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.

Choose a date

Daily observance

St. Raymund of Pennafort, Confessor

Friday, January 23, 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. Raymund of Pennafort, Confessor

Rank: Semi-Double

Color: white

Commemoration: St. Emerentiana, Virgin and Martyr.

Quote for the day

The Didache

Bless those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who persecute you.

Roman Martyrology

Roman Martyrology - January 23

At Barcelona, St. Eaymond of Pennafort. His birthday is the 7th of January. At Rome, the holy virgin and martyr Emerentiana. Being yet only a catechumen, she was stoned to death by the Gentiles, whilst praying at the tomb of St. Agnes, her foster-sister. — At Philippi, in Macedonia, St. Parmenas, one of the first seven deacons, who by the grace of God faithfully discharging the office of preaching committed to him, obtained the glory of martyrdom in the time of Trajan. — At Caesarea, in Mauritania (Morocco), the holy martyrs Severian and his wife Aquila, who were consumed by fire. — At Antinous, a city of Egypt, St. Asclas, martyr, who, after various torments, was thrown into a river and gave up his precious soul to God. — At Ancyra, in Galatia, St. Clement, bishop. After having frequently endured torments, he finally completed his martyrdom under Diocletian. — In the same place, St. Agathangelus, who suffered on the same day, under the governor Lucius. — At Alexandria, St. John the Almoner, bishop of that city, most celebrated for his charity towards the poor. — At Toledo, St. Ildefonsus, bishop, who, on account of his great purity of life, and his defense of the virginity of the Mother of God against the heretics who impugned it, received from her a brilliant white vestment, and being renowned for sanctity, was called to heaven. — In the Province of Valeria, St. Martyrius, monk, mentioned by pope St. Gregory.

Highlighted saint

St. Raymund of Pennafort

Confessor, canonist, and physician of conscience.

St. Raymund of Pennafort, a Dominican confessor, is remembered for his mastery of canon law, his service to the Church's discipline, and his guidance of souls.

His witness teaches that law in the Church is not cold machinery: rightly ordered, it protects doctrine, heals consciences, governs penance, and serves salvation.

Virtue to practice

Prudence in conscience and reverence for holy discipline.

Error to resist

The antinomian spirit that treats law, penance, and moral precision as enemies of mercy.

For the pilgrim in exile

Ask St. Raymund for a clean conscience and a disciplined mind. Mercy becomes clearer, not smaller, when truth governs it.

Imitate today

  • Examine conscience with honesty.
  • Respect the Church's law as ordered to souls.
  • Prefer truthful guidance to flattering advice.

Sources

  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, January 23.
  • Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, January 23.

Breviary Witness

Conscience governed by holy law.

Matins - St. Raymund of Pennafort, Confessor

Breviary witness

  • The Breviary honors St. Raymund as a Dominican confessor learned in sacred discipline and devoted to the care of souls.
  • His witness teaches that canon law, moral judgment, confession, and mercy belong together when ordered to salvation.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let conscience be formed, not flattered. Holy discipline is a mercy when it leads the soul out of confusion and into truth.

Sources

  • Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for January 23, St. Raymund of Pennafort.
  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, January 23.

Gospel of the day

Let your loins be girt.

St. Raymund of Pennafort, Confessor - Luke 12:35-40

Blessed are those servants, whom the Lord when he cometh, shall find watching.

What Our Lord teaches

  • The confessor keeps watch by ordering conscience, discipline, and moral judgment toward the coming Lord.
  • St. Raymund's labor in law and confession teaches vigilance that is practical, learned, and merciful.

Virtue to practice

Keep conscience ready and disciplined.

Error to resist

The laxity that calls moral precision unmerciful because it does not want to keep watch.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let St. Raymund help you prepare the house before the Master comes. A clean conscience is not accidental; it is governed.

Sources

  • Luke 12:35-40, Douay-Rheims.
  • Traditional Roman Gospel from the common of confessors.

Meditation

The Coming of the King

The mystery of the coming of Christ teaches the pilgrim to wait without surrender, to recognize divine humility, and to adore the King where He truly appears. Sacred time trains hope, but hope must remain disciplined by doctrine and worship.

Related paths

Walk the day through the City.

Prayer

The day should become prayer.

O Lord, keep the faithful in the Church's holy memory, and let this day's feast, feria, or witness draw my soul nearer to Thee.

Thought for the pilgrim

The Church's memory teaches the soul how to live in time.

Practice

The day should become obedience.

Read the day's observance slowly, then ask what virtue it requires of you.

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 should come from Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, traditional popes before 1958, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, or received liturgical texts.

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.