Catholic calendar 27 September – 3 October 2026

Sunday, 27 September 2026 — Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time; St Vincent de Paul

Liturgical designation: Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time (green), Year A, Year II weekday cycle. The Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time and Week II of the Psalter begin. Sunday takes precedence over the memorial of St Vincent de Paul.
Readings: Ez 18:25–28; Ps 25; Phil 2:1–11; Mt 21:28–32.
Meaning of the day: The prophet Ezekiel addresses the difficult question of God’s justice. A person is not enslaved by the past. Whoever turns away from evil and begins to do what is right chooses life. St Paul presents Christ as the One who humbles Himself and takes the form of a servant. In the Gospel one son initially refuses his father but later goes to work, while the other gives the right answer and does nothing. Jesus exposes a religion reduced to declarations. The calendar also recalls St Vincent de Paul, whose life became a school of moving from words to action through concrete service of the poor, sick, abandoned and imprisoned.
Quote: “Son, go out and work in the vineyard today” (cf. Mt 21:28).
Prayer: Lord Jesus, do not allow my faith to end with words. Through the intercession of St Vincent de Paul, teach me to recognise You in those in need.
Practice: Choose one good deed today that you will not leave merely as an intention.
Saints of the day: St Vincent de Paul — priest, apostle of charity and patron of charitable works.

Monday, 28 September 2026 — Monday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Liturgical designation: Weekday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (green), Week II of the Psalter. Optional memorials of St Wenceslaus and Saints Lawrence Ruiz and Companions may also be celebrated.
Weekday readings: Job 1:6–22; Ps 17; Lk 9:46–50.
Meaning of the day: Job is introduced as a righteous and faithful man whose life suddenly collapses. The Book of Job asks whether a person can remain faithful to God not only when life is going well. In the Gospel the disciples argue about who is the greatest. Jesus places a child beside Him and shows that greatness in God’s Kingdom is different from worldly greatness. He also warns His disciples against trying to claim ownership of the good God accomplishes through others.
Quote: “The one who is least among all of you is the one who is greatest” (cf. Lk 9:48).
Prayer: God, give me faithfulness in moments I do not understand and humility that does not need to be first.
Practice: Allow someone else to take centre stage today and appreciate the good they are doing.
Remembrance of the day: St Wenceslaus; St Lawrence Ruiz and Companions.

Tuesday, 29 September 2026 — Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels

Liturgical designation: Feast of Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael, Archangels (white). Week II of the Psalter.
Readings: Dan 7:9–10, 13–14; Ps 138; Jn 1:47–51.
Meaning of the day: Daniel describes the throne of the Ancient One and countless hosts serving before Him. The Gospel speaks of heaven opened and the angels of God ascending and descending over the Son of Man. Michael, Gabriel and Raphael reveal different aspects of God’s service: Michael reminds us that no creature can take God’s place, Gabriel is the messenger of God’s great announcements, and Raphael is associated with healing and guidance.
Quote: “You will see heaven opened and the angels of God” (cf. Jn 1:51).
Prayer: St Michael, defend us from evil. St Gabriel, help us listen to God’s Word. St Raphael, guide the sick and those who travel.
Practice: Pray for protection from evil, good discernment and a sick person.
Saints of the day: Saints Michael, Gabriel and Raphael — Archangels and biblical messengers of God.

Wednesday, 30 September 2026 — St Jerome, Priest and Doctor of the Church

Liturgical designation: Obligatory memorial of St Jerome (white), during the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time. Week II of the Psalter.
Weekday readings: Job 9:1–12, 14–16; Ps 88; Lk 9:57–62.
Meaning of the day: Job stands before God’s greatness and his own limitations. The Gospel shows that following Christ is not merely another addition to a comfortably arranged life. St Jerome devoted years to studying Sacred Scripture and produced the Latin translation of the Bible that shaped Western Christianity for centuries. For Jerome, Scripture was a place of encounter with the living Christ.
Quote: “Ignorance of Scripture is ignorance of Christ” — St Jerome.
Prayer: God, through the intercession of St Jerome, awaken in me a hunger for Your Word.
Practice: Slowly read one chapter of a Gospel today and remain with one sentence that particularly speaks to you.
Saints of the day: St Jerome — priest, Doctor of the Church and translator of Sacred Scripture.

Thursday, 1 October 2026 — St Thérèse of the Child Jesus, Virgin and Doctor of the Church

Liturgical designation: Obligatory memorial of St Thérèse of the Child Jesus (white), during the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time. Week II of the Psalter.
Weekday readings: Job 19:21–27; Ps 27; Lk 10:1–12.
Meaning of the day: Job speaks his great confession of hope that his Redeemer lives. The Gospel describes Jesus sending His disciples out in trust. St Thérèse of the Child Jesus spent most of her adult life in the Carmel of Lisieux, yet became patroness of the missions. Her “little way” teaches trust in God’s mercy and holiness through small acts carried out with great love.
Quote: “My vocation is love” — St Thérèse of the Child Jesus.
Prayer: Jesus, through the intercession of St Thérèse, teach me the little way of trust.
Practice: Carry out one ordinary duty today with special care and without complaining.
Saints of the day: St Thérèse of the Child Jesus and the Holy Face — Carmelite nun, Doctor of the Church and patroness of the missions.

Friday, 2 October 2026 — The Holy Guardian Angels

Liturgical designation: Obligatory memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels (white), during the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time. Week II of the Psalter.
Readings: Ex 23:20–23a; Ps 91; Mt 18:1–5, 10.
Meaning of the day: Exodus presents God promising His people a messenger who will guard them on their journey. Psalm 91 speaks of divine protection. In the Gospel Christ warns His disciples not to despise the “little ones”, because their angels behold the face of the Father. The Memorial of the Guardian Angels expresses the Church’s conviction that God’s Providence embraces each individual human life and reminds us of the dignity of every person.
Quote: “He has commanded his angels concerning you” (cf. Ps 91).
Prayer: God, I thank You for Your invisible care. Help me to listen to good inspirations, avoid evil and respect every person You place on my path.
Practice: Say the prayer to your Guardian Angel and thank God for moments when you experienced protection or guidance.
Remembrance of the day: The Holy Guardian Angels — a sign of God’s personal care and spiritual guidance.

Saturday, 3 October 2026 — Saturday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time

Liturgical designation: Weekday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time (green), Week II of the Psalter. The Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary may also be celebrated.
Weekday readings: Job 42:1–3, 5–6, 12–17; Ps 119; Lk 10:17–24.
Meaning of the day: We reach the end of Job’s spiritual journey. He does not receive a simple explanation for all his suffering, but his encounter with God changes his perspective. In the Gospel the disciples return from their mission delighted with their success. Jesus purifies their joy and directs it towards something deeper: their identity should not rest upon success, influence or extraordinary experiences, but upon belonging to God.
Quote: “Rejoice that your names are written in heaven” (cf. Lk 10:20).
Prayer: Lord, when I do not understand something, teach me to remain with You. Free me from making my worth dependent on success and the opinions of others.
Practice: Look back over the week and thank God not only for what went well but also for one difficulty through which you learned something.
Remembrance of the day: Saturday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time; optional Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary.

The period from 27 September to 3 October 2026 forms a coherent spiritual journey. The Twenty-Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time begins with the difference between declaration and real obedience to God. St Vincent de Paul shows how the Gospel can take concrete form in works of mercy.

The story of Job asks about faithfulness in the midst of loss. The Feast of the Archangels reminds us that the invisible spiritual reality remains entirely subject to God. St Jerome leads us towards Scripture, while St Thérèse demonstrates how ordinary life can become a path of profound holiness.

The Guardian Angels remind us of God’s care, while the conclusion of Job leads us towards humility before mystery and towards a joy rooted not in success but in belonging to God.