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Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord Wednesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/6/25 Gospel: Luke 9:28-36

Tuesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of the Dedication of St. Mary Major Basilica in Rome; first raised by Pope Liberius in the mid-4th Century, completed in 1743; it has survived many restorations without losing its character as an early Roman basilica; the feast day is also known as "Our Lady of the Snows"--a wealthy couple pledged their fortune to the Mother of God, and as an affirmation, she produced a miraculous summer snowfall and told them to build a church on the site Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/5/25 Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36

Monday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. John Vianney, the Curé of Ars, 1786-1859; ordained a priest because of his goodness, even though he had difficulty with his studies, especially Latin; became the Curé of Ars in 1818, and spent most of his mission in the confessional; toward the end of his life, he spent sixteen to eighteen hours per day administering the Sacrament of Penance; gifted with discernment of spirits, and read souls with ease; suffered diabolical attacks for thirty years; died at Ars Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/4/25 Gospel: Matthew 14:13-21

18th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/3/25 Gospel: Luke 12:13-21

Saturday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli, 300-371; refused to consent to the Arian condemnation of St. Athanasius; the emperor exiled him to Palestine, and then to Asia Minor and Egypt; a new emperor allowed him to return to Vercelli, where he was the bishop; died peacefully in his own diocese at what was then considered to be an advanced age Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/2/25 Gospel: Matthew 14:1-12

Friday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Alphonsus Liguori, 1696-1787; founded the Redemptorists in 1732, dedicated to the imitation of Christ, and working mainly in popular missions for peasants in rural areas; he became a bishop at 66, and immediately began a reform of his diocese; at 71, he was afflicted with rheumatic pains; he suffered a final 18 months of “dark night” scruples, fears, temptations against every article of faith and every virtue, interspersed with intervals of light and relief, when ecstasies were frequent; best known for his work in moral theology, but also wrote well of spiritual and dogmatic theology Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/1/25 Gospel: Matthew 13:54-58

Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Ignatius of Loyola, 1491-1556; severely injured his leg in a war injury, and while convalescing read a life of Christ and lives of the saints, and was deeply touched; he began a conversion, during which he began writing the material which later became "The Spiritual Exercises"; in 1534 Ignatius and six others vowed to live in poverty and chastity and go to the Holy Land, if possible, or to submit themselves to the apostolic service of the pope; the Society of Jesus was approved by Pope Paul III, and Ignatius became its first general; his spirituality is expressed in the Jesuit motto, "for the greater glory of God" Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/31/25 Gospel: Matthew 13:47-53

Wednesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Peter Chrysologus, 380-450; born in Imola, Italy; baptized, educated, and ordained a deacon by Cornelius, bishop of Imola; called "Chrysologus," or "golden worded," because of his eloquence in speaking; became bishop of Ravenna in 433; got rid of the last vestiges of paganism among his flock; counseled the heretic Eutyches, to avoid division and to learn from other heretics who were crushed when they hurled themselves against the rock of Peter; died at Imola Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/30/25 Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46

Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus; close friends of Jesus; he visited as a welcomed guest Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/29/25 Gospel: John 11:19-27

Monday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, 1910-1946; Franciscan religious sister; first canonized saint from India, and the first canonized saint of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, an eastern Catholic Church of the St. Thomas Christian Community Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/28/25 Gospel: Matthew 13:31-35

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/27/25 Gospel: Luke 11:1-13

Saturday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary; their names from a legend which stems from a century after the Resurrection, but they represent and entire quiet series of generations who were preparing for the Messiah Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/26/25 Gospel: Matthew 13:24-30

Feast of St. James, apostle--brother of St. John Friday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/25/25 Gospel: Matthew 20:20-28

Thursday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Sharbel Makhlouf, 1828-1898; at age 23, he joined the Monastery of St. Maron at Annaya, Lebanon; he professed final vows in 1853, and was ordained six years later; he lived as a hermit from 1875 until his death; he followed a strict fast and was very devoted to the Blessed Sacrament; when his superiors occasionally asked him to administer the sacraments to nearby villages, Sharbel did so gladly; Sharbel died in the late afternoon of Christmas eve, 1898 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/24/25 Gospel: Matthew 13:10-17

Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, 1303-1373; she had visions of Christ crucified from the age of 7; she lived her married life in the court of Swedish King Magnus II, and bore him eight children; after her husband's death, she lived the life of a strict penitent; in 1350, she made a pilgrimage to Rome, during which she was hounded by debts and opposition to her work to correct church abuses; a final pilgrimage to the Holy Land was marred by a shipwreck and the death of her son Charles, eventually leading to her death Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/23/25 Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene; one of the many who assisted Jesus and the Twelve out of their means; she was one of those who stood by the cross with Jesus' mother; and she was the first to see the Risen Christ; died about 63 A.D. Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/22/25 Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18

Monday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, 1559-1619; entered the Capuchins at Venice at age 16; with his facility for languages, he was able to study the Bible in original texts; elected major superior of the Capuchin province in Tuscany at age 31; elected minister general of the Capuchins in 1602; as a papal emissary, he went to Lisbon to visit the king of Spain; there, serious illness took Lawrence's life Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/21/25 Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/20/25 Gospel: Luke 10:38-42

Saturday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Symmachus; pope from 498 to his death in 514; he had to deal with a schism for the first few years of his pontificate, caused by some Roman clergy who elected an antipope; Symmachus sent aid to the North African bishops who were in exile on Sardinia, exiled by heretical King Thrasimund; he ransomed captives, founded three hospices for the needy, and relieved victims of Barbarian raids in northern Italy; he is responsible for placing the "Gloria" into regular use at mass Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/19/25 Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21

Friday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Camillus de Lellis, 1550-1614; at 17, he was afflicted with a disease of his leg, which stayed with him for life; he had an addiction to gambling, and at 24, gambled everything away; he accepted work at the Capuchin friary of Manfredonia, and sought entrance to the novitiate twice, but was rejected because of the disease of his leg; he went to San Giacomo hospital and became the superintendent, and devoted the rest of his life to the care of the sick; he was ordained a priest at the age of 34, and founded his own congregation; as superior, he devoted much of his time to the care of the sick Office of readings and Morning Prayer for 7/18/25 Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Saints of the Day: Carmelite Nuns of Compiegne; during the French Revolution, 16 Carmelite nuns were arrested, and sentenced to death; they went to the guillotine in 1794, singing the "Salve Regina" Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/17/25 Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; hermits lived on Mount Carmel near the Fountain of Elijah in northern Israel in the 12th century; by the 13th century they became known as “Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel”; in 1726 Our Lady of Mount Carmel became a celebration of the universal Church Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/16/25 Gospel: Matthew 11:25-27

Tuesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Bonaventure, 1221-1274; St. Francis is credited with healing him when he was a child; Bonaventure became a Franciscan at the age of 22; he was ultimately elected to serve as General Minister of the order, and his 17 years of service were not easy, since the friars were arguing the definition of "poverty"; Bonaventure structured the order through effective legislation, and offered an organized spirituality based on the vision and insights of St. Francis; shortly before the end of his service as General Minister, Pope Gregory X created him a cardinal and appointed him bishop of Albano; but Bonaventure died suddenly just over a year later Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/15/25 Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Monday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, 1656-1680; born in Auriesville, New York; she lost her family in a smallpox epidemic that left her disfigured and half-blind; moved by the words of three Blackrobes--Jesuit missionaries--who lodged with her uncle, she developed the courage to convert at the age of 19; she was baptized on Easter Sunday; but her conversion and holy life created great opposition; one night, Kateri stole away and began a 200-mile walking journey to a Christian Indian village near Montreal; she took a vow of virginity at age 23; she practiced severe fasting for the conversion of her nation; Kateri died the afternoon before Holy Thursday in 1680 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/14/25 Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/13/25 Gospel: Luke 10:25-37

Saturday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Veronica; she is credited with giving a cloth to Jesus so that he could wipe his face on his way to his crucifixion; she is not mentioned in the Bible, but is known to us by Catholic tradition, and by the Sixth Station of the Cross, "Veronica wipes the face of Jesus"; the image of Jesus' face was subsequently imprinted on the cloth Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/12/25 Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Friday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Benedict, 480-547; born to a prosperous family in central Italy; studied at Rome, and was drawn to monastic life; became a hermit, but eventually built what was to become one of the most famous monasteries in the world, Monte Cassino; his rule prescribed a life of liturgical prayer, study, manual labor, and living together in community under a common abbot Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/11/25 Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Thursday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Anthony Perchesky, 983-1073; born in Ukraine, and went to Mount Athos in Greece to become a hermit; returned to Ukraine and founded a monastery in Kiev, which became the "Caves of Kiev," the first Ukrainian monastery founded by Ukrainians; he founded another monastery, but died in the Caves of Kiev; he is regarded as the father of Ukrainian monasticism Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/10/25 Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Wednesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Augustine Zhao Rong and companions, the Chinese martyrs; 120 martyrs, beatified in groups at various times, but canonized together in 2000 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/9/25 Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Jeanne-Marie Kerguin, 1864-1900; joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1887; she was assigned first to Paris, then to Carthage in northern Africa, where she encountered health problems, and was sent to Rome to recover; there, she answered the call of her order to be a missionary; she arrived in China in 1899, and was hospitalized for several months with typhus; her career ended during a crackdown on foreign missionaries during the Boxer Rebellion; St. Jeanne-Marie Kerguin was beheaded on July 9, 1900 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/8/25 Gospel: Matthew 9:32-38

Monday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Palladius; originally of British or Roman descent, possibly a deacon in Rome, or, more likely, Auxerre, France; he convinced Pope Celestine I to send St. Germanus, bishop of Auxerre, to England to end the Pelagian heresy; Palladius was consecrated a bishop, and was sent to Ireland in 430; he founded at least three churches in Leinster, and then went to Scotland to preach to the Picts; he died at Fordun, near Aberdeen, in about 457 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/7/25 Gospel: Matthew 9:18-26

14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/6/25 Gospel: Luke 10:1-12, 17-20

Saturday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, 1502-1539; while working among the poor of his native Cremona in Italy as a medical doctor, he was attracted to the religious apostolate; he laid the foundations of three religious congregations, one for men, one for women, and an association of married couples, with the aim of reforming the decadent society of their day, beginning with the clergy, religious, and lay people; he encouraged frequent Communion, the Forty Hours devotion, and the ringing of church bells at 3:00 p.m. on Fridays; while on a mission of peace, Anthony became seriously ill and was brought home for a visit to his mother; he died at Cremona at the age of 36 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/5/25 Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17

Friday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Independence Day in the United States Saint of the Day: Blessed Girgio Frassatti, 1901-1925; born in Turin; dedicated to works of social action, charity, prayer, and community; he was also a Third Order Dominican; died of poliomyelitis; thousands of mourners filled the streets of Turin as his cortege passed by; he will be canonized on September 7, 2025, along with Blessed Carlo Acutis Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/4/25 Gospel: Matthew 9:9-13

Feast of St. Thomas, Apostle; provided one of the most profound statements of faith, "My Lord and my God"; died 72 A.D. Thursday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/3/25 Gospel: John 20:24-29

Wednesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Otto of Bamberg, 1060-1139; born in Swabia; served under Emperor Henry IV, but disagreed with Henry's policies toward the Holy See; thus, when Otto was appointed bishop of Bamberg in 1103, he refused to be consecrated until receiving approval from Pope Paschal II who consecrated him in 1106; Otto headed a missionary effort to Pomerania where he found considerable success in making converts among the local inhabitants; he is thus known as the Apostle of Pomerania Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/2/25 Gospel: Matthew 8:28-34

Tuesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Junipero Serra, 1713-1784; for 18 years he worked in Mexico and the Baja Peninsula; traveled with Jose de Galvez to present-day Monterey, California; the first mission founded was San Diego; other missions followed--Monterey/Carmel (1770), San Antonio and San Gabriel (1771), San Luís Obispo (1772), San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano (1776), Santa Clara (1777), San Buenaventura (1782); ywelve more were founded after Serra’s death; he baptized over 6,000 people, and confirmed 5,000; he brought the Native Americans not only the gift of faith, but also a decent standard of living Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/1/25 Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27

Monday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome, 64 A.D.; Nero blamed Christians for the burning of Rome and executed many of them, likely including Peter and Paul Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/30/25 Gospel: Matthew 8:18-22

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/29/25 Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

Saturday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Irenaeus, 130-202; as bishop of Lyons, he was especially concerned with the "Gnostics," who claimed "secret knowlege" which Jesus had imparted to only a few disciples; Irenaeus compared their "secret" with Holy Scripture, and showed a system of theology of great importance to subsequent times; his work gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/28/25 Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Friday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/27/25 Gospel: Luke 15:3-7

Thursday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, 1902-1975; born in Barbastro, Spain, the second of six children of Jose and Dolores Escriva; in 1915, he observed the fresh footprints in the snow of a barefoot monk, and wondered what God wanted of him; in 1928, as a priest, he solved the mystery, seeing holiness all around him, and founded Opus Dei; Monsignor Escriva died at the age of 73 in 1975 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/26/25 Gospel: Matthew 7:21-29