Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Time After Pentecost

Week

Week 10 of Time After Pentecost

Rank

Sunday or semidouble observance

The Finding of St. Stephen the First Martyr is celebrated in Ordinary Time after Pentecost, a season when the Church focuses on the life and witness of the apostles and the growth of the early Christian community. The celebration matters because St. Stephen is honored as the first martyr, whose faithfulness and witness point Christians to courageous charity and forgiveness.

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Ps 54:17-20; 54:23
When I call upon the Lord, He heard my voice, from those who war against me; and He humbled them, Who is before all ages, and remains forever: cast your care upon the Lord, and He will support you.
Ps 54:2-3
Hearken, O God, to my prayer; turn not away from my pleading; give heed to me, and answer me.
Glory Be to the Father…

O God, You manifest Your power, particularly in forbearance and pity, show us Your mercy again and again, so that hastening toward Your promises we may become partakers of the blessings of heaven.
Through our Lord…

Weekly Prayer

Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided.

Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To thee do I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful.

O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen.

Weekly Formation

Prayer, Fasting, and Almsgiving

Three Eminent Good Works to Overcome Our Sinfulness

Prayer
Prayer raises the mind and heart to God in adoration, thanksgiving, repentance, and petition. As a work of penance it turns the sinner back toward God, acknowledges dependence on grace, and joins personal needs to the honor owed to Him.
Fasting
Fasting is the willing restraint of food or other lawful satisfactions for a spiritual purpose. It disciplines bodily appetite, expresses sorrow for sin, and strengthens prayer when practiced with humility rather than display.
Almsgiving
Almsgiving is the gift of money, goods, time, or practical assistance to those in need or to works of charity. It makes repentance fruitful in mercy, loosens attachment to possessions, and recognizes Christ’s claim in the poor.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebration

Finding of Saint Stephen

Finding of St. Stephen the First Martyr

A fifth-century tradition says that the priest Lucian was shown the location of Stephen’s remains near Jerusalem in a dream.

A fifth-century tradition says that the priest Lucian was shown the location of Stephen’s remains near Jerusalem in a dream. The reported discovery in 415 was commemorated in the traditional Roman calendar as the Finding of Saint Stephen on August 3.

Learn more about Finding of Saint Stephen

Today in Church History

Canonization of Saint Olaf II of Norway
1031Canonization
Olaf II of Norway was canonized as Saint Olaf, but the exact date and details of the canonization are not well-documented. It is traditionally believed that he was canonized by Bishop Grimketel, but the year 1031 is not definitively established.
Saints like Olaf II inspire us to live out our faith courageously.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The Beatitudes are central to Jesus' teaching, representing God's promises and guiding us toward the Kingdom of Heaven, which fulfills our innate desire for happiness. They reflect Christ's character and illuminate the Christian way of life, offering hope and blessings even amidst trials. For Catholic families, the Beatitudes encourage a shift in perspective, inviting them to prioritize love for God above material wealth and worldly success, thus fostering a life rooted in faith and moral integrity. By embracing these teachings, families can discern how to use earthly goods in a manner that aligns with divine principles, ultimately leading to eternal life and communion with God.

In the Catechism, we learn that God created each person with reason, will, and the dignity to initiate and control his or her own actions. Freedom allows us to make deliberate choices that shape our lives, and it reaches its fullness when directed toward God, our ultimate good and blessedness. This freedom includes the possibility of choosing good or evil: doing good makes us freer, while choosing evil misuses freedom and can lead to slavery to sin. Because voluntary actions carry responsibility, we are called to grow in virtue, knowledge of the good, and self-mastery. In our relationships with others, we should recognize and respect every person as free and responsible, honoring the dignity God has given each one.

¶ 1727

The beatitude of eternal life is a gratuitous gift of God. It is supernatural, as is the grace that leads us there.

Today's Mass Readings

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