FEBRUARY 21 2026

Leader: O Lord, open my lips. All: And my mouth shall declare your praise.
Come, let us worship Christ the Lord, who for our sake endured temptation and suffering.

Psalm 119:169-176

Lord, let my cry come before you:
teach me by your word.
Let my pleading come before you:
save me by your promise.

Let my lips proclaim your praise
because you teach me your statutes.
Let my tongue sing your promise
for your commands are just.

Let your hand be ready to help me,
since I have chosen your precepts.
Lord, I long for your saving help
and your law is my delight.

Give life to my soul that I may praise you.
Let your decrees give me help.
I am lost like a sheep; seek your servant
for I remember your commands.

Reading: From the treatise Against Heresies by St. Irenaeus

Our Lord, the Word of God, first drew men to God as servants, but later he freed those made subject to him. He himself testified to this: I do not call you servants any longer, for a servant does not know what his master is doing. Instead I call you friends, since I have made known to you everything that I have learned from my Father. Friendship with God brings the gift of immortality to those who accept it.

Pray either the Canticle of Zechariah or the Canticle of Mary. You can find them here.
Antiphon for the Canticle of Zechariah:    Store up for yourselves treasures in heaven where neither rust nor moth can destroy.
Antiphon for the Canticle of Mary:       Man cannot live on bread alone but by every word that comes from the mouth of God.

Intercessions

Keep our hearts pure.
Lord, help us with your grace.
Help us to do your will in all we do today.
Lord, help us with your grace.
Forgive us our sins.
Lord, help us with your grace.

Dear Father,
Look with pity on our weakness. Help us to draw closer to you through this Lenten season. We ask this through Jesus your Son in union with the Holy Spirit. Amen.