Catholic Family Devotions

Understanding the Day

Season

Octave Of Pentecost

Week

Week 1 of Octave Of Pentecost

Rank

Sunday or semidouble observance

Ember Saturday within the Octave of Pentecost is a day set in the week following Pentecost, when the Church continues to celebrate the outpouring of the Holy Spirit. The season—Octave of Pentecost—means this day belongs to the eight-day period that intensifies reflection on Pentecost’s gift of the Spirit for the Church’s life and mission. The rank “Semidouble” is an older liturgical designation: in plain language it indicates a celebration of notable importance that keeps its proper prayers and readings, while still allowing certain higher-ranking observances and the octave’s character to shape the liturgy.

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 7

The Ten Commandments

Thou shalt not steal.
The Seventh Commandment protects another person’s rightful goods and the justice owed in work, trade, promises, and contracts. It forbids taking, keeping, damaging, or using what belongs to another without right and requires restitution when an injustice can be repaired.

Saint & Feast

Principal celebrationCalendar title

Ember Saturday within the Octave of Pentecost

A biography or feast reflection has not yet been prepared.

Commemoration

Margaret of Scotland

St. Margaret, Queen and Widow

Queen of Scotland from 1070 to 1093

Born: 1045-01-01 · Baranya County
Died: 1093-11-16 · Edinburgh

Saint Margaret of Scotland, also known as Margaret of Wessex, was Queen of Alba from 1070 to 1093 as the wife of King Malcolm III. Margaret was sometimes called "The Pearl of Scotland". She was a member of the House of Wessex and was born in the Kingdom of Hungary to the expatriate English prince Edward the Exile. She and her family returned to England in 1057. Following the death of Harold Godwinson at the Battle of Hastings in 1066, her brother Edgar Ætheling was elected as King of England but never crowned. After the family fled north, Margaret married Malcolm III of Scotland by the end of 1070.

Customs & Fasting

Traditional fast · Complete abstinence

Traditional Pentecost Ember Saturday fast and complete abstinence.

Today in Church History

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

Catechism

Catechism of the Catholic Church

In the Catechism, we learn that the Church is the Body of Christ and the Temple of the Holy Spirit. The mission of Christ and the Holy Spirit is brought to completion in the Church, drawing Christ’s faithful into communion with the Father in the Holy Spirit. The Church does not simply add to Christ’s mission; in her whole being and members, she is sent to announce, bear witness to, make present, and spread the mystery of communion with the Holy Trinity. Through the Church’s sacraments, Christ gives his Holy and sanctifying Spirit to the members of his Body, bringing forth new life in Christ according to the Spirit. As we reflect together, we can give thanks that the Spirit helps us in our weakness, leads us to Christ, and draws us toward deeper communion with God.

¶ 740

These "mighty works of God," offered to believers in the sacraments of the Church, bear their fruit in the new life in Christ, according to the Spirit. (This will be the topic of Part Three.)

¶ 741

"The Spirit helps us in our weakness; for we do not know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes with sighs too deep for words." The Holy Spirit, the artisan of God's works, is the master of prayer. (This will be the topic of Part Four.)

Today's Mass Readings

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