Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Time After Pentecost

Week

Week 6 of Time After Pentecost

Rank

Feast

St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr, is celebrated in Ordinary Time after Pentecost, a season focused on the growth and mission of the Church following the coming of the Holy Spirit. The rank “Double” indicates this feast has a clear liturgical importance: in practical terms, it is observed with special prayers, readings, and often a solemn Mass that takes precedence over many other commemorations on the same day. There is no octave or vigil attached in this celebration information, so the observance is kept on the single day listed.

Daily Prayer

The Introit for this day has not yet been generated.

Weekly Prayer

Weekly prayer content will appear here once it is scheduled.

Weekly Formation

Commandment 10

The Ten Commandments

Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor’s goods.
The Tenth Commandment governs desire for possessions and calls the heart to contentment and justice. It forbids wishing to obtain another’s goods wrongfully or resenting another’s prosperity, while still allowing honest work to improve one’s condition.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebration

Irenaeus

St. Irenaeus, Bishop and Martyr

2nd-century Greek bishop and Doctor of the Church

Born: 0130-00-00 · İzmir
Died: 0202-01-01 · Lyon

Irenaeus was a Greek bishop noted for his role in guiding and expanding Christian communities in the southern regions of present-day France and, more widely, for the development of Christian theology by opposing Gnostic interpretations of Christian Scripture and defining proto-orthodoxy. Originating from Smyrna, he had seen and heard the preaching of Polycarp, who in turn was said to have heard John the Evangelist.

Learn more about Irenaeus

Commemoration

Nativity of John the Baptist

Today in Church History

No Church history reflection has been prepared for this date yet.

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

The sacrament of Penance, instituted by Christ, offers sinful members of the Church—especially those who have fallen into grave sin after Baptism—a new possibility for conversion and for recovering the grace of justification. Over time, its celebration developed from rigorous public penance to the private practice of confession between penitent and priest, making repeated reception possible and bringing forgiveness of grave and venial sins into one sacramental celebration. Its essential structure joins the penitent’s acts of conversion—contrition, confession, and satisfaction—with God’s action through the Church, which forgives sins in the name of Jesus Christ, prays for the sinner, and helps restore ecclesial communion. As we prepare for Penance, we can prayerfully examine our conscience in the light of God’s Word, especially the Gospels and apostolic teachings, with sorrow for sin and a resolve not to sin again.

The sacrament of confession invites us to face our sins honestly, take responsibility for them, and open ourselves again to God and to the communion of the Church, making a new future possible (CCC 1455). Confession of all mortal sins of which we are conscious after diligent self-examination is an essential part of the sacrament, and those aware of mortal sin ordinarily must receive sacramental absolution before receiving Holy Communion (CCC 1456-1457). Although confession of venial sins is not strictly necessary, the Church strongly recommends it because regular confession helps form our conscience, resist evil tendencies, receive Christ’s healing, and grow in the life of the Spirit (CCC 1458). True repentance also includes doing what we can to repair harm done to our neighbor and accepting penance that seeks our spiritual good. Through prayer, works of mercy, service, self-denial, sacrifice, and patient acceptance of the cross, we are configured more closely to Christ (CCC 1459-1460).

Today's Mass Readings

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