Daily TV Mass Saturday May 2, 2026

Fr. John Bertao

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:03

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_06 0:25

Hello and welcome to the celebration of the Daily TV Mass. I'm Father John Berteo. The televising of this Mass is made possible with a contribution from the estate of Carol Olen Pallison. This Mass is offered for the repose of the soul of Carol Allan Pallison. May her soul and the souls of the faithful of the departed rest in peace. Amen. We begin with a sign of our salvation in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

SPEAKER_05 0:57

Amen.

SPEAKER_06 0:57

The Lord be with you.

SPEAKER_05 0:59

And with your spirit.

SPEAKER_06 1:00

My brothers 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. Lord have mercy. You came to call sinners. Christ have mercy. You are seated at the right hand of the Father and do deceit for us. Lord have mercy.

SPEAKER_05 1:20

Lord have mercy.

SPEAKER_06 1:21

May Almighty God have mercy on us, forgive us our sins, and bring us to everlasting life.

SPEAKER_05 1:27

Amen.

SPEAKER_06 1:28

Let us pray. Almighty ever living God, who raised up the Bishop Saint Athanasius as an outstanding champion of your saints, of your Son's divinity, mercifully grant that, rejoicing in his teaching and his protection, we may never cease to grow in knowledge and love of you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.

SPEAKER_04 1:55

Amen.

SPEAKER_00 1:57

A reading from the Acts of the Apostles. The next Sabbath, almost the whole city gathered to hear the word of the Lord. But when the Jews saw the crowds, they were filled with jealousy and blaspheming, they contradicted what was spoken by Paul. Then both Paul and Barnabas spoke out boldly, saying, It was necessary that the word of God should be spoken to you first, since you reject it and judge yourselves to be unworthy of eternal life. We are now turning to the Gentiles. For so the Lord has commanded us, saying, I have set you to be a light for the Gentiles, so that you may bring salvation to the ends of the earth. When the Gentiles heard this, they were glad and praised the word of the Lord, and as many as had been destined for eternal life became believers. Thus the word of the Lord spread throughout the region. But the Jews incited the devout women of high standing and the leading men of the city and stirred up persecution against Paul and Barnabas and drove them out of their region. So they shook the dust off their feet and protested against them and went to Iconium. And the disciple disciples were filled with joy and with the Holy Spirit. The word of the Lord.

SPEAKER_02 5:03

Make a joyful noise to the Lord of the earth, break forth in joyous song and sing praise. All the ends of the earth have seen the saving power of God. And you will know the truth says.

SPEAKER_06 7:03

Philip said to him, Lord, show us the Father, and we will be satisfied. Jesus said, I have been with you all this time, Philip, and you still do not know me. Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, Show us the Father? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I say to you, I do not speak on my own. But the Father who dwells in me does his works. Believe me that I am in the Father, and the Father is in me. But if you do not, then believe not me because of the works themselves. Very truly I tell you, the one who believes in me will also do the works that I do, and in fact will do greater works than these, because I am going to the Father. I will do whatever you ask in my name, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If in my name you ask for anything, I will do it. The Gospel of the Lord. I love that line. If in my name you ask me for anything, I will do it. What a beautiful promise. Beautiful promise. He doesn't say when, but that he will do it. But first, let me start off with a couple of questions to get us thinking about today's gospel. Beautiful gospel. It starts off with, what's the greatest thing we can aim for in this life? Would you not agree then? Is to know God personally as your Father and Redeemer? Also, what's the best thing that we can possess in life? Bring more joy, contentment, life, and happiness more than anything else in this world. Is it not true knowledge that the understanding of God is in what kind of relationship we must want to have with Him and Him with us? Scripture tells us that the greatest thing we can do and possess is true knowledge of God. We read in Jeremiah and I quote, Thus says the Lord, let not the wise man glory in his wisdom, let not the mighty glory in his might, not in the rich man glory or in his riches, but let him who glories in this that he understands and knows me. Whatever it is, know God first and above and beyond anyone else. One of the greatest truths of the Christian faith is that we can know the living God. Our knowledge then of God is not simply limited to knowing something about God, but we can know God personally. For example, the essence of Christianity and what makes it distinct from Judaism and other religions is the personal knowledge of God as our Father, our loving Father. Jesus makes it possible for each one of us to personally know God as our Heavenly Father. To see Jesus, to see what God is like. In Jesus, we see the perfect love of God, a God who cares intensely, who longs for each one of us, you and me, loving so much to the point of laying down his life on the cross for each one of us. Jesus is the revelation of God, a God who loves us unconditionally, unselfishly, and perfectly. And someone who was very close to God and wanted us, wanted you and I at that time and even now to love God as much as he did with St. Athanasius, who we celebrate today. In brief, St. Athanasius was born about the year 297 in Alexandria, Egypt. He devoted his life to proving that Jesus truly God. This was important because some people called the Arians were denying this truth. Even before he became a priest, Athanasius had read many books on scripture and theology. This is why he could explain the fate so easily. He became the Archbishop of Alexandria before he was 30 years old, and for six years he was a brave shepherd for his flock. However, many in authority tried to prevent him from his ministry, for example. For different Roman emperors tried to stop him, but he could not be stopped. His clear writing, his beautiful examples, his beautiful explanations of the faith were just so important that they were very jealous of him. His enemies persecuted him in various ways. For example, Archbishop of the Nations was sent out of his own diocese for five times, exiled from his diocese. His first exile lasted two years. He was sent to a city in Tyr in Germany in the year 336. A kind bishop by the name of Maximinus welcomed him warmly. Other exiles lasted much longer than that. A very short story came across as I uh as I was doing research and praying about this. That once the emperor's soldiers were chasing Athanasius down the river, and they were saying, Oh, as they were chasing him, they looked back and they saw, they're catching up to us. And the saints' friends said, Athanasius was not worried at all, at all. He said, Turn the boat around and calmly row towards them. Turn around and go towards them. The Emperor's soldiers shouted as when they came across him and said, Have you seen him? Athanasius said, You're not far from him. And so, of course, they rode even faster to see if we could catch up with him. Of course, going the wrong way. Very simple, very straightforward, and down to earth. My dear friends in Christ, we're all challenged or called to be enthusiastic about our faith, resulting in loving Jesus our Father, more and more every day. Not only to be a saint, but one day to see him face to face and proclaim him as my Lord and my God. Another way of doing this is to maybe spend some time in the church. And I'm sure that some parishes do have a tabernacle, of course, and sometimes a holy hour as we do. And I I people at the beginning, when we started our holy hour, they would say, Oh, Father, it's so boring to just sit there and look at this beautiful monstrance, and I get nothing out of it. And I said, Okay, what do you give to the Lord when you're sitting there? Do you expect to get riches? Do you expect to get a voice? Do you expect to get a light coming at you? Give him what you have. Well, what do I have to give him? I said, Well, hello. I love you. I want to be here with you. Just try it, try it, and never give up because it doesn't give up on you. And some of these people who have tried this said, Father, now I'm addicted. I cannot do without Holy Old because I realize that Jesus is so much there for me, and I am there for him as well. Be there for him, he's there for you. And I close with a little prayer. Lord Jesus, you fill us with the joy of your saving presence, and you give us the hope of everlasting life with God, our Father in heaven. Show me the Father, that I may know and glorify him always, for ever and ever. Amen. Our prayer intentions for the month of May. For all of those in a daily daily mass prayer intentions book, we pray to the Lord.

SPEAKER_05 16:22

Lord hear our prayer.

SPEAKER_06 16:24

Throughout this month of May, our community prays to follow the example of Mary by offering joy, compassion, and mercy, especially to mothers, grandmothers, and all who lovingly serve those in need. We pray to the Lord.

SPEAKER_03 16:39

Lord, we are.

SPEAKER_06 16:40

In all of our needs and petitions and thanksgivings, we offer them to Jesus through Mary, as together we pray, Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners now and at the hour of our death.

SPEAKER_03 17:02

Amen.

SPEAKER_06 17:17

Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for throughness to receive the bread we offer you, created the earth and work of human hands, you will become for us the bread of light. Through the mystery of this water and wine, may we come to share in the divinity of Christ, who humble Himself to share in our humanity. Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for if you're willing to receive the wine we offer you, free to the vine and work of human hands, it will become our spiritual drink.

SPEAKER_03 18:01

Blessed be God forever.

SPEAKER_06 18:08

Lord, wash away my iniquity and cleanse me from my sins.

unknown 18:14

Thank you.

SPEAKER_06 18:15

Pray, brothers and sisters, that my sacrifice and yours be acceptable to God, the Almighty Father.

SPEAKER_00 18:21

May the Lord accept the sacrifice of your hands for the praise and Lord of God's name.

SPEAKER_06 18:26

For our good, look up look, O Lord, upon the offerings we present to you in commemoration of St. Athanasius, and may witnessing to your truth bring salvation to those who profess that he did an unblemished faith. That as he did an unblemished faith through Christ our Lord.

SPEAKER_03 18:52

Amen.

SPEAKER_06 18:58

The Lord be with you.

SPEAKER_04 19:00

And with your spirit. Lift up your hearts. Lift them up to the Lord.

SPEAKER_06 19:04

Let us give thanks to the Lord our God. It is right and just tell you what injust our duty and our salvation, always and everywhere to give you thanks, Lord, Holy Father, Almighty eternal God through Christ our Lord. By his birth, he brought renewal to humanity's fallen state, and by his suffering called out our sins. By his rising from the dead, he has opened the way to eternal life. And by ascending to you, O Father, He has unlocked the gates of heaven. And so with a company of angels and saints we sing the hymn of your praise, as without end we acclaim.

SPEAKER_02 19:46

Holy, holy, holy Lord, God of hosts, heaven and earth are full of your glory. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Host an You are indeed holy, O Lord, the fount of all holiness.

SPEAKER_06 20:28

Make Holy therefore these gifts we pray, by sending down your spirit upon them like the dew fall, 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. 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_02 22:13

We proclaim your death, O Lord, and profess your resurrection until you come again.

SPEAKER_06 22:29

Therefore, as we celebrate the memorial of his death and resurrection, we offer you, Lord, the bread of life and the child of salvation, giving thanks that you've held us worthy to be in your presence and minister to you. How we pray that by taking 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 you to the fullness of charity, together with Leo, our Pope, 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 the Blessed Joseph, our spouse, with the Blessed Apostles, Saint Athanasius, and all the saints who please you throughout the ages, we may merry to be co-heres 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 for ever and ever. Amen. At the Savior's command and formed by divine teaching, we're there to say, Our Father, who art in heaven, how be thy name, thy kingdom come, thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our living bread, and forgive us our trespasses. As we forgive those who trespass against us. And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from all evil. Deliver us, Lord, you pray from every evil. Gracious you grant peace in our days, that by the help of your mercy we may be always free from sin and safe from all the stress, as we wait to bless it hope and the coming of our Savior, Jesus Christ. Now and forever. Lord 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 grace, you got your peace and unity in accordance with your will, who live and reign forever and ever. Amen. The peace of the Lord be with you always.

SPEAKER_05 24:53

And yours.

SPEAKER_06 24:55

The power of the Holy Spirit, I wish you God's peace, and maybe you can do that same to others around you or those you may know by phone or whatever it might be. Take a moment to greet someone with a sign of peace.

SPEAKER_02 25:40

Lamb of God, you take away the sins of the world.

SPEAKER_06 25:59

Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world. Blessed are those called to the supper of the Lamb. But only say the word, and my soul shall be healed.

SPEAKER_01 27:00

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_06 28:07

Amen. The Lord be with you.

SPEAKER_00 28:09

And with your spirit. Amen.

SPEAKER_06 28:16

Let us go from this secret and truth and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.

SPEAKER_00 28:21

Praise be to God.

SPEAKER_01 28:25

Our thanks to our donors for the gift of this month.