April 21, 2026
Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter / Saint Anselm, Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Gospel: John 6:30-35

Today is Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter. The Church today celebrates the Optional Memorial of Saint Anselm, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. The passage from the Gospel of Saint John continues to present Jesus’ discourse on the Bread of Life.

Saint John relates that the crowd said to Jesus, “What sign do You do, that we may see and believe You? What work do You perform? Our ancestors ate manna in the desert, as it is written: ‘He gave them bread from heaven to eat.’” (cf. John 6:30-31)

At times, we too are like this crowd that came to Capernaum seeking Jesus, wanting to receive a sign or a wonder from God. What sort of sign? It is the granting of our prayers. Having achieved the results, we desired through our own efforts, we sometimes forget God and think He does not exist, because we have not followed the promptings of the Holy Spirit to correctly understand every moment of our lives. Even at Mass, we might regard the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine as mere symbols, rather than the substantial, complete Jesus Christ.

Today, our priests, our bishops, and our cardinals—united with cardinals, bishops, and priests throughout the world—following the command and teaching of the Savior, call upon the Holy Spirit in the daily celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass to consecrate the Body and Blood of our Lord Jesus Christ. If we view the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass with the eyes of faith, rather than with merely human eyes, we will not think that it is our priests, bishops, or cardinals who give us the Body and Blood of Christ, but Jesus Christ Himself. What we receive is no longer bread and wine, but our Lord Jesus Christ under the appearances of bread and wine. Although our corruptible bodies will grow hungry and thirsty again, the soul within us, nourished by receiving the Body and Blood of Jesus Christ, will never hunger or thirst again. As Jesus assured us: “I am the Bread of Life. Whoever comes to Me will never hunger, and whoever believes in Me will never thirst.” (cf. John 6:35)

Almighty God, who open the gate of the heavenly Kingdom to those reborn of water and the Holy Spirit, pour out upon Your servants an increase of the grace You have bestowed, that, having been cleansed of all sin, they may lack none of the good things You have promised in Your mercy. Through Your Son, our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen.

©Totus Tuus 2026
Cum Approbatione Ecclesiastica