This feast falls in the Time after Epiphany, the season that follows the celebration of Christ’s revelation and continues the Church’s reflection on who Jesus is and what his coming means for the world. The rank “Simple” means this celebration is observed with modest liturgical prominence: it has its own prayers and readings but does not replace major feasts or obligate special rituals. There is no octave or vigil attached to this day in the given calendar, so the observance is a single-day commemoration within the week.
Introit (Daily Prayer)
Ps 65:4 Let all on earth worship You, O God, and sing praise to You, sing praise to Your name, Most High. Ps 65:1-2 Shout joyfully to God, all you on earth, sing praise to the glory of His name; proclaim His glorious praise. Glory Be to the Father…
Commemoration Sts. Marius, Martha, Audifax & Abachum Be appeased by the prayers of Your Saints, O Lord, and grant, we beseech You, that the rites we perform in this lifetime may avail for our eternal salvation. Through our Lord… Commemoration St. Canute, Martyr Grant, we beseech thee, O our God, that we who in time render joyful service in memory of thy saints, may be gladdened by their company in eternity. Through our Lord…
Weekly Prayer
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because I dread the loss of Heaven and the pains of Hell; but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love.
I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to confess my sins, to do penance, and to amend my life. Amen.
Weekly Formation
Partaking, Silence, and Defense
Ways of Being Accessory to Another’s Sin
By partaking
A person becomes accessory by partaking when he knowingly shares in the performance, benefit, or necessary support of another’s sinful act. The degree of guilt depends on intention, freedom, closeness to the act, and whether the assistance helped cause it.
By silence
A person becomes accessory by silence when a serious duty to speak, warn, correct, or protect is deliberately neglected. Silence is not automatically consent, but it becomes blameworthy when speaking was reasonably possible and necessary to prevent or oppose the wrong.
By defense of the sinful action
A person becomes accessory by defending a sinful action when he knowingly excuses, justifies, or protects the wrongdoing as though it were right. Defending the dignity or legal rights of a sinner is different from defending the sin itself.
The Spiritual Works of Mercy
Instruct the ignorant
Instructing the ignorant means teaching needed truth to someone who does not know it, especially truth concerning faith and moral duty. The work presumes patience and accuracy and differs from winning an argument or displaying knowledge.
Saint & Feast
Principal celebration
Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum
Ss. Marius, Martha, Audifax, and Abachum, Martyrs
Marius and Martha and their sons Audifax and Abachum are traditionally described as Persian Christians who aided persecuted believers while visiting Rome.
Marius and Martha and their sons Audifax and Abachum are traditionally described as Persian Christians who aided persecuted believers while visiting Rome. Their surviving passio is late and legendary, but the group has long been venerated together as martyrs.
In 1511, Pope Julius II laid siege to the Duchy of Mirandola, which eventually surrendered to him on January 20, 1511. This event marked a significant moment in the consolidation of papal power in Italy, underscoring the Pope's role not only as a spiritual leader but also as a political authority in the region during the Renaissance.
The surrender reflects the importance of unity and authority within the Church's governance.
Death of Saint Vincent Pallotti
1860Founding
Saint Vincent Pallotti, founder of the Society of the Catholic Apostolate, passed away on January 19, 1860. He was a pioneer in promoting lay involvement in the Church's mission.
Saint Vincent's vision for lay participation encourages us to actively engage in the Church's mission.
Catechism
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Church teaches that God’s one divine plan is revealed through both the Old and New Testaments. In the Old Covenant, God’s works prefigure what he accomplished in the fullness of time through his incarnate Son. Christians read the Old Testament in the light of Christ crucified and risen, while remembering that the Old Testament retains its own value as Revelation. The New Testament, too, is read in the light of the Old. For a family’s daily devotion, Scripture can be a source of strength for faith, food for the soul, and a lasting fount of spiritual life. The Church warmly encourages all the faithful to read the divine Scriptures frequently, so that they may come to know Jesus Christ more deeply.
Sacred Scripture is one unified book that speaks of Christ and is fulfilled in him. Because God inspired its human authors, the Scriptures are truly the Word of God and teach his saving truth without error. As we read both the Old and New Testaments, we see the unity of God’s plan: the Old prepares for the New, and the New fulfills the Old. The Gospels hold a central place because Christ Jesus is their center. Let us receive and venerate Scripture as the Church does, allowing God’s Word to nourish and guide our Christian life as a lamp for our path.
¶ 130
Typology indicates the dynamic movement toward the fulfilment of the divine plan when "God [will] be everything to everyone." Nor do the calling of the patriarchs and the exodus from Egypt, for example, lose their own value in God's plan, from the mere fact that they were intermediate stages.
Canute IV ruled Denmark from 1080 until he was killed in Odense in 1086 during a rebellion.
Canute IV ruled Denmark from 1080 until he was killed in Odense in 1086 during a rebellion. He supported the Church and was canonized in 1101, becoming the first Danish king recognized as a saint.
"and such is the force and power of the Word of God that it can serve the Church as her support and vigour, and the children of the Church as strength for their faith, food for the soul, and a pure and lasting fount of spiritual life." Hence "access to Sacred Scripture ought to be open wide to the Christian faithful."
¶ 132
"Therefore, the study of the sacred page should be the very soul of sacred theology. the ministry of the Word, too - pastoral preaching, catechetics and all forms of Christian instruction, among which the liturgical homily should hold pride of place - is healthily nourished and thrives in holiness through the Word of Scripture."
¶ 133
The Church "forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful... to learn the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ, by frequent reading of the divine Scriptures. Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.
¶ 134
"All Sacred Scripture is but one book, and that one book is Christ, because all divine Scripture speaks of Christ, and all divine Scripture is fulfilled in Christ" (Hugh of St. Victor, De arca Noe 2, 8: PL 176, 642).
¶ 135
"The Sacred Scriptures contain the Word of God and, because they are inspired, they are truly the Word of God" (DV 24).
¶ 136
God is the author of Sacred Scripture because he inspired its human authors; he acts in them and by means of them. He thus gives assurance that their writings teach without error his saving truth (cf DV 11).
¶ 137
Interpretation of the inspired Scripture must be attentive above all to what God wants to reveal through the sacred authors for our salvation. What comes from the Spirit is not fully "understood except by the Spirit's action' (cf. Origen, Hom. in Ex. 4, 5: PG 12, 320).
Baltimore track
Baltimore Catechism No. 3
The Apostles' Creed
Q. 82.Why does the Church Canonize Saints?
A.The Church Canonizes Saints (1) to honor them, and (2) to make us certain that they are in heaven, and may, therefore, be invoked in our prayers.
Q. 83.Can the Church err in the Canonization of a Saint?
A.The Church cannot err in matters of faith or morals, and the Canonization of a Saint is a matter of faith and morals.
Q. 84.What is the difference between a Saint and an Angel?
A.The Saints lived upon the earth in bodies like our own. The Angels never inhabited the earth, though they visit it and remain for a time with us. They have not now and never will have bodies.
Q. 85.Through what means may we obtain the "forgiveness of sins"?
A.We may obtain the "forgiveness of sins" especially through the Sacraments of Baptism and Penance.