Daybreak

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

Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/8/26 Gospel: Matthew 5:13-16

Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Paul Miki and companions, the Japanese martyrs; in 1587, Japan issued an edict of persecution against Christians; St. Paul Miki and his companions were arrested and martyred on the hill of Nagasaki in 1597 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/6/26 Gospel: Mark 6:14-29

Thursday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Agatha, 231-251; an early Christian martyr from Catania, Sicily; she pledged her virginity to Christ and after refusing to compromise was killed; by the 5th century, she was highly venerated for her purity and goodness; patron saint of breast ailments Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/5/26 Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Andrew Corsini, 1302-1374; born to a powerful family in Florence; lived a wild youth, but was converted by his mother and became a Carmelite; after his studies, he returned to his birthplace and became known as a prophet and miracle worker; he was named bishop of Fiesole in 1349; he was sent by Pope Urban V to Bologna to settle disputes between the nobles and commoners, a mission he performed well.; Andrew died in Fiesole in 1373. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/4/26 Gospel: Mark 6:1-6

Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Blaise; a good bishop of Sebastea, Armenia, but was forced to flee to the back country due to persecution; he lived as a hermit, and made friends with wild animals; when hunters hauled Blaise off to prison, a mother came with her young son who had a fish bone lodged in his throat; at Blaise’s command the child was able to cough up the bone. Blaise was martyred in 316 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/3/26 Gospel: Mark 5:21-43

Feast of the Presentation of the Lord Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/2/26 Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

Fourth Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 2/1/26 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12a

Saturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. John Bosco, 1815-1888; studied theology at Turin; after ordination, he served the dislocated people from the countryside who found themselves in the midst of urbanization; in 1854, he founded the Salesian order, focused on creating solutions for displaced youth; he developed vocational training programs and schools; he also collaborated in the founding of Daughters of Mary Help of Christians Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/31/26 Gospel: Mark 4:35-41

Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Bathildis, 626-680; born in England; she was enslaved, and taken to Neustria, a part of the Frankish kingdom; in time, she became a trusted member of the court of King Clovis II, and married him in 649; she bore him three sons, all of whom became kings; when Clovis died in 657, Bathildis served as regent for Clotaire III; she had founded a Benedictine convent at Chelles, as well as St. Denis Monastery and Corbie; when Clotaire III assumed the throne, Bathildis retired to Chelles, where she died Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/30/26 Gospel: Mark 4:26-34

Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Dallan; Dallan Forgaill was a Sixth Century kinsman of St. Edan of Ferns, born in Connaught, and a great scholar; through his application to study, he became blind; he wrote a poem in honor of St. Columba, which was only published after Columba's death; legend has it that, upon its publication, Dallan's sight was restored to him; Dallan was murdered by pirates in 598, and his head thrown into the sea; it was recovered, and miraculously reunited with his body Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/29/26 Gospel: Mark 4:21-25

Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas, 1225-1274; the "Angelic Doctor"; born in Aquino, Italy, became a Dominican, and studied under St. Albert the Great; he wrote the Summa theologiae and much of the liturgy for the feast of Corpus Christi; he is considered one of the greatest minds of the Church Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/28/26 Gospel: Mark 4:1-20

Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Angela Merici, 1474-1540; born in Italy, orphaned in her teens; as a young woman, she joined the Third Order of St. Francis; at age 60, Angela and 12 other women began the Company of St. Ursula; this was a new way of life--single women consecrated to Christ and living in the world rather than in a monastery, what is today known as a "Secular Institute"; Angela died in Brescia, Italy; in the early 1600s, Companies that had expanded into France were re-organized into the religious Order of St. Ursula, to teach girls Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/27/26 Gospel: Mark 3:31-35

Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus; great men of the First Century, companions and disciples of St. Paul; Timothy accompanied St. Paul on his second missionary journey and was entrusted to aid the Thessalonians, Corinthians and Ephesians; Titus is addressed as St. Paul’s ‘true child after a common faith’ and was called to missionary work in Crete Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/26/26 Gospel: Mark 3:22-30

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/25/26 Gospel: Matthew 4:12-23