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Monday of the First Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Polycarp, 69-155; a letter addressed to him by St. Ignatius tells him to care for the Church and his own surviving epistle shows he encouraged the Philippians on the path of righteousness; St. Iraneus praises his defense of orthodoxy and his energy in combating heresy; during a visit to Rome, St. Polycarp spoke to the bishop, Anicetus, who agreed to let the Eastern churches calculate the date of Easter in their own way; Polycarp was arrested and martyred during a pagan festival in Smyrna, when he refused to deny Christ Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/23/26 Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46

First Sunday of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/22/26 Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

Saturday after Ash Wednesday Commemoration of St. Peter Damian, 1007-1072; born in Italy, and joined a Benedictine hermitage, eventually becoming its prior; he wrote against simony, wantonness, and worldliness among religious leaders; upon his consecration as Bishop, St. Peter Damian stressed even more the importance of a unified Church and a morally exemplary clergy Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/21/26 Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Friday after Ash Wednesday Saint of the Day: St. Wulfric, 1080-1154; born in England, became a priest, and was excessively materialistic and worldly; after meeting with a beggar, he became a hermit, and devoted himself to rigorous austerities' he was known for his miracles and prophecies; Wulfric was a very popular saint during the Middle Ages, and his tomb was visited by many pilgrims Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/20/26 Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

Thursday after Ash Wednesday Saint of the Day: St. Barbatus of Benevento, 612-682; born in Italy, ordained in Marcona; he was sent to Benevento, where he evangelized and converted many; when the assault of the Byzantine emperor ended and peace came, Barbatus was named bishop of Benevento; he attended the Council of Constantinople in 680, and died in Benevento in 682 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/19/26 Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Ash Wednesday - The Beginning of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/18/26 Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time - "Fat Tuesday" Optional Memorial of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order; they founded this order in 1240, striving for personal sanctification, world evangelism, and an increase in Marian devotion; the Servite Order grew quickly, to Europe, South Asia, and North America; their devotions include The Rosary of the Seven Dolours and the Via Matris Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/17/26 Gospel: Mark 8:14-21

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Onesimus; First Century martyr and former slave whose story is told by St. Paul in his letter to Philemon; Onesimus had been a slave of Philemon, but escaped; Paul met him in prison, where he baptized him; Paul wrote to Philemon, asking him to take Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ; Onesimus died in about 68 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/16/26 Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/15/26 Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37

Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius; Ninth Century monk and bishop, respectively; brothers who had appointments in the Byzantine civil service before embracing monastic life; they were sent as missionaries to Moravia, where they translated the liturgical books into the Slavonic language; Cyril died in Rome in 869; Methodius returned to Moravia, where he was later appointed archbishop; before his death in 884, Methodius had translated almost the entire Bible into Slavonic; Pope John Paul named them patrons of Europe, along with St. Benedict Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/14/26 Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Catherine Ricci, 1522-1589; entered the convent of the Dominican nuns at Prat in Tuscany, in her fourteenth year; while very young, she was chosen Mistress of Novices, then subprioress, and at twenty-five years of age she became perpetual prioress; her sanctity drew many to her side, including three who would later serve as pope; she experienced the "Ecstacy of the Passion" each week from Thursday noon until Friday at 4 p.m. for twelve years Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/13/26 Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Julian the Hospitaller; lived in the Fourth Century; legend has it that he killed his noble parents in a case of mistaken identity; he thought that his wife was with another man, so he struck them both in bed; shortly after, his wife returned from church; in penance, they went to Rome and received absolution; Julian founded an inn and hospital for the poor, and even gave his bed to a leper--who turned out to be an angel Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/12/26 Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes; in 1858 in Lourdes, France, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous; eventually, thousands gathered around her to witness the events, including the appearance of a new, surging spring (still present today) from which Bernadette drank; today, millions visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes annually Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/11/26 Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Scholastica, 480-543; sister of St. Benedict; she founded and ran a nunnery in the Benedictine tradition; as Abbess, Saint Scholastica aided in the spiritual formation of many holy sisters; God answered her with thunder and storms when she pleaded Him to convince her brother to prolong their annual visit; St. Benedict stayed, due to tremendous rains, and three days later Saint Scholastica died Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/10/26 Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Raynald of Nocera, 1150-1225; Benedictine bishop who served the order in various capacities until receiving appointment as bishop of Nocera in 1222; owing to his excellent service in that capacity, he is considered the patron of Nocera Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/9/26 Gospel: Mark 6:53-56

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/8/26 Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Paul Miki and companions, the Japanese martyrs; in 1587, Japan issued an edict of persecution against Christians; St. Paul Miki and his companions were arrested and martyred on the hill of Nagasaki in 1597 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/6/26 Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Agatha, 231-251; an early Christian martyr from Catania, Sicily; she pledged her virginity to Christ and after refusing to compromise was killed; by the 5th century, she was highly venerated for her purity and goodness; patron saint of breast ailments Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/5/26 Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Andrew Corsini, 1302-1374; born to a powerful family in Florence; lived a wild youth, but was converted by his mother and became a Carmelite; after his studies, he returned to his birthplace and became known as a prophet and miracle worker; he was named bishop of Fiesole in 1349; he was sent by Pope Urban V to Bologna to settle disputes between the nobles and commoners, a mission he performed well.; Andrew died in Fiesole in 1373. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/4/26 Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Blaise; a good bishop of Sebastea, Armenia, but was forced to flee to the back country due to persecution; he lived as a hermit, and made friends with wild animals; when hunters hauled Blaise off to prison, a mother came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat; at Blaise’s command the child was able to cough up the bone. Blaise was martyred in 316 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/3/26 Gospel: Mark 5:21-43