Memorial of St Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

Send us Fan MailFriday, 2 May 2025Friday in the Second Week of Easter Memorial of St Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church Antiphons on p 1615 and Readings on p 468 of the Daily MissalFirst Reading: Acts 5: 34-42In those days:  A Pharisee in the council named Gamaliel,  a teacher of the law, held in honour by all the people,  stood up and ordered the apostles to be put outside for a while.  And he said to them, “People of Israel,  take care what you do with these people.  For before these days Theudas arose,  claiming to be somebody,  and a number of people, about four hundred, joined him;  but he was slain  and all who followed him were dispersed and came to nothing.  After him Judas the Galilean arose in the days of the census  and drew away some of the people after him;  he also perished, and all who followed him were scattered.  So in the present case I tell you,  keep away from these people and let them alone;  for if this plan or this undertaking is of mankind, it will fail;  but if it is of God, you will not be able to overthrow them.  You might even be found opposing God!” So they took his advice,  and when they had called in the apostles,  they beat them and charged them  not to speak in the name of Jesus  and let them go.  Then they left the presence of the council,  rejoicing that they were counted worthy  to suffer dishonour for the name.  And every day in the temple and at home  they did not cease teaching and preaching Jesus as the Christ.Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 27:1.4.13-14 (R. 4ac)R/. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, to live in the house of the Lord.The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life; whom shall I dread?There is one thing I ask of the Lord, only this do I seek: to live in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord, to inquire at his temple.I believe I shall see the Lord's goodness in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong; be stouthearted, and wait for the Lord!R/. There is one thing I ask of the Lord, to live in the house of the Lord.Gospel: John 6:1-15At that time:  Jesus went to the other side of the Sea of Galilee,  which is the Sea of Tiberias.  And a multitude followed him,  because they saw the signs which he did  on those who were diseased.  Jesus went up into the hills,  and there sat down with his disciples.  Now the Passover, the feast of the Jews, was at hand.  Lifting up his eyes, then,  and seeing that a multitude was coming to him,  Jesus said to Philip,  How are we to buy bread, so that these people may eat?”  This he said to test him,  for he himself knew what he would do. Philip answered him,  “Two hundred denarii would not buy enough bread  for each of them to get a little.”  One of his disciples,  Andrew, Simon Peter’s brother, said to him,  “There is a lad here who has five barley loaves and two fish;  but what are they among so many?” Jesus said, “Make the people sit down.”  Now there was much grass in the place;  so the men sat down, in number about five thousand.  Jesus t