Daybreak

Wednesday of the 18th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Pope St. Sixtus II; elected pope in 257, and repaired the rift between the sees of Rome and Carthage that had developed over the issue of baptism and rebaptism; forbidden to hold services, Sixtus and his deacons worshipped in the cemetery chapel; in 258, soldiers broke into the chapel and beheaded Sixtus, along with four of his eight attendants; Lawrence was martyred four days later Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/7/24 Gospel: Matthew 15:21-28