Tuesday, 21 April 2026
Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Readings for the universal ChurchGeneral Roman Calendar, used by Catholics worldwide
First Reading
7:51Stiff-necked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you ever resist the Holy Spirit. Just as your fathers did, so also do you do. 52Which of the Prophets have your fathers not persecuted? And they killed those who foretold the advent of the Just One. And you have now become the betrayers and murderers of him. 53You received the law by the actions of Angels, and yet you have not kept it.” 54Then, upon hearing these things, they were deeply wounded in their hearts, and they gnashed their teeth at him. 55But he, being filled with the Holy Spirit, and gazing intently toward heaven, saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. And he said, “Behold, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of man standing at the right hand of God.” 56Then they, crying out with a loud voice, blocked their ears and, with one accord, rushed violently toward him. 57And driving him out, beyond the city, they stoned him. And witnesses placed their garments beside the feet of a youth, who was called Saul. 58And as they were stoning Stephen, he called out and said, “Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.” 59Then, having been brought to his knees, he cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Lord, do not hold this sin against them.” And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his murder.
8:1Now in those days, there occurred a great persecution against the Church at Jerusalem. And they were all dispersed throughout the regions of Judea and Samaria, except the Apostles.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab
3Incline your ear to me. Hasten to rescue me. Be for me a protector God and a house of refuge, so as to accomplish my salvation.
4For you are my strength and my refuge; and for the sake of your name, you will lead me and nourish me.
6Into your hands, I commend my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, God of truth.
7You have hated those who practice emptiness to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord.
8I will exult and rejoice in your mercy. For you have looked upon my humility; you have saved my soul from needfulness.
17Shine your face upon your servant. Save me in your mercy.
21You hide them in the concealment of your face, from the disturbance of men. You protect them in your tabernacle, from the contradiction of tongues.
Gospel
30And so they said to him: “Then what sign will you do, so that we may see it and believe in you? What will you work? 31Our fathers ate manna in the desert, just as it has been written, ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’ ” 32Therefore, Jesus said to them: “Amen, amen, I say to you, Moses did not give you bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven. 33For the bread of God is he who descends from heaven and gives life to the world.” 34And so they said to him, “Lord, give us this bread always.” 35Then Jesus said to them: “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me shall not hunger, and whoever believes in me shall never thirst.
Same readings worldwide and in the United States.
Text: Catholic Public Domain Version (public domain). Reading citations: cpbjr/catholic-readings-api (MIT license). The Lectionary text used at Mass in the United States is the NABRE, which you can read at USCCB.