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.

Fulfill one ordinary duty promptly and offer it for the glory of God.

Roman Martyrology

July 23

The birthday of the holy bishop Apollinaris, who was consecrated at Rome by the apostle Peter, and sent to Kavenna, where he endured for the faith of Christ many different tribulations. He afterwards preached the Gospel in JEmilia, where he converted many from the worship of idols. Fianlly, returning to Kavenna, he terminated his confession of Christ by a glorious martyrdom under the Caesar Vespasian. — At Le Mans, in France, St. Liborius, bishop and confessor. — At Rome, St. Kasyphus, martyr. — In the same city, the martyrdom of St. Primitiva, virgin and martyr. — Also, the holy martyrs Apollonius and Eugenius. — The same day, the birthday of the holy martyrs Trophimus and Theophilus. who received their crown of martyrdom by being beaten with stones, scorched with fire, and finally struck with the sword, in the time of the emperor Diocletian. — In Bulgaria, many holy martyrs whom the impious emperor Nicephorus, whilst he was devastating the churches of God, put to death in various ways — by the sword, the halter, arrows, long imprisonment, and starvation. — At Rome, the saintly virgins Komula, Redempta, and Herundines, men tioned by pope St. Gregory in his writings. — In the same city, the departure from this life of St. Bridget, widow, whose sacred body was taken to Sweden on the 7th of October. Her feast is celebrated on the 8th of that month.

Highlighted saint

St. Apollinaris

Bishop and martyr, apostolic witness at Ravenna.

St. Apollinaris is venerated as the first bishop of Ravenna, an early shepherd whose preaching of Christ brought persecution and suffering.

Tradition remembers repeated trials, banishment, and wounds borne for the Gospel. His feast teaches that apostolic ministry is not religious management: the bishop is called to preach, suffer, and guard souls.

Ask St. Apollinaris to intercede for the Church's shepherds in exile, and for souls who must recognize true pastoral witness beneath suffering.

Breviary Witness

Apostolic preaching sealed by martyrdom.

Matins - St. Apollinaris

• The Breviary remembers St. Apollinaris as the first bishop of Ravenna, an early shepherd whose apostolic labor was joined to suffering for Christ.
• His feast keeps before the Church the cost of planting the faith where pagan power resists the Gospel.

Do not imagine that apostolic work is proved false because it meets opposition. The seed of the Church has often been watered by endurance.

From Matins

The disciple of Peter sent to Ravenna.

Matins - Second Nocturn - St. Apollinaris, Bishop and Martyr

Roman Breviary and St. Ambrose, Proper lessons for St. Apollinaris and Homily on St. Luke

“Still exhorting them to stand firm in the Faith.”

• The Breviary remembers St. Apollinaris as a disciple associated with St. Peter, ordained bishop and sent to Ravenna to preach Christ.
• His apostolate is marked by conversions, deliverance, healings, repeated beatings, exile, imprisonment, and a final martyrdom endured while still strengthening the faithful.
• The Third Nocturn joins his witness to St. Ambrose's teaching that Christ's kingdom is not of this world, and that the just man is made like God by knowledge of God and contempt for carnal motions.

Do not stop exhorting souls because wounds have come. St. Apollinaris teaches apostolic endurance, episcopal courage, and firmness when false worship resists the Gospel.

Truth of the Faith

Mary Is Mother of God and Mother of the Faithful

The Blessed Virgin Mary is truly Mother of God, and her maternal office belongs to the order of Christ's Incarnation, Passion, and grace.

Prayer

O Lord, strengthen the little duties of this day with Thy grace, that nothing entrusted to me may be wasted through negligence or vanity.