Daily readings

Tuesday, March 17, 2026

Saint Patrick, Bishop. Lent. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.

CelebrationSaint Patrick, Bishop

TypeCommemoration

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.

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

Ezekiel 47:1-9, 12

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.

1And he brought me again to the gate of the house, and look waters issued out from under the threshold of the house toward the east: for the forefront, of the house looked toward the east: but the waters came down to the right side of the temple to the south part of the altar.

2And he led me out by the way of the north gate, and he caused me to turn to the way without the outward gate to the way that looked toward the east: and look there ran out waters on the right side.

3And when the man that had the line in his hand went out towards the east, he measured a thousand cubits: and he brought me through the water up to the ankles.

4And again he measured a thousand, and he brought me through the water up to the knees.

5And he measured a thousand. and he brought me through the water up to the loins. And he measured a thousand, and it was a torrent, which I could not pass over: for the waters were risen so as to make a deep torrent, which could not be passed over.

6And he said to me: Surely you have seen, OH Son of Man. And he brought me out, and he caused me to turn to the bank of the torrent.

7And when I had turned myself, look on the bank of the torrent were very many trees on both sides.

8And he said to me: These waters that issue forth toward the hillocks of sand to the east, and go down to the plains of the desert, shall go into the sea, and shall go out, and the waters shall be healed.

9And every living creature that creepeth whithersoever the torrent shall come, shall live: and there shall be fishes in abundance after these waters shall come there, and they shall be healed, and all things shall live to which the torrent shall come.

12And by the torrent on the banks thereof on both sides shall grow all trees that bear fruit: their leaf shall not fall off, and their fruit shall not fail: every month shall they bring forth firstfruits, because the waters thereof shall issue out of the sanctuary: and the fruits thereof shall be for food, and the leaves thereof for medicine.

2

Psalm

Psalm 46:2-3, 5-6, 8-9

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.

2Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly.

3Therefore we will not fear, when the earth shall be troubled; and the mountains shall be removed into the heart of the sea.

5The stream of the river makes the city of God joyful: the most High has sanctified his own tabernacle.

6God is in the midst thereof, it shall not be moved: God will help it in the morning early.

8The Lord of armies is with us: the God of Jacob is our protector.

9Come and look you the works of the Lord: what wonders he has done upon earth,

3

Gospel

John 5:1-16

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.

1After these things was a festival day of the Jews, and Jesus went up to Jerusalem.

2Now there is at Jerusalem a pond, called Probatica, which in Hebrew is named Bethsaida, having five porches.

3In these lay a great crowd of sick, of blind, of lame, of withered; waiting for the moving of the water.

4And an angel of the Lord descended at certain times into the pond; and the water was moved. And he that went down first into the pond after the motion of the water, was made whole, of whatever infirmity he lay under.

5And there was a certain man there, that had been eight and thirty years under his infirmity.

6Him when Jesus had seen lying, and knew that he had been now a long time, he says to him: Will you be made whole?

7The infirm man answered him: Sir, I have no man, when the water is troubled, to put me into the pond. For whilst I am coming, another goes down before me.

8Jesus says to him: Arise, take up your bed, and walk.

9And immediately the man was made whole: and he took up his bed, and walked. And it was the sabbath that day.

10The Jews therefore said to him that was healed: It is the sabbath; it is not lawful for you to take up your bed.

11He answered them: He that made me whole, he said to me, Take up your bed, and walk.

12They asked him therefore: Who is that man who said to you, Take up your bed, and walk?

13But he who was healed, knew not who it was; for Jesus went aside from the crowd standing in the place.

14Afterwards, Jesus findeth him in the temple, and says to him: Look you art made whole: sin no more, lest some worse thing happen to you.

15The man went his way, and told the Jews, that it was Jesus who had made him whole.

16Therefore did the Jews persecute Jesus, because he did these things on the sabbath.

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.