Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Time After Pentecost

Week

Week 6 of Time After Pentecost

Rank

Simple feast

Septuagesima is the preparatory season before Lent in the older liturgical practice called the divino afflatu calendar. The Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary (Sanctæ Mariæ Sabbato) is celebrated on Saturdays during this season as a special devotion honoring Mary’s ongoing role in the Church’s life and in the spiritual formation of Christian households. The rank “Simple” indicates this is a proper devotion of modest liturgical weight: it is observed with particular prayers or antiphons in the Divine Office but does not supersede more important solemnities or Sundays. There is no octave or vigil attached here; this is a recurring weekly observance.

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…

Commemoration St. Pius I
Being appeased, O Lord, guide thy Church, which has been nourished by holy refreshment, that under thy direction and powerful rule it may receive increase of liberty and may continue in religious integrity.
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 celebrationCalendar title

Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.

Commemoration

Pius I

St. Pius I, Pope and Martyr

pope

Born: 0095-00-00 · Aquileia
Died: 0150-00-00 · Rome

Pius I was the bishop of Rome from c. 140 to his death c. 154, according to the Annuario Pontificio. His dates are listed as 142 or 146 to 157 or 161, respectively. He is considered to have opposed both the Valentinians and Gnostics during his papacy. He is considered a saint by the Catholic Church with a feast day on 11 July, but it is unclear if he died as a martyr.

Learn more about Pius I

Today in Church History

Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte and Its Impact on Christianity
911Event
The Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte in 911 marked a significant moment in the relationship between the Frankish kingdom and the Norsemen, leading to the Christianization of Normandy. This event facilitated the spread of Christianity in northern France, aligning with the Church's mission to evangelize and integrate diverse cultures into the Christian faith.
The integration of diverse cultures into the Christian faith reminds us of the universal call to evangelization.
Appointment of Giuliano della Rovere as Bishop of Coutances
1476Event
In 1476, Giuliano della Rovere, who later became Pope Julius II, was appointed bishop of Coutances. This event marked an important step in his ecclesiastical career, contributing to his future influence in the Catholic Church and the Renaissance papacy.
God often prepares leaders through various roles to fulfill His divine plan.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

In the Catholic Church, all believers share in a common priesthood through Baptism and Confirmation, and each takes part, according to his or her vocation, in Christ’s mission as priest, prophet, and king. This common priesthood is lived through the unfolding of baptismal grace in faith, hope, charity, and life according to the Spirit. Bishops and priests share in Christ’s one priesthood in a distinct ministerial way, serving the growth of the baptismal grace of all Christians and the communion of the Church. Through Holy Orders, ordained ministers make Christ’s presence as Head, Shepherd, high priest, and Teacher visible among the faithful; in offering the Eucharist and the Church’s prayer, they act in the name of Christ and of the whole Church. Yet ordained ministers remain subject to human weakness and sin, even though a minister’s sin cannot prevent the fruit of grace in the sacraments. As we pray and worship together, the whole Church offers herself through Christ, with Christ, and in Christ to the Father.

The Catechism highlights the sacrament of Holy Orders in the Church, which is conferred through ordination and includes the episcopacy, presbyterate, and diaconate. Bishops and priests share in Christ’s priesthood, while deacons are ordained for service to help them. Bishops, who stand in the unbroken succession from the apostles, receive the fullness of Holy Orders through episcopal consecration. By the gift of the Holy Spirit, they are constituted to sanctify, teach, and govern as visible representatives of Christ, teacher, shepherd, and priest. United with the Bishop of Rome and with one another, bishops share responsibility for the apostolic mission of the whole Church while each cares pastorally for the particular Church entrusted to him. The Eucharist celebrated by the bishop especially expresses the Church gathered around the altar with Christ’s representative presiding.

¶ 1548

Today's Mass Readings

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

Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Understanding the Day

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Collect

Weekly Prayer

Act of Hope

Weekly Formation

The Two Greatest Commandments

The Two Greatest Commandments

Saint & Feast

Saturday Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary

Pius I

Today in Church History

Treaty of Saint-Clair-sur-Epte and Its Impact on Christianity

Appointment of Giuliano della Rovere as Bishop of Coutances

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

Today's Mass Readings

Baltimore Catechism No. 3