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.

Make a brief examination of conscience before sleep and end the day with an act of contrition.

Roman Martyrology

July 7

The holy bishops Cyril and Methodius, who are mentioned on the 9th of March. — At Rome, the holy martyrs Claudius, notary, Mcostratus, assistant prefect, Castorius, Victorinus, and Symphorian, who were brought to the faith of Christ by St. Sebastian, and baptized by the blessed priest Polycarp. Whilst they were engaged in searching for the bodies of the holy martyrs, the judge Fabian had them arrested, and for ten days he tried by threats and caresses to shake their constancy, but being utterly unable to succeed, he ordered them to be thrice tortured, and then percipitated into the sea. — At Durazzo, in Macedonia, the holy martyrs Peregrinus> Lucian, Pompeius, Hesychius, Papius, Saturninus, and Germanus, natives of Italy. In the persecution of Trajan, they took refuge in the town of Durazzo, where seeing the saintly bishop Astius hanging on a cross for the faith of Christ, they publicly declared themselves to be Christians, when, by order of the governor, they were arrested and cast into the sea. — At Perugia, blessed Benedict XI., a native of Treviso of the Order of Preachers, who in the brief space of his pontificate, greatly promoted the peace of the Church, the restoration of discipline and the spread of religion. — At Alexandria, the birthday of St. Pantaenus, an apostolic man, filled with wisdom. He had such an affection and love for the word of God, and was so inflamed with the ardor of faith and devotion, that he set out to preach the gospel of Christ to the Gentiles inhabiting the farthest recesses of the East. At length returning to Alexandria, he rested in peace, under Antoninus Caracalla. — At Brescia, St. Apollonius, bishop and confessor. — In Saxony, St. Willibald, first bishop of Eichstadt, who labored with St. Boniface in preaching the Gospel, and converted many nations to Christ. — At Clermont, in Auvergne, St. Illidius, bishop. — At Urgel, in Spain, St. Odo, bishop. — In England, St. Hedda, bishop of the WestSaxons. — At Gray, in Burgundy, blessed Peter Fourier, Canon Kegular of the most holy Saviour, renowned for virtues and miracles. — In England, St. Edelburga, virgin, daughter of an English king.

Highlighted saint

Ss. Cyril and Methodius

Bishops, confessors, and apostles of the Slavs.

Ss. Cyril and Methodius were brothers from Thessalonica who became apostles to the Slavic peoples. Learned, patient, and missionary, they gave themselves to preaching Christ where language, custom, and political pressure made the work difficult.

Their labor shows that a people is loved by being taught the faith clearly and brought into the Church's worship and discipline. Missionary adaptation must serve conversion to Christ, not surrender to local error or indifferentism.

Ask Ss. Cyril and Methodius for patient missionary courage. A people is not loved by leaving it without Christ.

Breviary Witness

Missionary bishops for the nations.

Matins - Ss. Cyril and Methodius

• The Breviary honors Ss. Cyril and Methodius as bishops and confessors whose labor carried the Gospel to peoples needing Christ.
• Their witness joins learning, translation, preaching, and episcopal fidelity under the authority of the Church.

Use every gift in service of conversion. Learning and language become holy when they carry Christ faithfully.

From Matins

The Slav peoples brought to Peter's feet.

Matins - Second Nocturn - Ss. Cyril and Methodius, Bishops and Confessors

Roman Breviary, Proper lessons for Ss. Cyril and Methodius

“What Rome first gave.”

• The Breviary honors Cyril and Methodius as brothers from Thessalonica whose learning, monastic discipline, and missionary obedience carried the Gospel to the Slav peoples.
• Cyril preached beyond the Crimea, translated holy Scripture into the language of the people, and helped form the alphabet by which the Slavonic language was expressed.
• Their mission was tested at Rome, where they gave account of their labor, professed fidelity to blessed Peter and the Roman Pontiffs, and received episcopal consecration and confirmation of their apostolic work.

Love peoples by giving them Christ, not by leaving them in error. Ss. Cyril and Methodius teach missionary patience, Roman fidelity, lawful pastoral adaptation, and doctrine brought into the tongue of souls.

Truth of the Faith

Valid Sacraments Are a Grave Priority

The faithful must seek valid sacraments with prudence, sacrifice, and holy seriousness, without inventing sacraments or despising them.

Prayer

O Lord, pardon my faults, raise my heart from discouragement, and teach me to begin again under Thy mercy.