Instructions for Writers of Catholic Mom Daily Gospel Reflections

Please use this Calendar of Daily Gospel Reflection Signup Dates to view the reflection dates you have chosen.

You can view this calendar in DATE or NAME format; choose from the tabs at the bottom of the sheet. Please do not re-sort this form.

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Use this form to submit your Daily Gospel Reflections

You will need to fill in the form for each reflection separately.

Access the 2026 Liturgical Calendar from the USCCB to find the Gospel readings for your selected dates.

IMPORTANT: Before you begin, verify your dates on our calendar. It’s sorted by last name so you can easily reference the dates, liturgical feasts, and Gospel citations for your reflection.

Please use our submission form to send us your reflections. You will need to fill in the form separately for each reflection.

We’ve set up a calendar sorted by last name so you can easily reference the dates, liturgical feasts, and Gospel citations for your reflection. At the bottom of the sheet, you can choose to view the information sorted by NAME or DATE.

Access the 2026 Liturgical Calendar from the USCCB to find the Gospel readings for your selected dates, OR view our calendar.

Visit the USCCB Bible page and find the Gospel passage there. You may copy a verse directly into your reflection. Any direct Scripture quotes must be from the NABRE translation (which appears on the USCCB page).

We prefer that you do not use quotes other than Biblical ones in these reflections. With a maximum of 300 words, these pieces should be your thoughts about the Gospel reading of the day, not your thoughts about someone else's thoughts.

This includes quotes from saints, Father Mike Schmitz, and The Chosen, among other sources.

These reflections are based on the Gospel for the day. While you may mention a saint of the day or a theme you find carried through from the day’s psalm or other readings, the primary focus must be on the Gospel. You must use the reading listed in the USCCB readings for the day (even if other options are available for the day).

A well-done example of tying the daily Gospel to the saint of the day is the reflection for April 11, 2024 by Marge Steinhage Fenelon.

The reflections are divided into four parts. Each part has a separate entry space in the submission form.

1. Main Reflection: This should run no longer than 300 words. You can check your word count on CharacterCountOnline.com or in Microsoft Word, among other options.
2. Reflection Question: One short question to think and pray about, inspired by the Gospel.
3. Prayer: This should be brief: 2 sentences at the most should be plenty.
4. Pray Together: Offer a tangible, active way, connected to the day's Gospel and Reflection, to foster families' spiritual well-being.

You'll also be asked for 2 or 3 image keywords to help us in selecting photos that will complement your reflection. We won't be using the same image each day, as we have done in the past.

Please make sure you leave yourself enough time to consider that you've phrased your Gospel Reflection just the way you want it. It's difficult to handle revised submissions after you've already turned in your reflection.

There is ample time built into the process to make sure you're sending us the final version of your reflection.

We urge our authors to write their reflections a little early and then revise them before sending.

If you have only written Daily Gospel Reflections for CatholicMom.com in the past year, you must include your bio with each reflection.

Authors who are currently regular Catholic Mom contributors (who write articles other than Daily Gospel Reflections) do not need to include their bio.

If in doubt, include your bio. (The editor will not track down a bio that is not immediately available with your reflection. If a reflection does not contain a bio, that section will be left blank on that date.)

1. Always capitalize divine pronouns (He, Him/You, Your etc. when referring to the Father, the Son, and/or the Holy Spirit).
2. Always capitalize “Rosary”, “Church”, and “Mass”.
3. Single space after end punctuation.
4. Use Oxford comma.

Remember to keep your phrasing accessible. These reflections should be simple, brief, and clear. Our readers shouldn't need to go looking for a dictionary early in the morning before the coffee hits. 

CatholicMom.com reserves the right to change substantially or replace, without prior notice, submitted reflections that do not meet our editorial or content standards.

September 15, 2025 for reflections dated January 1 through June 30, 2026

October 15, 2025 for reflections dated July 1 through December 31, 2026

A 7-day grace period will be allowed for each deadline, and reminders will be sent at that time. After this grace period, dates for reflections that have not been submitted will be reassigned without additional notification.

We realize that there may be circumstances that cause you to miss your deadline. We will send one reminder, allowing a one-week extension, after a missed deadline. If we have not heard from you directly, and the extended deadline is missed, your reflection date(s) will be reassigned without additional notice.