Monthly Archives: April 2025

The Gospel on Easter Sunday: 20th April 2025

Easter Sunday – The Resurrection of the Lord – Solemnity
Readings of the day

First Reading: Acts 10:34a,37-43
Psalm: 117 (118):1-2,16ab-17,22-23
Second Reading: Colossians 3:1-4 or 1 Corinthians 5:6b-8

Gospel: John 20:1-9 or Luke 24:1-12 or, in the evening, Luke 24:15-35

A reading from the Gospel of John

On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.”

So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place… Read more »

Pope on Easter Vigil: May the light of the Resurrection illumine our hearts

It is night, as the Paschal candle slowly advances towards the altar.  It is night, when the chant of the Easter Proclamationinvites heartfelt rejoicing, “Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King… knowing an end to gloom and darkness” (Exsultet).  It is in the last hours of the night that the events take place that are recounted in the Gospel we have just heard (cf. Lk 24:1-12).  The divine light of the Resurrection begins to shine and the Lord’s Passover from death to life takes place as the sun is about to rise… Read more »

Lenten Reflection 2025 – Easter Sunday

https://youtu.be/wN39fsoLoyA

During Mass, have you ever paused to reflect on the meaning of the Second Reading? This Lent, Archbishop Charles Scicluna will provide brief explanations of the Second Reading proclaimed on each Sunday, offering key insights and reflections to guide us on our spiritual journey.

Second Reading for Easter Sunday: Colossians 3:1-4

Reading from the Letter of St… Read more »

The Archbishop baptises 19 adults from 8 different countries

This evening, during the Solemn Vigil of the Resurrection of our Lord at St John’s Co‑Cathedral, Archbishop Charles Scicluna will administer the Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism, Confirmation, Holy Communion) to 19 catechumens, who, as adults, have chosen the Christian path. These 19 adults, who will tonight become new members of the Catholic Church through these sacraments, hail from Albania, the United Kingdom, India, China, France, Malta, Turkey and the Philippines… Read more »

The Gospel on the Easter Vigil: 19th April

Holy Saturday – Vigil Mass
Readings of the day

First Reading: Genesis 1:1 – 2:2
Psalm: 103 (104):1-2a,5-6,10,12,13-14,24,35c
Second Reading: Genesis 22:1-18
Psalm: 15 (16):5,8,9-10,11
Third Reading: Ezekiel 14:15 – 15:1
Psalm: Ezekiel 15:1-2,3-4,5-6,17-18
Fourth Reading: Isaiah 54:5-14
Psalm: 29 (30):2,4,5-6,11,12a,13b
Fifth Reading: Isaiah 55:1-11
Psalm: Isaiah 12:2-3,4bcd,5-6
Sixth Reading: Baruch 3:9-15,32 – 4:4
Psalm: 18 (19):8,9,10,11
Seventh Reading: Ezekiel 36:16-17a,18-28
Psalm: 41 (42):3.5bcd; 42 (43):3,4
Eighth Reading: Romans 6:3-11
Psalm: 117 (118):1-2,16ab-17,22-23

Gospel: Luke 24:1-12

At daybreak on the first day of the week the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb… Read more »

Liturgy of the Hours on Easter Saturday – 19th April 2025, 9:30am

  The Chapel of Our Lady of Manresa at the Archbishop's Curia, Floriana

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Follow today’s Mass readings from here.

Prayer for Spiritual Communion

My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most Blessed Sacrament.
I love You above all things.
I desire to receive You into my soul.
Since I cannot now receive You sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart… Read more »

Lord, deliver us from the temptation to control our own lives or anyone else’s – The Archbishop

Liturgy of the Lord’s Passion on Good Friday

  St John's Co-Cathedral, Valletta

L-omelija tal-Arċisqof Charles Jude Scicluna

Fl-Evanġelju skont San Ġwann dwar il-Passjoni ta’ Sidna Ġesù Kristu, l-aħħar kelma ta’ Ġesù hi “kollox hu mitmum” (Ġw 19:30) u l-evanglista juża l-verb għażiż ‘radd’ – “mejjel rasu u radd ruħu” (Ġw 19:30).

Li trodd ruħek tfisser li r-ruħ u l-ħajja tiegħek titlaqhom totalment f’idejn il-Missier.

F’din il-kelma għażiża tal-Evanġelju skont San Ġwannn, hemm ukoll dak li tlabna fis-salm responsorjali llum, “Missier, nerħi ruħi f’idejk” (Lq 23:46)… Read more »

Pope Francis visits prison inmates on Holy Thursday

Pope Francis visits Regina Coeli Prison  (Vatican Media)

Pope Francis marked Holy Thursday with a visit to Rome’s Regina Coeli prison, continuing a tradition he has observed since the beginning of his pontificate: drawing close to those living behind bars. While unable this year to celebrate the liturgy of the Lord’s Supper and the Washing of the Feet, the Pope greeted inmates personally, offered them words of encouragement, and gifted each of them with a Rosary and a pocket-sized Gospel… Read more »

The Gospel on Good Friday: 18th April

Good Friday
Readings of the day

First Reading: Isaiah 52:13 – 53:12
Psalm: 30 (31):2,6,12-13,15-16,17, 25
Second Reading: Hebrews 4:14-16; 5:7-9

Gospel: John 18:1 – 19:42
The Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ according to St John

Jesus went out with his disciples across the Kidron valley to where there was a garden, into which he and his disciples entered. Judas his betrayer also knew the place, because Jesus had often met there with his disciples. So Judas got a band of soldiers and guards from the chief priests and the Pharisees and went there with lanterns, torches, and weapons… Read more »