FIRST READING
“Believers were added to the Lord, multitudes both of men and women.”
A reading from the Acts of the Apostles (Acts 5:12-16)
Many signs and wonders were done among the people
by the hands of the apostles.
And they were all together in Solomon’s Portico.
None of the rest dared join them,
but the people held them in high honour.
And more than ever believers were added to the Lord,
multitudes both of men and women,
so that they even carried out the sick into the streets,
and laid them on beds and pallets,
that as Peter came by
at least his shadow might fall on some of them.
The people also gathered from the towns around Jerusalem,
bringing the sick and those afflicted with unclean spirits,
and they were all healed.
The word of the Lord.
RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 118:2-4.22-24.25—27a (R. 1)
R/. Give praise to the Lord, for he is good; his mercy endures forever.
or: Alleluia.
Let the house of Israel say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let the house of Aaron say,
“His mercy endures forever.”
Let those who fear the Lord say,
“His mercy endures forever.” R/.
The stone that the builders rejected
has become the cornerstone.
By the Lord has this been done,
a marvel in our eyes.
This is the day the Lord has made;
let us rejoice in it and be glad. R/.
O Lord, grant salvation;
O Lord, grant success.
Blest is he who comes
in the name of the Lord.
We bless you from the house of the Lord;
the Lord is God, and has given us light. R/.
SECOND READING
“I died, and behold I am alive for evermore.”
A reading from the Book of Revelation (Revelation 1:9-11a.12-13.17-19)
I John, your brother,
who share with you in Jesus
the tribulation and the kingdom and the patient endurance,
was on the island called Patmos
on account of the word of God and the testimony of Jesus.
I was in the Spirit on the Lord’s Day,
and I heard behind me a loud voice like a trumpet saying,
“Write what you see in a book
and send it to the seven churches.”
Then I turned to see the voice that was speaking to me,
and on turning I saw seven golden lampstands,
and in the midst of the lampstands one like a Son of man,
clothed with a long robe
and with a golden sash across his chest.
When I saw him,
I fell at his feet as though dead.
But he laid his right hand upon me, saying,
“Fear not, I am the first and the last,
and the living one;
I died, and behold I am alive for evermore,
and I have the keys of Death and Hades.
Now write what you see,
what is and what is to take place hereafter.”
The word of the Lord.
SEQUENCE (PROSE TEXT)
To the Paschal Victim let Christians offer a sacrifice of praise.
The Lamb redeemed the sheep.
Christ, sinless, reconciled sinners to the Father.
Death and life were locked together in a unique struggle.
Life’s captain died; now he reigns, never more to die.
Tell us, Mary, “What did you see on the way?”
“I saw the tomb of the now living Christ.
I saw the glory of Christ, now risen. “I saw angels who gave witness;
the cloths too which once had covered head and limbs.
“Christ my hope has arisen.
He will go before his own into Galilee.”
We know that Christ has indeed risen from the dead.
Do you, conqueror and king, have mercy on us.
Amen. Alleluia.
Or the following:
SEQUENCE (POETIC TEXT)
Christians, to the Paschal Victim
Offer your thankful praises!
A Lamb the sheep redeems: Christ, who only is sinless,
Reconciles sinners to the Father.
Death and life have contended in that combat stupendous:
The Prince of life, who died, reigns immortal.
Speak, Mary, declaring
What you saw, wayfaring.
“The tomb of Christ, who is living,
The glory of Jesus’ resurrection;
Bright angels attesting,
The shroud and napkin resting.
Yes, Christ my hope is arisen:
To Galilee he goes before you.”
Christ indeed from death is risen, our new life obtaining.
Have mercy, victor King, ever reigning!
Amen. Alleluia.
Or the following:
SEQUENCE (LATIN TEXT)
Victimæ paschàli laudes immolent Christiàni.
Agnus redémit oves: Christus innocens Patri reconciliàvit peccatôres.
Mors et vita duéllo conflixére miràndo: dux vitæ mörtuus regnat vivus.
Dic nobis, Maria, quid vidisti in via?
Sepùlcrum Christi vivéntis: et glöriam vidi resurgéntis,
Angélicos testes, sudàrium et vestes.
Surréxit Christus spes mea: præcédet suos in Galil”æam.
Scimus Christum surrexisse a môrtuis vere:
tu nobis, victor Rex, miserére.
Amen. Alleluia.
ALLELUIA
John 20:29
V/. Alleluia. R/. Alleluia.
V/. You believed, Thomas, because you have seen me,
says the Lord;
blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.
R/. Alleluia.
GOSPEL
“Eight days later Jesus came.”
† A reading from the holy Gospel according to John (John 20: 19 – 3 1)
On the evening of that day,
the first day of the week,
the doors being shut where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood among them and said to them,
“Peace be with you.”
When he had said this,
he showed them his hands and his side.
Then the disciples were glad when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again,
“Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me,
even so I send you.”
And when he had said this,
he breathed on them, and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
If you forgive the sins of any,
they are forgiven;
if you retain the sins of any,
they are retained.”
Now Thomas, one of the Twelve,
called the Twin,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples told him,
“We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see in his hands the print of the nails,
and place my finger in the mark of the nails,
and place my hand in his side,
I will not believe.”
Eight days later,
his disciples were again in the house,
and Thomas was with them.
The doors were shut,
but Jesus came and stood among them, and said,
“Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas,
“Put your finger here, and see my hands;
and put out your hand, and place it in my side;
do not be faithless, but believing.”
Thomas answered him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him,
“You have believed because you have seen me.
Blessed are those who have not seen and yet believe.”
Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of the disciples,
which are not written in this book;
but these are written
that you may believe that Jesus is the Christ,
the Son of God, and that believing you may have life in his name.
The Gospel of the Lord.
