Understanding the Day
Season
Eastertide
Week
Week 2 of Eastertide
Rank
Weekday
Eastertide is the fifty-day season from Easter Sunday to Pentecost, a time the Church celebrates Christ’s Resurrection, joyfully reflecting on the new life won for us. This day is the Wednesday of the second week of Eastertide. Its rank, Feria, means it is an ordinary weekday in the liturgical rhythm: the Mass and the daily offices follow the prayer texts assigned to this weekday in Easter Week II rather than marking a special feast. Because it falls within Eastertide, the prayers and readings focus on the resurrection mystery and its unfolding for the living Church. There is no octave or vigil unique to this weekday beyond the continuing celebration of Easter’s Paschal joy; however, the whole season is shaped by the Easter octave (the first eight days) and continues that grace.
Introit (Daily Prayer)
1 Pet 2:2
As newborn babes, alleluia, desire the rational milk without guile, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. 80. 2
Rejoice to God our Helper; sing aloud to the God of Jacob.
Glory Be to the Father…
As newborn babes, alleluia, desire the rational milk without guile, alleluia, alleluia, alleluia.
Ps. 80. 2
Rejoice to God our Helper; sing aloud to the God of Jacob.
Glory Be to the Father…
Grant, we beseech Thee, almighty God, that we who have celebrated the Paschal Feast, may, by Thy bounty, retain its fruits in our daily habits and behavior.
Through our Lord…
Through our Lord…
Weekly Prayer
Act of Charity
O my God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love.
I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.
Weekly Formation
Beatitude 8
The Beatitudes
Blessed are they that suffer persecution for justice’s sake; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Persecution for justice’s sake is suffering endured because one remains faithful to God, the faith, or virtue. The blessing belongs not to suffering caused by one’s own wrongdoing, but to steadfastness when fidelity brings loss, hostility, or punishment.
Featured Saint
Modern saintFeatured saintCalendar title
Wednesday of Week 2 of Eastertide
Saint César de Bus
A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.
Today in Church History
Notre-Dame de Paris Fire (2019)
2019EventThe devastating fire at Notre-Dame de Paris, a symbol of Catholic faith and French heritage, highlighted the importance of preserving sacred spaces. The cathedral has been a site of worship and pilgrimage for centuries, making its restoration a significant concern for the Catholic community worldwide.
The fire serves as a reminder of the fragility of our earthly treasures and the enduring nature of faith.
Catechism
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Resurrection of Jesus is the crowning truth of faith in Christ, fulfilling what God promised to the fathers and standing at the heart of the Paschal mystery with the cross. The New Testament bears witness that it is a real historical event. The empty tomb, while not proof by itself, was an essential sign that led the disciples toward recognizing the Resurrection. Mary Magdalene and the holy women were the first to encounter the Risen One and to bring this message to the apostles; Jesus then appeared to Peter, the Twelve, and many others. Though the disciples were at first saddened, frightened, and slow to believe, their faith in the Resurrection was born, through divine grace, from their direct experience of the risen Jesus. As we reflect together, may we receive this central truth of faith with the witnesses who handed it on.
In the Church, sacred ministers and lay faithful both serve the Church’s saving mission. Christ sends the apostles and their successors in his mission; the Pope, successor of St. Peter, serves as head of the college of bishops and Pastor of the universal Church, while bishops are visible sources and foundations of unity in their particular Churches. With priests and deacons, bishops teach the faith, celebrate divine worship—especially the Eucharist—and guide God’s people as pastors. Laypeople are called to bring the vigor of their Christian spirit into the world, living their Baptism and Confirmation in personal, family, social, and ecclesial life. They witness to Christ in every circumstance and, through self-denial and holiness, work to uproot the rule of sin in themselves and in the world. Some faithful also consecrate themselves to God through the evangelical counsels, serving God and the good of the whole Church.