by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 23, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT JOHN THERISTUS, MONK
Psalter I | VIOLET
He was known for his faith, kindness, and helping with the harvest. He showed great faith during times of danger. He lived simply by praying, helping others, and working to feed the hungry and cared for the poor.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 89:1-2
O Lord, you have been our refuge, from generation to generation; from age to age, you are.
Collect
Look upon your family, Lord, that, through the chastening effects of bodily discipline, our minds may be radiant in your presence with the strength of our yearning for you. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Isaiah 55:10-11
Thus says the Lord: Just as from the heavens the rain and snow come down And do not return there till they have watered the earth, making it fertile and fruitful, Giving seed to the one who sows and bread to the one who eats, So shall my word be that goes forth from my mouth; It shall not return to me void, but shall do my will, achieving the end for which I sent it.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
R/ From all their distress God rescues the just.
- Glorify the Lord with me, let us together extol his name. I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.
- Look to him that you may be radiant with joy, and your faces may not blush with shame. When the poor one called out, the Lord heard, and from all his distress he saved him.
- The Lord has eyes for the just, and ears for their cry. The Lord confronts the evildoers, to destroy remembrance of them from the earth.
- When the just cry out, the Lord hears them, and from all their distress he rescues them. The Lord is close to the brokenhearted; and those who are crushed in spirit he saves.
Saint Biography
He was known for his faith, kindness, and helping with the harvest. He showed great faith during times of danger. He lived simply by praying, helping others, and working to feed the hungry and cared for the poor.
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:4b
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15
Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive men their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Receive, O Creator, almighty God, what we bring from your bountiful goodness, and be pleased to transform this temporal sustenance you have given us, that it may bring us eternal life. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 4: 2
When I called, the God of justice gave me answer; from anguish you released me; have mercy, O Lord, and hear my prayer!
Prayer after Communion
Grant us through these mysteries, Lord, that by moderating earthly desires we may learn to love the things of heaven. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
May your faithful be strengthened, O God, by your blessing: in grief, may you be their consolation, in tribulation, their power to endure, and in peril, their protection. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us.” Quite often, we recite the Our Father mechanically and do not pay attention to the words we pronounce and their implications. The above phrase, for instance, attaches the mercy we expect from God to the mercy we show to others. We cannot expect God to forgive our sins if we are not ready to forgive those who offend us. In our dealings with others, people say and do things that annoy us. We get into conflicts and have misunderstandings with our family members, colleagues, mates and friends. When these conflicts arise, our natural inclination is to bear grudges and look for ways to get back at those who have hurt us. But Jesus invites us to act differently. He tells us to remember that we offend God and others as well, and just as God is merciful and forgives us, we too should readily forgive those who hurt us. This is not an easy thing to do; after all, as the saying goes, to err is human and to forgive is divine. Let us therefore ask God for the grace to be able to forgive those who offend us.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 22, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT POLYCARP, BISHOP AND MARTYR
Psalter I | VIOLET
Was a disciple of the Apostle John and learned directly from the apostles. He was ordained as bishop of Smyrna by John. He served as a patient and loving preacher, with a special concern for widows and slaves. He actively fought against various heretical groups and emphasized the importance of the Incarnation, death, and Resurrection of Christ. His writings, particularly the Letter to the Philippians, are valuable for understanding early Christian theology. He was arrested and charged with being a Christian. He was burned at the stake, but the flames miraculously did not consume him. He was then stabbed to death.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 122:2-3
Like the eyes of slaves on the hand of their lords, so our eyes are on the Lord our God, till he show us his mercy. Have mercy on us, Lord, have mercy.
Collect
Convert us, O God our Saviour, and instruct our minds by heavenly teaching, that we may benefit from the works of Lent. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
First reading: Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
The Lord said to Moses, “Speak to the whole assembly of the children of Israel and tell them: Be holy, for I, the Lord, your God, am holy. “You shall not steal. You shall not lie or speak falsely to one another. You shall not swear falsely by my name, thus profaning the name of your God. I am the Lord. “You shall not defraud or rob your neighbor. You shall not withhold overnight the wages of your day laborer. You shall not curse the deaf, or put a stumbling block in front of the blind, but you shall fear your God. I am the Lord. “You shall not act dishonestly in rendering judgment. Show neither partiality to the weak nor deference to the mighty, but judge your fellow men justly. You shall not go about spreading slander among your kin; nor shall you stand by idly when your neighbor’s life is at stake. I am the Lord. “You shall not bear hatred for your brother in your heart. Though you may have to reprove him, do not incur sin because of him. Take no revenge and cherish no grudge against your fellow countrymen. You shall love your neighbor as yourself. I am the Lord.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:8, 9, 10, 15
R/ Your words, Lord, are Spirit and life.
- The law of the Lord is perfect, refreshing the soul. The decree of the Lord is trustworthy, giving wisdom to the simple.
- The precepts of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart. The command of the Lord is clear, enlightening the eye.
- The fear of the Lord is pure, enduring forever; The ordinances of the Lord are true, all of them just.
- Let the words of my mouth and the thought of my heart find favor before you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer.
Saint Biography
Was a disciple of the Apostle John and learned directly from the apostles. He was ordained as bishop of Smyrna by John. He served as a patient and loving preacher, with a special concern for widows and slaves. He actively fought against various heretical groups and emphasized the importance of the Incarnation, death, and Resurrection of Christ. His writings, particularly the Letter to the Philippians, are valuable for understanding early Christian theology. He was arrested and charged with being a Christian. He was burned at the stake, but the flames miraculously did not consume him. He was then stabbed to death.
Gospel Acclamation: 2 Corinthians 6:2b
Behold, now is a very acceptable time; behold, now is the day of salvation.
Gospel: Matthew 25:31-46
Jesus said to his disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”
Prayer over the Offerings
May this devout oblation be acceptable to you, O Lord, that by your power it may sanctify our manner of life and gain for us your conciliation and pardon. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 25:40, 34
Amen, I say to you: Whatever you did for one of the least of my brethren, you did it for me, says the Lord. Come, you blessed of my Father, receive the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world.
Prayer after Communion
We pray, O Lord, that, in receiving your Sacrament, we may experience help in mind and body so that, kept safe in both, we may glory in the fullness of heavenly healing. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Enlighten the minds of your people, Lord, we pray, with the light of your glory, that they may see what must be done and have the strength to do what is right. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“You must love your neighbour as yourself.” The readings of today remind us that as Christians we are called to be holy like God our Father, and a true measure of holiness is how we treat the people we encounter. Our Lord exhorts us to treat everybody around us with love, and love entails concrete actions and attitudes: honesty, justice, fairness, impartiality, compassion and kindness. These virtues should define the way we relate with and treat others. Jesus teaches us that on the Last Day, we will be judged on love; the question we will have to answer is whether during our life on earth we loved God and loved our neighbour. God will ask us whether we fed the hungry, clothed the naked and comforted the lonely and abandoned. The Gospel makes it clear; we cannot claim to love God if we do not love those around us, because by reaching out to them we reach out to God, and by ignoring them we ignore God. Let us ask for God’s grace to open our eyes, so that we may see him in the people we encounter, and love him by loving them.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 21, 2026 | Evangelium
1st SUNDAY OF LENT
SAINT PETER’S CHAIR
SAINT ISABELLE
Psalter I | VIOLET
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 90:15-16
When he calls on me, I will answer him; I will deliver him and give him glory, I will grant him length of days.
Collect
Grant, almighty God, through the yearly observances of holy Lent, that we may grow in understanding of the riches hidden in Christ and by worthy conduct pursue their effects. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever.
First reading: Genesis 2:7-9; 3:1-7
The Lord God formed man out of the clay of the ground and blew into his nostrils the breath of life, and so man became a living being. Then the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and placed there the man whom he had formed. Out of the ground the Lord God made various trees grow that were delightful to look at and good for food, with the tree of life in the middle of the garden and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. Now the serpent was the most cunning of all the animals that the Lord God had made. The serpent asked the woman, “Did God really tell you not to eat from any of the trees in the garden?” The woman answered the serpent: “We may eat of the fruit of the trees in the garden; it is only about the fruit of the tree in the middle of the garden that God said, ‘You shall not eat it or even touch it, lest you die.”‘ But the serpent said to the woman: “You certainly will not die! No, God knows well that the moment you eat of it your eyes will be opened and you will be like gods who know what is good and what is evil.” The woman saw that the tree was good for food, pleasing to the eyes, and desirable for gaining wisdom. So she took some of its fruit and ate it; and she also gave some to her husband, who was with her, and he ate it. Then the eyes of both of them were opened, and they realized that they were naked; so they sewed fig leaves together and made loincloths for themselves.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 17
R/Be merciful, O Lord, for we have sinned.
- 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 reading: Romans 5:12-19
Brothers and sisters: Through one man sin entered the world, and through sin, death, and thus death came to all men, inasmuch as all sinned— for up to the time of the law, sin was in the world, though sin is not accounted when there is no law. But death reigned from Adam to Moses, even over those who did not sin after the pattern of the trespass of Adam, who is the type of the one who was to come. But the gift is not like the transgression. For if by the transgression of the one, the many died, how much more did the grace of God and the gracious gift of the one man Jesus Christ overflow for the many. And the gift is not like the result of the one who sinned. For after one sin there was the judgment that brought condemnation; but the gift, after many transgressions, brought acquittal. For if, by the transgression of the one, death came to reign through that one, how much more will those who receive the abundance of grace and of the gift of justification come to reign in life through the one Jesus Christ. In conclusion, just as through one transgression condemnation came upon all, so, through one righteous act, acquittal and life came to all. For just as through the disobedience of the one man the many were made sinners, so, through the obedience of the one, the many will be made righteous.
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:4b
One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11
At that time Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil. He fasted for forty days and forty nights, and afterwards he was hungry. The tempter approached and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, command that these stones become loaves of bread.” He said in reply, “It is written: One does not live on bread alone, but on every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.” Then the devil took him to the holy city, and made him stand on the parapet of the temple, and said to him, “If you are the Son of God, throw yourself down. For it is written: He will command his angels concerning you and with their hands they will support you, lest you dash your foot against a stone.” Jesus answered him, “Again it is written, You shall not put the Lord, your God, to the test.” Then the devil took him up to a very high mountain, and showed him all the kingdoms of the world in their magnificence, and he said to him, “All these I shall give to you, if you will prostrate yourself and worship me.” At this, Jesus said to him, “Get away, Satan! It is written: The Lord, your God, shall you worship and him alone shall you serve.” Then the devil left him and, behold, angels came and ministered to him.
Prayer over the Offerings
Give us the right dispositions, O Lord, we pray, to make these offerings, for with them we celebrate the beginning of this venerable and sacred time. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 4: 4
One does not live by bread alone, but by every word that comes forth from the mouth of God.
Prayer after Communion
Renewed now with heavenly bread, by which faith is nourished, hope increased, and charity strengthened, we pray, O Lord, that we may learn to hunger for Christ, the true and living Bread, and strive to live by every word which proceeds from your mouth. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
May bountiful blessing, O Lord, we pray, come down upon your people, that hope may grow in tribulation, virtue be strengthened in temptation, and eternal redemption be assured. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“You will be like gods, knowing good and evil.” The three temptations of the devil in the Gospel are directed at our need for material subsistence, our inclination to show off our abilities, and our desire for material wealth, and power. In our efforts to satisfy these desires, we run the risk of trying to do everything it takes to achieve our goals, thus blurring the line between good and evil. And when we forget the distinction between good and evil, we push God away and become the sole custodians of our lives, deciding what is good or bad depending on what we want. Basically, this is what temptation is; it is an invitation to take the place of God and decide for ourselves what is good or bad. Just as the devil did with Adam and Eve, he incites us to reject God’s will in favour of our will. Jesus’ answer to the third temptation indicates how we can deal with temptation: “Worship the Lord your God, and serve him alone.” When we truly worship and serve God, we strive to do his will, and not our will or what the world tells us to do.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 20, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT PETER DAMIAN, BISHOP AND DOCTOR
Psalter IV | VIOLET
He was a cardinal and doctor of the church, an original leader, and a forceful figure in the Gregorian Reform movement, whose personal example and many writings exercised great influence on religious life in the 11th and 12th.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 68: 17
Answer us, Lord, for your mercy is kind; in the abundance of your mercies, look upon us.
Collect
Almighty ever-living God, look with compassion on our weakness and ensure us your protection by stretching forth the right hand of your majesty. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Isaiah 58:9b-14
Thus says the Lord: If you remove from your midst oppression, false accusation and malicious speech; 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; Then the Lord will guide you always and give you plenty even on the parched land. He will renew your strength, and you shall be like a watered garden, like a spring whose water never fails. The ancient ruins shall be rebuilt for your sake, and the foundations from ages past you shall raise up; “Repairer of the breach,” they shall call you, “Restorer of ruined homesteads.” If you hold back your foot on the sabbath from following your own pursuits on my holy day; If you call the sabbath a delight, and the Lord’s holy day honorable; If you honor it by not following your ways, seeking your own interests, or speaking with malice – Then you shall delight in the Lord, and I will make you ride on the heights of the earth; I will nourish you with the heritage of Jacob, your father, for the mouth of the Lord has spoken.
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
R/Teach me your way, O Lord, that I may walk in your truth.
- Incline your ear, O Lord; answer me, for I am afflicted and poor. Keep my life, for I am devoted to you; save your servant who trusts in you. You are my God.
- Have mercy on me, O Lord, for to you I call all the day. Gladden the soul of your servant, for to you, O Lord, I lift up my soul.
- For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving, abounding in kindness to all who call upon you. Hearken, O Lord, to my prayer and attend to the sound of my pleading.
Saint Biography
He was a cardinal and doctor of the church, an original leader, and a forceful figure in the Gregorian Reform movement, whose personal example and many writings exercised great influence on religious life in the 11th and 12th.
Gospel Acclamation: Ezekiel 33:11
I take no pleasure in the death of the wicked man, says the Lord, but rather in his conversion, that he may live.
Gospel: Luke 5:27-32
Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to his disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”
Prayer over the Offerings
Accept, we pray, O Lord, the sacrifice of conciliation and praise, and grant that, cleansed by its working, we may offer minds well pleasing to you. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Mt 9:13
I desire mercy, not sacrifice, says the Lord, for I did not come to call the just but sinners.
Prayer after Communion
Nourished with the gift of heavenly life, we pray, O Lord, that what remains for us a mystery in this present life may be for us a help to reach eternity. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Abide graciously, O Lord, with your people, who have touched the sacred mysteries, that no dangers may bring affliction to those who trust in you, their protector. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Like the Pharisees, we are very good at pointing out the faults of others. We criticise people for the bad things they do and say, condemn them for the unpleasant aspects of their character, and speak evil about them to others. Jesus invites us today to learn to look at sinners in a different way. The Pharisees saw in Levi a sinner who had to be avoided; Jesus saw in him a sinner who could change. Indeed, God sees in all of us sinners who need to be saved, not condemned, and that is why he sent his Son into the world. The words of Jesus to the Pharisees make this clear: “I have not come to call the virtuous, but sinners to repentance.” We should therefore change our attitude towards those we consider to be bad people; instead of criticising them, we should think of ways of helping them to change. We can advise them, correct them and pray for them, so that through us God may reach out to them and call them to repentance.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 19, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT AIMEE
Psalter IV | VIOLET
She entered the Augustinian Sisters of Mercy convent and in 1935 became the mother superior. She was known for her dedication to helping Allied soldiers and French resistance fighters during the war, sheltering them at the convent and aiding their escape. She was later elected as the first Superior General of the Federation of Augustinian monasteries in 1946 and was awarded the French Legion of Honour by General Charles de Gaulle for her bravery and service. Sadly, she died in 1951 from a cerebral hemorrhage before she could embark on a mission to South Africa, at the age of 49.
Entrance Antiphon: Ps 29:11
The Lord heard and had mercy on me; the Lord became my helper.
Collect
Show gracious favour, O Lord, we pray, to the works of penance we have begun, that we may have strength to accomplish with sincerity the bodily observances we undertake. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Isaiah 58:1-9a
Thus says the Lord God: Cry out full-throated and unsparingly, lift up your voice like a trumpet blast; Tell my people their wickedness, and the house of Jacob their sins. They seek me day after day, and desire to know my ways, Like a nation that has done what is just and not abandoned the law of their God; They ask me to declare what is due them, pleased to gain access to God. “Why do we fast, and you do not see it? afflict ourselves, and you take no note of it?” Lo, on your fast day you carry out your own pursuits, and drive all your laborers. Yes, your fast ends in quarreling and fighting, striking with wicked claw. Would that today you might fast so as to make your voice heard on high! Is this the manner of fasting I wish, of keeping a day of penance: That a man bow his head like a reed and lie in sackcloth and ashes? Do you call this a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord? This, rather, is the fasting that I wish: releasing those bound unjustly, untying the thongs of the yoke; Setting free the oppressed, breaking every yoke; Sharing your bread with the hungry, sheltering the oppressed and the homeless; Clothing the naked when you see them, and not turning 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!
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 51:3-4, 5-6ab, 18-19
R/ A heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
- 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.”
- For you are not pleased with sacrifices; should I offer a burnt offering, you would not accept it. My sacrifice, O God, is a contrite spirit; a heart contrite and humbled, O God, you will not spurn.
Saint Biography
She entered the Augustinian Sisters of Mercy convent and in 1935 became the mother superior. She was known for her dedication to helping Allied soldiers and French resistance fighters during the war, sheltering them at the convent and aiding their escape. She was later elected as the first Superior General of the Federation of Augustinian monasteries in 1946 and was awarded the French Legion of Honour by General Charles de Gaulle for her bravery and service. Sadly, she died in 1951 from a cerebral hemorrhage before she could embark on a mission to South Africa, at the age of 49.
Gospel Acclamation: Amos 5:14
Seek good and not evil so that you may live, and the Lord will be with you.
Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15
The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast.”
Prayer over the Offerings
We offer, O Lord, the sacrifice of our Lenten observance, praying that it may make our intentions acceptable to you and add to our powers of self-restraint. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Ps 24:4
O Lord, make me know your ways, teach me your paths.
Prayer after Communion
We pray, almighty God, that, through partaking of this mystery, we may be cleansed of all our misdeeds, and so be suited for the remedies of your compassion. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
For your mighty deeds, O God of mercy, may your people offer endless thanks, and, by observing the age-old disciplines along their pilgrim journey, may they merit to come and behold you for ever. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“This is the sort of fast that pleases me.” As long as Jesus was present with his disciples, they could not fast because of the joy of having the Master with them. But Jesus knew that he would be taken away from them when he would die. Jesus has left this world and we no longer enjoy his physical presence, although he is with us in spirit, and we long for the day when we will be fully united with him. Fasting is therefore an act meant to draw us closer to Jesus. It is for this reason that Isaiah teaches us that true fasting is supposed to purify our hearts and dispose us to love God and our neighbour more and more. Abstaining from food and drink is us useless if it does not teach us to feed the hungry and give water to the thirsty. Depriving ourselves of things we are attached to serves no purpose if it does not enable us to abandon bad habits and character traits. In a nutshell, true fasting must bear fruits of charity, because it is meant to make us deny ourselves in order to obey God and serve others. Let this kind of fasting be our objective during Lent.
by Norbert Doulanni | Feb 18, 2026 | Evangelium
SAINT GABINUS
Psalter IV | VIOLET
He was a member of the imperial Roman. His life took a profound turn when he embraced Christianity and became a devout follower of Jesus Christ and dedicated himself to spreading the teachings of the faith, even in the face of potential danger. He became a target of this persecution. He was captured, and faced the choice between renouncing his faith or suffering a brutal martyrdom. His selfless sacrifice serves as a powerful testament to his unwavering devotion to his faith.
Entrance Antiphon: Cf. Ps 54: 17-20, 23
When I cried to the Lord, he heard my voice; he rescued me from those who attack me. Entrust your cares to the Lord, and he will support you.
Collect
Prompt our actions with your inspiration, we pray, O Lord, and further them with your constant help, that all we do may always begin from you and by you be brought to completion. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever.
First reading: Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Moses said to the people: “Today I have set before you life and prosperity, death and doom. If you obey the commandments of the Lord, your God, which I enjoin on you today, loving him, and walking in his ways, and keeping his commandments, statutes and decrees, you will live and grow numerous, and the Lord, your God, will bless you in the land you are entering to occupy. If, however, you turn away your hearts and will not listen, but are led astray and adore and serve other gods, I tell you now that you will certainly perish; you will not have a long life on the land that you are crossing the Jordan to enter and occupy. I call heaven and earth today to witness against you: I have set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life, then, that you and your descendants may live, by loving the Lord, your God, heeding his voice, and holding fast to him. For that will mean life for you, a long life for you to live on the land that the Lord swore he would give to your fathers Abraham, Isaac and Jacob.”
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 1:1-2, 3, 4 and 6
R/ Blessed are they who hope in the Lord.
- Blessed the man who follows not the counsel of the wicked Nor walks in the way of sinners, nor sits in the company of the insolent, But delights in the law of the Lord and meditates on his law day and night.
- He is like a tree planted near running water, That yields its fruit in due season, and whose leaves never fade. Whatever he does, prospers.
- Not so the wicked, not so; they are like chaff which the wind drives away. For the Lord watches over the way of the just, but the way of the wicked vanishes.
Saint Biography
He was a member of the imperial Roman. His life took a profound turn when he embraced Christianity and became a devout follower of Jesus Christ and dedicated himself to spreading the teachings of the faith, even in the face of potential danger. He became a target of this persecution. He was captured, and faced the choice between renouncing his faith or suffering a brutal martyrdom. His selfless sacrifice serves as a powerful testament to his unwavering devotion to his faith.
Gospel Acclamation: Matthew 4:17
Repent, says the Lord; the Kingdom of heaven is at hand.
Gospel: Luke 9:22-25
Jesus said to his disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.” Then he said to all, If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”
Prayer over the Offerings
Regard with favour, O Lord, we pray, the offerings we set upon this sacred altar, that, bestowing on us your pardon, our oblations may give honour to your name. Through Christ our Lord.
Communion Antiphon: Cf. Ps 50: 12
Create a pure heart for me, O God; renew a steadfast spirit within me.
Prayer after Communion
Having received the blessing of your heavenly gifts, we humbly beseech you, almighty God, that they may always be for us a source both of pardon and of salvation. Through Christ our Lord.
Prayer over the People
Almighty God, who have made known to your people the ways of eternal life, lead them by that path, we pray, to you, the unfading light. Through Christ our Lord.
Meditation
“Renounce yourself, take up your cross and follow me.” Lent is a time for conversion, and if we want to achieve conversion we must first renounce ourselves. To renounce oneself is to abandon one’s will in favour of God’s will. Jesus asked his Father in the garden of Gethsemane to take the cup of suffering away from if he could; but he said God’s will, and not his will, should be done. We have to deny all the desires and habits that we are attached to but which go against God’s will; we have to desire what God wants over what we want. Secondly, we must take up our cross and follow Jesus. Jesus carried his cross all the way to Calvary; we must accept to bear with all the challenges, difficulties and sufferings that come as part of human life or as a result of our being followers of Jesus. Moses reminds us that life is choice between blessing and curse; to choose the blessing is to choose to die to ourselves and embrace suffering, like Jesus did. It is only by suffering with Jesus that we will triumph with him.
