un sitio donde había agua y dijo el etíope: “Aquí hay agua. ¿Hay alguna dificultad para que me bautices?” Felipe le contestó: “Ninguna, si crees de todo corazón”. Respondió el etíope: “Creo que Jesús es el Hijo de Dios”. Mandó parar el carro, bajaron los dos al agua y Felipe lo bautizó.
  
  Cuando salieron del agua, el Espíritu del Señor arrebató a Felipe. El etíope ya no lo vio más y prosiguió su viaje, lleno de alegría. En cuanto a Felipe, se encontró en la ciudad de Azoto y evangelizaba los poblados que encontraba a su paso, hasta que llegó a Cesarea.
  

  Salmo Responsorial Salmo 65, 8-9. 16-17. 20

  R. (1) Tu salvación, Señor, es para todos. Aleluya.
  Naciones, bendigan a nuestro Dios,
  hagan resonar sus alabanzas,
  porque él nos ha devuelto la vida
  y no dejó que tropezaran nuestros pies.
  R. Tu salvación, Señor, es para todos. Aleluya.
  Cuantos temen a Dios, vengan y escuchen,
  y les diré lo que ha hecho por mí;
  a él dirigí mis oraciones
  y mi lengua le cantó alabanzas.
  R. Tu salvación, Señor, es para todos. Aleluya.
  Bendito sea Dios, que no rechazó mi súplica
  ni me retiró su gracia.
  R. Tu salvación, Señor, es para todos. Aleluya.
  

  Aclamación antes del Evangelio Jn 6, 51

  R. Aleluya, aleluya.
  Yo soy el pan vivo que ha bajado del cielo, dice el Señor;
  el que coma de este pan vivirá para siempre.
  R. Aleluya.
  

  Evangelio Jn 6, 44-51

  En aquel tiempo, Jesús dijo a los judíos: “Nadie puede venir a mí, si no lo atrae el Padre, que me ha enviado; y a ése yo lo resucitaré el último día. Está escrito en los profetas: Todos serán discípulos de Dios. Todo aquel que escucha al Padre y aprende de él, se acerca a mí. No es que alguien haya visto al Padre, fuera de aquel que procede de Dios. Ese sí ha visto al Padre.
  
  Yo les aseguro: el que cree en mí, tiene vida eterna. Yo soy el pan de la vida. Sus padres comieron el maná en el desierto y sin embargo, murieron. Éste es el pan que ha bajado del cielo para que, quien lo coma, no muera. Yo soy el pan vivo que ha bajado del cielo; el que coma de este pan vivirá para siempre, y el pan que yo les voy a dar es mi carne para que el mundo tenga vida”.
  

  – – –
  

  Los textos de la Sagrada Escritura utilizados en esta obra han sido tomados de los Leccionarios I, II y III, propiedad de la Comisión Episcopal de Pastoral Litúrgica de la Conferencia Episcopal Mexicana, copyright © 1987, quinta edición de septiembre de 2004. Utilizados con permiso. Todos los derechos reservados. Debido a cuestiones de permisos de impresión, los Salmos Responsoriales que se incluyen aquí son los del Leccionario que se utiliza en México. Su parroquia podría usar un texto diferente.

Act of Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, 
I believe that You are present in the Most Holy Sacrament. 
I love You above all things, 
and I desire to receive You into my soul. 
Since I cannot at this moment receive You sacramentally, 
come at least spiritually into my heart. 
I embrace You as if You were already there 
and unite myself wholly to You. 
Never permit me to be separated from You.

Amen.

St. Alphonsus Liguori

Spiritual Communion Prayer

At Thy feet, O my Jesus, I prostrate myself and I offer Thee repentance of my contrite heart, which is humbled in its nothingness and in Thy holy presence. I adore Thee in the Sacrament of Thy love, the ineffable Eucharist. I desire to receive Thee into the poor dwelling that my heart offers Thee. While waiting for the happiness of sacramental communion, I wish to possess Thee in spirit. Come to me, O my Jesus, since I, for my part, am coming to Thee! May Thy love embrace my whole being in life and in death. I believe in Thee, I hope in Thee, I love Thee. Amen.

Servant of God Rafael Cardinal Merry del Val

Anima Christi Prayer

Soul of Christ, sanctify me.
Body of Christ, save me.
Blood of Christ, inebriate me.
Water from Christ’s side, wash me.
Passion of Christ, strengthen me.
O good Jesus, hear me.
Within Thy wounds hide me.
Suffer me not to be separated from Thee.
From the malicious enemy defend me.
In the hour of my death call me.
And bid me come unto Thee.
That I may praise Thee with Thy saints.
Forever and ever. Amen.

Prayer of Thanksgiving after Communion

Lord, Father all-powerful and ever-living God, I thank You, for even though I am a sinner, your unprofitable servant, not because of my worth but in the kindness of your mercy, You have fed me with the Precious Body & Blood of Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. I pray that this Holy Communion may not bring me condemnation and punishment but forgiveness and salvation. 

May it be a helmet of faith and a shield of good will. May it purify me from evil ways and put an end to my evil passions. May it bring me charity and patience, humility and obedience, and growth in the power to do good. May it be my strong defense against all my enemies, visible and invisible, and the perfect calming of all my evil impulses, bodily and spiritual. May it unite me more closely to you, the One true God, and lead me safely through death to everlasting happiness with You.

And I pray that You will lead me, a sinner, to the banquet where you, with Your Son and holy Spirit, are true and perfect light, total fulfillment, everlasting joy, gladness without end, and perfect happiness to your saints. grant this through Christ our Lord, Amen.

St. Thomas Aquinas

March 31 – Easter Sunday of the Resurrection of the Lord

Reprinted with permission under ONE LICENSE #A-736156. All rights reserved.

Music by The Call

• Spotify
• Link
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Twitter
• YouTube
• Mail