Catholic Missal of the day: Thursday, February 26 2026

Thursday of the First week of Lent

Book of Esther

Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish,
had recourse to the LORD.
She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids,
from morning until evening, and said:
"God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you.
Help me, who am alone and have no help but you,
for I am taking my life in my hand.
As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers
that you, O LORD, always free those who are pleasing to you.
Now help me, who am alone and have no one but you,
O LORD, my God.
"And now, come to help me, an orphan.
Put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion
and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy,
so that he and those who are in league with him may perish.
Save us from the hand of our enemies;
turn our mourning into gladness
and our sorrows into wholeness."

Psalms

I will give thanks to you, O LORD, with all my heart,
for you have heard the words of my mouth;
in the presence of the angels I will sing your praise;
I will worship at your holy temple.
I will give thanks to your name,
because of your kindness and your truth.
for you have made great above all things
your name and your promise.
When I called, you answered me;
you built up strength within me.
Your right hand saves me.
The LORD will complete what he has done for me;
your kindness, O LORD, endures forever;
forsake not the work of your hands.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: "Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you.
For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.
Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asks for a loaf of bread,
or a snake when he asks for a fish?
If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him.
Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets."

St. Porphyry(Bishop (+ 420))

ST PORPHYRY Bishop (+ 420) St. Porphyry was a wealthy citizen of Thessalonica. He pursued a religious vocation at the age of 25 and trained in one of the Sceté desert's religious houses. After five years, he went to Palestine and lived in solitude for another five years. Ill-health from austerities made Porphyry transfer to Jerusalem. Despite his condition, he visited the Holy Places every day: thinking, says his biographer, so little of his sickness that he seemed to be afflicted in another body and not his own. Around this time, God inspired Porphyry to sell all that he had and give to the poor. As a reward for his total abandonment to the will of God, Porphyry was restored to perfect health by a miracle. In 393, Porphyry was ordained and entrusted with caring for the relics of the True Cross. Three years later, he was consecrated bishop of Gaza. Paganism was still prevalent, so he ministered to those practicing superstition and demonic rituals. His labors, and the miracles that attended them, effected the conversion of many. An imperial edict to level the pagan temples, obtained through the influence of St. John Chrysostom, helped replace pagan rites and sacrifices with mercy and adoption as sons and daughters of God. When Bp. Porphyry visited Gaza, he found the most resplendent temple dedicated to the chief spirit. When the edict went forth to undo all traces of pagan sacrifice, Bp. Porphyry built a church upon the site and paved its way with marbles from the temple.

St. Alexander of Alexandria()

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