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 one deliberate act of recollection before beginning ordinary labor.

Roman Martyrology

July 15

At Bamberg, St. Henry 1., emperor, who kept perpetual chastity with his wife Cunegunde, and induced St. Stephen, king of Hungary, with nearly all his kingdom, to receive the faith of Christ. — At Porto, the birthday of the holy martyrs Eutropius, and the sisters Zosima and Bonosa. — At Carthage, blessed Catulinus, deacon, whose glories were proclaimed by St. Augustine in a sermon to his people, and the Saints Januarius, Florentius, Julia and Justa, martyrs, who were entombed in the church of St. Faustus. — At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Philip, Zeno, Narseus, and ten children. — In the island of Tenedos, St. Abudemius, a martyr, who suffered under Diocletian. — At Sebaste, St. Antiochus, a physician, who was decapitated under the governor Adrian. On seeing milk flowing from his wounds instead of blood, Cyriaeus, his executioner, was converted to Christ and endured martyrdom. — At Pavia, St. Felix, bishop and martyr. — At Msibis, the birthday of St. James, bishop of that city, a man celebrated for great holiness, miracles and erudition. He was one of those who confessed the faith during the persecution of Galerius Maximian, and afterwards, in the Council of Nicsea, condemned the perverse heresy of Arius, by opposing to it the doctrine of consubstantiality. It was also owing to his prayers, and those of bishop Alexander, that Arius received at Constantinople the condign punishment of his iniquity, the extravasation of his intestines. — At Naples, in Campania, St. Athanasius, bishop of that city, who suffered much from his wicked nephew Sergius, by whom he was driven from his see. Consumed with afflictions, he departed for heaven at Veroli, in the time of Charles the Bald. — At Palermo, the finding of the body of St. Kosalia, virgin of Palermo. Being miraculously discovered in the time of the Sovereign Pontiff, Urban VIII., it delivered Sicily from the plague in the year of the Jubilee.

Highlighted saint

St. Henry

Emperor and confessor, ruler under God.

St. Henry governed as emperor while seeking to place public authority beneath the law of Christ. The Martyrology remembers his chastity with St. Cunegunde and his work in helping bring the faith to Hungary.

He supported churches, order, and Christian worship rather than treating power as self-display. His feast teaches that authority, rank, and public responsibility must be placed under God and judged by eternity.

Whatever authority you possess, govern it under Christ. St. Henry reminds families, fathers, rulers, and workers that rank is judged by fidelity.

Breviary Witness

A ruler measured by eternity.

Matins - St. Henry

• The Breviary remembers St. Henry as an emperor whose dignity did not free him from the law of Christ, chastity, or service to the Church.
• His feast teaches that public station, wealth, and authority are judged by their obedience to God, defense of worship, and service of Christian order.

Let rank, work, money, and influence become materials for judgment-day fidelity. No state of life excuses the soul from holiness.

Truth of the Faith

Grace Heals and Elevates Nature

Man is not saved by natural goodness, sentiment, or progress. He needs sanctifying grace, the merits of Christ, and persevering conversion.

Prayer

O Lord, place this day beneath Thy Providence. Keep my mind in truth, my heart in charity, and my work in obedience until evening.