The Daily Pilgrimage

Good Morning, Pilgrim

Receive this day from God.

Humiliation, opposition, and penance do not mean that God has ceased to govern. Our Lord redeemed the world through His obedient suffering on the Cross. When Catholics accept unavoidable trials without sin, perform penance, and continue obeying the truth, those sufferings can humble pride and deepen fidelity rather than lead to despair.

Acknowledge that God is the source of every grace and has freely willed that His graces should come to us through the hands of Our Blessed Mother. Ask her to obtain the help needed to serve her Son today.

Formation in True Devotion - Day 100: Review and Deepening: Consecrated Life through Mary to Jesus

“It is not that we take her for the last end of our services, for that is Jesus Christ alone; but we take her for our proximate end, our mysterious means and our easy way to go to Him.”
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, no. 265

Ora — Begin with Prayer

Offer the day before spending it

Prayer gives the day its right beginning and its right end. Before work, conversation, news, or distraction claims the mind, adore the Blessed Trinity and offer every prayer, work, joy, suffering, and temptation to Jesus through Mary. Ask your Guardian Angel for help, and place the souls and needs entrusted to you beneath God's will.

Begin simply. Make the Morning Offering through the hands of Our Lady. Pray the Three Hail Marys for purity and final perseverance, ask your Guardian Angel to govern the senses and imagination, and name the soul or intention for which today's prayers and sacrifices will be offered. Do not rush these acts merely because they are familiar; let them place the whole day beneath God before the world begins to claim it.

O Lord, preserve me from fair appearances that hide error. Teach me to love truth more than comfort, approval, or the peace that leaves souls wounded.

Quote of the Day

“The Church is the pillar and foundation of truth, all of which truth is taught by the Holy Ghost.”
Pope Gregory XVI, Quo Graviora, n. 10

Today's Full Breviary Sermon or Proper Lesson

The converted sinner whose charity served soul and body.

Matins - Second Nocturn - St. John of God, Confessor

The verified Breviary witness for this observance is identified below. A complete English transcription has not yet been admitted, so no excerpt or summary is presented as though it were the full appointed text.

Roman Breviary and St. John Chrysostom, Proper lessons for St. John of God and Homily 72 on St. Matthew

“Nothing useful for the health of soul and body was lacking to the sick poor.”

• The Breviary remembers St. John of God recalled by grace from a lax manner of life, pierced by the preaching of God's word, and made a public spectacle of penance and contempt of self.
• His charity became ordered institution: hospitals and the Brothers Hospitallers served the sick for the true benefit of both souls and bodies, while he also aided prisoners, widows, the needy, and women in danger.
• The fire from which he carried the sick became an image of interior charity; yet the office keeps that charity Catholic through humility, obedience, poverty, prayer, contemplation, devotion to Our Lady, and reception of all the Church's sacraments before death.
• St. John Chrysostom's Third Nocturn homily grounds mercy in the two great commandments: love of neighbor is guarded by love of God, and love of God bears fruit in keeping His commandments.

Ask St. John of God for mercy with Catholic eyes and persevering hands. Serve bodily need generously, seek the salvation of the soul, and let love of God govern every work of neighborly charity.

Walk with the Church

The Church has already begun praying. Enter her prayer.

Today the Roman year keeps St. John of God, Confessor. Receive the observance as the Church gives it: first understand what is commemorated, then let its doctrine and worship shape the day.

Roman Martyrology

March 8

At Granada, in Spain, St. John of God, founder of the Order of the Brothers Hospitallers, celebrated for his mercy to the poor, and his contempt of self. Pope Leo XIII. declared him heavenly patron of hospitals and the infirm. — At Antinous, a city of Egypt, the birthday of the holy martyr Philemon, and the deacon Apollonius. As they firmly refused to sacrifice to the idols when they were apprehended and brought before the judge, they had their heels transpierced, were barbarously dragged through the city, and finally consummated their martyrdom by the edge of the sword. — Also, in the same place, the passion of the Saints Arian, governor, Theoticus and three others, who were submerged in the sea by order of the judge. Their bodies were brought to the short by dolphins. — At Nicomedia, St. Quinctilis, bishop and martyr. — At Carthage, St. Pontius, deacon of bishop St. Cyprian, who remained in banishment with him until his death, and composed an excellent history of his life and martyrdom. By ever glorifying God in his own sufferings, he merited the crown of life. — Also in Africa, the Saints Cyril, bishop, Rogatus, Felix, another Kogatus, Beata, Herenia, Felicitas, Urbanus, Sylvanus, and Mamillus. — At Toledo, in Spain, the demise of blessed Julian, bishop and confessor, most celebrated for his sanctity and learning. — In England, St. Felix, bishop, who converted the EastAngles to the faith.

Learn from Today's Saint or Feast

St. John of God

Confessor of mercy toward the sick and abandoned.

St. John of God is honored for works of mercy toward the sick, the poor, and the abandoned.

His feast teaches that Catholic charity sees the suffering person as body and soul. The sick need tenderness, practical help, patience, and above all the mercy that remembers eternity.

Ask St. John of God for mercy with Catholic eyes. Help the body, comfort the heart, and do not forget the soul.