First Sunday of Lent 2026

On this First Sunday of Lent, the Church presents Christ’s victory over Satan in the desert (Matthew 4:1–11), showing that temptation is permitted by God not for defeat but for triumph; by answering each assault with Scriptum est — “It is written” — Our Lord teaches us that fidelity to Sacred Scripture, the perennial Magisterium, and disciplined penance is the path to spiritual victory. Lent is our desert: through fasting, prayer, and almsgiving we combat the temptations of the flesh, pride, and worldliness, clinging to the unchanging Catholic faith and liturgical tradition, especially in times of ecclesial confusion. Christ’s example calls laity, clergy, and bishops alike to courageous repentance, doctrinal clarity, and persevering holiness, trusting that if we endure the combat faithfully, the angels too will minister to us in victory.