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Friday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memoral of St. Peter Chrysologus, 380-450; called “Chrysologus,” or “golden-worded,” because his oratorical eloquence; appointed bishop of Ravenna in 433; ruled his flock with diligence and care, and got rid of the last vestiges of paganism and other abuses Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/30/21 Gospel: Matthew 13...

Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus; formerly the Memorial of St. Martha, changed in 2021 to reflect the love between Jesus and all three siblings Thursday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/29/21 Gospel: John 11:19-27

Wednesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Pope St. Innocent I, 378-417; emphasized papal supremacy; favored clerical celibacy; fought the unjust removal of St. John Chrysostom Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/28/21 Gospel: Matthew 13:44-46

Tuesday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Saints of the Day: Saints Natalie and Aurelius; Aurelius was raised a Christian in secret, during Moorish persecution; he married a half-Moorish woman who took the name Natalie on her conversion; both were beheaded for practicing their religion openly, in 852 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/27/21 Gospel: Matthew 13:36-43

Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary Monday of the 17th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/26/21 Gospel: Matthew 13:31-35

17th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/25/21 Gospel: John 6:1-15

Saturday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Sharbel Makhlouf, 1828-1898; joined the Monastery of St. Maron at Annaya, Lebanon, at the age of 23; lived as a hermit from 1875 to his death; known for his holiness, and was sought out by people for blessings and prayers; followed a strict fast, and was devoted to the Blessed Sacrament Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/...

Friday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Bridget of Sweden, 1303-1373; founded a monastery where the group eventualy became known as the Bridgetines; her pilgrimage to the Holy Land was marred by shipwreck and the of her son, and eventually led to her death Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/23/21 Gospel: Matthew 13:18-23

Feast of St. Mary Magdalene; among those who were assisting Jesus out of their own means; stood by the cross of Jesus with His mother; first witness to the Resurrection; the “apostle to the apostles”; died about 63 A.D. Thursday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/22/21 Gospel: John 20:1-2, 11-18

Wednesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi, 1559-1619; Franciscan Capuchin known for his gift of languages, which allowed him to study the Bible in its original texts and preach to the Jews of Italy; elected minister general of the Capuchins in 1602; papal emissary and peacemaker Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/21/21 Gospel: Matthew 13:1-9

Tuesday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Apollinaris; sent by St. Peter to be bishop of Ravenna, and was exiled from the city three times by pagans; on his fourth return, he was martyred, in about 79 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/20/21 Gospel: Matthew 12:46-50

Monday of the 16th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Macrina the Younger, 330-379; granddaughter of Macrina the Elder, sister of St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nyssa, and St. Peter of Sebastea; formed a community, with her mother, of prayer and contemplation Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/19/21 Gospel: Matthew 12:38-42

16th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/18/21 Gospel: Mark 6:30-34

Saturday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Saints of the Day: Carmelite Nuns of Compiegne; 16 Discalced Carmelite nuns were caught up in the French Revolution, were sentenced to death for practicing religious life, and were martyred on the guillotine Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/17/21 Gospel: Matthew 12:14-21

Friday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; begun in the 13th Century by the hermits who had become known as the Brothers of Our Lady of Mount Carmel; became a celebration of the universal Church in 1726 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/16/21 Gospel: Matthew 12:1-8

Memorial of St. Bonaventure, 1221-1274; entered the Franciscan order at the age of 22; studied in Paris, where he became friends with St. Thomas Aquinas and King St. Louis; became general of his order at 35; appointed Cardinal and Bishop of Albano Thursday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/15/21 Gospel: Matthew 11:28-30

Memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha, 1656-1680; first Native American to be canonized a saint; converted to the Catholic faith at the age of 19; traveled to a Christian Indian Village near Montreal; took a vow of virginity, and practiced severe fasting for the conversion of her nation; died the afternoon before Holy Thursday Wednesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning...

Tuesday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Henry, 972-1025; German king and Holy Roman Emperor; helped Pope Benedict VIII quell disturbances in Rome; fostered the reform of ecclesiastical and monastic life Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/13/21 Gospel: Matthew 11:20-24

Monday of the 15th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Veronica;the woman who offered a cloth to Jesus so He could wipe His face on the way to His crucifixion; Veronica’s veil is considered one of the most treasured relics of the Vatican Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/12/21 Gospel: Matthew 10:34-11:1

15th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/11/21 Gospel: Mark 6:7-13

Saturday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Anthony Pechersky, 983-1073; built a hermitage in Kiev which became the “Caves of Kiev”; one of the fathers of Ukrainian monasticism Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/10/21 Gospel: Matthew 10:24-33

Friday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Augustine Zhao Rong and Companions, the Chinese martyrs; 120 martyrs who died between 1648 and 1930; St. Augustine Zhao Rong was baptized, ordained a diocesan priest, and martyred in 1815 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/9/21 Gospel: Matthew 10:16-23

Thursday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Jeanne-Marie Kerguin, 1864-1900; joined the Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in 1887; arrived in China in 1899, where she was martyred in the Boxer Rebellion Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/8/21 Gospel: Matthew 10:7-15

Wednesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Palladius, 408-457; immediate predecessor of St. Patrick in Ireland; founded three churches there, but had little success in converting the native population; sailed for Scotland, and preached among the Picts; died near Aberdeen Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/7/21 Gospel: Matthew 10:1-7

Tuesday of the 14th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Maria Goretti, 1890-1902; victim of an attempted assault by a neighbor, who proceeded to kill her; forgave her murderer in her final hours; he was sentenced to 30 years in prison, where he had a dream of Maria offering flowers to him, and his life changed; after his release, he sought–and received–the forgiveness of Mar...