Universalis

Saints Charles Lwanga and his Companions, Martyrs First reading 2 Maccabees 7:1-2,9-14 ‘The King of the world will raise us up to live for ever’ There were seven brothers who were arrested with their mother. The king tried to force them to taste pig’s flesh, which the Law forbids, by torturing them with whips and … Read moreFri 3 June

Thursday of the 7th week of Eastertide, or Saints Marcellinus and Peter, Martyrs First reading Acts 22:30,23:6-11 ‘You have borne witness in Jerusalem: now you must do the same in Rome’ Since the tribune wanted to know what precise charge the Jews were bringing, he freed Paul and gave orders for a meeting of the … Read moreThu 2 June

Saint Justin, Martyr First reading 1 Corinthians 1:18-25 We preach a crucified Christ, the power and wisdom of God The language of the cross may be illogical to those who are not on the way to salvation, but those of us who are on the way see it as God’s power to save. As scripture … Read moreWed 1 June

The Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary First reading Zephaniah 3:14-18 The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst Shout for joy, daughter of Zion,Israel, shout aloud!Rejoice, exult with all your heart,daughter of Jerusalem!The Lord has repealed your sentence;he has driven your enemies away.The Lord, the king of Israel, is in your midst;you … Read moreTue 31 May

Monday of the 7th week of Eastertide First reading Acts 19:1-8 The moment Paul laid hands on them the Holy Spirit came down on them While Apollos was in Corinth, Paul made his way overland as far as Ephesus, where he found a number of disciples. When he asked, ‘Did you receive the Holy Spirit … Read moreMon 30 May

7th Sunday of Easter First reading Acts 7:55-60 The stoning of Stephen Stephen, filled with the Holy Spirit, gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing at God’s right hand. ‘I can see heaven thrown open’ he said ‘and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God.’ At … Read moreSun 29 May

Saturday of the 6th week of Eastertide First reading Acts 18:23-28 Apollos demonstrated from the scriptures that Jesus was the Christ Paul came down to Antioch, where he spent a short time before continuing his journey through the Galatian country and then through Phrygia, encouraging all the followers.An Alexandrian Jew named Apollos now arrived in … Read moreSat 28 May

Friday of the 6th week of Eastertide, or Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop First reading Acts 18:9-18 ‘I have many people on my side in this city’ At Corinth one night the Lord spoke to Paul in a vision, ‘Do not be afraid to speak out, nor allow yourself to be silenced: I am with … Read moreFri 27 May

The Ascension of the Lord First reading Acts 1:1-11 Jesus was lifted up while they looked on In my earlier work, Theophilus, I dealt with everything Jesus had done and taught from the beginning until the day he gave his instructions to the apostles he had chosen through the Holy Spirit, and was taken up … Read moreThu 26 May

Wednesday of the 6th week of Eastertide, or Saint Gregory VII, Pope , or Saint Mary Magdalen de’ Pazzi, Virgin , or Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest, Doctor First reading Acts 17:15,22-18:1 I proclaim the God you already worship without knowing it Paul’s escort took him as far as Athens, and went back with instructions … Read moreWed 25 May