Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Time After Pentecost

Week

Week 24 of Time After Pentecost

Rank

Feast

This celebration falls in the Time after Pentecost, the long liturgical season when the Church focuses on the growth of Christian life after the coming of the Holy Spirit.

The rank “Double” is a traditional liturgical category meaning the feast has greater importance than local commemorations or simple memorials. In plain language, it signals that this day’s readings and prayers are assigned in the liturgy and should take precedence over lesser observances. No octave or vigil is indicated here, so the celebration is observed on the named day without an extended eight‑day period or required special preparatory vigil.

Why it matters: celebrating a confessor saint during this season models steady Christian virtue lived in ordinary circumstances.

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 Sts. Tryphonis, Respicii, et Nymphae
Grant, we beseech You, O almighty and merciful God, that through the intercession of Your holy Martyrs, Tryphon, Respicius and Nympha what we take into our mouths we may eat with pure heart.
Through our Lord…

Weekly Prayer

Weekly prayer content will appear here once it is scheduled.

Weekly Formation

Sloth and Diligence

The Way of Darkness

Sloth
Sloth is sorrow, weariness, or neglect in the face of the spiritual good and the duties required by one’s vocation. It is more than physical tiredness: it resists the effort of loving God well and often escapes into idleness, distraction, or unfinished obligations.

The Way of Light

Diligence
Diligence is steady care in carrying out the good required by one’s duties and state in life. It opposes sloth by persevering through difficulty, weariness, or lack of attraction instead of neglecting what love of God and neighbor requires.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebration

Andrew Avellino

St. Andrew Avellino Confessor

Sicilian Theatine priest and saint

Born: 1521-01-01 · Castronuovo di Sant'Andrea
Died: 1608-11-10 · Naples

Andrew (Andrea) Avellino was an Italian Theatine priest. He is venerated as the patron saint of Naples and Sicily and invoked especially against a sudden death. He led a life busy in preaching, hearing confessions, and visiting the sick, and writing.

Learn more about Andrew Avellino

Commemoration

Respicius

Sts. Tryphon, Respicius, et Nympha, Martyrs

Today in Church History

The Siege of Zara during the Fourth Crusade
1202Event
In 1202, the Fourth Crusade diverged from its original mission due to the actions of Catholic crusaders who besieged Zara, despite Pope Innocent III's prohibitions. This event highlights the complexities of Crusader motivations and the tension between papal authority and the actions of the faithful.
The events remind us of the importance of adhering to spiritual guidance and the consequences of straying from one's mission.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

As followers of Christ, we are called to put away falsehood, malice, guile, insincerity, envy, and slander, and to live in true righteousness and holiness. Our words carry real weight: false witness, detraction, calumny, and lying can harm another person’s reputation, damage justice and charity, and undermine trust among people. In our daily relationships, we should seek to interpret others’ thoughts, words, and actions favorably whenever possible, avoiding rash judgments and speech that injures their good name. When our words or actions have harmed someone, we have a duty in conscience to make reparation, including for damage done to another’s reputation, as an expression of justice and charity.

The Catechism emphasizes the delicate balance between truth and charity in communication, inviting us to reflect on whether sharing information serves love, protects others, and promotes the common good. It teaches that the right to communicate truth is not unconditional: discretion and silence can be necessary to protect privacy, prevent scandal, and avoid harm. The sacramental seal of confession is sacred and inviolable. In a society shaped by mass media, we are called to practice moderation and discipline, forming enlightened consciences so that our use of information promotes justice, solidarity, and respect rather than passivity, defamation, or harmful influences. Individuals, journalists, and civil authorities each have responsibilities to serve truth, protect privacy and reputation, and resist the manipulation of public opinion.

¶ 2484

The gravity of a lie is measured against the nature of the truth it deforms, the circumstances, the intentions of the one who lies, and the harm suffered by its victims. If a lie in itself only constitutes a venial sin, it becomes mortal when it does grave injury to the virtues of justice and charity.

Today's Mass Readings

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