April 22, Third Sunday of Easter
ST. ADALBERT (WOJTECH) OF PRAGUE (b Bohemia 956, d Poland 997)
Bishop, Missionary and Martyr
Born to a noble family in Bohemia, the future saint was educated by St. Adalbert of Magdeburg,
and at the age of 27 was named of Bishop of Prague. Eight years later he was exiled at the
instigation of those who opposed his clerical reforms. Popular clamor brought him back but
he was exiled once again because he excommunicated the murderers of a woman accused of
adultery who had sought sanctuary in a church. He went to Hungary first to preach and then
carried his mission to the peoples along the Baltic Sea. For chopping down some oaks sacred
to the local pagans, he was killed by pagan priests in what was then part of Prussia (now
part of Poland). His body was ransomed by Poles who buried him in Gniezno Cathedral, but
his remains were taken to St. Vitus Cathedral in Prague in the mid-11th century. He is
highly venerated in the Czechoslovakian lands, Poland, Hungary and Germany.
Readings for today's Mass:
usccb.org/bible/readings/042212.cfm
AT THE VATICAN TODAY
Regina caeli - The Holy Father reflected on Jesus's second appearance to the Apostles after the Resurrection
and his continuing presence in the Eucharist, reminding priests, parents and catechists to prepare their children
well for their First Communion, which in many parishes is usually held in Easter tide. He also called attention
to the beatification in Mexico City yesterday of María Inés Teresa of the Most Blessed Sacrament, who founded the
Clarissan Missionaries of the Most Blessed Sacrament.