Reading 1: Acts of Apostles 10:34, Reading 1: Acts of Apostles 10:37-43, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118:22-23, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118:1-2, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118:16-17, Gospel: John 20:1-9, Reading 2: Colossians 3:1-4

St. Benjamin, Martyr (Feast Day - March 31) The Christians in Persia had enjoyed twelve years of peace during the reign of Isdegerd, son of Sapor III, when in 420 it was disturbed by the indiscreet zeal of Abdas, a Christian Bishop who burned the Temple of Fire, the great sanctuary of the Persians. King Isdegerd threatened to destroy all the churches of the Christians unless the Bishop would rebuild it. As Abdas refused to comply, the threat was executed; the churches were demolished, Abdas ...

Visit, we beseech Thee, O Lord, this dwelling, and drive far from it all snares of the enemy; let Thy holy Angels dwell herein, to preserve us in peace; and let Thy blessing be upon us forever. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Also Peter Regalado, Franciscan reformer. Peter was born at Valladolid, Spain, to a noble family, and entered the Franciscan Order in his native city at the age of thirteen. After several years, he transferred to a far more austere monastery at Tribulos, where he became known for his severe asceticism as well as his abilities to levitate and enter into ecstasies. A success as abbot, he gave himself over to bringing needed reforms to the monastery and to promoting reforms in other Franciscan ...

Reading 1: Genesis 2:1-2, Reading 1: Genesis 1:1-31, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118:22-23, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118:1-2, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 118:16-17, Gospel: Mark 16:1-8, Reading 2: Genesis 22:1-18

O my Jesus, I beg You on behalf of the whole Church: Grant it love and the light of Your Spirit and give power to the words of priests so that hardened hearts might be brought to repentance and return to You, O Lord. Lord, give us holy priests; You Yourself maintain them in holiness. O Divine and Great High Priest, may the power of Your mercy accompany them everywhere and protect them from the devil's traps and snares which are continually being set for the ...

Considered by some historians to be the founder of the Carmelite Order. He was born in Limoges, France, and proved a brilliant student at the University of Paris. Ordained a priest, Berthold joined his brother, Aymeric, the Latin patriarch of Antioch, in Turkey, on the Crusades. On Mount Carmel he found a group of hermits, joined them, and established a rule. Aymeric appointed Berthold the first Carmelite superior general. Berthold tried to reform the Christian soldiers in the region, having ...

Reading 1: Isaiah 53:1-12, Reading 1: Isaiah 52:13-15, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:6, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:25, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:12-13, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:2, Responsorial Psalm: Psalms 31:15-17, Gospel: John 18:1-40, Gospel: John 19:1-42, Reading 2: Hebrews 4:14-16, Reading 2: Hebrews 5:7-9

Dear Jesus, Divine Physician and Healer of the sick, we turn to you in this time of illness. O dearest comforter of the troubled, alleviate our worry and sorrow with your gentle love, and grant us the grace and strength to accept this burden. Dear God, we place our worries in your hands. We place our sick under your care and humbly ask that you restore your servant to health again. Above all, grant us the grace to acknowledge your will and know that whatever you do, you do for the love of us. Amen.