Daybreak

Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Saint Hilary of Poitiers, 315-368; raised a pagan, he was converted to Christianity when he met his God of nature in the Scriptures; chosen, against his will, to be the bishop of Poitiers in France, and he took up the battle against the Arian heresy; for his defense of the faith, he was banished from France to far off Phrygia; he was invited to a council called by the emperor, but when he he sought public debate with the heretical bishop who had exiled him, the Arians pleaded with the emperor to send this troublemaker back home. Hilary was welcomed by his people Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/13/24 Gospel: Mark 2:13-17

Friday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Saint Aelred of Rievaulx, 1110-1167; son of a Saxon priest, educated at Roxburgh; became steward to King David of Scotland, but left to join the Cistercian community at Rievaulx; wrote his most famous work, "The Mirror of Charity," at the request of Bernard of Clairvaux Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/12/24 Gospel: Mark 2:1-12

Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Saint Paulinus of Aquileia, 726-802; born near Friuli, Italy, and grew up a farmer with an excellent education; summoned to the court of Charlemagne in 774; sent back to Italy in 776 and was appointed Patriarch of Aquileia; he represented Charlemagne at various Church Councils, wrote against and denounced the heresy  of Adoptionism, and sent missionaries to attempt the evangelization of the Avars Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/11/24 Gospel: Mark 1:40-45

Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Gregory of Nyssa, 335-394; brother of at least five saints; became bishop of Nyssa in about 371; Arians deposed him in 376, but he was able to return two years later; attended the first council of Constantinope, and helped to settle disputes among church in Arabia; he attended a synod in Constantinople and is thought to have died shortly after that Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/10/24 Gospel: Mark 1:29-39

Tuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Adrian, the Abbot; also known as St. Adrian of Canterbury; born in Africa in the Seventh Century, he was appointed abbot of the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury; it became one of the most important centers of learning; Adrian taught there for 40 years, and died in about 710 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/9/24 Gospel: Mark 1:21-28

Feast of the Baptism of the Lord Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/8/24 Gospel: Mark 1:7-11

Solemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/7/24 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12

Saturday before Epiphany Optional Memorial of St. André Bessette, 1845-1937; entered the Congregation of Holy Cross at the age of 25, and was given the job of doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal, with additional duties as sacristan, laundry worker and messenger; spent most nights on his knees in prayer; when he heard that someone was ill, he visited the person to bring them cheer and pray with him, and word of healing powers began to spread; the Holy Cross Congregation bought land on Mount Royal for a chapel dedicated to St. Joseph; money ran out, and Brother André said, "Put a statue of Saint Joseph in the middle. If he wants a roof over his head, he’ll get it.”; It took 50 years for the chapel to be completed Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/6/24 Gospel: Mark 1:7-11

Twelfth Day of Christmas Memorial of St. John Neumann, 1811-1860; born in what is now the Czech Republic, came to New York at 25, was ordained a priest, and joined the Redemptorists; at 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, attracting teaching communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers to the city; first American bishop to be beatified; canonized in 1977 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/5/24 Gospel: John 1:43-51

Eleventh Day of Christmas Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821; she was the "belle of New York" when she married William Magee Seton; they had five children when William died of tuberculosis; when she converted to the Catholic faith, many of her relatives and friends rejected her; to support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore, following the lines of a religious community; her many letters reveal her growing heroic sanctity; first American born citizen to be canonized a saint Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/4/24 Gospel: John 1:35-42

Tenth Day of Christmas Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/3/24 Gospel: John 1:29-34

Ninth Day of Christmas Memorial of Saints Basil the Great (329-379)  and Gregory Nazianzen (329-390); bishops and friends, both from families of saints; both lived as hermits for a time, with Basil forming the model for monasticism in the East; they fought the heresy of Arianism, and suffered for it, but remained faithful Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/2/24 Gospel: John 1:19-28

Solemnity of Mary, Mother of God Eighth Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/1/24 Gospel: Luke 2:16-21

Feast of the Holy Family Seventh Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/31/23 Gospel: Luke 2:22-40

Sixth Day of Christmas Saint of the Day: St. Egwin of Evesham; English noble who became the bishop of Worcester, England, in 692; prompted by a vision of Mary he founded Evesham Monastery with the aid of the kingdom of Mercia Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/30/23 Gospel: Luke 2:36-40 

Fifth Day of Christmas Optional Memorial of St. Thomas Becket, 1118-1170; as a friend of King Henry II of England, he became chancellor of England, and then archbishop of Canterbury; Henry and Thomas immediately disagreed on the rights of the Church; Henry eventually cried out, "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?"; two of Henry's knights killed Thomas in Canterbury Cathedral Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/29/23 Gospel: Luke 2:22-35

Feast of the Holy Innocents Fourth Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/28/23 Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18

Feast of St. John, apostle and evangelist, 6-100 A.D.; "the apostle whom Jesus loved"; John's is the Gospel of Jesus' glory Third Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/27/23 Gospel: John 20:1-8

Feast of St. Stephen; first martyr, and one of the first ordained deacons; died about 34 A.D. Second Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/26/23 Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22

Solemnity of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/25/23 Gospel: Luke 2:1-14