Optional Memorial of St. Jane Frances de Chantal, 1572-1641; widowed, she came under the spiritual guidance of St. Francis de Sales; Francis worked with her to found an order for those whose health, age, or other considerations barred them from entering other religious communities, the Visitation Nuns
Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi, 1194-1253; lifelong friend of St. Francis, who placed her in a Benedictine convent, where she was joined by her sister Agnes and others; they lived a simple life of great poverty, austerity, and complete seclusion from the world; she served the sick and washed the feet of the begging nuns; as she came from prayer, her face was so shining that it dazzled those about her; ill the last 27 years of her life, she was once unable to attend Vespers, and was granted a vision of the service–and thus, she is the patroness of television
Feast of St. Lawrence, 225-258; deacon under Pope St. Sixtus II, who was martyred days before Lawrence; Lawrence knew that he would be arrested, so he gave all of the church’s money on hand to the poor; the prefect of Rome demanded all other treasures of the church, and Lawrence showed him th blind, lame, maimed, leprous, orphaned, and widowed, and said, “These are the treasures of the church”; Lawrence died being burned slowly on a grill, from which he said to have remarked, “It is well done. Turn me over.” The Church has designated him the patron of chefs.
Optional Memorial of St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, 1891-1942; grew up in a Jewish family and became an atheist at 14; but reading the autobiography of St. Teresa of Avila began a spiritual journey which led to her baptism, and becoming a Carmelite nun; she lived four years in the Cologne Carmel, and then moved to the Carmelite monastery in Echt, Netherlands; she and her sister Rosa were arrested by Nazis, and died in Auschwitz in 1942
Optional Memorial of Pope St. Sixtus II, and companions; Sixtus restored rlations with the African and Eastern churches; Sixtus and six deacons were martyred under the persection of Valerian in 258; his seventh deacon, Lawrence, was martyred four days later
Memorial of St. John Baptist Vianney, 1786-1859; ordained because of his goodness, even though he had difficulty with his studies; as Curé d’Ars, he was known to spend sixteen to 18 hours per day hearing confessions; patron of all priests
Saint of the Day: St. Lydia Purpuraria, First Century; born at Thyatira in Asia Minor, a town famous for its dye works; Lydia was a seller of purple goods; she was Paul’s first convert at Philippi, baptized with her household; Paul stayed at her home
Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 8/3/21
Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36
52 min
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Daybreak™ is a fresh, upbeat approach to morning devotions and prayer. Host Paul Sadek leads you in spiritual reflections and meditations from the daily Mass readings, Morning Prayer, the Holy…
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