Daily readings

Tuesday, April 21, 2026

Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Eastertide. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationSaint Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

TypeOptional Memorial

SeasonEastertide

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.

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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 Tuesday April 21, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Tuesday April 21, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Acts 7:51—8:1a, psalm Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel John 6:30-35.

What is the Gospel for Tuesday April 21, 2026?

The Gospel for Tuesday April 21, 2026 is John 6:30-35. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Tuesday April 21, 2026?

The psalm for Tuesday April 21, 2026 is Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab. 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 Tuesday April 21, 2026?

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

First Reading

Acts 7:51—8:1a

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.

7:51You stiffnecked and uncircumcised in heart and ears, you always resist the Holy Ghost: as your fathers did, so do you also.

52Which of the prophets have not your fathers persecuted? And they have killed them who foretold of the coming of the Righteous One; of whom you have been now the betrayers and murderers:

53Who have received the law by the disposition of angels, and have not kept it.

54Now hearing these things, they were cut to the heart, and they gnashed with their teeth at him.

55But he, being full of the Holy Ghost, looking up steadfastly to heaven, saw the glory of God, and Jesus standing on the right hand of God. And he said: Look, I see the heavens opened, and the Son of Man standing on the right hand of God.

56And they crying out with a loud voice, stopped their ears, and with one accord ran violently upon him.

57And casting him forth without the city, they stoned him; and the witnesses laid down their garments at the feet of a young man, whose name was Saul.

58And they stoned Stephen, invoking, and saying: Lord Jesus, receive my spirit.

59And falling on his knees, he cried with a loud voice, saying: Lord, lay not this sin to their charge. And when he had said this, he fell asleep in the Lord. And Saul was consenting to his death.

8:1And at that time there was raised a great persecution against the church which was at Jerusalem; and they were all dispersed through the countries of Judea, and Samaria, except the apostles.

Psalm

Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab

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.

31:3Bow down your ear to me: hurry to deliver me. Be for me a God, a protector, and a house of refuge, to save me.

4For you are my strength and my refuge; and for your name's sake you will lead me, and nourish me.

6Into your hands I commend my spirit: you have redeemed me, O Lord, the God of truth.

7You have hated them that regard empty things, to no purpose. But I have hoped in the Lord:

8I will be glad and rejoice in your mercy. For you have seen my lowliness, you have saved my soul out of troubles.

17Make your face to shine upon your servant; save me in your mercy.

21You shall hide them in the secret of your face, from the disturbance of men. You shall protect them in your tabernacle from the contradiction of tongues.

Gospel

John 6:30-35

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.

6:30They said therefore to him: What sign therefore do you show, that we may see, and may believe you? What do you work?

31Our fathers did eat manna in the desert, as it is written: He gave them bread from heaven to eat.

32Then Jesus said to them: Truly, truly I say to you; Moses gave you not bread from heaven, but my Father gives you the true bread from heaven.

33For the bread of God is that which comes down from heaven, and gives life to the world.

34They said therefore to him: Lord, give us always this bread.

35And Jesus said to them: I am the bread of life: he that comes to me shall not hunger: and he that believes in me shall never thirst.

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.

First Reading

Acts 7:51—8:1a

In Eastertide, the first reading usually comes from Acts of the Apostles so the Church stays close to the witness of the risen Lord and the life of the early Church.

Psalm

Psalm 31:3cd-4, 6 and 7b and 8a, 17 and 21ab

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.

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.

Gospel

John 6:30-35

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.

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 Tuesday April 21, 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.

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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.