Catholic Missal of the day: Monday, January 12 2026

Monday of the First week in Ordinary Time

1st book of Samuel

There was a certain man from Ramathaim, Elkanah by name, a Zuphite from the hill country of Ephraim. He was the son of Jeroham, son of Elihu, son of Tohu, son of Zuph, an Ephraimite.
He had two wives, one named Hannah, the other Peninnah; Peninnah had children, but Hannah was childless.
This man regularly went on pilgrimage from his city to worship the LORD of hosts and to sacrifice to him at Shiloh, where the two sons of Eli, Hophni and Phinehas, were ministering as priests of the LORD.
When the day came for Elkanah to offer sacrifice, he used to give a portion each to his wife Peninnah and to all her sons and daughters,
but a double portion to Hannah because he loved her, though the LORD had made her barren.
Her rival, to upset her, turned it into a constant reproach to her that the LORD had left her barren.
This went on year after year; each time they made their pilgrimage to the sanctuary of the LORD, Peninnah would approach her, and Hannah would weep and refuse to eat.
Her husband Elkanah used to ask her: "Hannah, why do you weep, and why do you refuse to eat? Why do you grieve? Am I not more to you than ten sons?"

Psalms

How shall I make a return to the LORD
for all the good he has done for me?
The cup of salvation I will take up,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay
in the presence of all his people.
Precious in the eyes of the LORD
is the death of his faithful ones.
I am your servant; the son of your handmaid;
you have loosed my bonds.
To you will I offer sacrifice of thanksgiving,
and I will call upon the name of the LORD.
My vows to the LORD I will pay  
in the presence of all his people.  
In the courts of the house of the LORD,
in your midst, O Jerusalem.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the gospel."
As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them, "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed him.

St. Marguerite Bourgeoys(Foundress (1620-1700))

SAINT MARGUERITE BOURGEOYS 1620-1700 Foundress of the Sisters of the Congregation of Notre-Dame Marguerite Bourgeoys was born in Troyes, in the province of Champagne, France, on Good Friday, April 17, 1620. She was baptized in Saint-Jean's church near her home. Marguerite was the sixth of twelve children. Her parents were Abraham Bourgeoys and Guillemette Gamier. She was blessed to grow up in a milieu that was middle class and Christian. Marguerite was 19 when her mother passed away. The following year, during a procession for Our Lady of the Rosary on October 7, she had an unforgettable experience. Her eyes rested on the statue of the Blessed Virgin and she was inspired to consecrate herself to the service of the Church. With that unchanging fidelity to what she sensed was God's will, she set about discerning her specific vocation. She registered as a member of the extern congregation of Troyes: an association of young girls devoted to the charitable work of teaching children in the poor districts. While conducting apostolate, she learned about the foundation of Ville Marie in Canada. The year was 1642 when she received the calling to missionary life. This was affirmed in 1652 when she met Monsieur de Maisonneuve, the founder and governor of the settlement in New France. He was searching for someone to volunteer for the instruction of French and native children. Our Lady, the Holy Virgin Mary, reaffirmed Marguerite's calling in a locution: "Go, I will not forsake you." Marguerite left Troyes in February 1653 and arrived in Montreal the following November 16. In order to encourage expressions of faith, Marguerite restored the cross on Mount Royal after its destruction by hostile tribes. She also began the construction of a chapel dedicated to Notre-Dame de Bon Secours. She was convinced that the family is a critical institution and devoted herself to women who had a vocation for marriage. In 1658, she opened the first school in Montreal in a stable given to her by the governor. She also organized an extern congregation patterned after the one in Troyes, but adapted to local needs. This enabled her to help women as far as the instruction of children was concerned. In 1659, she began receiving ladies who were recommended by "les cures" in France, or endowed by the King to establish homes in Montreal. Her activities brought forth a school system and a network of social services that gradually extended to the whole country: leading people to refer to Marguerite as "Mother of the Community." On three occasions, Marguerite made trips to France to obtain help. In 1658, the group of teachers who associated themselves with her in the life of prayer, heroic detachment and untiring devotedness presented the image of a religious institute. The group was inspired by the "vie voyagere" of Our Lady and desired to remain uncloistered, which was an innovation at the time. Their foundation steadily progressed with much sacrifice. The Congregation de Notre-Dame received its civil charter from Louis XIV in 1671 and canonical approbation by decree of the bishop of Quebec in 1676. The Constitutions of the Community were approved in 1698. The foundation being assured, Sister Bourgeoys could leave the work to others. She passed away in Montreal on January 12, 1700, acknowledged for her sanctity and heroic virtues. Forty members of the Congregation de Notre-Dame were there to continue her work. Her last generous act was to offer herself as a sacrifice of prayer for the return to health of a young sister. She is rightly considered co-foundress of Montreal; along with the nurse Jeanne Mance and the master designer Monsieur de Maisonneuve. The educative and apostolic efforts of Marguerite Bourgeoys continues through the members of the community that she founded. More than 2,600 Sisters of the Congregation de Notre-Dame work in fields of action according to the needs of time and place: in schools, colleges and universities, in promoting family, parish and diocesan activities. They are on mission in Canada, the United States, Japan, Latin America and Cameroon. Most recently, they established a house in France. On November 12, 1950, Pope Pius XII beatified Marguerite Bourgeoys. Pope John Paul II canonized her on October 31, 1982: giving the Canadian Church its first female saint.

St. Aelred(Abbot (1109-1167))

SAINT AELRED OF RIEVAULX Abbot (1109-1167) "One thing thou lackest." In these words, God called Aelred from the court of a royal, David of Scotland, to the silence of the cloister. He left the king, the companions of his youth and a friend most dear. Aelred was "sent," convinced of the perils his soul faced in the world. Upon entering the Cistercian Order, his yearning for sympathy tempted him to forget their rule of perpetual silence. He broke the rule just once: interrupting the focus of his brother, Simon. Immediately, Aelred prostrated himself. He repented for not listening to others' hearts and resolved to let nothing interupt his communion with God. At his superior's behest, Aelred composed his great works, the Spiritual Friendship and the Mirror of Charity. In the latter work, he says that true love of God is only to be obtained by joining ourselves in all things to the Passion of Christ. Aelred founded Rieveaux Abbey in England and served as its abbot. Before passing away in 1167, he was the superior of three hundred monks.

St. Benedict Biscop(Abbot (c. 628 – 690))

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