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Sacred Calendar

The Roman year ordered for memory, penance, feasts, saints, and the daily pilgrimage of the faithful.

Calendar standard

Pre-1955 Roman usage

The calendar follows the universal Roman year under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X, with the Roman Martyrology preserved as a distinct daily witness.

The day is presented for prayer, recollection, study, and perseverance in the City.

Daily observance

Today in the City of God

The Church keeps this day in holy time. The Pilgrim's Companion gathers the feast, daily quote, Martyrology, meditation, prayer, and related chapters into one daily path through the City.

Daily observance

St. Paul, First Hermit

Thursday, January 15, 2026

Season: Time after Epiphany

The day is set within the Roman year so its feast, Martyrology, daily quote, prayer, and reading path may be received together without blurring their proper sources.

Today's pilgrimage

St. Paul, First Hermit

Rank: Double

Color: white

Commemoration: St. Maurus, Abbot.

Quote for the day

Holy Scripture

“But to the called Jews and Greeks, Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.”

1 Corinthians 1:24, Original Douay-Rheims

The pilgrim's devotional rhythm

Keeping the month and the weekday in prayer

This chosen devotional rhythm does not change the feast, rank, or obligations shown above. It gives the passing days a steady intention, helping the pilgrim honor God, intercede for souls, and carry one Catholic practice into the day. It is a household aid to devotion, not another law of the Roman Calendar.

January intention

The Most Holy Name of Jesus

Let the first month of the civil year be placed beneath the saving Name given to the Divine Child. The pilgrim begins again not in self-reliance, but in the Name before which every knee must bow.

Intention

For reverence toward the Holy Name, reparation for blasphemy and careless speech, and the conversion of those who do not yet confess Jesus Christ.

A faithful act

Invoke the Holy Name slowly in temptation, discouragement, or thanksgiving, and refuse every irreverent use of it.

Prayer

Jesus, be Thou my strength, my refuge, and the end of all that I undertake.

Thursday remembrance

The Most Blessed Sacrament

Thursday recalls the institution of the Holy Eucharist and the priesthood at the Last Supper. Adore Our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament and pray for priests, through whose consecrated ministry the Holy Sacrifice is offered.

Intention

For holy priests, worthy Communions, vocations, and reparation for neglect and sacrilege toward the Blessed Sacrament.

A faithful act

Make a visit or spiritual Communion and pray especially for priests by name.

Prayer

Jesus in the Most Blessed Sacrament, increase our faith, receive our reparation, and sanctify Thy priests.

Roman Martyrology

Roman Martyrology - January 15

ST. PAUL, the first hermit, who was carried to the home of the blessed on the tenth of this month. — In the diocese of Angers, St. Maur, abbot and disciple of St. Benedict. He made great progress with so able a master, for while he was still under the Saint's instruction he miraculously walked upon the water — a prodigy unheard of since the days of St. Peter. Sent later to France by St. Benedict, he built a famous monastery, which he governed for forty years, and after performing striking miracles, he rested in peace. — In Judaea, the holy prophets Habacue and Michaeas, whose bodies were found by divine revelation in the days of Theodosius the Elder. — At Anagni, St. Secundina, virgin and martyr, who suffered under the emperor Decius. — At Cagliari, in Sardinia, St. Ephisius, martyr, who, in the persecution of Diocletian and under the judge Flavian, having, by the assistance of God, overcome many torments, was beheaded and ascended to heaven. — At Nola, in Campania, St. Maximus, bishop. — At Clermont, in Auvergne, St. Bonitus, bishop and confessor. — In Egypt, St. Macarius, abbot, disciple of St. Anthony, very celebrated for his life and miracles. — Also, blessed Isidore, renowned for holiness of life, faith and miracles. — At Rome, St. John Calybita. For some time living unknown to his parents in a corner of their house, and later in a hut on an island in the Tiber, he was recognized by them only at his death. Being renowned for miracles, he was buried where he had died, and a church was subsequently erected in his honor in the same place.

Read and verify the full entry

Highlighted saint

St. Paul, First Hermit

Hidden poverty in the desert.

St. Paul the First Hermit is remembered as a solitary of the Egyptian desert, living hidden from the world in prayer, poverty, and penance.

The tradition of his meeting with St. Antony shows the honor due to hidden sanctity: God sees the soul unknown to men and nourishes fidelity in silence.

The day also remembers St. Maurus, abbot and disciple of St. Benedict. His commemoration keeps solitude from becoming self-will: hidden life must remain obedient, teachable, and governed by holy rule.

Virtue to practice

Hidden penance and poverty of spirit.

Error to resist

The spiritual vanity that thinks holiness must be seen, discussed, or admired.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let St. Paul teach the worth of being unknown. In exile, hidden fidelity may be one of the purest ways to belong wholly to God.

Imitate today

  • Keep hidden sacrifices for God alone.
  • Reduce unnecessary comforts according to a prudent rule.
  • Seek silence without becoming harsh or proud.
  • Obey God's commandments and fulfill each known duty promptly.

Sources

  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, January 15.
  • Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, January 15.

From Matins

The first hermit fed in the desert and buried in prayer.

Matins - Second Nocturn - St. Paul, First Hermit

Roman Breviary, Proper lessons for St. Paul, First Hermit

“Christ giveth His soldiers double rations.”

Doctrine taught

  • The Breviary remembers St. Paul withdrawing during persecution to serve God in quietness, where long solitude became a school of providence rather than self-sufficiency.
  • His meeting with St. Antony joins desert asceticism to communion: the two speak of the kingdom of God, receive their bread with thanksgiving, and spend the night praising God.
  • Paul's death in a posture of prayer and his burial by Antony show a hidden life completed within Christian worship, friendship, and hope of resurrection.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let solitude become prayer rather than isolation. St. Paul teaches confidence in Providence, gratitude for daily bread, and readiness to die facing God.

Sources

  • The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. I, Winter, Second Nocturn for St. Paul, First Hermit, lessons iv-vi, printed pp. 683-684.
  • Bute 1908 is used here as an accessible pre-Pius X Breviary witness and is cited distinctly from the 1936-1937 Benziger / Burns Oates edition.

Breviary Witness

The first hermit hidden with God.

Matins - St. Paul, First Hermit

Breviary witness

  • The Breviary remembers St. Paul the First Hermit as a hidden solitary of the desert, preserved by God in poverty, prayer, and penance.
  • His witness teaches that the unknown life can be great before Heaven when it is surrendered wholly to God.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let hiddenness become offering, not bitterness. God sees the cave, the silence, and the sacrifice.

Sources

  • Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for January 15, St. Paul the First Hermit.
  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, January 15.

Gospel of the day

You who have followed me.

St. Paul, First Hermit - Matthew 19:27-29

“Every one that hath left house... for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold.”

What Our Lord teaches

  • The hermit leaves visible security because Christ Himself is worth more than the world.
  • St. Paul's hidden desert life shows the fruitfulness of abandonment when it is governed by prayer and penance.

Virtue to practice

Leave every attachment that competes with the love and obedience owed to Christ.

Error to resist

The fear that hidden sacrifice is wasted because men do not see it.

For the pilgrim in exile

The desert is not empty when Christ is there. Let St. Paul teach you to be content with God as witness.

Sources

  • Matthew 19:27-29, Douay-Rheims.
  • Traditional Roman Gospel from the common of abbots.

Meditation

Apostolic Fidelity

Today the Church recalls that Christ entrusted His doctrine, sacraments, and authority to the apostles and commanded them to hand these gifts on. Catholics therefore receive the Faith from the Church rather than inventing it privately. They must also remember that sacred office is meant to serve revealed truth: holding an office and remaining faithful to its duties are related, but they are not identical.

Prayer

The day should become prayer.

O Lord, make me patient in household division, firm without cruelty, and charitable without compromise. Let peace be made beneath truth, not against it.

Thought for the pilgrim

Family peace cannot be purchased by surrendering the Faith.

Practice

The day should become obedience.

Pray for family members and friends. Love them sincerely, but do not pretend the truth is less serious just to keep peace.

Source notes

Universal Roman Calendar under the rubrics of Pope St. Pius X

Fasting and abstinence according to the laws observed in 1952

Daily quotations and pilgrimage excerpts ordinarily come from eligible Catholic sources issued no later than December 31, 1954: Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, Roman Pontiffs, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, and received liturgical texts. Legitimate additions promulgated under Pope Pius XII may be retained when identified precisely; this does not adopt the reformed Holy Week or later rubrical changes.

The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore, 1916, published by John Murphy Company; the local 1916 text is displayed and traceable to its source lines.

  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, pp. xvii–xxviii.
  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B., 1953 edition; proper Mass or devotion named in this entry.
  • Philippians 2:9-11, Douay-Rheims.
  • 1 Corinthians 11:23-29, Douay-Rheims.
Browse the Roman Martyrology