Daily readings

Monday, December 21, 2026

Saint Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor. Advent. Read the day's readings in one place for prayer, preparation, or quiet reflection.

CelebrationSaint Peter Canisius, Priest and Doctor

TypeOptional Memorial

SeasonAdvent

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 Monday December 21, 2026?

The Catholic Mass readings for Monday December 21, 2026 are gathered on this page in their proper order: first reading Song of Songs 2:8-14, psalm Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21, no second reading is appointed for this Mass,and Gospel Luke 1:39-45.

What is the Gospel for Monday December 21, 2026?

The Gospel for Monday December 21, 2026 is Luke 1:39-45. It appears below with the rest of the day's Catholic readings.

What is the Psalm for Monday December 21, 2026?

The psalm for Monday December 21, 2026 is Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21. 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 Monday December 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

Song of Songs 2:8-14

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.

2:8The voice of my beloved, look he comes leaping upon the mountains, skipping over the hills.

9My beloved is like a roe, or a young hart. Look he stands behind our wall, looking through the windows, looking through the lattices.

10Look my beloved speaketh to me: Arise, hurry, my love, my dove, my beautiful one, and come.

11For winter is now past, the rain is over and gone.

12The flowers have appeared in our land, the time of pruning is come: the voice of the turtle is heard in our land:

13The fig tree has put forth her green figs: the vines in flower yield their sweet smell. Arise, my love, my beautiful one, and come:

14My dove in the clefts of the rock, in the hollow places of the wall, show me your face, let your voice sound in my ears: for your voice is sweet, and your face comely.

2

Psalm

Psalm 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

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.

33:2Give praise to the Lord on the harp; sing to him with the psaltery, the instrument of ten strings.

3Sing to him a new canticle, sing well to him with a loud noise.

11But the guidance of the Lord stands forever: the thoughts of his heart to all generations.

12Blessed is the nation whose God is the Lord: the people whom he has chosen for his gift.

20Our soul waiteth for the Lord: for he is our helper and protector.

21For in him our heart shall rejoice: and in his holy name we have trusted.

3

Gospel

Luke 1:39-45

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.

1:39And Mary rising up in those days, went into the hill country with haste into a city of Juda.

40And she entered into the house of Zachary, and saluted Elizabeth.

41And it happened, that when Elizabeth heard the salutation of Mary, the infant leaped in her womb. And Elizabeth was satisfied with the Holy Ghost:

42And she cried out with a loud voice, and said: Blessed art you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb.

43And whence is this to me, that the mother of my Lord should come to me?

44For look as soon as the voice of your salutation sounded in my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy.

45And blessed art you that have believed, because those things shall be accomplished that were said to you by the Lord.

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

Song of Songs 2:8-14

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 33:2-3, 11-12, 20-21

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

Luke 1:39-45

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 Monday December 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.