Daybreak

Saturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Charles Lwanga and Companions; 22 Ugandans who were martyred for refusing the homosexual advances of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga; Charles was burned to death in 1886 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/3/23 Gospel: Mark 11:27-33

Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Saints Marcellinus and Peter; priest and exorcist, respectively; beheaded in 304 A.D.,during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian; Pope Damasus wrote an epitaph based on the report of their executioner, and Constantine erected a basilica over the crypt in which they were buried in Rome Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/2/23 Gospel: Mark 11:11-26

Thursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Justin, 100-165; philosopher who converted, because Christianity answered the great question of life and existence better than the ancient philosophers; became an apologist, defending Christianity against attacks and misunderstandings; for his stuanch adherence to Christinity, Justin was beheaded Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/1/23 Gospel: Matthew 10:46-52

Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/31/23 Gospel: Luke 1:39-56

Tuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Joan of Arc, 1412-1431; born of a fairly well-to-do couple southeast of Paris; began having visions at the age of 12; led French troops against the English and recaptured Orleans and Troyes; Joan was captured in 1430, sold to the English, and placed on trial for heresy and witchcraft; burned at the stake in 1431; a second Church trial 25 years later nullified the earlier verdict, reached under political pressure Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/30/23 Gospel: Mark 10:28-31

Monday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/29/23 Gospel: John 19:25-34

Solemnity of Pentecost Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/28/23 Gospel: John 7:37-39

Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury; set out in 596 to evangelize the Anglo-Saxons in England; founded the see of Canterbury, and followed the missionary principles suggested by Pope Gregory--purify rather than destroy pagan temples, let pagan festivals be transformed into Christian feasts, and retain local customs as far as possible; the full fruit of Augustine's work came some years after his death in 605; he is the "Apostle of England" Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/27/23 Gospel: John 21:20-25

Friday of the Seventh Week of Easter Memorial of St. Philip Neri, 1515-1595; founder of the religious institute, The Oratory; an outstanding confessor, gifted with the knack of piercing the pretenses and illusions of others, in a charitable manner, and often with a joke; known for his sense of humor; one of the influential figures of the Counter-Reformation Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/26/23 Gospel: John 21:15-19

Thursday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Bede the Venerable, 673-735; spent most of his adult life in the monastery of Wearmouth-Jarrow, England; wrote commentaries on the Pentateuch and various other books of the Bible, theological and scientific treatises, historical works, and biographies; he the patron of English writers and historians, and was the first to date events "Anno Domini" (A.D.) Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/25/23 Gospel: John 17:20-26

Wednesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Joanna; wife of Chuza, steward of King Herod Antipas, tetrarch of Galilee; she was one of the women who helped provide for Jesus and the apostles, and she was one of the three women who discovered the empty tomb Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/24/23 Gospel: John 17:11-19

Tuesday of the Seventh Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Crispin of Viterbo, 1668-1750; Franciscan Capuchin who served as gardener and cook; called himself "the little beast of burden of the Capuchins"; effected many miraculous cures during an epidemic; known for his prophecies and spiritual wisdom Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/23/23

Monday of the Seventh Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Rita of Cascia, 1381-1457; spent 18 years in an arranged marriage to a harsh man; Rita was widowed when her husband died in a brawl; tried to enter the Augustinians, but was refused; she was finally allowed entry in 1413, and became known for her austerity, devotion to prayer, and charity; she received visions and wounds on her forehead which resembled the crown of thorns Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/22/23 Gospel: John 16:29-33

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/21/23 Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

Saturday of the Sixth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Bernardine of Siena, 1380-1444; Franciscan known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus; the greatest preacher of his time, journeying across Italy, calming strife-torn cities, attacking paganism, and attracting crowds of 30,000 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/20/23 Gospel: John 16:23-28

Friday of the Sixth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Theophilus of Corte, 1676-1740; born in Corsica of rich and noble parents; entered the Franciscans, was ordained, and assigned to a retreat house near Subiaco; inspired by the austere life lived there, he founded other houses in Corsica and Tuscany; became famous for his preaching and missionary efforts Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/19/23 Gospel:John 16:20-23

Solemnity of the Ascension of the Lord Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/18/23 Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20

Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Paschal Baylon, 1540-1592; Franciscan lay brother, known for rigorous asceticism and love for the Blessed Sacrament; on a mission to France, he debated the doctrine of the Real Presence against a Calvinist preacher; patron of Eucharistic congresses and Eucharistic associations Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/17/23 Gospel: John 16:12-15

Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter Saint of the Day: St. Simon Stock, 1165-1265; accompanied a Carmelite community from the Holy Land to Europe, and founded many Carmelite communities; received an apparition from the Virgin Mary in 1251, in which she said, "Receive, my beloved son, this scapular of thy Order; it is the special sign of my favor, which I have obtained for the and for thy children of Mount Carmel. He who dies clothed with this habit shall be preserved from eternal fire." Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/16/23 Gospel: John 16:5-11

Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter Optional Memorial of St. Isidore the Farmer, 1070-1130; born in Madrid, Spain, and spent most of his life as a laborer on a farm outside of the city; he was favored with celestial visions, and it is said that angels sometimes helped in his work; patron of farmers, and of the National Rural Life Conference in the United States Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/15/23 Gospel: John 15:26-16:4