Daily readings

Wednesday, January 7, 2026

Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest. Christmas. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.

CelebrationSaint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest

TypeOptional Memorial

SeasonChristmas

Year2026 archive

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.

Reading mode

Plain mode helps modern readers follow the text more easily.

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.

1

First Reading

1 John 4:11-18

How to approach it

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.

11My dearest, if God has so loved us; we also ought to love one another.

12No man has seen God at any time. If we love one another, God remains in us, and his charity is perfected in us.

13In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us: because he has given us of his spirit.

14And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father has sent his Son to be the Saviour of the world.

15Whoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God remains in him, and he in God.

16And we have known, and have believed the charity, which God has to us. God is charity: and he that remains in charity, remains in God, and God in him.

17In this is the charity of God perfected with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgment: because as he is, we also are in this world.

18Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear has pain. And he that feareth, is not perfected in charity.

2

Psalm

Psalm 72:1-2, 10, 12-13

How to pray it

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.

1A psalm on Solomon.

2Give to the king your judgment, OH God: and to the king's son your righteousness: To judge your people with righteousness, and your poor with judgment.

10The kings of Tharsis and the islands shall offer presents: the kings of the Arabians and of Saba shall bring gifts:

12For he shall deliver the poor from the mighty: and the needy that had no helper.

13He shall spare the poor and needy: and he shall save the souls of the poor.

3

Gospel

Mark 6:45-52

What to watch for

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.

45And immediately he obliged his disciples to go up into the ship, that they might go before him over the water to Bethsaida, whilst he dismissed the people.

46And when he had dismissed them, he went up to the mountain to pray.

47And when it was late, the ship was in the midst of the sea, and himself alone on the land.

48And seeing them labouring in rowing, (for the wind was against them,) and about the fourth watch of the night, he comes to them walking upon the sea, and he would have passed by them.

49But they seeing him walking upon the sea, thought it was an apparition, and they cried out.

50For they all saw him, and were troubled. And immediately he spoke with them, and said to them: Have a good heart, it is I, fear you not.

51And he went up to them into the ship, and the wind ceased: and they were far more astonished within themselves:

52For they understood not concerning the bread; for their heart was blinded.

Source note

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.