Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Epiphany

Week

Week 1 of Epiphany

Rank

Sunday or semidouble observance

The Epiphany season celebrates the revelation of Christ to the nations, beginning with the feast of the Epiphany (traditionally commemorating the Magi’s visit) and continuing through the following days. This entry is Day 7 within the Octave of the Epiphany — the seventh day of the eight-day period that extends the celebration of the principal feast. An octave gives extra liturgical weight to an important feast, so the themes and prayers of Epiphany remain prominent each day of the octave. The rank “Semidouble” is a traditional liturgical classification: in plain terms, it indicates a relatively important feast with its own proper texts and prayers, but it is below the highest ranks like solemnities.

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Upon a high throne I saw a man sitting, Whom a multitude of angels adore, singing in unison: Behold Him, the name of Whose empire is forever.
Ps 99:1
Sing joyfully to God, all you lands; serve the Lord with gladness.
Glory Be to the Father…

O Lord, we beseech You, in Your heavenly goodness, hear Your people who pray to You; that they may perceive what they ought to do, and have the strength to fulfill what they have seen.
Through our Lord…

Weekly Prayer

Act of Charity

O my God, I love Thee above all things, with my whole heart and soul, because Thou art all-good and worthy of all love.

I love my neighbor as myself for the love of Thee. I forgive all who have injured me, and ask pardon of all whom I have injured.

Weekly Formation

Provocation, Praise, and Concealment

Ways of Being Accessory to Another’s Sin

By provocation
A person becomes accessory by provocation when words or actions deliberately stir another toward anger, vice, or a specific sinful response. The fault lies in intending or recklessly encouraging the temptation rather than merely being present when another reacts badly.
By praise or flattery
A person becomes accessory by praise or flattery when approval makes sinful conduct seem admirable, harmless, or worth repeating. Compliments and social encouragement can strengthen another’s bad choice even when no direct command is given.
By concealment
A person becomes accessory by concealment when wrongdoing is deliberately hidden by someone who has a duty to reveal or prevent it. Not every secret must be disclosed, but secrecy becomes cooperation when it protects the sinful action or allows injustice to continue.

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

Admonish the sinner
Admonishing the sinner is a charitable warning intended to help a person recognize and leave serious wrongdoing. It requires truth, prudence, and concern for the person’s salvation, not humiliation, anger, or a desire to display superiority.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebrationCalendar title

Day 7 within the Octave of the Epiphany

A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.

Today in Church History

Death of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor
1519Event
Maximilian I, a significant Catholic monarch, died on January 12, 1519. His reign saw the strengthening of the Habsburg influence in Europe and support for the Catholic Church.
Maximilian's reign reminds us of the complex interplay between faith and politics.
Founding of the Society of the Divine Word
1876Founding
The Society of the Divine Word, a missionary congregation, was founded by Arnold Janssen in Steyl, Netherlands, focusing on evangelization and education worldwide.
The Society of the Divine Word exemplifies the call to spread the Gospel to all corners of the earth.
Election of Pope Miltiades
311Papal
Pope Miltiades was elected as the 32nd pope, leading the Church during the transition from persecution to peace under Emperor Constantine.
Pope Miltiades' leadership marked a pivotal shift towards religious tolerance and freedom for Christians.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth in Christ Jesus, so Christ must be proclaimed to every nation and individual. The Lord commanded the apostles to preach the Gospel, the source of saving truth and moral discipline, and they handed it on both through preaching, example, and the institutions they established, and through writings inspired by the Holy Spirit. To preserve the full and living Gospel in the Church, the apostles left bishops as their successors in teaching authority. This living transmission, called Tradition, is distinct from but closely connected with Sacred Scripture; through it, the Church hands on in her doctrine, life, and worship what she is and believes. As we read and pray together, we can rejoice that God continues to speak in the Church, while the Holy Spirit leads believers into the full truth and makes Christ’s word dwell in them richly.

Sacred Tradition and Sacred Scripture are intricately linked, both flowing from the same divine source and working together to reveal the mystery of Christ, who promised to remain with us always. The Church, entrusted with the interpretation and transmission of this revelation, honors both Scripture and Tradition equally, recognizing that the early Christians relied on living Tradition before the New Testament was written. The "Sacred deposit" of faith, handed down from the apostles, calls the entire Church to remain united in practice and belief, guided by the bishops in communion with the Pope. For Catholic families, this emphasizes the importance of being open to the teachings of the Church and nurturing a harmonious relationship with their pastors, recognizing that in doing so, they are listening to Christ himself.

¶ 75

Today's Mass Readings

Open the day's Sancta MissaDivinum Officium · Divino Afflatu - 1954View readings

Day 7 within the Octave of the Epiphany

Understanding the Day

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Collect

Weekly Prayer

Act of Charity

Weekly Formation

Provocation, Praise, and Concealment

Ways of Being Accessory to Another’s Sin

The Spiritual Works of Mercy

Saint & Feast

Day 7 within the Octave of the Epiphany

Today in Church History

Death of Maximilian I, Holy Roman Emperor

Founding of the Society of the Divine Word

Election of Pope Miltiades

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Today's Mass Readings

Baltimore Catechism No. 3