Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Ascensiontide

Week

Week 1 of Ascensiontide

Rank

Sunday or semidouble observance

Ascensiontide is the eight-day period following the Solemnity of the Ascension, celebrating Jesus’ rising into heaven and the continuing presence of Christ with the Church. This day — “Day 6 within the Octave of the Ascension” (Dies 6 infra Octavam Ascensionis) — falls inside that octave, so the liturgy continues to focus on the Ascension’s themes: the Lord’s glorification, his promise of the Holy Spirit, and the commissioning of the apostles. The rank “Semidouble” is an older liturgical classification indicating this day is observed with more solemnity than an ordinary weekday but less than the highest feasts; in practical terms, families can expect special prayers, readings, or hymns related to the Ascension while ordinary weekday elements may still appear.

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 6

The Ten Commandments

Be faithful in marriage and respect God’s gift of the body.
The Sixth Commandment guards fidelity in marriage and the holiness of God’s gift of the body. It requires purity appropriate to each state of life, respect for personal boundaries, and faithful conduct in thought, word, and action.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebrationCalendar title

Day 6 within the Octave of the Ascension

A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.

Commemoration

Felix I

St. Felix, Pope and Martyr

Pope and bishop of Rome from 269 to 274

Born: 0300-00-00 · Rome
Died: 0274-12-30 · Rome

Pope Felix I was the bishop of Rome from 5 January 269 to his death on 30 December 274. Born in Rome, he succeeded Pope Dionysius and is noted for his theological contributions, particularly a significant dogmatic letter addressing the unity of Christ’s person. During his papacy, Felix I confronted the heresy of Paul of Samosata, who denied the divinity of Christ. The intervention of Emperor Aurelian, prompted by Felix, led to Paul’s deposition from the bishopric of Antioch, reinforcing orthodox Christological doctrine.

Today in Church History

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

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

In the journey of faith, Baptism, the Eucharist, and Confirmation together form the sacraments of Christian initiation. Confirmation completes baptismal grace, binds the baptized more perfectly to the Church, and enriches them with a special strength of the Holy Spirit. The Spirit rested upon Jesus for his saving mission, and Christ promised to pour out the Spirit upon his people—a promise fulfilled on Easter Sunday and more strikingly at Pentecost. Through Confirmation, received through the laying on of hands and anointing with chrism, the baptized are strengthened to be true witnesses of Christ, spreading and defending the faith by word and deed.

In the early Church, Confirmation was generally celebrated with Baptism as a “double sacrament,” highlighting the unity of Christian initiation. Eastern Churches continue to keep these sacraments united, while the Latin Church more clearly expresses the new Christian’s communion with the bishop, who serves the unity, catholicity, and apostolicity of the Church. In Confirmation, anointing with sacred chrism is a sign of consecration: the baptized share more completely in Christ’s mission and in the fullness of the Holy Spirit, so that their lives may give off “the aroma of Christ.” This anointing also gives the confirmand the seal of the Holy Spirit, marking total belonging to Christ and enrollment in his service forever. As families reflect on Confirmation, they can rejoice in this gift of belonging to Christ and his Church.

¶ 1289

Very early, the better to signify the gift of the Holy Spirit, an anointing with perfumed oil (chrism) was added to the laying on of hands. This anointing highlights the name "Christian," which means "anointed" and derives from that of Christ himself whom God "anointed with the Holy Spirit." This rite of anointing has continued ever since, in both East and West. For this reason the Eastern Churches call this sacrament Chrismation, anointing with chrism, or myron which means "chrism." In the West, Confirmation suggests both the ratification of Baptism, thus completing Christian initiation, and the strengthening of baptismal grace - both fruits of the Holy Spirit.

Today's Mass Readings

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