Readings for the The Ascension of the Lord - Feast of Saint MatthiasReadings for the Ascension Reading I Acts 1:15-17, 20-26 Peter stood up in the midst of the brothers and sisters (there was a group of about one hundred and twenty persons in the one place). He said, “My brothers and sisters, the Scripture had to be fulfilled which the Holy Spirit spoke beforehand through the mouth of David, concerning Judas, who was the guide for those who arrested Jesus. Judas was numbered among us and was allotted a share in this ministry. For it is written in the Book of Psalms:             Let his encampment become desolate,                         and may no one dwell in it. and:             May another take his office. Therefore, it is necessary that one of the men who accompanied us the whole time the Lord Jesus came and went among us, beginning from the baptism of John until the day on which he was taken up from us, become with us a witness to his resurrection.” So they proposed two, Joseph called Barsabbas, who was also known as Justus, and Matthias. Then they prayed, “You, Lord, who know the hearts of all, show which one of these two you have chosen to take the place in this apostolic ministry from which Judas turned away to go to his own place.” Then they gave lots to them, and the lot fell upon Matthias, and he was counted with the Eleven Apostles. Responsorial Psalm Psalm 113:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7-8 R.        (8)  The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. or: R.        Alleluia. Praise, you servants of the LORD,             praise the name of the LORD. Blessed be the name of the LORD             both now and forever. R.        The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. or: R.        Alleluia. From the rising to the setting of the sun             is the name of the LORD to be praised. High above all nations is the LORD;             above the heavens is his glory. R.        The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. or: R.        Alleluia. Who is like the LORD, our God, who is enthroned on high             and looks upon the heavens and the earth below? R.        The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. or: R.        Alleluia. He raises up the lowly from the dust;             from the dunghill he lifts up the poor To seat them with princes,             with the princes of his own people. R.        The Lord will give him a seat with the leaders of his people. or: R.        Alleluia. Alleluia See John 15:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I chose you from the world,to go and bear fruit that will last, says the Lord.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel John 15:9-17 Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy might be in you and your joy might be complete. 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.”   - - - 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.

Readings for the Feast of Saint Matthias, ApostleReadings for the Ascension Feast of Saint Matthias, ApostleSolemnity of the Ascension - - - 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.

Readings for the Feast of Saint Matthias, ApostleReadings for the The Ascension of the Lord - Feast of Saint Matthias Reading 1 Acts 1:1-11 In the first book, Theophilus,I dealt with all that Jesus did and taughtuntil the day he was taken up,after giving instructions through the Holy Spiritto the apostles whom he had chosen.He presented himself alive to themby many proofs after he had suffered,appearing to them during forty daysand speaking about the kingdom of God.While meeting with them,he enjoined them not to depart from Jerusalem,but to wait for “the promise of the Fatherabout which you have heard me speak;for John baptized with water,but in a few days you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.”When they had gathered together they asked him,“Lord, are you at this time going to restore the kingdom to Israel?”He answered them, “It is not for you to know the times or seasonsthat the Father has established by his own authority.But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes upon you,and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem,throughout Judea and Samaria,and to the ends of the earth.”When he had said this, as they were looking on,he was lifted up, and a cloud took him from their sight.While they were looking intently at the sky as he was going,suddenly two men dressed in white garments stood beside them.They said, “Men of Galilee,why are you standing there looking at the sky?This Jesus who has been taken up from you into heavenwill return in the same way as you have seen him going into heaven.” Responsorial Psalm Psalm 47:2-3, 6-7, 8-9 R. (6) God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.All you peoples, clap your hands,shout to God with cries of gladness,For the LORD, the Most High, the awesome,is the great king over all the earth.R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.God mounts his throne amid shouts of joy;the LORD, amid trumpet blasts.Sing praise to God, sing praise;sing praise to our king, sing praise.R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia.For king of all the earth is God;sing hymns of praise.God reigns over the nations,God sits upon his holy throne.R. God mounts his throne to shouts of joy: a blare of trumpets for the Lord.or:R. Alleluia. Reading 2 Ephesians 1:17-23 Brothers and sisters:May the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory,give you a Spirit of wisdom and revelationresulting in knowledge of him.May the eyes of your hearts be enlightened,that you may know what is the hope that belongs to his call,what are the riches of gloryin his inheritance among the holy ones,and what is the surpassing greatness of his powerfor us who believe,in accord with the exercise of his great might,which he worked in Christ,raising him from the deadand seating him at his right hand in the heavens,far above every principality, authority, power, and dominion,and every name that is namednot only in this age but also in the one to come.And he put all things beneath his feetand gave him as head over all things to the church,which is his body,the fullness of the one who fills all things in every way. Alleluia Matthew 28:19a, 20b R. Alleluia, alleluia.Go and teach all nations, says the Lord;I am with you always, until the end of the world.R. Alleluia, alleluia. Gospel Matthew 28:16-20 The eleven disciples went to Galilee,to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.Then Jesus approached and said to them,“All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,baptizing them in the name of the Father,and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age.” - - - 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.

Reading 1 Acts 17:15, 22—18:1 After Paul's escorts had taken him to Athens,they came away with instructions for Silas and Timothyto join him as soon as possible.Then Paul stood up at the Areopagus and said:"You Athenians, I see that in every respectyou are very religious.For as I walked around looking carefully at your shrines,I even discovered an altar inscribed, 'To an Unknown God.'What therefore you unknowingly worship, I proclaim to you.The God who made the world and all that is in it,the Lord of heaven and earth,does not dwell in sanctuaries made by human hands,nor is he served by human hands because he needs anything.Rather it is he who gives to everyone life and breath and everything.He made from one the whole human raceto dwell on the entire surface of the earth,and he fixed the ordered seasons and the boundaries of their regions,so that people might seek God,even perhaps grope for him and find him,though indeed he is not far from any one of us.For 'In him we live and move and have our being,'as even some of your poets have said,'For we too are his offspring.'Since therefore we are the offspring of God,we ought not to think that the divinity is like an imagefashioned from gold, silver, or stone by human art and imagination.God has overlooked the times of ignorance,but now he demands that all people everywhere repentbecause he has established a day on which he will 'judge the worldwith justice' through a man he has appointed,and he has provided confirmation for allby raising him from the dead."When they heard about resurrection of the dead,some began to scoff, but others said,"We should like to hear you on this some other time."And so Paul left them.But some did join him, and became believers.Among them were Dionysius,a member of the Court of the Areopagus,a woman named Damaris, and others with them.After this he left Athens and went to Corinth.   Responsorial Psalm Psalm 148:1-2, 11-12, 13, 14 R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.or:R. Alleluia.Praise the LORD from the heavens;praise him in the heights.Praise him, all you his angels;praise him, all you his hosts.R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.or:R. Alleluia.Let the kings of the earth and all peoples,the princes and all the judges of the earth,Young men too, and maidens,old men and boys.R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.or:R. Alleluia.Praise the name of the LORD,for his name alone is exalted;His majesty is above earth and heaven.R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.or:R. Alleluia.He has lifted up the horn of his people;Be this his praise from all his faithful ones,from the children of Israel, the people close to him. Alleluia.R. Heaven and earth are full of your glory.or:R. Alleluia.  Alleluia John 14:16 R. Alleluia, alleluia.I will ask the Fatherand he will give you another Advocateto be with you always.R. Alleluia, alleluia.  Gospel John 16:12-15 Jesus said to his disciples:"I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,he will guide you to all truth.He will not speak on his own,but he will speak what he hears,and will declare to you the things that are coming.He will glorify me,because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.Everything that the Father has is mine;for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mineand declare it to you."  Readings for the Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima - - - 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.