Catholic Morning Offering, Thursday, February 26, 2026

Starting the morning off with God is the key to strength and success in your day!

Join me in praying the Catholic morning offering, as well as hear meditations, learn about the saint of the day,  and hear today's Scripture readings from Holy Mass.

To sign up to receive a daily email of the Morning Offering through The Catholic Company, go to https://www.morningoffering.com/

Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 2010, International Commission on English in the Liturgy Corporation. All rights reserved.

The Morning Glory Consecration Prayer is excerpted from "33 Days to Morning Glory:  A Do-It-Yourself Retreat in Preparation for Marian Consecration" by Michael E. Gaitley, MIC, © 2011 Marian Fathers of the Immaculate Conception of the B.V.M., p. 137.

I want to assure you that I never use AI in recording this podcast!

If you have any comments, please email me at Deanna.pierre25@gmail.com.

Transcript

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Starting the morning off with God is the key to strength and success in your day. Good morning! Today is Thursday, February 26th, 2026. Please join me in praying the morning offering prayer and prayers for our Holy Father. In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer you my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day, for all the intentions of your sacred heart, in union with the holy sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, for the salvation of souls, the reparation of sins, the reunion of all Christians, and in particular for the holy intentions of the Holy Father this month, amen. Prayers for the Holy Father Almighty and everlasting God, have mercy upon thy servant, Pope Leo XV, our Supreme Pontiff, and direct him according to thy loving kindness in the way of eternal salvation, that of thy gift he may ever desire that which is pleasing unto thee, and may accomplish it with all his might, through Christ our Lord, amen. 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, and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us, and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil, amen. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, world without end, amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Quote from Saint Athanasius of Alexandria Jesus' body was for him not a limitation, but an instrument, so that he was both in it and in all things, and outside all things, resting in the Father above. At one and the same time, this is the wonder, as man he was a human life, and as word he was sustaining the life of the universe, and as Son he was in constant union with the Father. Meditation of the Day, an excerpt from Spiritual Combat How to Win Your Spiritual Battles and Attain Inner Peace by Lorenzo Scupoli Pages one hundred and twenty five through one hundred twenty six. Mental prayer is the lifting up of our heart to God, accompanied with an actual or virtual request for something we desire. It is an actual request when we clothe our thought or desire with unspoken words, mentally forming such sentences as these or others like them. O Lord, grant me this grace for thy name's sake, or O Lord, I believe it is in accordance with thy will and for thy glory that I should ask and receive this grace from thee, accomplish therefore, now thy divine will in me. And when you feel the assaults of your enemies, say thus My God, hasten thou to help me that I yield not to my enemies, or My God my refuge, thou strength of my heart, help me speedily lest I fall. And continue to pray in this way until the struggle is over, manfully resisting your enemy all the while. When the heat of the conflict is past, turn to your Lord and present before him the enemy who has been attacking you and your own frailty in resisting him, and say, See, O Lord, the creature of thy bounty, which thou hast made with thy hands and redeemed with thy blood. Behold also thine enemy, who strives to pluck it out of thy hand and to devour it. To thee, O Lord, I fly for succour, in thee alone do I trust, for thou art almighty and infinitely good, and knowest my weakness and my proneness to yield myself up a willing captive to my enemies, unless thou help me. Help me, therefore, my hope and the strength of my soul. It is a virtual request when we lift up our heart to God to gain some grace, showing him our need without moulding our thoughts into words or sentences. When, for instance, I lift up my mind to God and present before him the consciousness of my own inability either to defend myself from any evil or to perform any good action, and, burning in his presence with the desire to serve him, I humbly and faithfully await his help and admire and intently gaze upon the Lord Himself. This confession of our weakness, enkindled with fervent desire and faith toward God, is a prayer that virtually asks for what we want. And the more convinced we are of our weakness when we acknowledge it, the more ardent our desire, and the more vivid our faith, the more efficacious will our prayer be. There is another swifter kind of virtual prayer which consists of a mere glance of the mind toward God, so as to implore His help, a glance that is, as it were, a silent remembrance, asking for the grace for which we had prayed before. We should strive to form the habit of praying in this way, for it is a weapon of more value and assistance than I can say, as experience has shown, and one that we may lay hold of at all times and on all occasions. Scripture verse of the day for now we see in a mirror dimly, but then face to face. Now I know in part, but then I will know fully just as I have been fully known. But now faith, hope, love abide these three, but the greatest of these is love. Saint of the Day The Saint of the Day for february twenty sixth is Saint Porphyry. Saint Porphyry of Gaza lived approximately between three hundred forty seven and four hundred twenty AD. He was born in Thessalonica in present day Greece. Although a wealthy man, at the age of twenty five he went to live in Egypt as a desert hermit. He later moved to Palestine near the Jordan River, then to Jerusalem itself. He did great penances and would often visit the holy places where Jesus lived and walked, despite his poor health. He then renounced all material goods and his inheritance and became a priest in Jerusalem at the age of forty. The relics of the true cross in Jerusalem were entrusted to his care. Despite his protests, he was ordained bishop of Gaza, a pagan stronghold with an insignificant Christian community. Gaza's pagans were hostile, and Saint Porphyry appealed to the emperor for protection and for the destruction of pagan temples, which he obtained. Saint Porphyry built a Christian church on the site of the most important pagan temple dedicated to the chief god so that he could say mass in the place where the devil was previously most honored. Saint Porphyry labored for his flock and won many converts through his miracles, though pagan opposition continued throughout his life. He was successful in spreading the Christian faith across his diocese. Saint Porphyry, pray for us. Readings for Holy Mass for Thursday of the first week of Lent A reading from the Book of Esther chapter twelve verses fourteen through sixteen and twenty three through twenty five. Queen Esther, seized with mortal anguish, had recourse to the Lord. She lay prostrate upon the ground, together with her handmaids, from morning until evening, and said God of Abraham, God of Isaac, and God of Jacob, blessed are you, help me who am alone, and have no help but you, for I am taking my life in my hand. As a child I used to hear from the books of my forefathers that you, O Lord, always free those who are pleasing to you. Now help me who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord my God. And now come to help me an orphan, put in my mouth persuasive words in the presence of the lion, and turn his heart to hatred for our enemy, so that he and those who are in league with him may perish. Save us from the hand of our enemies, turn our mourning into gladness and our sorrows into wholeness. The Word of the Lord Responsorial Psalm Psalm one hundred thirty eight Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. I will give thanks to you, O Lord, with all my heart, for you have heard the words of my mouth. In the presence of the angels I will sing your praise, I will worship at your holy temple, and give thanks to your name. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. Because of your kindness and your truth, for you have made great above all things your name and your promise. When I called, you answered me, you built up strength within me. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. Your right hand saves me. The Lord will complete what he has done for me. Your kindness, O Lord, endures forever. Forsake not the work of your hands. Lord, on the day I called for help, you answered me. A reading from the Holy Gospel according to Matthew, chapter seven verses seven through twelve. Jesus said to his disciples, Ask and it will be given to you, seek and you will find. Knock and the door will be opened to you, for everyone who asks receives, and the one who seeks finds, and to the one who knocks the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him? Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets. The Gospel of the Lord Prayer of Spiritual Communion In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. My Jesus, I believe that you are present in the most blessed sacrament. I love you above all things, and I desire to receive you into my soul. Since I cannot now receive you sacramentally, come at least spiritually into my heart. I embrace you as if you were already there, and unite myself wholly to you. Never permit me to be separated from you, amen. Morning Glory Consecration Prayer Mary, my mother, I give myself totally to you as your possession and property. Please make of me, of all that I am and have, whatever most pleases you. Let me be a fit instrument in your immaculate and merciful hands for bringing the greatest possible glory to God. Amen. Prayer to Saint Joseph O glorious Saint Joseph, chosen by God to be the guardian of the Holy Family, whose protection is so great, so strong, in union with the Blessed Virgin Mary and our Savior Jesus Christ, send down from heaven a blessing from God to protect us from any harm, strengthen us in body, soul, and spirit. We ask this through thy powerful intercession. Holy Family, pray for us, amen. Guardian Angel Prayer O angel of God, my guardian dear, to whom God's love commits me here, ever this day be at my side, to light and guard, to rule and guide, amen. Prayer to Saint Michael the Archangel. Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him we humbly pray, and do thou, O prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God, cast into hell Satan and all the evil spirits, who prowl throughout the world, seeking the ruin of souls, amen. The three Hail Marys Devotion The first Hail Mary, in honor of God the Father. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. The second Hail Mary in honor of God the Son. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. The third Hail Mary, in honor of God, the Holy Spirit. Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with thee. Blessed art thou amongst women, and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death, amen. O my mother, preserve my soul from mortal sin during this day. Amen. Memori to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my mother, to thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen. Act of Faith. O my God, I firmly believe that you are one God in three divine persons, Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. I believe that your divine Son became man, died for our sins, and that he will come to judge the living and the dead. I believe these and all the truths which the Holy Catholic Church teaches, because you have revealed them who can neither deceive nor be deceived. In this faith I intend to live and die. Amen. Act of hope. O my God, relying on your almighty power, infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon for my sins, the help of your grace, and the life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer. Amen. Act of love. O my God, I love you above all things with my whole heart and soul, because you are all good and worthy of all love. I love my neighbor as myself for the love of you. I forgive all who have injured me and ask pardon of all whom I have injured. Amen. Prayer for the poor souls in purgatory. O gentle heart of Jesus, ever present in the Blessed Sacrament, ever consumed with burning love for the poor captive souls in purgatory, have mercy on them. Be not severe in thy judgment, but let some drops of thy precious blood fall upon the devouring flames. Merciful Savior, send thy angels to conduct them to a place of refreshment, light, and peace. Amen. Act of resignation to the divine will. O Lord my God, from this moment do I accept from thy hands with burning love and sincere contrition, with a calm and willing disposition, whatsoever death thou shalt choose to send me with its pains and griefs. Amen. In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, amen. Starting the morning off with God is the key to strength and success in your day.