Daybreak

Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Tim Optional Memorial of St. Ephrem, 306-373; poet, teacher, orator, defender of the faith; born in Mesopotamia, fled as a refugee to Edessa; his works reflect a deep insight and knowledge of the scriptures; lived in cave overlooking Edessa, and died there in 373 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/9/23 Gospel: Mark 12:35-37

Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. William of York, 1110-1154; became archbishop of York in 1154, but his selection was challenged on grounds of simony and unchastity; he was cleared by Rome, but ousted by a later pope; Pope Anastasius IV eventually restored him as bishop of York, but he died about a month after returning Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/8/23 Gospel: Mark 12:28-34

Wednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Willibald, 700-786; native of Wessex, England, brother of Saints Winebald and Walburga, and related, through his mother, to St. Boniface; assisted Boniface in his missionary work, and was ordained, and then became bishop of Eichstatt, in Franconia; founded a double monastery with his siblings, and made Winebald abbot, and Walburga abbess; served as bishop for four decades Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/7/23 Gospel: Mark 12:18-27

Tuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Norbert, 1080-1134; founder of the Praemonstratensians, better known as the Norbertines, in the French region of Premontre; Norbert and his community converted heretics, reconciled enemies, and rebuilt the faith in indifferent believers; Norbert reluctantly became archbishop of Magdeburg, Germany, and continued his work for the Church Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/6/23 Gospel: Mark 12:13-17

Monday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Boniface, 675-754; apostle of the Germans; sent by Pope Gregory II to reform the German Church, which was rampant with paganism, and errors; his reform efforts were successful; Boniface and 53 others were massacred on their visit to the Frisians, preparing converts for confirmation Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/5/23 Gospel: Mark 12:1-12

Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/4/23 Gospel: John 3:16-18

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