October falls during the liturgical season known as Tempus per Annum or Ordinary Time (formerly Time After Pentecost), which is represented by the liturgical color green. Green is a symbol of hope, as it is the color of the sprouting seed and arouses in the faithful the hope of reaping the eternal harvest of heaven, especially the hope of a glorious resurrection. The liturgical color green is worn during the praying of Offices and celebration of Masses of Ordinary Time.
The Holy Father's Intentions for the Month of October 2026
For mental health ministry: Let us pray that the mental health ministry be established throughout the Church, helping to overcome the stigma and discrimination of persons with mental illnesses.
The month of October is dedicated to the Holy Rosary. The Memorial of Our Lady of the Rosary is celebrated on October 7.
Focus of the Liturgy
The Gospels for the Sundays in October 2026 are taken from Gospel of St. Matthew for Cycle A; Weekdays follow Year II.
| October 4th Twenty-Seventh Sunday in Ordinary Time |
Cycle A: Matthew 21:33-43: He will lease his vineyard to other tenants. |
| October 11th Twenty-Eighth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
Cycle A: Matthew 22:1-14: Invite to the wedding feasts whoever you find. |
| October 18th Twenty-Ninth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
Cycle A: Matthew 22:15-21: Repay to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God. |
| October 25th Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time |
Cycle A: Matthew 22:34-40: You shall love the Lord your God and your neighbor as yourself. |
This month the main liturgical feasts are:
St. Thérèse (October 1),
Guardian Angels (October 2),
St. Faustina and Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos (USA) (October 5),
St. Bruno (October 6),
Our Lady of the Rosary (October 7),
St. Denis, St. John Leonardi and St. John Henry Newman (October 9),
St. Carlo Acutis (October 12),
St. Callistus I (October 14),
St. Teresa of Jesus (October 15),
Sts. Hedwig and Margaret Mary Alocoque (October 16),
St. Ignatius of Antioch (October 17),
Sts. John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and Companions (October 19),
St. Paul of the Cross (October 20),
St. John Paul II (October 22),
St. John Capistrano (October 23),
St. Anthony Mary Claret (October 24), and
Sts. Simon and Jude (October 28).
From catholicculture.org
