The Daily Pilgrimage

Good Morning, Pilgrim

Receive this day from God.

Christ is risen, has ascended in His glorified humanity, and reigns in Heaven. The Church and her members still suffer on earth, but their trials do not overturn His victory. Christian hope is therefore more than an encouraging feeling: it trusts Christ's promise of resurrection and eternal life and gives the faithful a reason to persevere in obedience today.

Tell Our Lady simply that you desire to serve her Divine Son under her direction, not merely to feel devotion.

Formation in True Devotion - Day 170: Review and Deepening: True Praise beneath the Majesty of God

“Of Mary there is never enough.”
St. Louis-Marie de Montfort, True Devotion to the Blessed Virgin, no. 10

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 God, through St. John Baptist de la Salle, bless parents and teachers. Give them patience to instruct the young clearly and courage to protect them from error.

Quote of the Day

“Stand fast; and hold the traditions which you have learned.”
St. Paul, 2 Thessalonians 2:14, Douay-Rheims

Today's Full Breviary Sermon or Proper Lesson

The salvation of children treated as a permanent work of the Church.

Matins - Second Nocturn - St. John Baptist de la Salle, 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 and homily on the care of little ones

“What is greater than to govern souls and form the character of the young?”

• The Breviary presents St. John Baptist de la Salle as a priest providentially raised up to establish enduring Catholic schools, especially for poor boys, and to found the Brothers of the Christian Schools.
• He fulfilled this work through contradiction and severe trials, formed his brothers by wise rules confirmed by Pope Benedict XIII, renounced his canonry, distributed his goods to the poor, and eventually laid down governance through humility.
• His fidelity joined obedience, mortification, prayer, devotion to the Apostolic See, and zeal for souls; education was not worldly advancement but formation in religion, good morals, and the way of truth.
• St. John Chrysostom's homily makes care for children a grave work of charity: the Christian must not be content with his own virtue while neglecting the salvation and moral formation of the young.

Treat Catholic formation as a duty that cannot be postponed. Teach doctrine and morals to the young, give special care to those without privilege, support faithful teachers, and build habits and institutions capable of outlasting personal enthusiasm.

Walk with the Church

The Church has already begun praying. Enter her prayer.

Today the Roman year keeps St. John Baptist de la Salle, 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

May 15

At Rouen, St. John Baptist de la Salle, confessor, -" who deserved well both of religion and society by his labors for the education of youth, especially of the poor, and by the founding of the Society of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. — In Spain, the Saints Torquatus, Ctesiphon, Secundus, Indaletius, Caecilius, Hesychius, and Euphrasius, who were consecrated bishops at Rome by the holy apostles, and sent to Spain to preach the word of God. When they had evangelized various cities, and brought innumerable multitudes under the yoke of Christ, they rested in peace in various parts of that country: Torquatus at Cadiz, Ctesiphon at Vierco, Secundus at Avila, Indaletius at Portilla, Caecilius at Elvira, Hesychius at Gibraltar, and Euphrasius at Anduxar. — At Evora, in Portugal, St. Mancius, martyr. — In the island of Chio, the birthday of blessed Isidore, martyr, in whose church is a well into which he is said to have been thrown. By drinking of the water from this well, the sick are frequently cured. — At Lampsacum, in Hellespont, the martyrdom of the Saints Peter, Andrew, Paul, 'and Dionysja. — At Fausina, in Sardinia, in the time of Diocletian and the governor Barbarus, St. Simplicius, a bishop, who consummated his martyrdom by being tanspierced with a lance. — At Clermont, in Auvergne, the holy martyrs Cassius, Victorinus, Maximus, and their companions. — In Brabant, St. Dympna, virgin and martyr, daughter of an Irish king. By order of her father, she was beheaded for the faith of Christ and the preservation of her virginity.

Gospel of the Day

Blessed are those servants whom the Lord shall find watching.

St. John Baptist de la Salle, Confessor - Luke 12:35-40

“Let your loins be girt, and lamps burning in your hands.”

Ask St. John Baptist de la Salle for patient vigilance. A child taught for God is being prepared for eternity.

Learn from Today's Saint or Feast

St. John Baptist de la Salle

Confessor and educator of poor youth.

St. John Baptist de la Salle labored for the education of youth, especially the poor, and founded the Society of the Brothers of the Christian Schools.

His witness teaches that Catholic education is not social improvement alone, but the formation of souls in truth, discipline, prayer, and Christian duty.

Ask St. John Baptist de la Salle for patient zeal. A child formed in truth receives more than instruction; he receives a road toward God.

Breviary Witness for the Day

The teacher of poor youth.

Matins - St. John Baptist de la Salle, Confessor

• The Breviary honors St. John Baptist de la Salle as confessor and founder, devoted to the Christian education of youth, especially the poor.
• His witness teaches that education must form souls in truth, discipline, prayer, and duty before God.

Do not treat education as neutral. St. John Baptist de la Salle teaches that the young need Catholic formation, not mere training for the world.