Daybreak

Fifth Sunday of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/22/26 Gospel: John 11:1-45

Saturday of the Fourth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Enda; an Irishman, who became a monk and went on pilgrimage to Rome, where he was ordained; he returned to Ireland, built churches at Drogheda, and then secured from his brother-in-law King Oengus of Munster the island of Aran, where he built the monastery of Killeaney, from which ten other foundations on the island developed; with St. Finnian of Clonard, Enda is considered the founder of monasticism in Ireland Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/21/26 Gospel: John 7:40-53

Friday of the Fourth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Photina; according to Greek legend, the Samaritan woman Jesus met at the well; she took to preaching the Gospel, received imprisonment, and was finally martyred at Carthage; another tradition states that Photina was put to death in Rome after converting the daughter of Emperor Nero and one hundred of her servants; she supposedly died in Rome with her sons Joseph and Victor, along with several other Christians Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/20/26 Gospel: John 7:1-2, 10, 25-30

Solemnity of St. Joseph, husband of Mary Thursday of the Fourth Week of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/19/26 Gospel: Matthew 1:16, 18-21, 24

Wednesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Cyril of Jerusalem; Fourth Century bishop; 24 of his catechetical instructions survive; he spent 16 of his 35 years as bishop in exile, the first inflicted by Acacius, Bishop of Caesarea, an ardent Arian who claimed jurisdiction over Jerusalem Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/18/26 Gospel: John 5:17-30

Tuesday of the Fourth Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Patrick; born in 387 in Roman Britain; kidnapped and forced into slavery at age 16; he escaped Ireland and returned to Scotland, but soon became aware that he longed to minister to the Irish people; he returned to his old master, paid his own ransom, and began preaching the word of God; he is said to have baptized thousands, converted wealthy women and their sons, as well as ordained priests to carry on his work; over fifteen hundred years later, his legacy remains Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/17/26 Gospel: John 5:1-16

Monday of the Fourth Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Finian Lobhar; Sixth Century Irish abbot, a disciple of St. Columba; tradition credits him with founding a church and monastery at Innisfallen; after a stay in Clonmore, Finian Lobhar became abbot of Swords Abbey near Dublin; he may have returned to Clonmore in his later years; he became known as "Lobhar"--"the leper"--because he had contracted leprosy from a young boy whom he had cured of the disease; Finian died in 560 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/16/26 Gospel: John 4:43-54

Fourth Sunday of Lent - Laetare Sunday Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/15/26 Gospel: John 9:1-41

Saturday of the Third Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Boniface Curitan; Seventh Century evangelist to the Picts and Scots; probably a Roman by birth, Boniface was the bishop of Ross, England; he introduced Roman observances into the British territories and founded a vast number of parishes; he died in 660 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/14/26 Gospel: Luke 18:9-14

Friday of the Third Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Euphrasia of Constantinople, 380-410; a noble Roman; her mother entered a convent in Egypt, and Euphrasia, at the age of five, went with her; at the age of twelve, orphaned, she was commanded by Emperor Arcadius to marry a senator but received permission to give her wealth to the poor and remain a nun; she was known for her holiness Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/13/26 Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

Thursday of the Third Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Peter of Nicomedia; Fourth Century chamberlain at the court of Emperor Diocletian at Nicomedia; arrested for being a Christian when the last great persecution of the Church was launched; he was tortured, and eventually martyred in 303 A.D.; he is ranked as one of the first victims of the last persecution by the Roman Empire Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/12/26 Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Eulogius of Cordoba; Ninth Century Martyred priest of Cordoba, Spain, slain by the Moors, after his arrest in 850; Eulogius was a noted scholar of Scripture he wrote Exhortation to Martyrdom for two young virgin martyrs, Flora and Mary, who were beheaded; released, Eulogius was named archbishop of Cordoba or Toledo; before being consecrated, he aided Leocritia, a young Moorish woman who had converted to Christianity; they were caught and beheaded in 859 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/11/26 Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Tuesday of the Third Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Macarius of Jerusalem; Fourth Century bishop of Jerusalem who helped St. Helena to locate the True Cross; when Helena discovered three crosses in Jerusalem, Macarius suggested that a seriously ill woman be touched with each one; one cured the woman instantly, and was identified as the True Cross; Macanus built a church over Christ’s sepulcher which was consecrated as a basilica; Macarius died in 335 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/10/26 Gospel: Matthew 18:21-35

Monday of the Third Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Frances of Rome, 1384-1440; at the age of 12, she was arranged to marry Lorenzo Ponziani; the marriage lasted forty years and bore three children; Frances’ two daughters were killed, her husband seriously wounded, and her son nearly escaped ransom; these events led her into deep prayer and a life of service; caring for the sick and poor of the city, Frances turned part of her family estate into a hospital, and she eventually founded the Olivetan Oblates of Mary, a group of pious women not cloistered or vowed but serving the needs of their community through prayer and acts of charity; after her husband’s death, Frances moved into the monastery and became its president Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/9/26 Gospel: Luke 4:24-30

Third Sunday of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/8/26 Gospel: John 4:5-42

Saturday of the Second Week of Lent Commemoration of Saints Perpetua and Felicity; African martyrs who became Christian catechumens; they were arrested but stayed true to their faith despite deplorable prison conditions and earnest pleas from Perpetua’s father to renounce her faith; along with three other catechumens, they were executed in the amphitheater at Carthage in 203 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/7/26 Gospel: Luke 15:1-3, 11-32

Friday of the Second Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Fridolin; Sixth Century Irishman, venerated as the "Apostle of the Upper Rhine"; he traveled to France and settled in Poitiers, rebuilding the monastery of St. Hilary which had been destroyed by Vandals; he then became a hermit on the Rhine, and built the abbey of Sackingen; he was known as "The Wanderer" because of his many evangelizing trips in the region; Fridolin died in 540 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/6/26 Gospel: Matthew 21:33-43, 45-46

Thursday of the Second Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Philip of Jesus, 1572-1597; born in Mexico City, he entered the Franciscans at Puebla but then departed the order in 1589 to journey to the Philippines as a trader; in 1590, he repented and returned to the Franciscan fold; his superiors commanded him to sail back to Mexico to be ordained a priest and, while on the way, his ship was caught in a storm and driven into the waters of Japan; landing in 1596, he was soon arrested and, with St. Peter Baptist, was put to death by crucifixion at Nagasaki in 1597 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/5/26 Gospel: Luke 16:19-31

Wednesday of the Second Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Casimir, 1458-1484; son of the king of Poland; he practiced the Christian virtues with special regard to chastity and kindness to the poor and was zealous in the faith, particularly in his devotion to the holy eucharist and the Virgin Mary; he died of consumption Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/4/26 Gospel: Matthew 20:17-28

Tuesday of the Second Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Katharine Drexel, 1858-1955; born in Pennsylvania to a family of means; after returning from a trip out west, she decided to leverage her wealth and resources to uplift the lives of Native Americans and African Americans; she is remembered for her devout prayer life, courage towards social justice and unending generosity Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/3/26 Gospel: Matthew 23:1-12

Monday of the Second Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Agnes of Bohemia, 1200-1282; born in Prague, educated in the Cistercian convent; she was betrothed to Emperor Frederick II of Germany, but she refused this marriage, angering Frederick; but in time, he understood her decision, remarking, "If she had left me for a mortal man, I would have taken vengeance with the sword, but I cannot take offense because in preference to me she has chosen the King of Heaven"; Agnes became a Poor Claire at the monastery of St. Savior in Prague,which she had founded; during her religious life, she was gifted by miracles; she predicted the victory of her brother Wenceslaus over the duke of Austria Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/2/26 Gospel: Luke 6:36-38

Second Sunday of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 3/1/26 Gospel: Matthew 17:1-9

Saturday of the First Week of Lent Saint of the Day: Pope St. Hilary; on the death of Pope Leo the Great, Hilary was elected pope; he worked to strengthen the Church in France and Spain; he rebuilt many Roman churches and erected the chapel of St. John Lateran; Hilary consolidated the Church in Sandi, Africa, and Gaul; he died in Rome on February 28, 468 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/28/26 Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Friday of the First Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Anne Line, 1563-1601; disowned by her father after she married a Catholic, Robert Line; Robert was arrested, exiled, and died in Flanders, Belgium; Anne remained in England, where she hid Catholic priests in a London safe house until her arrest; she was hanged in Tyburn Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/27/26 Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Thursday of the First Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Isabel of France, 1225-1270; sister of St. Louis and daughter of King Louis VIII of France and Blanche of Castile; she refused offers of marriage to continue her life of virginity consecrated to God; she ministered to the sick and the poor, and after the death of her mother, founded the Franciscan Monastery of the Humility of the Blessed Virgin Mary; she lived there in austerity, but never became a nun and refused to become abbess; she died there in 1270 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/26/26 Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12

Wednesday of the First Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Victorinus; Third Century citizen of Corinth, Greece, he was exiled with a group of fellow Christians to Egypt during the persecutions under Emperor Numerian; Victor and the others had been exiled in 249 and lived in Egypt; under Governor Sabinus they were arrested again, brutally tortured, and finally executed at Diospolis in 284 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/25/26 Gospel: Luke 11:29-32

Tuesday of the First Week of Lent Saint of the Day: St. Adela, 1067-1137; youngest daughter of William the Conqueror; in 1080 she married Stephen of Blois; throughout her life, Adela had an active role in English politics; she was famed for endowing churches and monastic institutions Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/24/26 Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Monday of the First Week of Lent Commemoration of St. Polycarp, 69-155; a letter addressed to him by St. Ignatius tells him to care for the Church and his own surviving epistle shows he encouraged the Philippians on the path of righteousness; St. Iraneus praises his defense of orthodoxy and his energy in combating heresy; during a visit to Rome, St. Polycarp spoke to the bishop, Anicetus, who agreed to let the Eastern churches calculate the date of Easter in their own way; Polycarp was arrested and martyred during a pagan festival in Smyrna, when he refused to deny Christ Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/23/26 Gospel: Matthew 25: 31-46

First Sunday of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/22/26 Gospel: Matthew 4:1-11

Saturday after Ash Wednesday Commemoration of St. Peter Damian, 1007-1072; born in Italy, and joined a Benedictine hermitage, eventually becoming its prior; he wrote against simony, wantonness, and worldliness among religious leaders; upon his consecration as Bishop, St. Peter Damian stressed even more the importance of a unified Church and a morally exemplary clergy Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/21/26 Gospel: Luke 5:27-32

Friday after Ash Wednesday Saint of the Day: St. Wulfric, 1080-1154; born in England, became a priest, and was excessively materialistic and worldly; after meeting with a beggar, he became a hermit, and devoted himself to rigorous austerities' he was known for his miracles and prophecies; Wulfric was a very popular saint during the Middle Ages, and his tomb was visited by many pilgrims Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/20/26 Gospel: Matthew 9:14-15

Thursday after Ash Wednesday Saint of the Day: St. Barbatus of Benevento, 612-682; born in Italy, ordained in Marcona; he was sent to Benevento, where he evangelized and converted many; when the assault of the Byzantine emperor ended and peace came, Barbatus was named bishop of Benevento; he attended the Council of Constantinople in 680, and died in Benevento in 682 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/19/26 Gospel: Luke 9:22-25

Ash Wednesday - The Beginning of Lent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/18/26 Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time - "Fat Tuesday" Optional Memorial of the Seven Founders of the Servite Order; they founded this order in 1240, striving for personal sanctification, world evangelism, and an increase in Marian devotion; the Servite Order grew quickly, to Europe, South Asia, and North America; their devotions include The Rosary of the Seven Dolours and the Via Matris Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/17/26 Gospel: Mark 8:14-21

Monday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Onesimus; First Century martyr and former slave whose story is told by St. Paul in his letter to Philemon; Onesimus had been a slave of Philemon, but escaped; Paul met him in prison, where he baptized him; Paul wrote to Philemon, asking him to take Onesimus back not as a slave, but as a brother in Christ; Onesimus died in about 68 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/16/26 Gospel: Mark 8:11-13

Sixth Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/15/26 Gospel: Matthew 5:17-37

Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saints Cyril and Methodius; Ninth Century monk and bishop, respectively; brothers who had appointments in the Byzantine civil service before embracing monastic life; they were sent as missionaries to Moravia, where they translated the liturgical books into the Slavonic language; Cyril died in Rome in 869; Methodius returned to Moravia, where he was later appointed archbishop; before his death in 884, Methodius had translated almost the entire Bible into Slavonic; Pope John Paul named them patrons of Europe, along with St. Benedict Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/14/26 Gospel: Mark 8:1-10

Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Catherine Ricci, 1522-1589; entered the convent of the Dominican nuns at Prat in Tuscany, in her fourteenth year; while very young, she was chosen Mistress of Novices, then subprioress, and at twenty-five years of age she became perpetual prioress; her sanctity drew many to her side, including three who would later serve as pope; she experienced the "Ecstacy of the Passion" each week from Thursday noon until Friday at 4 p.m. for twelve years Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/13/26 Gospel: Mark 7:31-37

Thursday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Julian the Hospitaller; lived in the Fourth Century; legend has it that he killed his noble parents in a case of mistaken identity; he thought that his wife was with another man, so he struck them both in bed; shortly after, his wife returned from church; in penance, they went to Rome and received absolution; Julian founded an inn and hospital for the poor, and even gave his bed to a leper--who turned out to be an angel Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/12/26 Gospel: Mark 7:24-30

Wednesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Lourdes; in 1858 in Lourdes, France, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared 18 times to Bernadette Soubirous; eventually, thousands gathered around her to witness the events, including the appearance of a new, surging spring (still present today) from which Bernadette drank; today, millions visit the Shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes annually Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/11/26 Gospel: Mark 7:14-23

Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Scholastica, 480-543; sister of St. Benedict; she founded and ran a nunnery in the Benedictine tradition; as Abbess, Saint Scholastica aided in the spiritual formation of many holy sisters; God answered her with thunder and storms when she pleaded Him to convince her brother to prolong their annual visit; St. Benedict stayed, due to tremendous rains, and three days later Saint Scholastica died Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/10/26 Gospel: Mark 7:1-13

Monday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Raynald of Nocera, 1150-1225; Benedictine bishop who served the order in various capacities until receiving appointment as bishop of Nocera in 1222; owing to his excellent service in that capacity, he is considered the patron of Nocera Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/9/26 Gospel: Mark 6:53-56