Daily readings

Friday, March 13, 2026

Friday of the 3rd week of Lent. Lent. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationFriday of the 3rd week of Lent

TypeWeekday

SeasonLent

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.

The on-site reading text is drawn from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources. 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.

What are the Mass readings for Friday March 13, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Friday March 13, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Hosea 14:2-10, psalm Psalm 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Mark 12:28-34.

What is the Gospel for Friday March 13, 2026?

The Gospel for Friday March 13, 2026 is Mark 12:28-34. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Friday March 13, 2026?

The psalm for Friday March 13, 2026 is Psalm 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17. It is included below in the same reading order used at Mass, between the first reading and the Gospel.

Are these the USCCB daily readings for Friday March 13, 2026?

The same day's Catholic readings are gathered here on-site, with the official readings link available below in the source note.

1

First Reading

Hosea 14:2-10

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.

14:2Return, O Israel, to the Lord your God: for you have fallen down by your sin.

3Take with you words, and return to the Lord, and say to him: Take away all sin, and receive the good: and we will render the calves of our lips.

4Assyria shall not save us, we will not ride upon horses, neither will we say any more: The works of our hands are our gods, for you will have mercy on the fatherless that is in you.

5I will heal their breaches, I will love them freely: for my wrath is turned away from them.

6I will be as the dew, Israel shall spring as the lily, and his root shall shoot forth as that of Libanus.

7His branches shall spread, and his glory shall be as the olive tree: and his smell as that of Libanus.

8They shall be converted that sit under his shadow: they shall live upon wheat, and they shall blossom as a vine: his memorial shall be as the wine of Libanus.

9Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I will hear him, and I will make him flourish like a green fir tree: from me is your fruit found.

10Who is wise, and he shall understand these things? prudent, and he shall know these things? for the ways of the Lord are right, and the righteous shall walk in them: but the transgressors shall fall in them.

2

Psalm

Psalm 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17

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.

81:6He ordained it for a teaching in Joseph, when he came out of the land of Egypt: he heard a tongue which he knew not.

7He removed his back from the burdens: his hands had served in baskets.

8You calledst upon me in suffering, and I rescued you: I heard you in the secret place of tempest: I proved you at the waters of contradiction.

9Hear, O my people, and I will testify to you: O Israel, if you will hearken to me,

10there shall be no new god in you: neither shall you adore a strange god.

11For I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of the land of Egypt: open your mouth wide, and I will fill it.

14If my people had heard me: if Israel had walked in my ways:

17And he fed them with the fat of wheat, and satisfied them with honey out of the rock.

3

Gospel

Mark 12:28-34

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.

12:28And there came one of the teachers of the law that had heard them reasoning together, and seeing that he had answered them well, asked him which was the first command of all.

29And Jesus answered him: The first command of all is, Hear, O Israel: the Lord your God is one God.

30And you shall love the Lord your God, with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind, and with your whole strength. This is the first command.

31And the second is like to it: You shall love your neighbour as yourself. There is no other command greater than these.

32And the teacher of the law said to him: Well, Master, you have said in truth, that there is one God, and there is no other besides him.

33And that he should be loved with the whole heart, and with the whole understanding, and with the whole soul, and with the whole strength; and to love one's neighbour as one's self, is a greater thing than all holocausts and sacrifices.

34And Jesus seeing that he had answered wisely, said to him: You are not far from the kingdom of God. And no man after that durst ask him any question.

How the readings move through Mass today

The Liturgy of the Word normally moves from the first reading to the psalm, then to the second reading when one is appointed, then to the Gospel, and then into the homily. On weekday Masses, the second reading is often omitted, so the Church moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

1

First Reading

Hosea 14:2-10

The first reading is usually taken from the Old Testament. It prepares the heart to hear how God has been acting through his covenant and promises.

2

Psalm

Psalm 81:6c-8a, 8bc-9, 10-11ab, 14 and 17

The psalm is the Church’s prayerful response to the first reading. It helps the congregation answer God’s word with trust, praise, repentance, or hope.

3

Second Reading

Usually omitted today

There is no second reading at many weekday Masses. On days like this, the liturgy moves from the psalm directly to the Gospel.

4

Gospel

Mark 12:28-34

The Gospel is the high point of the Liturgy of the Word. Catholics stand because Christ himself speaks to his people in a special way through the Gospel proclamation.

5

Homily

After the Gospel

The homily follows the Gospel. It should gather the day’s readings together, explain the mystery being celebrated, and help people carry the word of God into ordinary life.

What the homily usually draws together

A Catholic homily usually gathers the first reading, the psalm, and the Gospel into one spiritual movement. It may explain how the Old Testament prepares for Christ, how the apostles witness to the risen Lord, how the psalm teaches the Church to pray, and how the Gospel calls for faith and conversion now.

If you are preparing before Mass, try to carry one sentence, one image, or one invitation from the readings with you. That usually makes the homily easier to follow because you already know what part of God's word has stayed with you.

What about the Prayers of the Faithful for Friday March 13, 2026?

The Prayers of the Faithful are usually written locally by a parish, diocese, or celebrant, so there is not always one universal text for this exact day. The scriptural readings above are the stable part the whole Church receives, and they usually shape the petitions that follow at Mass.

Source note

The day's references and liturgical celebration data come from the Catholic Readings API, while the on-site scripture text is rendered from public-domain Douay-Rheims sources so the day's readings can be read directly on the page.