Daily readings

Saturday, April 4, 2026

Holy Saturday/Easter Vigil. Holy Week. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationHoly Saturday/Easter Vigil

TypeTriduum

SeasonHoly Week

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 Saturday April 4, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Saturday April 4, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Isaiah 54:5-14, psalm Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23, second reading Exodus 14:15—15:1,and Gospel Matthew 28:1-10.

What is the Gospel for Saturday April 4, 2026?

The Gospel for Saturday April 4, 2026 is Matthew 28:1-10. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Saturday April 4, 2026?

The psalm for Saturday April 4, 2026 is Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23. 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 Saturday April 4, 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

Isaiah 54:5-14

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.

54:5For he that made you shall rule over you, the Lord of hosts is his name: and your Redeemer, the Holy One of Israel, shall be called the God of all the earth.

6For the Lord has called you as woman left and mourning in spirit, end se a wife cast off from her youth, said your God.

7For a, small moment have I left you, but with great mercies will I gather you.

8In a moment of indignation have I hid my face a little while from you, but with eternal kindness have I had mercy on you, said the Lord your Redeemer.

9This thing is to me as in the days of Noe, to whom I swore, that I would no more bring in the waters of Noe upon the earth: so have I sworn not to be angry with you, and not to rebuke you.

10For the mountains shall be moved, and the hills shall tremble; but my mercy shall not depart from you, and the covenant of my peace shall not be moved: said the Lord that has mercy on you.

11O poor little one, tossed with tempest, without all comfort, look I will lay your stones in order, and will lay your foundations with sapphires,

12And I will make your bulwarks of jasper: and your gates of graven stones, and all your borders of desirable stones.

13All your children shall be taught of the Lord: and great shall be the peace of your children.

14And you shall be founded in righteousness: depart far from oppression, for you shall not fear; and from terror, for it shall not come near you.

2

Psalm

Psalm 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

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.

118:1Give praise to Lord, for he is good: for his mercy lasts forever.

2Let Israel now say that he is good: that his mercy lasts forever.

16The right hand of the Lord has wrought strength: the right hand of the Lord has exulted me: the right hand of the Lord has wrought strength.

17I shall not die, but live: and shall declare the works of the Lord.

22The stone which the builders rejected; the same is become the head of the corner.

23This is the Lord's doing: and it is wonderful in our eyes.

3

Second Reading

Exodus 14:15—15:1

How to read it

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.

14:15And the Lord said to Moses: Why criest you to me? Speak to the children of Israel to go forward.

16But lift you up your rod, and stretch forth your hand over the sea, and divide it: that the children of Israel may go through the midst of the sea on dry ground.

17And I will harden the heart of the Egyptians to pursue you: and I will be glorified in Pharao, and in all his host, and in his chariots, and in his horsemen.

18And the Egyptians shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall be glorified in Pharao, and in his chariots and in his horsemen.

19And the angel of God, who went before the camp of Israel, removing, went behind them: and together with him the pillar of the cloud, leaving the forepart,

20Stood behind, between the Egyptians' camp and the camp of Israel: and it was a dark cloud, and enlightening the night, so that they could not come at one another all the night.

21And when Moses had stretched forth his hand over the sea, the Lord took it away by a strong and burning wind blowing all the night, and turned it into dry ground: and the water was divided.

22And the children of Israel went in through the midst of the sea dried up: for the water was as a wall on their right hand and on their left.

23And the Egyptians pursuing went in after them, and all Pharao's horses, his chariots and horsemen through the midst of the sea,

24And now the morning watch was come, and look the Lord looking upon the Egyptian army through the pillar of fire and of the cloud, slew their host.

25And overthrew the wheels of the chariots, and they were carried into the deep. And the Egyptians said: Let us flee from Israel: for the Lord fighteth for them against us.

26And the Lord said to Moses: Stretch forth they hand over the sea, that the waters may come again upon the Egyptians, upon their chariots and horsemen.

27And when Moses had stretched forth his hand towards the sea, it returned at the first break of day to the former place: and as the Egyptians were fleeing away, the waters came upon them, and the Lord shut them up in the middle of the waves.

28And the waters returned, and covered the chariots and the horsemen of all the army of Pharao, who had come into the sea after them, neither did there so much as one of them remain.

29But the children of Israel marched through the midst of the sea upon dry land, and the waters were to them as a wall on the right hand and on the left:

30And the Lord rescued Israel on that day out of the hands of the Egyptians.

31And they saw the Egyptians dead upon the sea shore, and the mighty hand that the Lord had used against them: and the people feared the Lord, and they believed the Lord, and Moses his servant.

15:1Then Moses and the children of Israel sung this canticle to the Lord: and said: Let us sing to the Lord: for he is gloriously magnified, the horse and the rider he has thrown into the sea.

4

Gospel

Matthew 28:1-10

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.

28:1And in the end of the sabbath, when it began to dawn towards the first day of the week, came Mary Magdalen and the other Mary, to see the tomb.

2And look there was a great earthquake. For an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and coming, rolled back the stone, and sat upon it.

3And his face was as lightning, and his clothing as snow.

4And for fear of him, the guards were struck with terror, and became as dead men.

5And the angel answering, said to the women: Fear not you; for I know that you seek Jesus who was crucified.

6He is not here, for he is risen, as he said. Come, and see the place where the Lord was laid.

7And going quickly, tell you his disciples that he is risen: and look he will go before you into Galilee; there you shall see him. Lo, I have foretold it to you.

8And they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy, running to tell his disciples.

9And look Jesus met them, saying: All hail. But they came up and took hold of his feet, and adored him.

10Then Jesus said to them: Fear not. Go, tell my brothers and sisters that they go into Galilee, there they shall see me.

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

Isaiah 54:5-14

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 118:1-2, 16-17, 22-23

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

Exodus 14:15—15:1

The second reading is usually taken from the New Testament letters or Revelation. It helps connect the day’s proclamation to Christian life in the Church.

4

Gospel

Matthew 28:1-10

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 Saturday April 4, 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.