Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Time After Pentecost

Week

Week 6 of Time After Pentecost

Rank

Sunday or semidouble observance

This day falls in the Time after Pentecost, the long liturgical season when the Church reflects on the growth of the Christian life and practical discipleship in ordinary time. The rank “Semidouble” is an older liturgical classification: in plain language, it means this feast is celebrated with special prayers, hymns, and readings, but it is not as solemn as a major solemnity or a principal feast. There is no octave or vigil noted here, so the celebration is observed on its appointed day without an extended eight-day observance or special vigil the day before.

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Ps 118:75; 118:120
I know, O Lord, that Your ordinances are just, and in Your faithfulness You have afflicted me. Pierce my flesh with Your fear; I fear Your ordinances. (Alleluja, alleluja.)
Ps 118:1
Happy are they whose way is blameless, who walk in the law of the Lord.
Glory Be to the Father…

Most merciful God, Who among other admirable gifts, endowed blessed Queen Elizabeth with the special grace of calming the tumult of war; grant by her intercession that, after the peace for which we humbly pray, we may attain everlasting happiness.
Through our Lord…

Weekly Prayer

Act of Hope

O my God, relying on Thy almighty power and infinite mercy and promises, I hope to obtain pardon of my sins, the help of Thy grace, and life everlasting, through the merits of Jesus Christ, my Lord and Redeemer.

Weekly Formation

The Two Greatest Commandments

You shall love the Lord your God with your whole heart, with your whole soul and with all your mind.
To love God with the whole heart, soul, and mind is to prefer Him above every created good and to order the whole life toward Him. This love includes worship, obedience, trust, and the willing acceptance of His truth and commandments.
You shall love your neighbor as yourself.
To love one’s neighbor as oneself is to desire and seek the neighbor’s true good for the love of God. Every human person is a neighbor in this sense, and this charity excludes both deliberate harm and indifference to another’s genuine need.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebration

Elizabeth of Aragon

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Queen and Widow

Queen of Portugal (1271-1336)

Born: 1271-01-04
Died: 1336-07-04

Elizabeth of Portugal, also known as Elizabeth of Aragon, was Queen of Portugal from 1282 to 1325 as the wife of King Denis. She is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, under the name Saint Elizabeth of Portugal or Queen Saint Elizabeth.

Learn more about Elizabeth of Aragon

Today in Church History

Death of Blessed Peter To Rot
1943Martyrdom
Blessed Peter To Rot, a catechist from Papua New Guinea, was martyred on July 8, 1943, for opposing polygamy and defending the sanctity of marriage during Japanese occupation.
Standing firm in faith and moral conviction can inspire others to uphold truth and justice.
Death of Pope St. Hormisdas
518Papal
Pope St. Hormisdas, who played a crucial role in ending the Acacian Schism, died on July 8, 518. His papacy was marked by efforts to restore unity between the Eastern and Western Churches.
Unity within the Church is a testament to the power of reconciliation and dialogue.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Anointing of the Sick is a profound sacrament that gives spiritual strength, peace, and courage to those facing serious illness or the frailty of old age. Through this sacrament, the sick are strengthened to unite themselves more closely to Christ’s Passion, so that suffering becomes a participation in Jesus’ saving work. The sacrament also serves the whole Church: the Church intercedes for the sick, and those who freely unite themselves to Christ’s passion and death contribute to the good and sanctification of God’s people. For those nearing the end of earthly life, Anointing prepares them for their final journey and strengthens them for the last struggles before entering the Father’s house. The Church also offers the Eucharist as viaticum, Communion for this passing over to the Father, as a seed of eternal life and the power of resurrection. In times of illness and frailty, this sacrament invites the faithful to place their trust in God and receive the Lord’s help.

The Anointing of the Sick is a sacrament that gives a special grace to Christians experiencing the difficulties of grave illness or old age. When a believer begins to be in danger of death because of illness or old age, the proper time for this holy anointing has arrived; it may also be received again if a serious illness worsens. A priest or bishop administers the sacrament, anointing the sick person with blessed oil and praying for its special grace. Through this sacrament, the sick person is united to Christ’s passion, strengthened with peace and courage to endure suffering in a Christian way, and, when needed, may receive forgiveness of sins. It may also bring restoration of health when this serves the person’s salvation and prepares them for eternal life. In times of serious illness or old age, let us remember to call for the Church’s prayer and sacramental care.

¶ 1525

Today's Mass Readings

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

St. Elizabeth of Portugal, Queen and Widow

Understanding the Day

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Collect

Weekly Prayer

Act of Hope

Weekly Formation

The Two Greatest Commandments

The Two Greatest Commandments

Saint & Feast

Elizabeth of Aragon

Today in Church History

Death of Blessed Peter To Rot

Death of Pope St. Hormisdas

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Today's Mass Readings

Baltimore Catechism No. 3