Monday of the First Week of Lent
Commemoration of St. Polycarp, 69-155; a letter addressed to him by St. Ignatius tells him to care for the Church and his own surviving epistle shows he encouraged the Philippians on the path of righteousness; St. Iraneus praises his defense of orthodoxy and his energy in combating heresy; during a visit to Rome, St. Polycarp spoke to the bishop, Anicetus, who agreed to let the Eastern churches calculate the date of Easter in their own way; Polycarp was arrested and martyred during a pagan festival in Smyrna, when he refused to deny Christ
Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/23/26
Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46

<ul>
<li>Monday of the First Week of Lent</li>
<li>Commemoration of St. Polycarp, 69-155; a letter addressed to him by St. Ignatius tells him to care for the Church and his own surviving epistle shows he encouraged the Philippians on the path of righteousness; St. Iraneus praises his defense of orthodoxy and his energy in combating heresy; during a visit to Rome, St. Polycarp spoke to the bishop, Anicetus, who agreed to let the Eastern churches calculate the date of Easter in their own way; Polycarp was arrested and martyred during a pagan festival in Smyrna, when he refused to deny Christ</li>
<li>Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/23/26</li>
<li>Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46</li>
</ul>

Daybreak™ is a fresh, upbeat approach to morning devotions and prayer. Host Paul Sadek leads you in spiritual reflections and meditations from the daily Mass readings, Morning Prayer, the Holy Father’s teachings, writing of the saints, and more.

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Daybreak for February 23, 2026

Thursday of the First Week of Lent
Saint of the Day: St. Isabel of France, 1225-1270; sister of St. Louis and daughter of King Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile; she refused offers of marriage to continue her life of virginity consecrated to God; she ministered to the sick and the poor, and after the death of her mother, founded the Franciscan Monastery of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary; she lived there in austerity, but never became a nun and refused to become abbess; she died there in 1270
Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/26/26
Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

<ul>
<li>Thursday of the First Week of Lent</li>
<li>Saint of the Day: St. Isabel of France, 1225-1270; sister of St. Louis and daughter of King Louis VIII of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4817">France</a> and Blanche of Castile; she refused offers of marriage to continue her&nbsp;<a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=7101">life</a>&nbsp;of&nbsp;<a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=12105">virginity</a> consecrated to God; she ministered to the sick and the poor, and after the death of her mother, founded the Franciscan Monastery of the <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=5969">Humility</a> of the Blessed Virgin Mary; she lived there in austerity, but never became a nun and refused to become abbess; she died there in 1270</li>
<li>Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/26/26</li>
<li>Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12</li>
</ul>

Daybreak for February 26, 2026

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
Saint of the Day: St. Victorinus; Third Century citizen of Corinth, Greece, he was exiled with a group of fellow Christians to Egypt during the persecutions under Emperor Numerian; Victor and the others had been exiled in 249 and lived in Egypt; under Governor Sabinus they were arrested again, brutally tortured, and finally executed at Diospolis in 284
Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/25/26
Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

<ul>
<li>Wednesday of the First Week of Lent</li>
<li>Saint of the Day: St. Victorinus; Third Century citizen of Corinth, Greece, he was exiled with a group of fellow Christians to&nbsp;<a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=4193">Egypt</a> during the persecutions under Emperor Numerian; <a href="https://www.catholic.org/encyclopedia/view.php?id=12046">Victor</a> and the others had been exiled in 249 and lived in Egypt; under Governor Sabinus they were arrested again, brutally tortured, and finally executed at Diospolis in 284</li>
<li>Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/25/26</li>
<li>Gospel: Luke 11:29-32</li>
</ul>

Daybreak for February 25, 2026

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
Saint of the Day: St. Adela, 1067-1137; youngest daughter of William the Conqueror; in 1080 she married Stephen of Blois; throughout her life, Adela had an active role in English politics; she was famed for endowing churches and monastic institutions
Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/24/26
Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

<ul>
<li>Tuesday of the First Week of Lent</li>
<li>Saint of the Day: St. Adela, 1067-1137; youngest daughter of William the Conqueror; in 1080 she married Stephen of Blois; throughout her life, Adela had an active role in English politics; she was famed for endowing churches and monastic institutions</li>
<li>Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/24/26</li>
<li>Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15</li>
</ul>

Daybreak for February 23, 2026

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