February 16
Tuesday, week 1 of Lent
Feast shown for the year 2027; movable feasts can vary from year to year.
Today is a weekday in the First Week of Lent, commonly known as a Lenten feria. During Lent, the Church emphasizes prayer, fasting, and almsgiving as ways to prepare for the celebration of Christ’s Resurrection at Easter. A feria, in the liturgical sense, is a day without a specific saint's feast, allowing the faithful to focus more directly on the liturgical season and its spiritual themes. The readings and prayers at Mass during Lenten ferias draw attention to repentance, conversion of heart, and increased devotion. The purple (violet) color of the vestments symbolizes penance and humility. Lenten weekdays are considered privileged ferias, meaning their penitential character is especially important for spiritual renewal. The discipline of Lenten ferias calls Christians to deepen their relationship with God and neighbor through self-examination and renewed commitment to living the Gospel. As the Church journeys through Lent, these days encourage all to heed Christ’s call to conversion with simplicity and sincerity.
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Questions about Tuesday, week 1 of Lent (Novus Ordo Missae)
Liturgical texts of February 16, 2027
The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingIs 55, 10-11
Thus says the Lord:
"The rain and the snow that come down from the heavens
do not return there without having watered the earth,
without making it fruitful and sprout,
giving seed to the sower
and bread to those who need to eat;
so my word, which goes out from my mouth,
will not return to me without result,
without having done what pleases me,
without having accomplished its mission."
– The word of the Lord.
Psalm33 (34), 4-5, 6-7, 16-17, 18-19
Magnify the Lord with me,
let us exalt his name together.
I seek the Lord, and he answers me:
from all my fears, he delivers me.
Those who look to him will shine,
with no shadow or shame on their faces.
A poor man cries out; the Lord hears him:
he saves him from all his distress.
The Lord watches over the righteous,
he listens closely to their cries.
The Lord confronts the wicked
to blot out their memory from the earth.
The Lord hears those who call to him:
from all their distress, he delivers them.
He is close to the brokenhearted,
he saves those whose spirit is crushed.
GospelMt 6, 7-15
At that time,
Jesus said to his disciples:
"When you pray,
do not babble on like the pagans do:
they think that by using many words they will be heard.
Do not imitate them,
for your Father knows what you need
even before you ask him.
So you, pray like this:
Our Father, who art in heaven,
hallowed be thy name,
thy kingdom come,
thy will be done,
on earth as it is in heaven.
Give us this day our daily bread.
Forgive us our debts,
as we also forgive
our debtors.
And do not let us enter into temptation,
but deliver us from Evil.
For if you forgive others their wrongs,
your heavenly Father will also forgive you.
But if you do not forgive others,
neither will your Father forgive your wrongs."
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org