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. George, Martyr
Thursday, April 23, 2026
Season: Eastertide
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. George, Martyr
Rank: Semi-Double
Color: red
Octave: Within the Common Octave of the Solemnity of St. Joseph (Common Octave).
Quote for the day
Pope St. Leo the Great
“A great safeguard is the entire faith, the true faith, in which neither anything whatever can be added nor anything taken away.”
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - April 23
The birthday of St. George, whose illustrious martyrdom is honored by the Church of God among the combats of other crowned martyrs. — At Valence, in France, the holy martyrs Felix, priest, Fortunatus and Achilleus, deacons, who were sent there to preach the word of God by blessed Irenseus, bishop of Lyons, and converted the greater portion of that city to the faith of Christ. These martyrs were cast into prison by the commander Cornelius, were a long time scourged, had their legs crushed, were bound to wheels in motion, and stifled with smoke whilst stretched on the rack, and finally died by the sword. — In Prussia, the birthday of St. Adalbert, bishop of Prague, and martyr, who preached the Gospel to the Poles and Hungarians. — At Milan, St. Marolus, bishop and confessor. — At Toul, in France, St. Gerard, bishop of that city.
Highlighted saint
St. George
Martyr whose combat is honored among the crowned witnesses.
The Roman Martyrology honors St. George for an illustrious martyrdom among the combats of the crowned martyrs.
His feast teaches that Christian courage is not legend or ornament, but fidelity under trial and willingness to bear witness before hostile power.
Virtue to practice
Martial courage purified by faith.
Error to resist
The soft religion that admires courage only when it costs nothing.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask St. George for courage without theatrical pride. The crowned martyr teaches the soul to stand firm where Christ has placed it.
Imitate today
- Face one trial today with Christian courage.
- Refuse cowardice dressed as prudence.
- Pray for soldiers and all who must defend the innocent.
Sources
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, April 23.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, April 23.
Breviary Witness
The crowned combat of martyrdom.
Matins - St. George, Martyr
Breviary witness
- The Breviary and Martyrology honor St. George among the illustrious crowned martyrs.
- His witness teaches courage under hostile power and fidelity that does not retreat when confession becomes dangerous.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask for courage without vanity. St. George teaches the soul to stand firm for Christ when comfort urges retreat.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for April 23, St. George.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, April 23.
Gospel of the day
Blessed are ye when men shall reproach you.
St. George, Martyr - Luke 6:17-23
“Be glad in that day and rejoice; for behold, your reward is great in heaven.”
What Our Lord teaches
- The martyr's courage is not bravado, but fidelity under hatred for the Son of man.
- St. George teaches that Christian combat is crowned only when it remains ordered to Christ.
Virtue to practice
Stand firm in one trial without seeking display.
Error to resist
The soft religion that admires courage only when it costs nothing.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask St. George for courage purified of vanity. The crowned witness stands because Christ is worth more than fear.
Sources
- Luke 6:17-23, Douay-Rheims.
- Traditional Roman Gospel from the common of martyrs.
Meditation
Victory Seen in Christ
The day lifts the pilgrim above mere survival. The Church suffers, but she suffers under the Lord who is risen, ascended, glorified, and victorious in His saints. Triumph is not a mood. It is the promised end toward which perseverance is ordered.
Related paths
Walk the day through the City.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Lord, strengthen the little duties of this day with Thy grace, that nothing entrusted to me may be wasted through negligence or vanity.
Thought for the pilgrim
Grace is guarded by ordinary fidelity.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Fulfill one ordinary duty promptly and offer it for the glory of God.
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.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Liturgical Calendar, p. xv.