Daily readings

Saturday, August 1, 2026

Saint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. Ordinary Time. A clean reading layout for church, prayer, or preparation.

CelebrationSaint Alphonsus Maria de Liguori, Bishop and Doctor of the Church

TypeMemorial

SeasonOrdinary Time

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

Jeremiah 26:11-16, 24

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.

11And the priests and the prophets spoke to the leaders, and to all the people, saying: The judgement of death is for this man: because he has prophesied against this city, as you have heard with your ears.

12Then Jeremias spoke to all the leaders, and to all the people, saying: The Lord sent me to prophesy concerning this house, and concerning this city all the words you have heard.

13Now therefore amend your ways, and your doings, and hearken to the voice of the Lord your God: and the Lord will repent of the evil that he has said against you.

14But as for me, look I am in your hands: do with me what is good and right in your eyes:

15But know you, and understand, that if you put me to death, you will shed innocent blood against your own selves, and against this city, and the inhabitants thereof. For in truth the Lord sent me to you, to speak all these words in your hearing.

16Then the leaders, and all the people said to the priests, and to the prophets: There is no judgement of death for this man: for he has said to us in the name of the Lord our God.

24So the hand of Ahicam the son of Saphan was with Jeremias, that he should not be rescued into the hands of the people, to put him to death.

2

Psalm

Psalm 69:15-16, 30-31, 33-34

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.

15Draw me out of the mire, that I may not stick fast: deliver me from them that hate me, and out of the deep waters.

16Let not the tempest of water drown me, nor the deep swallow me up: and let not the pit shut her mouth upon me.

30But I am poor and sorrowful: your salvation, OH God, has set me up.

31I will praise the name of God with a canticle: and I will magnify him with praise.

33Let the poor see and rejoice: seek you God, and your soul shall live.

34For the Lord has heard the poor: and has not despised his prisoners.

3

Gospel

Matthew 14:1-12

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.

1At the time Herod the Tetrarch heard the fame of Jesus.

2And he said to his servants: This is John the Baptist: he is risen from the dead, and therefore mighty works show forth themselves in him.

3For Herod had apprehended John and bound him, and put him into prison, because of Herodias, his brother's wife.

4For John said to him: It is not lawful for you to have her.

5And having a mind to put him to death, he feared the people: because they esteemed him as a prophet.

6But on Herod's birthday, the daughter of Herodias danced before them: and pleased Herod.

7Whereupon he promised with an oath, to give her whatever she would ask of him.

8But she being instructed before by her mother, said: Give me here in a dish the head of John the Baptist.

9And the king was struck sad: yet because of his oath, and for them that sat with him at table, he commanded it to be given.

10And he sent, and beheaded John in the prison.

11And his head was brought in a dish: and it was given to the damsel, and she brought it to her mother.

12And his disciples came and took the body, and buried it, and came and told Jesus.

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.