Saturday, 12 December 2026
Saturday of the Second Week of Advent
Optional memorial of Our Lady of Guadalupe.
Readings for the universal ChurchGeneral Roman Calendar, used by Catholics worldwide
First Reading
1Then Elijah arose, the prophet like fire.
His word burned like a torch.
2He brought a famine upon them,
and by his zeal made them few in number.
3By the word of the Lord he shut up the heavens.
He brought down fire three times.
4How you were glorified, O Elijah, in your wondrous deeds!
Whose glory is like yours?
9You were taken up in a tempest of fire,
in a chariot of fiery horses.
10You were recorded for reproofs in their seasons,
to pacify anger, before it broke out into wrath,
to turn the heart of the father to the son,
and to restore the tribes of Jacob.
11Blessed are those who saw you,
and those who have been beautified with love;
for we also shall surely live.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 80:2ac and 3b, 15-16, 18-19
1Hear us, Shepherd of Israel,
you who lead Joseph like a flock,
you who sit above the cherubim, shine out.
2Before Ephraim, Benjamin, and Manasseh, stir up your might!
Come to save us!
14Turn again, we beg you, God of Armies.
Look down from heaven, and see, and visit this vine,
15the stock which your right hand planted,
the branch that you made strong for yourself.
17Let your hand be on the man of your right hand,
on the son of man whom you made strong for yourself.
18So we will not turn away from you.
Revive us, and we will call on your name.
Gospel
9As they were coming down from the mountain, Jesus commanded them, saying, “Don’t tell anyone what you saw, until the Son of Man has risen from the dead.” 10His disciples asked him, saying, “Then why do the scribes say that Elijah must come first?” 11Jesus answered them, “Elijah indeed comes first, and will restore all things; 12but I tell you that Elijah has come already, and they didn’t recognize him, but did to him whatever they wanted to. Even so the Son of Man will also suffer by them.” 13Then the disciples understood that he spoke to them of John the Baptizer.
Why two sets of readings today? Our Lady of Guadalupe is Patroness of the Americas, so the bishops of the United States keep her day as a feast, with readings of its own. In much of the world it is an optional memorial, and the readings of the Advent weekday are read.
In the United StatesCelebrated today in Florida and most U.S. dioceses
Our Lady of Guadalupe
First Reading
10Sing and rejoice, daughter of Zion! For behold, I come and I will dwell within you,’ says the LORD. 11Many nations shall join themselves to the LORD in that day, and shall be my people; and I will dwell among you, and you shall know that the LORD of Armies has sent me to you. 12The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land, and will again choose Jerusalem. 13Be silent, all flesh, before the LORD; for he has roused himself from his holy habitation!”
Responsorial Psalm
18Ozias said to her, “Blessed are you, daughter, in the sight of the Most High God, above all the women upon the earth; and blessed is the Lord God, who created the heavens and the earth, who directed you to cut off the head of the prince of our enemies.
19For your hope will not depart from the heart of men that remember the strength of God forever.
Gospel
26Now in the sixth month, the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city of Galilee named Nazareth, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man whose name was Joseph, of David’s house. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28Having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, you highly favored one! The Lord is with you. Blessed are you among women!” 29But when she saw him, she was greatly troubled at the saying, and considered what kind of salutation this might be. 30The angel said to her, “Don’t be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31Behold, you will conceive in your womb and give birth to a son, and shall name him ‘Jesus.’ 32He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, 33and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever. There will be no end to his Kingdom.” 34Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, seeing I am a virgin?” 35The angel answered her, “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you. Therefore also the holy one who is born from you will be called the Son of God. 36Behold, Elizabeth your relative also has conceived a son in her old age; and this is the sixth month with her who was called barren. 37For nothing spoken by God is impossible.” 38Mary said, “Behold, the servant of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word.” Then the angel departed from her.
Text: World English Bible, Catholic Edition (public domain). Reading citations: cpbjr/catholic-readings-api (MIT license). The Lectionary text used at Mass in the United States is the NABRE, which you can read at USCCB.