Daybreak

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

Wednesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. William of Vercelli, 1085-1142; became a hermit on Monte Vergine, Italy after a pilgrimage to Compostella and attracted so many followers that a monastery was buillt; by 1119 his followers were united in the Benedictine congregation; but William's rule was so austere that it caused dissension; to keep peace, he left, and was taken under the protection of Roger I of Naples, who built a monastery for him; William founded monasteries throughout Naples, and died near Nusco, Italy Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/25/25 Gospel: Matthew 7:15-20

Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/24/25 Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Joseph Cafasso, 1811-1860; crippled throughout his life; ordained in 1833; became professor of moral theology at the ecclesiastical college in Turin in 1836, and was superior of the college from 1846 to 1860; renowned confessor; friend and advisor to St. John Bosco; ministered to condemned prisoners; since many were hanged immediately after confession and absolution, Joseph referred to them as "hanged saints"; Joseph died in Turin Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/23/25 Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5

Solemnity of Corpus Christi - The Body and Blood of Christ Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/22/25 Gospel: Luke 9:11-17

Saturday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, 1568-1591; entered the Jesuit novitiate, and spent four years studying philosophy with his advisor, St. Robert Bellarmine; in 1591, a plague struck Rome, and Aloysius contracted it from nursing patients; he maintained his great discipline of prayer, knowing that he would die three months later within the octave of Corpus Christi, at the age of 23 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/21/25 Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34

Friday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. John of Pulsano, 1070-1139; born in Naples, and entered the Benedictines, but was disliked for his austerity; joined the community of St. William of Vercelli for a time, leaving to breach at Ban; lived as a hermit in Sicily, and was imprisoned; he escaped, and went to Capua; he later founded a monastery at Pulsano; famous for his lpreaching, prophecy, and miracles Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/20/25 Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23

Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Romuald, 950-1027; witnessed his father kill a relative in a duel, and fled to a monastery; the monks found him "uncomfortably holy" and eased him out; tried to preach in Hungary, but was taken ill when he arrived, and the illness returned whenever he tried to proceed; at a monastery where he stayed, he was accused of a scandalous crime by a nobleman, which the monks accepted, and excommunicated Romuald, forbidding him to celebrate mass, an unjust punishment which he served for six months; Romuald's father became a monk, and when he wavered, Romuald's encouragement helped him Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/19/25 Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Wednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Gregory Barbarigo, 1625-1697; from a distinguished Venetian family; he embraced a diplomatic career, and later was ordained a priest, and then bishop of Bergamo; he became a cardinal and was also given authority over the diocese of Padua; he guided his flock with wisdom and understanding, and carried out the reforms of the Council of Trent; under his leadership, seminaries at Padua and Bergamo were enlarged, and he added a library and printing press at Padua Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/18/25 Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Teresa of Portugal, 1178-1250; daughter of royal parents; married her cousin, King Alfonso IX of Leon, and bore him several children, but the marriage was declared invalid due to consanguinity; she returned to Portugal and founded a monastery, accomodating 300 nuns, and she lived there; in about 1231, at the request of Alfonso's second wife and widow, Berengaria, she settled a dispute among their children over the succession of the throne of Leon; she returned to Lorvao and became a nun Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/17/25 Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Monday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Luthgard, 1182-1246; born in Belgium, and was placed in the Benedictine convent at the age of 12; a vision of Christ compelled her to become a Benedictine; she had many mystical experiences, levitated, and had a form of the stigmata; to avoid being made abbess, she joined the Cistercians; she was known for her spiritual wisdom and miracles; she was blind during the last eleven years of her life. Luthgard is revered as a leading mystic of the Thirteenth Century Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/26/25 Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/15/25 Gospel: John 16:12-15

Saturday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Joseph the Hymnographer, 810-886; the most prolific of the Greek hymn writers; born in Sicily, he left in 830 to escape an invasion by the Arabs; he went to Thessalonica, and then to Constantinople, and left in 841 to escape the iconoclast persecution; returning to Constantinople, he founded a monastery; for his defense of the icons, he was sent into exile; Joseph is credited with the composition of about one thousand canons Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/14/25 Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37

Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231; joined the Augustinians at a young age, and then the Franciscans; he became recognized as a great man of prayer and a great Scripture and theology scholar, Anthony became the first friar to teach theology to the other friars; soon, he was called to preach to the Albigensians in France; after leading the friars in northern Italy for three years, he made Padua his headquarters;in the spring of 1231 Anthony withdrew to a friary at Camposampiero where he had a sort of treehouse built as a hermitage; he fell ill on June 13, 1231, and died at Padua Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/13/25 Gospel: Matthew 5:27-32

Thursday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Peter of Mount Athos; the first hermit to reside on the famous Mount Athos in Greece; legend has it that he was a soldier, captured by Muslims, and held until released through the intervention of St. Simeon; he went to Rome, and is believed to have received the monastic habit directly from the pope; he was graced with a vision from Our Lady, and traveled to Mount Athos, where he took up residence as a hermt, and remained for nearly half-a-century; died in the Eighth Century Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/12/25 Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26

Wednesday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Barnabas; he was closely associated with St. Paul; he introduced Paul to Peter and the other apostles—and served as a kind of mediator between the former persecutor and the still suspicious Jewish Christians; Barnabas and Paul instructed in Antioch for a year, after which they took relief contributions to Jerusalem; later, they were sent by Antioch officials to preach to the Gentiles; but they were expelled from one town, they had to go to Jerusalem to clear up the ever-recurring controversy about circumcision; Paul and Barnabas separated over a disagreement about Barnabas' cousin, John Mark, joining them after he had once deserted them Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/11/25 Gospel: Matthew 5:17-19

Tuesday of the Tenth Week of Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Landericus; as bishop of Paris from 650 to 661, he worked zealously to improve the lot of the poor; he sold his own possessions to feed the hungry during a famine, and even sold some of the Church vessels and furniture; he erected the city's first real hospital; he welcomed the Benedictines into his diocese, and encouraged them to set up the Abbey of Denis; he died about 661 after having commissioned the monk Marculfus to compile a collection of Ecclesiastical Formulas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/10/25 Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Monday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/9/25 Gospel: John 19:25-34

Solemnity of Pentecost Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/8/25 Gospel: John 20:19-23

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Willibald, 700-786; brother of Saints Winebald and Walburga, and related through his mother to St. Boniface; went on a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem, and was captured by Saracens who thought him a spy; he was eventually released and continued on to all of the holy places and then to Constantinople; When he returned to Rome he spent ten years at Monte Cassino, serving as sacristan, dean, and porter; Pope St. Gregory III sent him to Germany to assist his cousin St. Boniface; Boniface ordained him in 741 and soon appointed him bishop of Eichstatt, in Franconia; he founded a double monastery at Heidenheim, naming Winebald abbot and his sister Walburga abbess; Willibald served as bishop for some four decades Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/7/25 Gospel: John 21:20-25

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Norbert, 1080-1134; founder of the Praemonstratensians or the Norbertines; his founding of the Order was a monumental task: combatting rampant heresies—particularly regarding the Blessed Sacrament, revitalizing many of the faithful who had grown indifferent and dissolute, plus effecting peace and reconciliation among enemies; reluctantly, Norbert became archbishop of Magdeburg in central Germany, a territory half pagan and half Christian; in this position he zealously continued his work for the Church until his death Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/6/25 Gospel: John 21:15-19