Thursday, 25 November 2027
Saint Catherine of Alexandria, Virgin and Martyr
Readings for the universal ChurchGeneral Roman Calendar, used by Catholics worldwide
First Reading
11Wherefore those men carefully watching him, found Daniel praying and making supplication to his God. 12And they came and spoke to the king concerning the edict: O king, hast thou not decreed, that every man that should make a request to any of the gods, or men, for thirty days, but to thyself, O king, should be cast into the den of the lions? And the king answered them, saying: The word is true according to the decree of the Medes and Persians, which it is not lawful to violate. 13Then they answered, and said before the king: Daniel, who is of the children of the captivity of Juda, hath not regarded thy law, nor the decree that thou hast made: but three times a day he maketh his prayer. 14Now when the king had heard these words, he was very much grieved, and in behalf of Daniel he set his heart to deliver him and even till sunset he laboured to save him. 15But those men perceiving the king's design, said to him: Know thou, O king, that the law of the Medes and Persians is, that no decree which the king hath made, may be altered. 16Then the king commanded, and they brought Daniel, and cast him into the den of the lions. And the king said to Daniel: Thy God, whom thou always servest, he will deliver thee. 17And a stone was brought, and laid upon the mouth of the den: which the king sealed with his own ring, and with the ring of his nobles, that nothing should be done against Daniel. 18And the king went away to his house and laid himself down without taking supper, and meat was not set before him, and even sleep departed from him. 19Then the king rising very early in the morning, went in haste to the lions' den: 20And coming near to the den, cried with a lamentable voice to Daniel, and said to him: Daniel, servant of the living God, hath thy God, whom thou servest always, been able, thinkest thou, to deliver thee from the lions? 21And Daniel answering the king, said: O king, live for ever: 22My God hath sent his angel, and hath shut up the mouths of the lions, and they have not hurt me: forasmuch as before him justice hath been found in me: yea and before thee, O king, I have done no offence. 23Then was the king exceeding glad for him, and he commanded that Daniel should be taken out of the den: and Daniel was taken out of the den, and no hurt was found in him, because he believed in his God. 24And by the king's commandment, those men were brought that bad accused Daniel: and they were cast into the lions' den, they and their children, and their wives: and they did not reach the bottom of the den, before the lions caught them, and broke all their bones in pieces. 25Then king Darius wrote to all people, tribes, and languages, dwelling in the whole earth: PEACE be multiplied unto you. 26It is decreed by me, that in all my empire and my kingdom all men dread and fear the God of Daniel. For he is the living and eternal God for ever: and his kingdom shall not be destroyed, and his power shall be for ever. 27He is the deliverer, and saviour, doing signs and wonders in heaven, and in earth: who hath delivered Daniel out of the lions' den.
Responsorial Psalm
Daniel 3:68, 69, 70, 71, 72, 73, 74
68O ye dews and hoar frosts, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
69O ye frost and cold, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
70O ye ice and snow, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
71O ye nights and days, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
72O ye light and darkness, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
73O ye lightnings and clouds, bless the Lord: praise and exalt him above all for ever.
74O let the earth bless the Lord: let it praise and exalt him above all for ever.
Gospel
20And when you shall see Jerusalem compassed about with an army; then know that the desolation thereof is at hand. 21Then let those who are in Judea, flee to the mountains; and those who are in the midst thereof, depart out: and those who are in the countries, not enter into it. 22For these are the days of vengeance, that all things may be fulfilled, that are written. 23But woe to them that are with child, and give suck in those days; for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people. 24And they shall fall by the edge of the sword; and shall be led away captives into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles; till the times of the nations be fulfilled. 25And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves; 26Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved; 27And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty. 28But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.
Why two sets of readings today? In the United States, priests may celebrate a special Mass for Thanksgiving Day, with readings chosen for thanking God for all his gifts. Elsewhere, and at many U.S. Masses too, the readings of the weekday are used.
In the United StatesMay be celebrated today in the United States
Thanksgiving Day
First Reading
This passage is numbered differently in the Douay-Rheims, so it can’t be shown verse by verse here. Read the chapter, or see the reading at USCCB.
Responsorial Psalm
Psalm 145:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9, 10-11
2Every day I will bless thee: and I will praise thy name for ever; yea, for ever and ever.
3Great is the Lord, and greatly to be praised: and of his greatness there is no end.
4Generation and generation shall praise thy works: and they shall declare thy power.
5They shall speak of the magnificence of the glory of thy holiness: and shall tell thy wondrous works.
6And they shall speak of the might of thy terrible acts: and shall declare thy greatness.
7They shall publish the memory of the abundance of thy sweetness: and shall rejoice in thy justice.
8The Lord is gracious and merciful: patient and plenteous in mercy.
9The Lord is sweet to all: and his tender mercies are over all his works.
10Let all thy works, O lord, praise thee: and let thy saints bless thee.
11They shall speak of the glory of thy kingdom: and shall tell of thy power:
Second Reading
3Grace to you, and peace from God our Father, and from the Lord Jesus Christ. 4I give thanks to my God always for you, for the grace of God that is given you in Christ Jesus, 5That in all things you are made rich in him, in all utterance, and in all knowledge; 6As the testimony of Christ was confirmed in you, 7So that nothing is wanting to you in any grace, waiting for the manifestation of our Lord Jesus Christ. 8Who also will confirm you unto the end without crime, in the day of the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. 9God is faithful: by whom you are called unto the fellowship of his Son Jesus Christ our Lord.
Gospel
11And it came to pass, as he was going to Jerusalem, he passed through the midst of Samaria and Galilee. 12And as he entered into a certain town, there met him ten men that were lepers, who stood afar off; 13And lifted up their voice, saying: Jesus, master, have mercy on us. 14Whom when he saw, he said: Go, shew yourselves to the priests. And it came to pass, as they went, they were made clean. 15And one of them, when he saw that he was made clean, went back, with a loud voice glorifying God. 16And he fell on his face before his feet, giving thanks: and this was a Samaritan. 17And Jesus answering, said, Were not ten made clean? and where are the nine? 18There is no one found to return and give glory to God, but this stranger. 19And he said to him: Arise, go thy way; for thy faith hath made thee whole.
Text: Douay-Rheims (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.