Catholic Missal of the day: Saturday, January 17 2026

Saturday of the First week in Ordinary Time

1st book of Samuel

There was a stalwart man from Benjamin named Kish, who was the son of Abiel, son of Zeror, son of Becorath, son of Aphiah, a Benjaminite.
He had a son named Saul, who was a handsome young man. There was no other Israelite handsomer than Saul; he stood head and shoulders above the people.
Now the asses of Saul's father, Kish, had wandered off. Kish said to his son Saul, "Take one of the servants with you and go out and hunt for the asses."
Accordingly they went through the hill country of Ephraim, and through the land of Shalishah. Not finding them there, they continued through the land of Shaalim without success. They also went through the land of Benjamin, but they failed to find the animals.
When Samuel caught sight of Saul, the LORD assured him, "This is the man of whom I told you; he is to govern my people."
Saul met Samuel in the gateway and said, "Please tell me where the seer lives."
Samuel answered Saul: "I am the seer. Go up ahead of me to the high place and eat with me today. In the morning, before dismissing you, I will tell you whatever you wish.
Then, from a flask he had with him, Samuel poured oil on Saul's head; he also kissed him, saying: "The LORD anoints you commander over his heritage. You are to govern the LORD'S people Israel, and to save them from the grasp of their enemies round about. "This will be the sign for you that the LORD has anointed you commander over his heritage:

Psalms

O LORD, in your strength the king is glad;
in your victory how greatly he rejoices!
You have granted him his heart’s desire;
you refused not the wish of his lips.
For you welcomed him with goodly blessings,
you placed on his head a crown of pure gold.
He asked life of you: you gave him
length of days forever and ever.
Great is his glory in your victory;
majesty and splendor you conferred upon him.
You made him a blessing forever,
you gladdened him with the joy of your face.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Mark

Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them.
As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. He said to him, "Follow me." And he got up and followed him.
While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him.
Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that he was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, "Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?"
Jesus heard this and said to them (that), "Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners."

St. Anthony the Abbot((251-356))

SAINT ANTONY Patriarch of Monks (251-356) St. Antony was born in Upper Egypt. When he heard at Mass, "If thou wilt be perfect, go, sell what thou hast, and give to the poor," he donated all his wealth. He then besought an aged hermit to teach him the spiritual life. He also visited various solitaries and emulated their virtues. Antony discerned a monastic vocation and entered the desert to give himself completely to God. He lived a ruin, where fallen angels tempted and attacked him. They sometimes appeared as monsters and wounded him, but his courage never flagged, and he overcame them through the Cross. Prayer is most pleasing when done amidst darkness and desolation. One night, after demons attacked Antony, a friend found him half dead and carried him to a house. Antony then came to himself and returned to his solitude. Alban Butler narrates that he said, "I fear you not; you cannot separate me from the love of Christ." Christ then appeared to Antony in glory. Like Bartimaeus whom Christ cured of blindness, we sometimes must cry out more than once in order to be assured of our faith and sincerity: learning to persevere in prayer (St. Josemaria Escriva, Friends of God). Antony fasted daily on bread and water, only eating after sunset. Sometimes, he ate only once in two, three or four days. He wore sackcloth and sheepskin, and often knelt in prayer from sunset to sunrise. Many souls flocked to Antony for advice; and after twenty years of solitude, he consented to guide them in holiness. Hence he founded the first monastery. Antony's numerous miracles attracted such multitudes that he fled again into solitude, where he lived through manual labor. St. Antony passed away in the peace of the Holy Family. St. Athanasius, his biographer, says that knowing how he lived, prayed and mortified his senses (or custody of the eyes and appetites) is a guide to virtue.

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