A Catholic guide for saints, prayer, and practical devotional reading.
Margaret of Scotland. Ordinary Time. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.
The Roman Catholic readings for this date are shown below on-site. Use plain reading mode if you want clearer modern wording, or switch back to the original Douay-Rheims wording at any time.
On-site scripture text: Douay-Rheims 1899 American Edition. Plain mode is a built-in reading aid that modernizes older wording for easier understanding while keeping the same Roman Catholic reading references for the day.
Malachi 4:1-2a
Read this as the first big movement of the day. Notice what God is doing, who is speaking, and what part of the story or teaching should stay with you.
Full on-site text is not available for this reference yet, so use the reference above and the official link below.
Psalm 98:5-6, 7-8, 9
The psalm is meant to be prayed, not rushed. If the wording feels older, focus on the main movement of the prayer: trust, praise, sorrow, gratitude, or hope.
5Sing praise to the Lord on the harp, on the harp, and with the voice of a psalm:
6with long trumpets, and sound of comet. Make a joyful noise before the Lord our king:
7let the sea be moved and the fulness thereof: the world end those who dwell in it.
8The rivers shall clap their hands, the mountains shall rejoice together
9at the presence of the Lord: because he comes to judge the earth. He shall judge the world with righteousness, and the people with equity.
2 Thessalonians 3:7-12
This reading often teaches Christians how to live with steadiness, charity, and faith. Look for one clear encouragement or warning you can carry into the day.
7For yourselves know how you ought to imitate us: for we were not disorderly among you;
8Neither did we eat any man's bread for nothing, but in work and in toil we worked night and day, lest we should be chargeable to any of you.
9Not as if we had not power: but that we might give ourselves a pattern to you, to imitate us.
10For also when we were with you, this we told to you: that, if any man will not work, neither let him eat.
11For we have heard there are some among you who walk disorderly, working not at all, but curiously meddling.
12Now we charge them that are such, and beseech them by the Lord Jesus Christ, that, working with silence, they would eat their own bread.
Luke 21:5-19
The Gospel is the center of the reading set. Pay close attention to what Jesus says, what Jesus does, and what response he is asking for.
5And some saying of the temple, that it was adorned with goodly stones and gifts, he said:
6These things which you see, the days will come in which there shall not be left a stone upon a stone that shall not be thrown down.
7And they asked him, saying: Master, when shall these things be? and what shall be the sign when they shall begin to come to pass?
8Who said: Take heed you be not seduced; for many will come in my name, saying, I am he; and the time is at hand: go you not therefore after them.
9And when you shall hear of wars and seditions, be not terrified: these things must first come to pass; but the end is not yet presently.
10Then he said to them: Nation shall rise against nation, and kingdom against kingdom.
11And there shall be great earthquakes in divers places, and pestilences, and famines, and terrors from heaven; and there shall be great signs.
12But before all these things, they will lay their hands upon you, and persecute you, delivering you up to the synagogues and into prisons, dragging you before kings and governors, for my name's sake.
13And it shall happen to you for a teaching.
14Lay it up therefore into your hearts, not to meditate before how you shall answer:
15For I will give you a mouth and wisdom, which all your adversaries shall not be able to stand against and gainsay.
16And you shall be betrayed by your parents and brothers and sisters, and kinsmen and friends; and some of you they will put to death.
17And you shall be hated by all men for my name's sake.
18But a hair of your head shall not perish.
19In your patience you shall have your souls.
This page uses the Catholic Readings API for the day's references and liturgical celebration data, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from the public-domain Douay-Rheims Bible distributed through the Open Bibles project.