A Catholic guide for saints, prayer, and practical devotional reading.
Saint Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs. 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.
Sirach 47:2-11
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 18:31, 47 and 50, 51
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.
31As for my God, his way is undefiled: the words of the Lord are fire tried: he is the protector of all that trust in him.
51Giving great rescue to his king, and shewing mercy to David his anointed$1 and to his offspring forever.
Mark 6:14-29
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.
14And king Herod heard, (for his name was made clear,) and he said: John the Baptist is risen again from the dead, and therefore mighty works show forth themselves in him.
15And others said: It is Elias. But others said: It is a prophet, as one of the prophets.
16Which Herod hearing, said: John whom I beheaded, he is risen again from the dead.
17For Herod himself had sent and apprehended John, and bound him in prison for the sake of Herodias the wife of Philip his brother, because he had married her.
18For John said to Herod: It is not lawful for you to have your brother's wife.
19Now Herodias laid snares for him: and was desirous to put him to death, and could not.
20For Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man: and kept him, and when he heard him, did many things: and he heard him willingly.
21And when a convenient day was come, Herod made a supper for his birthday, for the leaders, and tribunes, and chief men of Galilee.
22And when the daughter of the same Herodias had come in, and had danced, and pleased Herod, and them that were at table with him, the king said to the damsel: Ask of me what you will, and I will give it you.
23And he swore to her: Whatever you shall ask I will give you, though it be the half of my kingdom.
24Who when she was gone out, said to her mother, What shall I ask? But she said: The head of John the Baptist.
25And when she was come in immediately with haste to the king, she asked, saying: I will that forthwith you give me in a dish, the head of John the Baptist.
26And the king was struck sad. Yet because of his oath, and because of them that were with him at table, he would not displease her:
27But sending an executioner, he commanded that his head should be brought in a dish.
28And he beheaded him in the prison, and brought his head in a dish: and gave it to the damsel, and the damsel gave it to her mother.
29Which his disciples hearing came, and took his body, and laid it in a tomb.
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.