February 2022 - Overview for the Month
The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of February 2022
Religious Sisters and Consecrated Women: We pray for religious sisters and consecrated women; thanking them for their mission and their courage; may they continue to find new responses to the challenges of our times. (See also http://www.popesprayerusa.net/.)
Feasts for February
2. Feast of Presentation of the Lord, Feast3. Blaise; Ansgar, Opt. Mem.
5. Agatha, Memorial
6. Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
8. Jerome Emiliani; Josephine Bakhita, Opt. Mem.
10. Scholastica, Memorial
11. Our Lady of Lourdes, Opt. Mem.
13. Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
14. Cyril and Methodius, Memorial
17. Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites, Opt. Mem.
20. Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
21. Peter Damian, Opt. Mem.
22. Feast of Chair of St. Peter, Feast
23. Polycarp of Smyrna, Memorial
27. Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time, Sunday
Focus of the Liturgy
The Gospel readings for the Sundays in February are taken from St. Luke following the Lectionary Cycle C, and the Weekday readings follow Year II.
February 6th | Year C, Luke 5:1-11: This Gospel is about the miraculous catch of fishes after Peter and the Apostles had fished all night. |
February 13 | Year C, Luke 6:17, 20-26: Jesus teaches the Beatitudes. "Behold, your reward will be great in heaven." |
February 20 | Year C, Luke 6:27-38: Jesus says "the measure with which you measure will in return be measured out to you." |
February 27 | Year C, Luke 6:39-45: Jesus says to remove the wooden beam from your own eye before removing the splinter in your brother's eye. |
Highlights of the Month
The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ's public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.
The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother's arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice.
The saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are St. Blaise (February 3), St. Agatha (February 5), St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8), St. Scholastica (February 10), Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11), Sts. Cyril and Methodius (February 14), Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites (February 17), St. Peter Damian (February 21), the Chair of St. Peter (February 22) and St. Polycarp (February 23).
The feast of St. Paul Miki & Companions (February 6) is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.
From Feast to Fast
Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter)! In addition, the faithful may receive in February two of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats.
The Solemnity of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save his people from their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy.
"The Light of Revelation" shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday (March 2) and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son.

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