Daybreak

Wednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Angela Merici, 1474-1540; founded the first teaching congregation of women, the Company of St. Ursula, and in so doing, founded the first of what is now known as a “secular institute” Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/27/21 Gospel: Mark 4:1-20

Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, friends and collaborators with St. Paul; Timothy was bishop of Ephesus, Titus was bishop of Crete Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/26/21 Gospel: Mark 3:31-35

Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul, apostle Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/25/21 Gospel: Mark 16:15-18

Third Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/24/21 Gospel: Mark 1:14-20

Saturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Marianne Cope, 1838-1918; grew up in New York state, and joined the Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis; went to Hawaii in 1883 to take minister to those afflicted with leprosy; on Molokai, she opened a home for unprotected women and girls, and took charge of the home that St. Damien had built; she introduced cleanliness, pride, and fun to the colony; vocations were attracted among the Hawaiian people, who still work on Molokai Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/23/21 Gospel: Mark 3:20-21

Friday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Day of Prayer for Legal Protection of the Unborn Optional Memorial of St. Vincent of Saragossa; 3rd Century deacon, apprehended during a persecution of the governor of Spain; tortured severely, and died, 304 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/22/21 Gospel: Mark 3:13-19

Memorial of St. Agnes, virgin and martyr; very young girl who refused the marriage proposal of a man, who, in turn, betrayed her to Roman authorities as a Christian; for this, she was executed in about the year 258 A.D. Thursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/21/21 Gospel: Mark 3:7-12

Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Fabian, 200-250; pope and martyr; chosen because, in the midst of the crowd, a dove came to land on him; died in the persecution of Decius; St. Cyprian wrote that he was an incomparable whose glory in death matched the holiness and purity of his life Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/20/21 Gospel: Mark 3:1-6

Tuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Henry of Sweden; 12th Century Englishman who lived in Rome, and was consecrated bishop of Uppsala, Sweden; accompanied King Eric to Finland, and remained, working to convert the Finns; murdered by a Finnish soldier whom he had excommunicated, 1156 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/19/21 Gospel: Mark 2:23-28

Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Margaret of Hungary, 1242-1271; daughter of King Bela IV; joined a Dominican convent, and refused special treatment because of her royal heritage; performed the most menial tasks, and cared for the poor and sick Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/18/21 Gospel: Mark 2:18-22

Second Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/17/21 Gospel: John 1:35-42

Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Fursey; born in Ireland; founded Rathmat Abbey; in 630, founded a monastery in East Anglia, and in later years another near Paris; died 650 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/16/21 Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Paul the Hermit, 233-345; during the persecution of Decius, he fled to a cave, and remained there for 91 years; his holiness was attested to by St. Anthony of Egypt Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/15/21 Gospel: Mark 2:1-12