Catholic Missal of the day: Wednesday, February 18 2026

Ash Wednesday

Book of Joel

Even now, says the LORD, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping, and mourning;
Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the LORD, your God. For gracious and merciful is he, slow to anger, rich in kindness, and relenting in punishment.
Perhaps he will again relent and leave behind him a blessing, Offerings and libations for the LORD, your God.
Blow the trumpet in Zion! proclaim a fast, call an assembly;
Gather the people, notify the congregation; Assemble the elders, gather the children and the infants at the breast; Let the bridegroom quit his room, and the bride her chamber.
Between the porch and the altar let the priests, the ministers of the LORD, weep, And say, "Spare, O LORD, your people, and make not your heritage a reproach, with the nations ruling over them! Why should they say among the peoples, 'Where is their God?'"
Then the LORD was stirred to concern for his land and took pity on his people.

Psalms

Have mercy on me, O God, in your goodness;
in the greatness of your compassion wipe out my offense.
Thoroughly wash me from my guilt
and of my sin cleanse me.
For I acknowledge my offense,
and my sin is before me always:
"Against you only have I sinned,
and done what is evil in your sight."
A clean heart create for me, O God,
and a steadfast spirit renew within me.
Cast me not out from your presence,
and your Holy Spirit take not from me.
Give me back the joy of your salvation,
and a willing spirit sustain in me.
O Lord, open my lips,
and my mouth shall proclaim your praise.

Second Letter to the Corinthians

Brothers and sisters: We are ambassadors for Christ, as if God were appealing through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.
For our sake he made him to be sin who did not know sin, so that we might become the righteousness of God in him.
Working together, then, we appeal to you not to receive the grace of God in vain.
For he says: "In an acceptable time I heard you, and on the day of salvation I helped you." Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: "Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father.
When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing,
so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you.
When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward.
But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face,
so that you may not appear to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you."

St. Flavian(Bishop and Martyr († 449))

SAINT FLAVIANBishop and Martyr( 449) Flavian became patriarch of Constantinople in 447. His two-year episcopate was marked by conflict and persecution. On the day of his consecration, Chrysaphius, the emperor's favorite, attempted to extort a large sum of money from him. When he refused, Chrysaphius appointed Dioscorus as patriarch of Alexandria. In 448, Bp. Flavian condemned the rising heresy of the monk Eutyches, who denied that Our Lord has two perfect natures. Eutyches obtained the assembly of a council in Ephesus (August 449) with Chrysaphius' help. The council was presided by Chrysaphius' nominee, Dioscorus, the patriarch of Alexandria. When Eutyches entered into the council surrounded by soldiers, the Roman legates were forbidden from reading the Pope's letters. When Bp. Flavian appealed to the Holy See, Dioscorus assaulted him. Bp. Flavian was thrown, beaten, kicked and finally carried into banishment. He died from his wounds and the ensuing maltreatment - gaining a martyr's crown. Miracles following his death attested to his sanctity and the work of the Holy Spirit.

St. Simeon(Bishop and Martyr († c. 107))

Saint SimeonBishop and Martyr ( c. 107) Simeon was Jesus' kinsman (Matt. 13:55). His father was St. Joseph's brother, Cleophas. His mother was Our Lady's sister (John 19:25). He was therefore Jesus' first cousin and around eight years older. St. Epiphanius wrote that when the Jews martyred St. James the Lesser, Simeon upbraided them for their cruelty. The apostles then appointed a successor to James as bishop of Jerusalem. They unanimously chose Simeon, who had probably assisted his brother. In 66 A.D., the First Jewish-Roman War ensued. The Christians in Jerusalem were warned of the city's impending destruction and appear to have been ordered to leave. That year, before Vespasian entered Judaea, the Christians retired to Pella on the other side of the Jordan. After the capture and burning of Jerusalem, the Christians returned and settled among its ruins. We are told by St. Epiphanius and Eusebius that the church flourished because of the diaspora, that many Jews were converted, and that miracles were wrought by the saints. In 107 A.D., Simeon was arrested because of Emperor Trajan's edict to persecute Jews and Christians. He suffered protracted torture in spite of being 120 years old. The judge is said to have remarked on Simeon's unconquerable spirit. He died from crucifixion, but his soul ascended to Heaven. St. Simeon is an intercessor for Christians suffering persecution.

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Category: Mass by Year / Catholic Missal 2026 / Catholic Missal of february 2026