Understanding the Day
Season
Ascensiontide
Week
Week 1 of Ascensiontide
Rank
Sunday or semidouble observance
This day falls in Ascensiontide, the week after the Ascension, a short season focused on Christ’s promise of the Holy Spirit and the Church’s mission. The celebration honors St. Ubald as “Bishop and Confessor,” recognizing his role as a faithful shepherd who lived and taught the Christian life. The rank “Semidouble” means this feast has a greater liturgical importance than an ordinary memorial: in older calendrical practice it affects the prayers and antiphons of the day, giving the celebration precedence over simpler observances while still allowing the season’s character to shine through.
Introit (Daily Prayer)
Sedulius
Hail, holy Mother, who in childbirth brought forth the King Who rules heaven and earth world without end.
Ps 44:2
My heart overflows with a goodly theme; as I sing my ode to the King.
Glory Be to the Father…
Hail, holy Mother, who in childbirth brought forth the King Who rules heaven and earth world without end.
Ps 44:2
My heart overflows with a goodly theme; as I sing my ode to the King.
Glory Be to the Father…
Commemoration St. Ubaldus
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that as we thank You for the favors we have received, we may, by the intercession of blessed Ubáldo, Your Confessor and Bishop, obtain still greater blessings.
Through our Lord…
Grant, we beseech You, almighty God, that as we thank You for the favors we have received, we may, by the intercession of blessed Ubáldo, Your Confessor and Bishop, obtain still greater blessings.
Through our Lord…
Weekly Prayer
Morning Offering
O Jesus, through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, I offer You my prayers, works, joys, and sufferings of this day for all the intentions of Your Sacred Heart,
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in thanksgiving for Your favors, in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all my associates, and in particular for the intention recommended by the Holy Father this month.
in union with the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass throughout the world, in thanksgiving for Your favors, in reparation for my sins,
for the intentions of all my associates, and in particular for the intention recommended by the Holy Father this month.
Weekly Formation
Commandment 3
The Ten Commandments
Remember to keep holy the Lord’s Day.
The Third Commandment sets apart the Lord’s Day for divine worship and true rest from ordinary labor. For Catholics this is fulfilled especially by assisting at Mass on Sundays and holy days and by allowing the day to serve God, the soul, and the duties of charity.
Saint & Feast
Principal celebration
Ubald
St. Ubald, Bishop and Confessor
Italian bishop-saint
- Born
- 1084-00-00 · Gubbio
- Died
- 1160-05-16 · Gubbio
Ubald of Gubbio was a medieval bishop of Gubbio, in Umbria, today venerated as a saint by the Catholic Church. Saint Ubaldo Day is still celebrated at the Basilica of Sant'Ubaldo in Gubbio in his honor, as well as at Jessup, Pennsylvania.
Learn more about UbaldCommemorationCalendar title
Day 3 within the Octave of the Ascension
Today in Church History
Canonization of Joan of Arc by Pope Benedict XV
1920CanonizationIn 1920, Pope Benedict XV canonized Joan of Arc, recognizing her as a saint and martyr of the Catholic Church. This event highlighted her role as a symbol of faith and courage, inspiring countless Catholics to live out their faith boldly.
Joan of Arc's life encourages us to trust in God's guidance and stand firm in our convictions.
Catechism
Catechism of the Catholic Church
The Liturgy of the Hours is a rich form of the Church’s public prayer, inviting clergy, religious, and lay faithful to share in Christ’s continuing priestly work through his Church. Its daily rhythm of praise sanctifies the whole course of day and night and helps us pray with both our voices and our hearts. Through the Psalms, hymns, litanies, and readings from Scripture, it deepens our understanding of the liturgy and the Bible, prepares us for silent prayer, and encourages the Word of God to become prayer. The faithful are encouraged to pray the divine office as much as possible, whether with priests, among themselves, or individually; on Sundays and more solemn feasts, especially Vespers may be celebrated in common. As an extension of the Eucharistic celebration, the Liturgy of the Hours complements and calls forth the devotions of God’s people, especially adoration and worship of the Blessed Sacrament.
The Catechism beautifully illustrates that worship in the New Covenant transcends physical locations, as all creation is sacred and Christians are called to be "living stones" in the spiritual temple of Christ. While churches serve as important gathering places for divine worship, they symbolize the unity of God's people and His presence among them, particularly in the Eucharist. These spaces should be thoughtfully designed to reflect the dignity of worship, with key elements like the altar, tabernacle, and baptismal font fostering a deep reverence for the sacred. For families, this understanding invites them to see their local church not only as a place for worship but as a home that nurtures their faith journey, encouraging them to participate actively in the life of the Church as they journey toward the eternal home with God.
In the Catechism, we learn that visible churches are more than gathering places: they signify the Church living in that place, the dwelling of God with people reconciled and united in Christ. They are holy places where the community gathers for worship, hears God’s word, sings his praise, prays, and offers the sacrifice of Christ sacramentally present; they are also places of recollection and personal prayer. The altar recalls the Cross of Christ, and under sacramental signs the sacrifice of the Cross is made present as the People of God are invited to the Lord’s table. In the liturgy, the whole assembly participates according to each person’s role, joined to Christ our high priest and to the heavenly liturgy. Its signs and symbols, drawn from creation, human life, and salvation history, become bearers of Christ’s saving and sanctifying action. Sunday, the Lord’s Day and day of the Christian family, is the principal day for the Eucharist, joy, and rest. As the Church keeps the saints’ memorials, she is united with the liturgy of heaven, while Christians themselves become temples of the Holy Spirit.