Daily readings

Monday, May 18, 2026

Saint John I, Pope and Martyr. Eastertide. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.

CelebrationSaint John I, Pope and Martyr

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.

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

Acts 19:1-8

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 it happened, while Apollo was at Corinth, that Paul having passed through the upper coasts, came to Ephesus, and found certain disciples.

2And he said to them: Have you received the Holy Ghost since you believed? But they said to him: We have not so much as heard whether there be a Holy Ghost.

3And he said: In what then were you baptized? Who said: In John's baptism.

4Then Paul said: John baptized the people with the baptism of penance, saying: That they should believe in him who was to come after him, that is to say, in Jesus.

5Having heard these things, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus.

6And when Paul had imposed his hands on them, the Holy Ghost came upon them, and they spoke with tongues and prophesied.

7And all the men were about twelve.

8And entering into the synagogue, he spoke boldly for the space of three months, arguing and exhorting concerning the kingdom of God.

2

Psalm

Psalm 68:2-3ab, 4-5acd, 6-7ab

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.

Full on-site text is not available for this reference yet, so use the reference above and the official link below.

3

Gospel

John 16:29-33

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.

29His disciples say to him: Look, now you speakest plainly, and speakest no proverb.

30Now we know that you know all things, and you needest not that any man should ask you. By this we believe that you came forth from God.

31Jesus answered them: Do you now believe?

32Look, the hour comes, and it is now come, that you shall be scattered every man to his own, and shall leave me alone; and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.

33These things I have said to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you shall have distress: but have confidence, I have overcome the world.

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.