Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Time After Pentecost

Week

Week 4 of Time After Pentecost

Rank

Sunday or semidouble observance

This day falls within the Time after Pentecost, in the liturgical period that follows Trinity and focuses on the ongoing life of the Church. The title indicates it is the fourth day inside the octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. An octave means the celebration of a major feast is extended for eight days so the Church keeps up prayer, readings, and special prayers related to that feast throughout the whole week. The rank “Semidouble” is an older liturgical classification: in plain language, it means the feast has greater liturgical weight than an ordinary weekday but is not as solemn as the highest-ranking feasts. Liturgically, the octave context gives this day a continued focus on the birth and mission of John the Baptist—reminding families of his role in preparing the way for Christ and the virtues of humility and fidelity to God.

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…

Grant us, Your servants, O Lord God, we beseech You, to enjoy lasting health of mind and body; and by the intercession of glorious and blessed Mary, ever Virgin, may we be delivered from present sorrow and partake to the full of eternal happiness.
Through our Lord…

Weekly Prayer

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph

Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, I give you my heart and my soul.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, assist me in my last agony.
Jesus, Mary, and Joseph, may I breathe forth my soul in peace with you.

Weekly Formation

Commandment 9

The Ten Commandments

Thou shalt not covet another person’s spouse.
The Ninth Commandment guards purity and marital fidelity within the heart, where deliberate desires begin. It distinguishes an unwanted temptation from a chosen desire and forbids willingly entertaining thoughts that would violate another person or another marriage.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebration

Nativity of John the Baptist

Fourth Day of the Octave of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist

The Nativity of John the Baptist celebrates the birth of John as narrated in the Gospel of Luke.

The Nativity of John the Baptist celebrates the birth of John as narrated in the Gospel of Luke. The feast is observed on June 24, six months before Christmas in the liturgical calendar.

Learn more about Nativity of John the Baptist

Commemoration

Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

Vigil of Sts. Peter and Paul, Apostles

anniversary

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul or Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul is a liturgical feast in honor of the martyrdom in Rome of the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul, which is observed on 29 June. The celebration is of ancient Christian origin, the date selected being the anniversary of either their death or the translation of their relics.

Today in Church History

Election of Pope Agatho
678Papal
Pope Agatho was elected in 678, but the exact date of June 27 is not traditionally associated with his election. His papacy was marked by efforts to resolve the Monothelitism controversy and improve relations with the Eastern Church.
Pope Agatho's commitment to unity reminds us of the importance of dialogue and reconciliation in the Church.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Sin is fundamentally an offense against God that ruptures communion with him and damages communion with the Church. Conversion therefore involves both God’s forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, expressed and accomplished in the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation. Only God forgives sins, and Christ entrusted the ministry of reconciliation and the exercise of absolution to the apostolic ministry. Jesus showed the effect of forgiveness by welcoming forgiven sinners back into the community of the People of God. For Catholic families, these teachings encourage us to seek reconciliation with God and the Church and to cherish the restoring mercy Christ offers.

The sacrament of Penance, instituted by Christ, offers sinful members of the Church—especially those who have fallen into grave sin after Baptism—a new possibility for conversion and for recovering the grace of justification. Over time, its celebration developed from rigorous public penance to the private practice of confession between penitent and priest, making repeated reception possible and bringing forgiveness of grave and venial sins into one sacramental celebration. Its essential structure joins the penitent’s acts of conversion—contrition, confession, and satisfaction—with God’s action through the Church, which forgives sins in the name of Jesus Christ, prays for the sinner, and helps restore ecclesial communion. As we prepare for Penance, we can prayerfully examine our conscience in the light of God’s Word, especially the Gospels and apostolic teachings, with sorrow for sin and a resolve not to sin again.

¶ 1440

Sin is before all else an offense against God, a rupture of communion with him. At the same time it damages communion with the Church. For this reason conversion entails both God's forgiveness and reconciliation with the Church, which are expressed and accomplished liturgically by the sacrament of Penance and Reconciliation.

Today's Mass Readings

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