Daily TV Mass
Warming Faithful Hearts. The NCBC provides access to the Daily TV Mass as a way for our community to stay near to the Church and our Catholic Faith.
Daily TV Mass
Daily TV Mass Tuesday April 21, 2026
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Fr. Branden Gordon, SDB
From the St. Ignatius Chapel at the Manresa Jesuit Spiritual Renewal Center in Pickering, Ontario. The National Catholic Broadcasting Council presents the Daily TV Mass.
SPEAKER_02Welcome to the celebration of the Daily TV Mass. I'm Father Brandon Gordon. The televising of this Mass is made possible by the contribution from the estate of Agnes Bozak. This Mass is offered for the repose of the soul of Agnes Bozak. May her soul and the souls of all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. Today we pray for vocations to religious life among men and women. Religious follow Christ closely through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, living in community as a visible sign of the kingdom. Their lives of prayer, service, and fraternity. Let us pray for those discerning religious life and for all religious who give themselves fully to God and his people. Today we are blessed to welcome Sister Anna Immaculate of the Sisters of Life. She shares her vocation story and the joy of her call to religious life dedicated to upholding human dignity, accompanying vulnerable women, and witnessing Christ's love through prayer and service. Let us listen with open hearts.
SPEAKER_00I am a part of a Catholic religious community called the Sisters of Life. We exist to proclaim the sacred dignity of every human life, from conception to natural death, that every life is a gift, that you are a gift, and God chose you because he loves you and longs to love you forever. Whether you are strong or weak, rich or poor, healthy or sick, you are loved and willed into existence by God. Totally unique, unrepeatable. You are no mistake. But in this busy world, it's easy to forget this truth. That's why our community exists. We exist for you. Our main work is prayer, and all of our missions flow from that. We serve women who are pregnant and in crisis and accompany them in love and support so that they may move forward in freedom and courage to embrace the life entrusted to them. We host weekend retreats for women and men, and we accompany those suffering after abortion on the journey of healing. God's mercy is greater than every sin or setback. And God has a beautiful plan for each of us. I never thought I would be a religious sister, but it's been the greatest gift of my life. I grew up in a Catholic home, but the faith was never really my own. The love of God was a concept, never an encounter with a real person, just a list of rules to follow. And it wasn't until my senior year in high school when things began to change. I took a hiking trip with a local youth group. The adventure was incredible, but the greatest impact was the witness of a friend on the trip with me. She shared her story with us. She loved sports, music, friends, all the normal loves of any teenager. She was Catholic and went to church. But something was missing. She had a brother who was on fire with his faith, who had this joy and peace in him that she had never experienced. She began weeping with tears and said, I don't know what he has, but I want it. And for the first time in my life, a cry in my heart shouted so loudly that it would have shaken the mountains before me. I want that too. So I made a prayer to God that changed my life forever. God, give me a desire for you. I give you permission. And God heard my prayer. I went to the church in town. I knelt down right in front of the Lord and I said, Jesus, do you love me? It was simple. I needed to know. And as I remained there before him, this wave of love and presence washed over me. I knew I wasn't the only person in that room. God was here before me. He loved me deeply and personally. Before this, I thought I had to come to him and prove myself or earn his love. But he was showing me that it is he who waits for us, longs to be with us, and hopes will come to be with him. When I went off to college, I knew I wanted to be open to God's plan. What is your will? I always wanted to get married and have a big family, and I dated. But as I grew in a relationship with the Lord, it became clear. God was calling me to give him all the love in my heart that I was saving for my spouse, and that I would be a mother to all of his children. I met the Sisters of Life, and I knew that this is where I was called to live my love, and I am forever grateful for it. My vocation was the fruit of the prayers of many. I invite you to pray for vocations and for young people you know who may be searching for a relationship with Christ. Let's say yes with our Lady.
SPEAKER_01Blessed Mary, Mother of the Church and Mother of Vocations, we turn to you as we seek to follow your son's call. In a world filled with uncertainty and confusion, guide us to become pilgrims of hope, embracing our vocations as journeys of love and service. Intercede for us that we may respond generously to God's invitation, trusting in his providence and sharing his light with all. Amen.
SPEAKER_02We now begin the daily TV Mass, praying for those discerning religious life, and for all religious men and women faithfully living their consecration today. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. The Lord be with you.
SPEAKER_07And with your spirit.
SPEAKER_02Brothers and sisters, let us acknowledge our sins and so prepare ourselves to celebrate the sacred mysteries. You were sent to heal the contrite of heart. Lord have mercy.
SPEAKER_07Lord have mercy.
SPEAKER_02You came to call sinners. Christ have mercy. You are seated at the right hand of the Father to intercede for us. Lord, have mercy.
SPEAKER_07Lord have mercy.
SPEAKER_02May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life. Let us pray. O God, who led the bishop Saint Anselm to seek out and teach the depths of your wisdom. Grant we pray that our faith in you may so aid our understanding that what we believe by your command may give delight to our hearts. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever.
SPEAKER_08A reading from the Acts of the Apostles, Stephen stood before the council and replied to his accusers, You stiff-necked people, uncircumcised in heart and ears, you are forever opposing the Holy Spirit, just as your ancestors used to do. Which of the prophets did your ancestors not persecute? They killed those who foretold the coming of the righteous one, and now you have become his betrayers and murderers. You are the ones that received the law as ordained by angels, and yet you have not kept it. When they heard these things, they became enraged and ground their teeth at Stephen. But filled with the Holy Spirit, he gazed into heaven and saw the glory of God and Jesus standing at the right hand of God. Look, he said, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing at the right hand of God. But they covered their ears and with a loud shout all rushed together against him. Then they dragged him out of the city and began to stone him. And the witnesses laid their coats at the feet of a young man named Saul. While they were stoning Stephen, he prayed, Lord Jesus, receive my spirit. Then he knelt down and cried out in a loud voice, Lord, do not hold this in against them. When he had said this, he died. And Saul approved of their killing him. That day a severe persecution began against the church in Jerusalem, and all except the apostles were scattered throughout the countryside of Judea and Samaria. The word of the Lord.
SPEAKER_05Be a rock of refuge for me, a strong fortress to save me. You are indeed my rock and my fortress. For your name's sake, lead me and guide me. Into your hands, O Lord, I entrust my spirit. Into your hand I commit my spirit. You have redeemed me, O Lord, faithful God. I trust in the Lord. I will exalt and rejoice in your steadfast love. Into your hands, O Lord, I entrust my spirit. Let your face shine upon your servants. Save me in your steadfast love. In the shelter of your presence, you hide them from human life. Into your hands, oh Lord, I entrust my speed. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry.
SPEAKER_02And with your spirit. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to John. After Jesus had fed the crowd from the five loaves, the people said to Jesus, What sign are you going to give us then, so that we may see it and believe you? What work are you performing? Our ancestors ate the manna in the wilderness, as it is written. He gave them bread from heaven to eat. Then Jesus said to them, Very truly I tell you, it was not Moses who gave you the bread from heaven, but it is my Father who gives you the true bread from heaven. For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven and gives life to the world. They said to him, Sir, give us this bread always. Jesus said to them, I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty. The Gospel of the Lord. Many years ago I had a conversation with one of my fellow Salesian priests, and in this conversation, I referred to the modern-day vocations crisis. But that priest corrected me and he he told me something that has stuck to me to this day. He said that we're not living through a vocations crisis, but rather a crisis of response. He explained that God still continues to call people. In other words, many still are being called to priesthood and religious life, but unfortunately, many aren't accepting the call. Many are not responding to it. I think that one of the reasons for this crisis of response is that some people feel unworthy, quote unquote, of the call to consecrated life and priesthood. Well, St. Paul addresses this issue in his first letter to the Corinthians vis-a-vis the call to Christian life in general, the life of discipleship. He says, Consider your own call, brothers and sisters. Not many of you were wise by human standards, not many were powerful, not many were of noble birth. In this verse, Paul is reminding the Corinthians of a fundamental truth of Christianity: that our call to discipleship isn't based on our own merit, but rather on the love of the one who calls. And I think that the Bible is chock full of examples which illustrate exactly this point. You may be familiar with that list of quote-unquote unworthy people who nonetheless were called by God and entrusted with special missions. Noah got drunk, Abraham was too old, Isaac was a daydreamer, Jacob was a liar, Moses was a murderer, and he also happened to have a speech impediment. Rahab was a prostitute, David was both a murderer and an adulterer. Peter denied Christ. Mary Magdalene was possessed by demons. Paul was a persecutor of Christians. Timothy had chronic stomach issues. And Lazarus, well, he was dead. Despite all their imperfections, despite their unworthiness, each one of these men or women were called by God and with the help of God's grace accomplished great things. This goes to show the truth of that commonly used phrase that God doesn't call the qualified, but rather qualifies those whom he calls. Maybe you've thought to yourself at one point or another that you're not worthy of living the consecrated life, or of serving God and his people at the altar as a priest. Well, in a certain sense, you would be right. You aren't worthy, nor am I worthy, nor is anyone worthy of these vocations except for the Lord Jesus Christ Himself. And the argument can also be made about those that none of us are worthy of getting married and having children either. For the vocation to married life is a call to share in the love of Christ for his church, as well as in the creative power of God by the bringing forth of new life into the world. And none of us mere mortals can say that we are truly worthy of such privileges as these. But just remember this: your vocation isn't based on your own merit, but rather on the love of the one who calls. And as Saint Paul writes in First Corinthians, God chose God chooses what is foolish in the world to shame the wise, what is weak in the world to shame the strong, and what is low and despised in the world to reduce to nothing that which is high and mighty. In religious life, men and women follow Christ more closely in community through vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Today we give thanks for this gift to the church and pray that many may be drawn to live the evangelical counsels in joyful witness. For all those named in our daily TV prayer. For all those named in our daily TV Mass Prayer Intentions book, especially those submitted for prayers for vocations, may God strengthen them in discernment and fill them with courage. We pray to the Lord. For vocations to religious life for both men and women, that they may find joy in following Christ in community, offering their lives as a sign of the kingdom, we pray to the Lord.
SPEAKER_06Lord, he our prayer.
SPEAKER_02For the month of April, our community prays that all who are burdened by grief or discouragement may be uplifted by the light of the risen Christ, and renewed in hope, we pray to the Lord.
SPEAKER_07Lord, hear prayer.
SPEAKER_02For those who serve and dedicate their lives to the poor and marginalized, that they may continue their compassionate work with renewed strength and be supported by the Church, we pray to the Lord.
SPEAKER_06Lord, hear our prayer.
SPEAKER_02Blessed Mary, ever virgin and model of consecrated life, hear our prayers for those called to religious community. Carry them to your son that they may live undivided hearts in service and love. Amen. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the wine we offer you, fruit of the vine and work of human hands. It will become our spiritual drink.
SPEAKER_03Cleanse me for my sin.
SPEAKER_02Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God the Almighty Father.
SPEAKER_08May the Lord accept the sacrifice of your hands, for the praise and glory of God's name, for our good and good of all his holy church.
SPEAKER_02Look with favor, O Lord, we pray on the offerings we set upon this sacred altar on the feast day of Blessed Anselm, that bestowing on us your pardon, our oblations may give honor to your name through Christ our Lord.
SPEAKER_08Amen.
SPEAKER_02The Lord be with you.
SPEAKER_08And with your spirit.
SPEAKER_02Lift up your hearts. Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right and just it is truly right and just our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks. Lord Holy Father, Almighty and Eternal God, through Christ our Lord. For as on the festival of St. Anselm you bid your church rejoice, so too you strengthen her by the example of his holy life, teach her by his words of preaching, and keep her safe in answer to his prayers. And so with the company of angels and saints, we sing the hymn of your praise, as without end we acclaim.
SPEAKER_05Holy, holy, holy Lord God of host, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the yest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
SPEAKER_02You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness. Make holy therefore these gifts we pray, by sending down your spirit upon them like the dewfall, so that they may become for us the body and blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. At the time he was betrayed and entered willingly into his passion, he took bread, and giving thanks broke it, and gave it to his disciples. Saying, Take this, all of you, and eat of it, for this is my body which will be given up for you. In a similar way, when supper was ended, he took the chalice, and once more giving thanks, he gave it to his disciples, saying, Take this, all of you, and drink from it, for this is the chalice of my blood, the blood of the new and eternal covenant, which will be poured out for you and for many for the forgiveness of sins. Do this in memory of me, the mystery of faith.
SPEAKER_05We proclaim your death hold, and profess your resurrection until you come again.
SPEAKER_02Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the chalice of salvation, giving thanks that you have held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. Humbly we pray that partaking of the body and blood of Christ we may be gathered into one by the Holy Spirit. Remember, Lord, your church spread throughout the world and bring her to the fullness of charity, together with Leo our Pope and Francis our bishop and all the clergy. Remember also our brothers and sisters who have fallen asleep in the hope of the resurrection, and all who have died in your mercy. Welcome them into the light of your face. Have mercy on us all, we pray, that with the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of God, with Blessed Joseph her spouse, with the blessed apostles and all the saints who have pleased you throughout the ages, we may merit to be co-heirs to eternal life, and may praise and glorify you through your Son, Jesus Christ. Through him and with him and in him, O God Almighty Father, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, all glory and honor is yours, now and forever.
SPEAKER_06Amen.
SPEAKER_02At the Savior's command, informed by divine teaching, we dare to say, Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. Deliver us, Lord, we pray from every evil. Graciously grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all distress, as we await the blessed hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ.
SPEAKER_07For the kingdom, the power and the glory are yours now and forever.
SPEAKER_02Lord Jesus Christ, who said to your apostles, Peace I leave you, my peace I give you. Look not on our sins but on the faith of your church, and graciously grant her peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever.
SPEAKER_07Amen.
SPEAKER_02The peace of the Lord be with you always. And with your spirit. Let us offer each other the sign of peace.
SPEAKER_05Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world. Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.
SPEAKER_02Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. Lord, I am not worthy that you should enter under my roof, but only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.
SPEAKER_04Please join me now in this act of spiritual communion. My Jesus, I believe that you are present in this holy sacrament of the altar. I love you above all things, and I passionately desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come spiritually into my soul, so that I may unite myself wholly to you, now and forever. Amen.
SPEAKER_02Let us pray. Renewed by the sacred mysteries, we humbly pray, O Lord, that following the example of Blessed Anselm, we may strive to profess what he believed and to practice what he taught through Christ our Lord. Amen. The Lord be with you.
SPEAKER_07And with your Spirit.
SPEAKER_02May Almighty God bless you, the Father and the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Go in peace, glorifying the Lord by your life.
SPEAKER_04Our thanks to our donor for the gift of this mass.