February 4
Thursday, week 4 in Ordinary Time
Africa : St. Celerina and her companions, martyrs
Feast shown for the year 2027; movable feasts can vary from year to year.
Today is observed as a "feria" or "ferial day" in the liturgical calendar, meaning there is no specific saint or feast assigned to this date. In Ordinary Time, such days provide a space for Catholics to focus on the ongoing journey of faith, reflecting on the readings of the day and the general call to holiness. The word 'feria' comes from the Latin for 'free day,' signifying a day free from any fixed feast or solemnity, though the regular celebration of the Eucharist remains central. During these days, the liturgy draws from the continuous readings of Scripture, inviting the faithful to contemplate the teachings and example of Jesus in daily life and prayer.
Ordinary Time itself is a period outside of the great liturgical seasons of Advent, Christmas, Lent, and Easter, marked by the liturgical color green—a sign of growth and hope. The Church encourages the faithful on ferial days to cultivate interior spiritual growth, to be attentive to God's presence in simple, routine moments, and to renew their commitment to love and service. By celebrating these quieter days, the Church reminds all that every moment in life can be holy and that spiritual transformation is not limited to high feasts, but happens continually in the ordinary.
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Questions about Thursday, week 4 in Ordinary Time (Novus Ordo Missae)
Local variations
- Africa — St. Celerina and her companions, martyrs
Liturgical texts of February 4, 2027
The liturgical day
Mass readings
ReadingHe 12, 18-19.21-24
Brothers,
when you came to God,
you did not come to a tangible reality,
blazing with fire, like Mount Sinai:
not darkness, gloom or storm,
no sound of trumpets
nor words spoken by that voice
that the children of Israel begged not to hear again.
The scene was so terrifying
that Moses said:
I am terrified and trembling.
But you have come to Mount Zion
and to the city of the living God, the heavenly Jerusalem,
to myriads of angels in celebration
and to the assembly of the firstborn
whose names are written in heaven.
You have come to God, the judge of all,
and to the spirits of the righteous made perfect.
You have come to Jesus,
the mediator of a new covenant,
and to the sprinkled blood,
his blood which speaks more loudly than that of Abel.
– The word of the Lord.
Psalm47 (48), 2-3a, 3b- 4, 9, 10-11
The Lord is great and highly praised,
in the city of our God,
his holy mountain, proud and beautiful,
the joy of all the earth.
Mount Zion, it is the summit of the world,
the city of the great king;
God reveals himself, in its palaces,
a true citadel.
We had heard of it; now we have seen it
in the city of the Lord, God of the universe,
in the city of God, our God,
who will make it firm forever.
God, we recall your love
in the midst of your temple.
Your praise, like your name,
fills all the earth.
GospelMc 6, 7-13
At that time,
Jesus called the Twelve;
then he began to send them out two by two.
He gave them authority over unclean spirits,
and instructed them to take nothing for the journey,
except a staff;
no bread, no bag,
no coins in their belts.
"Wear sandals,
do not take a spare tunic."
He said to them further:
"When you find hospitality in a house,
stay there until you leave.
If, in a place,
they refuse to welcome or listen to you,
leave and shake the dust from your feet:
that will be a testimony against them."
They set out,
and proclaimed that all should repent.
They cast out many demons,
anointed many sick people with oil,
and cured them.
– Let us acclaim the Word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org