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. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr
Saturday, January 24, 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. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr
Rank: Double
Color: red
Quote for the day
Holy Scripture
“For the which cause laying away lying, speak ye truth every one with his neighbour, because we are members one of another.”
Ephesians 4:25, 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.
Saturday remembrance
The Blessed Virgin Mary
Saturday is kept in filial remembrance of Our Lady, who remained faithful when Our Lord lay hidden in the tomb. Walk with Mary toward Jesus by imitating her faith, purity, recollection, and perseverance.
Intention
For growth in true devotion to Mary, the conversion of sinners, the protection of purity, and perseverance in the Catholic Faith.
A faithful act
Set the goal of praying the complete traditional Rosary today: all fifteen decades of the Joyful, Sorrowful, and Glorious Mysteries. Offer it for a definite intention, especially for the conversion and salvation of sinners. If the duties of your state require it, pray its three parts at different hours, but persevere toward completing the whole Rosary. Souls are in need: at Fatima, Our Lady warned that many souls go to hell because there is no one to make sacrifices and pray for them.
Prayer
Blessed Mother, keep me under thy mantle, receive this day into thy hands, and lead me in all things to Jesus.
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - January 24
The birthday of St. Timothy, disciple of the apostle - St. Paul, who ordained him bishop of Ephesus. After many combats for Christ, he was stoned for reprehending those who offered sacrifices to Diana, and shortly after went peacefully to his rest in the Lord. — At Antioch, in the persecution of Decius, the bishop St. Babylas, who frequently glorified God by his sufferings and torments, and ended his holy life in chains, with which he ordered his body to be buried. Three boys whom he had instructed in the faith of Christ, Urbanus, Philidian, Epolonius, are said to have suffered with him. — At Neocaesarea, the holy martyrs Mardonius, Musonius, Eugenius, and Metellus, who were burned to death, their remains being thrown into the river. — At Foligno, in the time of Decius, St. Felician, consecrated bishop of that city by pope Victor. After many labors, he was crowned with martyrdom in extreme old age. — Also, the holy martyrs Thyrsus and Projectus. — At Bologna, St. Zamas, the first bishop of that city, who was consecrated by pope St. Denis, and there wonderfully propagated the Christian faith. — Also, blessed Suranus, abbot, who lived in the time of the Lombards.
Highlighted saint
St. Timothy
Apostolic bishop formed by St. Paul.
St. Timothy, disciple and companion of St. Paul, was entrusted with episcopal care and received apostolic instruction in the inspired epistles addressed to him.
His witness teaches fidelity to doctrine handed down, courage in pastoral office, and perseverance despite youth, weakness, opposition, and the burden of governing souls.
Virtue to practice
Apostolic fidelity and pastoral courage.
Error to resist
The timidity that lets youth, weakness, or human respect excuse silence about truth.
For the pilgrim in exile
Let St. Timothy strengthen hesitant fidelity. The faith is guarded by receiving, keeping, and handing on what was delivered.
Imitate today
- Hold fast to doctrine received.
- Pray for bishops faithful to apostolic teaching.
- Do not let timidity silence necessary truth.
Sources
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, January 24.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, January 24.
From Matins
The apostolic bishop stirred up by inspired instruction.
Matins - Second Nocturn - St. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr
Roman Breviary, Proper lessons for St. Timothy
“These sacred writings so stirred him up to the zealous discharge of his duties as a spiritual shepherd.”
Doctrine taught
- The Breviary remembers St. Timothy as the disciple chosen by St. Paul, formed during apostolic journeys, and consecrated bishop of Ephesus.
- The inspired epistles addressed to him did not remain honored texts at a distance; they stirred him to active pastoral zeal and defense of divine worship.
- His resistance to sacrifice offered to Artemis completed apostolic formation in martyrdom, showing that a bishop guards both doctrine and public worship.
For the pilgrim in exile
Receive apostolic instruction as a command to act. St. Timothy teaches that Scripture and tradition are guarded by shepherds willing to oppose idolatry and suffer for the flock.
Sources
- The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. I, Winter, Second Nocturn for St. Timothy, lessons iv-vi, printed pp. 711-712.
- 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 apostolic charge kept by Timothy.
Matins - St. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr
Breviary witness
- The Breviary honors St. Timothy as bishop and martyr, disciple of St. Paul and guardian of apostolic doctrine.
- His witness teaches pastoral courage, fidelity to what has been received, and perseverance in governing souls under the burden of the apostolic charge.
For the pilgrim in exile
Hold the deposit, even when weakness or human respect tempts silence. Apostolic faith is received in order to be guarded and handed on.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for January 24, St. Timothy.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, January 24.
Gospel of the day
Feed my lambs.
St. Timothy, Bishop and Martyr - John 21:15-17
“Feed my sheep.”
What Our Lord teaches
- The apostolic bishop proves love for Christ by guarding and feeding the flock.
- St. Timothy teaches that doctrine received from the apostle must become pastoral courage, not private possession.
Virtue to practice
Hold fast to apostolic doctrine and pray for faithful bishops.
Error to resist
The timidity that hides truth when souls need to be fed.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask St. Timothy for fidelity without human respect. The flock is not fed by silence.
Sources
- John 21:15-17, Douay-Rheims.
- Traditional Roman Gospel from the common of bishops.
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.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Lord, purify my love for Catholic beauty. Let it lead me to obedience, reverence, valid worship, and sanctity rather than taste alone.
Thought for the pilgrim
The Church's beauty is order, truth, sacrifice, and holiness.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Let Catholic beauty move you toward concrete duty, prayer, and repentance.
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.
- Luke 2:19 and John 19:25-27, Douay-Rheims.
- Sister Lucia dos Santos, Fourth Memoir, December 8, 1941, account of the apparition of August 19, 1917.