Saturday, April 4, 2026

Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil

Paschal Triduum

Listen to today's Mass in full

Selected Mass Reading

Second Reading — Exodus 14:15—15:1

And the Lord said to Moses: Why criest thou to me? Speak to the children of Israel to go forward. But lift thou up thy rod, and stretch forth thy hand over the sea, and divide it: that the children of Israel may go through the midst of the sea on dry ground. And I will harden the heart of the Egyptians to pursue you: and I will be glorified in Pharao, and in all his host, and in his chariots and in his horsemen. And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removing, went behind them: and together with him the pillar of the cloud, leaving the forepart, Stood behind, between the Egyptians' camp and the camp of Israel: and it was a dark cloud, and enlightening the night, so that they could not come at one another all the night. And when Moses had stretched forth his hand over the sea, the Lord took it away by a strong and burning wind blowing all the night, and turned it into dry ground: and the water was divided. And the children of Israel went in through the midst of the sea dried up; for the water was as a wall on their right hand and on their left. And the Egyptians pursuing went in after them, and all Pharao's horses, his chariots and horsemen, through the midst of the sea. And now the morning watch was come, and behold the Lord looking upon the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, slew their host. And overthrew the wheels of the chariots, and they were carried into the deep. And the Egyptians said: Let us flee from Israel; for the Lord fighteth for them against us. And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth thy hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and horsemen. And when Moses had stretched forth his hand towards the sea, it returned at the first break of day to the former place: and as the Egyptians were fleeing away, the waters came upon them, and the Lord shut them up in the middle of the waves. And the waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen of all the army of Pharao, who had come into the sea after them, neither did there so much as one of them remain. But the children of Israel marched through the midst of the sea upon dry land, and the waters were to them as a wall on the right hand and on the left: And the Lord delivered Israel in that day out of the hands of the Egyptians. And they saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore, and the mighty hand that the Lord had used against them: and the people feared the Lord, and they believed the Lord, and Moses his servant. Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the Lord, and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and the rider he hath thrown into the sea.

Feast Days

Benedict the Moor Franciscan friar, religious brother, hermit 1526–1589

Saint Benedict the Moor was born around 1526 in San Fratello near Messina, Sicily, the son of enslaved Africans who were granted freedom for their child before his birth. Raised in poverty and unable to read, he worked as a shepherd and became known for giving generously to the poor. When he endured public insults because of his skin color with remarkable patience, a community of Franciscan-inspired hermits recognized his humility and invited him to join them. Benedict soon renounced his possessions, served as their cook, and eventually became their leader. In 1564, when independent hermit groups were joined to established orders, Benedict was sent to the Franciscan friary of St. Mary of Jesus in Palermo. Though a lay brother, he was entrusted as master of novices and even guardian of the community, admired for his deep spiritual wisdom, charity, and care for the sick. He died on April 4, 1589, and was canonized in 1807. Venerated especially among Black Catholics, he is also patron of several towns including San Fratello and Santa Maria di Gesù al Capo. His feast day is April 4.

Isidore of Seville Bishop of Seville, theologian, scholar, historian, writer, philosopher, Doctor of the Church 560–636

Saint Isidore of Seville was born around 560 in Cartago Spartaria, today’s Cartagena, Spain, into a distinguished Christian family in Roman Hispania. Educated at the cathedral school of Seville, he immersed himself in the liberal arts and mastered Latin, with knowledge of Greek and Hebrew. When his brother Saint Leander died, Isidore succeeded him as Archbishop of Seville around 600, becoming a steadfast shepherd in a time of cultural upheaval and widespread illiteracy. With pastoral zeal and learning, he helped strengthen the Catholic faith among the Visigoths, working to overcome Arianism and to unite diverse peoples into one Christian society. He protected monastic life, guided synods in Seville, and presided over the Fourth Council of Toledo in 633, which urged every bishop to establish schools for clergy and to foster broad study for the good of the Church. After his death on April 4, 636, his enduring fame rested especially on his Etymologiae, a vast treasury of knowledge that preserved much of the ancient world for future generations. He is venerated as a patron of scholars and even computer scientists. His feast day is April 4.