Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Lent

Week

Week 1 of Lent

Rank

Weekday

Lent is a forty-day season of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving that prepares Christians for Easter. A “Greater Non-Privileged Feria” is a weekday with liturgical importance but without the special rank of a feast or memorial: the Mass and the daily Office follow the season’s readings and prayers rather than those of a saint or solemnity. There is no octave or vigil attached to this day; its focus remains on Lenten observance.

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Ps 95.6.
Splendor and majesty go before Him; praise and grandeur are in His sanctuary.
Ps 95:1
Sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord, all you lands.
Glory Be to the Father…

We beseech You, O Lord, look graciously upon the fervor of Your people, who mortify themselves in the flesh through abstinence: that they may be refreshed in mind by the fruit of these good works.
Through our Lord…

Weekly Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit

Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of Thy faithful
and enkindle in them the fire of Thy love.

℣ Send forth Thy Spirit, and they shall be created.
℟ And Thou shalt renew the face of the earth.

Let us pray.
O God, Who didst instruct the hearts of the faithful by the light of the Holy Spirit, grant us in the same Spirit to be truly wise, and ever to rejoice in His consolation.
Through Christ our Lord. Amen.

Weekly Formation

Beatitude 1

The Beatitudes

Blessed are the poor in spirit; for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Poverty of spirit is freedom from placing the heart’s security in wealth, status, or self-sufficiency. It belongs to rich and poor alike when they depend humbly on God and remain willing to surrender created goods rather than offend Him.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebrationCalendar title

Thursday of Week 1 of Lent

A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.

Customs & Fasting

Traditional fast

Traditional Lenten fast.

Today in Church History

Battle of Benevento and Papal Influence
1266Event
The Battle of Benevento in 1266 marked a significant moment in Catholic history as Pope Clement IV's support for Charles of Anjou solidified papal influence in political matters of the time. This event not only led to the death of Manfred, a rival king, but also reinforced the relationship between the papacy and the Kingdom of Sicily and Naples.
God's providence can be seen in the unfolding of historical events that shape the Church's mission.
Galileo's Ban by the Catholic Church (1616)
1616Event
In 1616, Galileo Galilei was formally prohibited by the Roman Catholic Church from advocating the heliocentric model, which posited that the Earth orbits the Sun. This event marked a significant conflict between science and Church doctrine, reflecting the tensions of the time regarding faith and reason.
This event reminds us of the importance of humility in the pursuit of truth, whether in faith or science.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

In these paragraphs, the Catechism proclaims Jesus Christ as the eternal Son of God made man, sent by the Father to redeem us and fulfill God’s promises. Jesus, who suffered and died for us and now lives with us forever after rising, draws us into communion with himself. Through him, we are led to the love of the Father in the Holy Spirit and share in the life of the Holy Trinity. For our daily faith and devotion, these truths invite us to grow in loving knowledge of Christ, to listen closely to his words and actions, and to share the Good News with others. As we deepen our understanding of the faith and the mysteries of Jesus’ life, may we joyfully say yes to him and remain in communion with him.

¶ 422

'But when the time had fully come, God sent forth his Son, born of a woman, born under the law, to redeem those who were under the law, so that we might receive adoption as sons.' This is 'the gospel of Jesus Christ, the Son of God': God has visited his people. He has fulfilled the promise he made to Abraham and his descendants. He acted far beyond all expectation - he has sent his own 'beloved Son'.

¶ 423

We believe and confess that Jesus of Nazareth, born a Jew of a daughter of Israel at Bethlehem at the time of King Herod the Great and the emperor Caesar Augustus, a carpenter by trade, who died crucified in Jerusalem under the procurator Pontius Pilate during the reign of the emperor Tiberius, is the eternal Son of God made man. He 'came from God', 'descended from heaven', and 'came in the flesh'. For 'the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, full of grace and truth; we have beheld his glory, glory as of the only Son from the Father. . . and from his fullness have we all received, grace upon grace.'

Today's Mass Readings

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

Thursday of Week 1 of Lent

Understanding the Day

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Collect

Weekly Prayer

Come, Holy Spirit

Weekly Formation

Beatitude 1

The Beatitudes

Saint & Feast

Thursday of Week 1 of Lent

Customs & Fasting

Today in Church History

Battle of Benevento and Papal Influence

Galileo's Ban by the Catholic Church (1616)

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Today's Mass Readings

Baltimore Catechism No. 3