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Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Christopher Magallanes, 1869-1927, and companions; as a parish priest in Jalisco, Mexico, he opened schools, trade shops, and helped organize the town's water supply; in 1917 the Mexican constitution was edited to include anti-clerical language; the uprising resulted in the Cristero war; Christopher remained faithful, and he, along with 21 other priests and three laymen, was killed in 1927 for continuing to minister in the rural communities Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/21/26 Gospel: John 17:20-26

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Bernardine of Siena, 1380-1444; the greatest preacher of his time; at age 20, when the plague hit, he volunteered to run the hospital in Siena; at 22, he entered the Franciscan order, and was ordained two years later; he lived in solitude and prayer for almost a dozen years, but was ultimately called to preach; he strongly emphasized scholarship and further study of theology and canon law; he returned to preaching the last two years of his life, and died while traveling Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/20/26 Gospel: John 17:11b-19

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Maria Bernarda Butler, 1848-1924; Swiss saint who founded the Congregation of the Franciscan Missionary Sisters of Mary, Help of Christians and was a missionary in Ecuador; eventually, her congregation had houses in Colombia, Austria, and Brazil Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/19/26 Gospel: John 17:1-11a

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Pope St. John I, 470-526; elected to the papacy in 523; Theodoric the Great to travel to the Byzantine Empire, led by Justin I; the pope obliged, but neither Justin nor the pope changed their views of the heresy of Arianism; when Pope St. John I returned, he was arrested for conspiracy and died a martyr in prison from poor treatment and neglect Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/18/26 Gospel: John 16:29-33

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/17/26 Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Isidore the Farmer, 1070-1130; spent most of his life working in the fields of a farm outside of Madrid; he was favored with celestial visions and, it is said, the angels sometimes helped him in his work in the fields; he is the patron of farmers, and in 1947, he was declared the patron of the National Catholic Rural Life Conference in the United States Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/15/26 Gospel: John 16:20-23

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord (for some areas)--commemorating Jesus' return to His Father in heaven Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/14/26 Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Fatima; in 1917, Our Lady appeared to three children in Fatima, Portugal, promising that Heaven would grant peace to all the world if Her requests for prayer, reparation and consecration were heard and obeyed Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/13/26 Gospel: John 16:12-15

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Saints Nereus and Achilleus; First Century soldiers in the Roman army where they helped carry out the persecution of Christians; they were converted by a "miracle of faith," after which they threw down their weapons and escaped from their camp, to begin their new life in Christ; they were eventually martyred Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/12/26 Gospel: John 16:5-11

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Odilo of Cluny, 962-1049; entered the Benedictine monastery of Cluny about 990 and received election as abbot in 994; he was beloved and respected throughout Europe for his deep austerities and his concem for the poor; he was devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary and to the Incarnation; he died while touring his monasteries Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/11/26 Gospel: John 15:25-16:4a

Sixth Sunday of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/10/26 Gospel: John 14:15-21

Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Beatus of Lungern; a monk and hermit of the First and Second Centuries, earlier designated the apostle of Switzerland; he was baptized in England by St. Barnabas and ordained by St. Peter; Beatus went to Switzerland; he died in 112 A.D. on Mount Beatenburg above Lake Thun; the cave became a popular pilgrim's destination, the famed site of Beatus' fight with a dragon Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/9/26 Gospel: John 15:18-21

Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Maria Magdalen of Canossa, 1774-1835; foundress of the Daughters of Charity at Verona, Italy; she was the daughter of the Marquis of Canossa, who died when Maria Magdalen was three; her mother abandoned the family, and Maria Magdalen managed her father’s estate until she was thirty-three, then founding her institute; when she died in 1835, her Daughters of Charity were widespread Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/8/26 Gospel: John 15:12-17

Thursday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. John of Beverly; born at Harpham, Yorkshire, England in the Seventh Century; studied under Adrian, and on his return to his native land, became a monk at Whitby; he was named bishop of Hexham in 687 and then transferred to York as metropolitan in 705; he was known for his holiness, his preference for the contemplative life, and his miracles; in ill health, John resigned the bishopric of York in 717 and retired to Beverly Abbey, which he had founded, and remained there until his death on May 7, 721 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/7/26 Gospel: John 15:9-11

Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Petronax, 670-747; regarded as the "second founder of Monte Cassino"; born in Brescia, Italy, and joined the Benedictines; Pope St. Gregory asked him to go to Monte Cassino to examine the ruins of the abbey which had been damaged by the Lombards; Petronax gatthered the hermits of the old abbey, and began rebuilding; he was elected abbot and ruled Monte Cassino for three decades Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/6/26 Gospel: John 15:1-8

Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Maximus of Jerusalem; succeeded St. Macanus as bishop of Jerusalem around 335; he was crippled by tortures received during the persecutions of his day; originally opposed St. Athanasius, but repented and became a strong enemy of the Arians; Maximus died in 350 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/5/26 Gospel: John 14:27-31a

Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Conleth, 450-519; he became a hermit living along Ireland’s Liffey River, at Old Connell; the renowned Irish abbess Saint Brigid, upon meeting Conleth, was so impressed by him that she subsequently persuaded him to become the governing bishop of her double monastery at Kildare; he was a gifted copyist and illuminator of manuscripts, and was likewise skilled in metalworking; a crosier kept in a museum of the Royal Irish Academy is said to have been made by Conleth Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/4/26 Gospel: John 14:21-26

Fifth Sunday of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/3/26 Gospel: John 14:1-12

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Easter Memorial of St. Athanasius; Fourth Century bishop of Alexandria; became a theological advisor at the Council of Nicea when he was still in his late twenties; he opposed Arianism and defended the divinity of the Son of Man; he wrote many works on the Incarnation and the Trinity as well as The Life of Anthony, which helped define and foster both monastic living and the writing of saints’ lives; he died in 373 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/2/26 Gospel: John 14:7-14

Friday of the Fourth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Joseph the Worker Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/1/26 Gospel: John 14:1-6

Thursday of the Fourth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Pope St. Pius V, 1504-1572; born in Italy, and joined the Dominicans at the age of 14; he held various offices in the Inquisition and at age 62 was elected to the papal chair; he implemented the reforms of the Council of Trent, reinforced treasured traditions such as reciting the Daily Office, and standardized the Mass by issuing a new missal Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/30/26 Gospel: John 13:16-20

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Easter Memorial of St. Catherine of Siena, 1347-1380; born to a wealthy Italian family; she joined a Dominican lay order; at 21, she began preaching; as her influence grew, she devoted much time to peace keeping among the Christian states; her efforts were instrumental in persuading Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome from Avignon as well as in supporting Pope Urban VI during the schism; St. Catherine’s great mystical work, Dialogues, is a Christian classic Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/29/26 Gospel: John 12:44-50

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Peter Chanel, 1803-1841; a Frenchman in the Society of Marists, Peter took the gospel to the Canary Islands, French Polynesia, Tahiti, and Tonga; at his main post, Furtuna, a Polynesian island, Chanel converted the son of the island’s native king who later had the Christian priest killed for fear of the Gospel; two years later, the entire island had become Catholic Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/28/26 Gospel: John 10:22-30

Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Theodore of Tabenna, 314-368; born in the Upper Thebaid, Egypt; he studied under the famed St. Pachomius at Tabenna, succeeding him as abbot about 347; he was noted for his careful maintaining of order in the community and for his miracles Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/27/26 Gospel: John 10:11-18

Fourth Sunday of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/26/26 Gospel: John 10:1-10

Feast of St. Mark Saturday of the Third Week of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/25/26 Gospel: Mark 16:15-20

Friday of the Third Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Fidelis of Sigmaringen, 1577-1622; taught philosophy while earning a legal degree at the University of Freiberg in Germany; he became known as the "poor man's lawyer"; ultimately, he decided he wanted to work for God; after ordination, he was appointed to the Congregation for the Spreading of the Faith, but was martyred by several Austrian soldiers for his steadfast views on the faith Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/24/26 Gospel: John 6:52-59

Thursday of the Third Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. George, 275-303; Roman soldier who was executed for his Christian faith during the reign of Diocletian; he became one of Christianity’s most venerated saints, especially known as a military protector and for the legendary story of slaying a dragon; he is honored as a patron saint in many countries and traditions Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/23/26 Gospel: John 6:44-51

Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Tarbula; Fourth Century virgin and martyr, the sister of St. Simeon the Persian, bishop and martyr; she was consecrated a virgin and met her own martyrdom soon after the death of her brother; she was accused of witchcraft, and causing the illness of the wife of the ardently anti-Christian King Shapur; she was condemned and executed in 345 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/22/26 Gospel: John 6:35-40

Tuesday of the Third Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Anselm, 1033-1109; Archbishop of Canterbury; a doctor of the church; subjects of his writings included the existence of God, the Incarnation, the procession of the Holy Spirit, Atonement, and discussions on Free Will and Predestination; German philosophers and English historians referenced Anselm; Anselm is also mentioned in Dante’s Paradiso as, “…among the spirits of light and power in the sphere of the sun…”; he was named a doctor of the church in 1720 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/21/26 Gospel: John 6:30-35

Monday of the Third Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Francis Page; a 16th and 17th Century Jesuit martyr of England; born in Antwerp, Belgium, Francis was a member of an English Protestant family; he was reconciled to the Catholic faith, and was ordained in 1600 and sent from Douai, France, to England; he was arrested there two years later; while in prison, Francis entered the Society of Jesus; he was martyred at Tyburn, England, in 1602 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/20/26 Gospel: John 6:22-29

Third Sunday of Easter Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/19/26 Gospel: Luke 24:13-35

Saturday of the Second Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Apollonius the Apologist; Second Century martyr whose defense of the faith, is considered one of the most priceless documents of the early Church; he was a Roman senator who was denounced as a Christian by one of his slaves; the Praetorian Prefect, Sextus Tigidius Perennis, arrested him, also putting the slave to death as an informer; Perennis demanded that Apollonius denounce the faith, and when he refused, the case was remanded to the Roman senate; there a debate took place between Perennis and Apollonius that clearly outlined the beauty and the value of Christianity; despite his eloquent defense, Apollonius was condemned and beheaded in 185 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/18/26 Gospel: John 6:16-21

Friday of the Second Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Robert of Chaise Dieu; Eleventh Century Benedictine abbot and founder; born in Auvergne, France, became a priest and canon of St. Julian's in Brioude; he then founded a hospice and became spiritual director of St. Odilo in Cluny; he eventually settled near Brioude, Auvergne, with a fellow hermit, a former knight named Stephen; there he attracted followers and built the abbey of Casa Dei to house the burgeoning community of three hundred monks; he died in 1067

Thursday of the Second Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Bernadette Soubirous, 1844-1879; the recipient of the visions of Our Lady of Lourdes; born into a poor family in Lourdes, France; at 14, while gathering firewood, she encountered a beautiful lady in a grotto; after numerous additional apparitions, Bernadette asked the Lady her name, and she replied, "I am the Immaculate Conception"; a chapel was built at the site of the apparitions; in 1866, Bernadette took the religious habit of a postulant and joined the Sisters of Charity at their motherhouse at Nevers; but she contracted tuberculosis of the bone and died at the age of 35 while praying the rosary Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/16-26 Gospel: John 3:31-36

Wednesday of the Second Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Hunna, "the holy washerwoman"; a noblewoman who devoted herself to the poor of Strasbourg, France, in the Seventh Century; she even washed the poor, hence her name; she died in 679 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/15/26 Gospel: John 3:16-21

Tuesday of the Second Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Peter Gonzales, 1190-1246; born in Spain, he entered the Dominicans and became chaplain and confessor of King St. Ferdinand of Castile; he preached a campaign against the Moors, and then cared for the captured Muslims; he also cared for sailors, who dubbed him Thelmo, after St. Elmo Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/14/26 Gospel: John 3:7b-15

Monday of the Second Week of Easter Optional Memorial of Pope St. Martin I; Seventh Century pope during the time of a popular heresy which held that Christ had no human will; Martin called a council in which documents supporting this heresy were censured, and the patriarch of Constantinople and two of his predecessors were condemned; the emperor ordered that Martin be brought to Constantinople, where he was submitted to various imprisonments, tortures, and hardships; he was condemned to death, but was saved by a repentant Paul, patriarch of Constantinople; Martin died shortly thereafter, in 655 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/13/26 Gospel: John 3:1-8

Second Sunday of Easter - Divine Mercy Sunday Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/12/26 Gospel: John 20:19-31

Saturday in the Octave of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Stanislaus of Krakow, 1030-1079; born near Krakow, Poland; educated and ordained at Gnesen; he soon he became noted for his preaching and became a much sought after spiritual adviser; he was successful in his reforming efforts, and in 1072 was named Bishop of Krakow; he denounced the cruelties and injustices of King Boleslaus, and excommunicated him; Boleslaus himself killed Stanislaus while the Bishop was saying Mass in a chapel outside the city Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/26/26 Gospel: Mark 16:9-15

Friday in the Octave of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Paternus; Eleventh Century Irish/Scottish hermit; born either in Ireland or Scotland and joined a monastery; going to Westphalia, he was one of the first monks to enter the Abdinghof Monastery under the leadership of St. Meinwerk; Paternus lived as a hermit in one of the cells; such was his obedience to the vow of enclosure that when a fire erupted in 1058 and engulfed Abdinghof, he would not leave his cell, and so burned to death; he was much honored by St. Peter Damian Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/10/26 Gospel: John 21:1-14

Thursday in the Octave of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Hugh of Rouen; Eighth Century Benedictine bishop of Rouen, Paris, and Bayeux, France, a nephew of Charles Martel and the son of Duke Drogo of Burgundy; he was named the bishop of Rouen in 722; he then moved to Paris and later to Bayeux; at the same time he was abbot of Fontenelles and Jumieges; at the close of his life, Hugh retired to Jumieges and died in 730 as a simple choir monk Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 4/9/26 Gospel: Luke 24:35-48