Daily readings

Friday, August 21, 2026

Saint Pius X, Pope. Ordinary Time. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationSaint Pius X, Pope

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.

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 Friday August 21, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Friday August 21, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Ezekiel 37:1-14, psalm Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Matthew 22:34-40.

What is the Gospel for Friday August 21, 2026?

The Gospel for Friday August 21, 2026 is Matthew 22:34-40. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Friday August 21, 2026?

The psalm for Friday August 21, 2026 is Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9. 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 Friday August 21, 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

Ezekiel 37:1-14

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.

37:1The hand of the Lord was upon me, and brought me forth in the spirit of the Lord: and set me down in the midst of a plain that was full of bones.

2And he led me about through them on every side: now they were very many upon the face of the plain, and they were exceeding dry.

3And he said to me: Son of Man, do you think these bones shall live? And I answered: O Lord God, you know.

4And he said to me: Prophesy concerning these bones; and say to them: You dry bones, hear the word of the Lord.

5Thus says the Lord God to these bones: Look, I will send spirit into you, and you shall live.

6And I will lay sinews upon you, and will cause flesh to grow over you, and will cover you with skin: and I will give you spirit and you shall live, and you shall know that I am the Lord.

7And I prophesied as he had commanded me: and as I prophesied there was a noise, and look a commotion: and the bones came together, each one to its joint.

8And I saw, and look the sinews, and the flesh came up upon them: and the skin was stretched out over them, but there was no spirit in them.

9And he said to me: Prophesy to the spirit, prophesy, O Son of Man, and say to the spirit: Thus says the Lord God: Come, spirit, from the four winds, and blow upon these killed, and let them live again.

10And I prophesied as he had commanded me: and the spirit came into them, and they lived: and they stood up upon their feet, an exceeding great army.

11And he said to me: Son of Man: All these bones are the people of Israel$1 they say: Our bones are dried up, and our hope is lost, and we are cut off.

12Therefore prophesy, and say to them: Thus says the Lord God: Look I will open your graves, and will bring you out of your tombs, O my people: and will bring you into the land of Israel.

13And you shall know that I am the Lord, when I shall have opened your tombs, and shall have brought you out of your graves, O my people:

14And shall have put my spirit in you, and you shall live, and I shall make you rest upon your own land: and you shall know that I the Lord have said, and done it, says the Lord God:

2

Psalm

Psalm 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 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.

107:2Let them say so that have been redeemed by the Lord, whom he has redeemed from the hand of the enemy: and gathered out of the countries.

3From the rising and the setting of the sun, from the north and from the sea.

4They wandered in a wilderness, in a place without water: they found not the way of a city for their habitation.

5They were hungry and thirsty: their soul fainted in them.

6And they cried to the Lord in their trouble: and he rescued them out of their troubles.

7And he led them into the right way: that they might go to a city of habitation.

8Let the mercies of the Lord give glory to him: and his wonderful works to the people.

9For he has satisfied the empty soul, and has satisfied the hungry soul with good things.

3

Gospel

Matthew 22:34-40

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.

22:34But the Pharisees hearing that he had silenced the Sadducees, came together:

35And one of them, a doctor of the law, asking him, tempting him:

36Master, which is the greatest command in the law?

37Jesus said to him: You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, and with your whole soul, and with your whole mind.

38This is the greatest and the first command.

39And the second is like to this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself.

40On these two commands dependeth the whole law and the prophets.

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

Ezekiel 37:1-14

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 107:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

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

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.

4

Gospel

Matthew 22:34-40

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 Friday August 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.

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.