The Daily Pilgrimage

Today in the Roman year

Pentecost teaches that the Holy Ghost does not create private religious enthusiasm detached from doctrine, worship, and authority. He gathers, sends, teaches, and strengthens the visible Church. The remnant must therefore seek fire without disorder and zeal without novelty.

Read the day's observance slowly, then ask what virtue it requires of you.

Roman Martyrology

July 3

At Alexandria, St. Tryphon, and twelve other martyrs. — At Constantinople, the holy martyrs Eulogius and his companions. — At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, St. Hyacinthus, chamberlain of the emperor Trajan. Accused of being a Christian, he was scourged and thrown into prison, where, consumed with hunger, he breathed his last. — At Chiusi, in Tuscany, in the reign of the emperor Trajan, the holy martyrs Irenaeus, deacon, and Mustiola, a matron, who were subjected to various atrocious tortures and merited the crown of martyrdom. The same day, the holy martyrs Mark and Mucian, who were put to the sword for Christ. As a small boy cried out to them not to sacrifice to idols, he was whipped, but confessing Christ all the more vigorously, he was killed with a man named Paul, who had also exhorted the martyrs. — At Laodicea, in Syria, St. Anatolius, a bishop, whose writings were admired not only by religious men, but even by philosophers. — At Altino, St. Heliodorus, a bishop distinguished for holiness and learning. — At Ravenna, St. Dathus, bishop and confessor. — At Edessa, in Mesopotamia, the translation of the apostle St. Thomas from India. His relics were afterwards taken to Tortona.

Gospel of the Day

Upon this rock I will build my Church.

Within the Common Octave of Ss. Peter and Paul - Matthew 16:13-19

“Thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church.”

Stay with the apostolic pillars. The Church teaches by returning to foundations until the soul becomes steady.

Highlighted saint

St. Leo II

Pope, confessor, defender of Christ's two wills, and father of the poor.

St. Leo II confirmed the condemnation of the Monothelites, who taught that Christ had only one will. Against them the Church confessed the truth whole: in the one divine Person of Our Lord there are two natures and therefore two wills, divine and human, without division or confusion.

He was learned in sacred music and is remembered for perfecting the melodies of the psalms, showing that doctrine and worship belong together. The same pontiff who guarded Christological truth also cared tenderly for the poor and, by preaching and example, led souls toward virtue.

Ask St. Leo II for a Catholic heart that is exact about Christ, reverent in worship, and fatherly toward the poor. Truth should make the soul clearer, more prayerful, and more charitable.

Breviary Witness

The pontiff who guarded Christ's two wills.

Matins - St. Leo II

• The Breviary remembrance of St. Leo II keeps before the faithful a pope who confirmed the condemnation of the Monothelite error and guarded the confession of Christ's divine and human wills.
• It also remembers his care for sacred chant, his work in perfecting the melodies of the psalms, his fatherly charity toward the poor, and the preaching and example by which he led souls to virtue.

Ask for a mind that loves unity without becoming careless about truth. St. Leo II shows that a shepherd protects the flock by naming error plainly, ordering worship reverently, and caring for the poor as a father.

Truth of the Faith

Obedience Serves Truth

Catholic obedience is a virtue ordered to God and His truth. It is not servility before contradiction or unlawful command.

Prayer

O Lord, keep the faithful in the Church's holy memory, and let this day's feast, feria, or witness draw my soul nearer to Thee.