Daily Mass from St Francis of Assisi · Iowa Catholic Radio Network

Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi - 04/07/2026

April 7, 2026·26 min·2 clips

At the empty tomb, a grieving woman becomes the first witness to history's most important moment.

This episode presents a complete Catholic daily mass service from St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Church in West Des Moines, Iowa. The service follows traditional liturgical structure, beginning with the penitential rite and including the recitation of the Creed, readings from Acts and the Gospel of John, and the full Eucharistic prayer. The central focus is a homily delivered by the priest about Mary Magdalene, based on the Gospel reading describing her encounter with the risen Jesus at the tomb. The priest presents Mary Magdalene as a model for Christian discipleship, highlighting her transformation from someone possessed by seven demons to a devoted follower of Jesus. He emphasizes her role in financially supporting Jesus's ministry alongside other women, noting that women's contributions to the early Church are often underrecognized. The homily stresses the importance of presence during others' suffering, pointing out that Mary Magdalene remained at the foot of the cross when most disciples fled. The priest explains that according to John's Gospel, Mary Magdalene was the first person to encounter the risen Jesus and was given the responsibility of announcing the resurrection to the apostles, earning her the title 'apostle to the apostles.' He encourages the congregation to examine their own lives for ways they support ministry, comfort the suffering, and share the message of Christ's resurrection. The service includes traditional prayers for the Church, world leaders, those who have wandered from faith, and the deceased. The mass concludes with the standard dismissal and a brief mention of the Iowa Catholic Radio network that broadcasts the service.

As heard by us

A steady Mass with a homily that turns Mary Magdalene into a guide for faithful presence.

Daily Mass from St. Francis of Assisi follows the familiar rhythm of confession, creed, prayer, homily, blessing, and dismissal. The homily stays with Mary Magdalene: her grief, her return to the tomb, and her place in carrying the news of the risen Lord to the apostles.

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Why you'd press play

Press play when you want a calm, reverent Daily Mass centered on Mary Magdalene's witness.

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