Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Time After Pentecost

Week

Week 10 of Time After Pentecost

Rank

Feast

St. Cajetan, Confessor, is observed during the Time after Pentecost, the liturgical season that follows Pentecost and focuses on the growth of the Church through the lives of the saints and the ongoing work of the Holy Spirit. In plain terms, “Double” is a historic rank indicating this feast has greater liturgical importance than local memorials: it is celebrated with its own proper prayers, readings, and, in older rubrical practice, more solemn ceremonial elements than simple commemorations. There is no octave or vigil indicated here, so the observance is celebrated on the single calendar day without an extended eight‑day octave or a required vigil the evening before.

Introit (Daily Prayer)

Ps 36:30-31
The mouth of the just man tells of wisdom, and his tongue utters what is right. The law of his God is in his heart. (Alléluia, alléluia.)
Ps 36:1
Be not vexed over evildoers, nor jealous of those who do wrong.
Glory Be to the Father…

Commemoration St. Donatus
Almighty and merciful God, Who make us both the partakers and the ministers of Your sacraments, grant, we beseech You, that by the intercession of St. Donatus, Your Martyr and Bishop, we may progress in our fellowship with him by faith and worthy service.
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

Cajetan

St. Cajetan, Confessor

(1480–1547) Founder of the Theatines

Born: 1480-10-01 · Vicenza
Died: 1547-08-07 · Naples

Gaetano dei Conti di Thiene, known in English as Saint Cajetan, was an Italian Catholic priest and religious reformer, co-founder of the Theatines. He is recognised as a saint in the Catholic Church, and his feast day is 7 August.

Learn more about Cajetan

Commemoration

Donatus

St. Donatus, Bishop and Martyr

Customs & Fasting

No traditional fast · Complete abstinence

Traditional Friday complete abstinence.

Today in Church History

Pope Stephen III Seeks Frankish Protection (768)
768Event
The election of Pope Stephen III marked a pivotal moment as he sought protection from the Frankish King against the Lombard threat, highlighting the growing influence of the papacy in political matters and the decline of Byzantine support. This event set the stage for the eventual alliance between the papacy and the Frankish monarchy, which would shape the future of Christendom.
The reliance on divine providence through earthly alliances teaches us about the importance of seeking support in times of need.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

In understanding moral actions, freedom plays a crucial role: when we act deliberately and choose freely in light of conscience, our actions can be evaluated as good or evil. The morality of an act involves three interconnected sources: the object chosen, the intention or purpose behind it, and the circumstances surrounding it. For families, this means that good intentions, such as wanting to help a neighbor, are important but cannot make an action that is evil in itself good or just. We are invited to consider not only why we act, but also what we choose and the circumstances of our choices, since a morally good act requires goodness in its object, end, and circumstances. We may not do evil so that good may result from it.

The Catechism teaches that our passions—our feelings and emotions—are natural parts of human life and can dispose us toward beatitude. Love, desire, joy, fear, sadness, and anger are among the principal passions. In themselves, these feelings are neither morally good nor evil; their moral character depends on how they engage reason and will. When governed by reason and directed by an upright will, they can contribute to good actions, virtue, charity, and beatitude. In the Christian life, the Holy Spirit works in the whole person, including sorrows, fears, and sadness, so that human feelings may reach their fulfillment in charity and divine beatitude. As we reflect together, we can acknowledge our feelings and ask that they be directed toward the good, with hearts moved to love.

¶ 1757

The object, the intention, and the circumstances make up the three "sources" of the morality of human acts.

Today's Mass Readings

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