Catholic Missal of the day: Sunday, February 8 2026

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time

Book of Isaiah

Thus says the LORD: Share your bread with the hungry, shelter the oppressed and the homeless; clothe the naked when you see them, and do not turn your back on your own.
Then your light shall break forth like the dawn, and your wound shall quickly be healed; Your vindication shall go before you, and the glory of the LORD shall be your rear guard.
Then you shall call, and the LORD will answer, you shall cry for help, and he will say: Here I am!
If you bestow your bread on the hungry and satisfy the afflicted; Then light shall rise for you in the darkness, and the gloom shall become for you like midday.

Psalms

Light shines through the darkness for the upright;
he is gracious and merciful and just.
Well for the man who is gracious and lends,
who conducts his affairs with justice;
He shall never be moved;
the just one shall be in everlasting remembrance.
An evil report he shall not fear;
His heart is firm, trusting in the LORD.
His heart is steadfast; he shall not fear
till he looks down upon his foes
Lavishly he gives to the poor,
his justice shall endure forever;
his horn shall be exalted in glory.

First Letter to the Corinthians

When I came to you, brothers and sisters, proclaiming the mystery of God, I did not come with sublimity of words or of wisdom.
For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ, and him crucified.
I came to you in weakness and fear and much trembling,
and my message and my proclamation were not with persuasive (words of) wisdom, but with a demonstration of spirit and power,
so that your faith might rest not on human wisdom but on the power of God.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew

Jesus said to his disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. But if salt loses its taste, with what can it be seasoned? It is no longer good for anything but to be thrown out and trampled underfoot.
You are the light of the world. A city set on a mountain cannot be hidden.
Nor do they light a lamp and then put it under a bushel basket; it is set on a lampstand, where it gives light to all in the house.
Just so, your light must shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your heavenly Father."

St. Josephine Bakhita(Religious (1869-1947))

JOSEPHINE BAKHITA (1869-1947) Mother Josephine Bakhita was born in Sudan in 1869. As a girl, she experienced the anguish of kidnapping and slavery. In Italy, she bloomed marvelously with the Daughters of Charity.Mother "Moretta" In Schio, Vicenza, Italy, where she spent many years, everyone still calls her "our Black Mother." The process for her canonization began twelve years after her death. The Church proclaimed she practiced all the virtues heroically on December 1, 1978. Divine Providence, which "cares for the flowers of the fields and the birds of the air," guided Mother Josephine through innumerable and unspeakable sufferings: from slavery to human freedom; and to the freedom of faith and finally to the consecration of her whole life to God.In Slavery Bakhita was not the name she received from her parents at birth. The fright and the terrible experiences she went through made her forget what they named her. Bakhita, which means "fortunate," was a name given to her by her kidnappers.Sold and resold in the markets of El Obeid and of Khartoum, she experienced the humiliations and sufferings of slavery, both physical and moral.Towards freedom In the Capital of Sudan, Bakhita was bought by an Italian consul, Callisto Legnani. For the first time since she was kidnapped, she realized with pleasant surprise that no one used the lash when giving her orders. Instead, she was treated in a loving and cordial way. In the consul's residence, Bakhita experienced peace, warmth and moments of joy, even though veiled by nostalgia for her own family, whom, perhaps, she had lost forever. When political situations forced Castillo Legnani to leave for Italy, Bakhita asked and obtained permission to go with him and his friend, Mr. Augusto Michieli.In Italy After arriving in Genoa, Mr. Michieli's wife persuaded Castillo Legnani to place Bakhita in their care. Bakhita followed the new family, which settled in Zianigo, near Mirano Veneto. When their daughter Mimmina was born, Bakhita became her babysitter and friend. The acquisition and management of a big hotel in Suakin, on the Red Sea, forced Mrs. Michieli to move to Suakin to help her husband. Meanwhile, on the advice of their administrator, Illuminato Checchini, Mimmina and Bakhita were entrusted to the Canossian Sisters of the Institute of the Catechumens in Venice. It was there that Bakhita came to know about God: whom "she had experienced in her heart without knowing who He was" ever since she was a child. "Seeing the sun, the moon and the stars, I said to myself: Who could be the Master of these beautiful things? And I felt a great desire to see Him, to know Him and to pay Him homage..."Daughter of God After several months in the catechumenate, Bakhita received the sacraments of Christian initiation and was given a new name: "Josephine." It was January 9, 1890. She did not know how to express her joy that day. Her big and expressive eyes sparkled, revealing deep emotions. From then on, she was often seen kissing the baptismal font and saying: "Here, I became a daughter of God!"With each new day, she became more aware of who this God was, whom she now knew and loved, who had led her to Him through mysterious ways, holding her by the hand. When Mrs. Michieli returned from Africa to take her daughter and Bakhita, the latter, with unusual firmness and courage, expressed her desire to remain with the Canossian Sisters and to serve God. The young woman, who by then had come of age, enjoyed the freedom of choice that Italian law ensured.Daughter of St. Magdalene Bakhita remained in the Institute of St. Magdalene of Canossa.On December 8, 1896, she was consecrated to God; whom she called with the sweet expression "the Master!"For another 50 years, this humble Daughter of Charity lived in the community in Schio, engaged in various services: cooking, sewing, embroidery and attending to the door. When she was on duty, she would gently lay her hands on the heads of the children who daily attended the Canossian schools and caress them. Her amiable voice, which had the inflection and rhythm of the music of her country, was pleasing to the little ones, comforting to the poor and suffering and encouraging for those who knocked at the Institute's door.Witness of love Sister Josephine's humility, simplicity and constant smile won the hearts of all the citizens. She was esteemed by the community's sisters for her inalterable sweet nature, exquisite goodness and deep desire to make the Lord known."Be good, love the Lord, pray for those who do not know Him. What a great grace it is to know God," she wrote. As she grew older, Sister Josphine experienced long, painful years of sickness. She continued witnessing to faith, goodness and Christian hope. To those who visited her and asked how she was, she would respond with a smile: "As the Master desires."Final test Shortly before passing, she re-lived the terrible days of her slavery. More then once she begged the nurse who assisted her: "Please, loosen the chains... they are heavy!"It was Mary Most Holy who freed her from all pain. Her last words were: "Our Lady! Our Lady!"; and her final smile testified to her encounter with the Mother of the Lord. Mother Bakhita passed away on February 8, 1947, at the Canossian Convent in Schio, surrounded by her Sisters. A crowd quickly gathered at the Convent to have a last look at their Mother and to ask for her protection. The fame of her sanctity has spread to every continent and many have received graces through her intercession. St. Josephine Bakhita was canonized by Pope John-Paul II on October 1, 2000.

St. Jerome Emiliani(Founder (1486-1537))

SAINT JEROME EMILIANI(1486-1537) St. Jerome Emiliani was from a patrician family in Venice. In early life, he was a soldier. After being appointed governor of a fortress in the mountains of Treviso, he was captured by the enemy while bravely defending his post. Imprisoned in a dungeon, Jerome invoked the Mother of God and promised to lead a new life if she would set him free. In reponse, Our Lady appeared, broke his fetters and led him forth in the midst of his enemies. In Treviso, Jerome hung up his chains at Mother Mary's altar and dedicated himself to Her service. Upon reaching his home in Venice, he devoted himself to a life of active charity. St. Jerome rescued abandoned orphans during plagues and famines. He housed them and provided for their education. From Venice, he founded orphanages in Padua and Verona. For his cooperators, he drew up a rule of life; and thus founded the Clerks Regular of Somascha, who are active to this day. Hepassed away on February 8, 1537, from an illness he contracted while caring for the sick.

St. John of Matha(Priest (1169-1213))

SAINT JOHN OF MATHA Priest and Founder of the Order of the Holy Trinity (1169-1213) St. John of Matha's life was colored by self-sacrifice for the glory of God and the good of his neighbor. As a child, he delighted in serving the poor and often told them he had come into the world for no other end than to wash their feet. He studied in Paris with so much success that his professors advised him to become a priest in order to serve a greater number. For this purpose, John gladly gave up his high rank and other privileges. At his first Mass, an angel appeared, clad in white, with a red and blue cross on his chest, and his hands reposing on the heads of a Christian and a Moorish captive. To ascertain what this signified, John consulted St. Felix of Valois, a holy hermit living near Meaux, under whose direction he led a penitential life. The angel again appeared; so both John and Felix set out for Rome to learn the will of God from the lips of the sovereign pontiff. At their audience, they were directed to devote themselves to the redemption of captives. John and Felix thus founded the Order of the Holy Trinity. They fasted daily, gathered alms throughout Europe and redeemed Christian slaves in Barbary. They also devoted themselves to the sick and to prisoners in all countries. The charity of St. John was visibly blessed by God. On his second return from Tunis, he brought back 120 liberated Christians. Although the Moors had attacked his vessel and taken away its rudder and sails, a miracle in response to faith saw angels bringing the vessel to Ostia three hundred leagues from Tunis. St. John passed away in 1213 at the age of 53. He intercedes for works of mercy and helping prisoners.

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