City of God in Exile
Main Gate

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. Raymund Nonnatus, Confessor

Monday, August 31, 2026

Season: Time after Pentecost

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 Nonnatus, Confessor

Rank: Double

Color: white

Quote for the day

Thomas a Kempis

“Nothing, how little so ever it be, if it is suffered for God's sake, can pass without merit in the sight of God.”

Roman Martyrology

Roman Martyrology - August 31

At Cardona, in Spain, St. Raymond Nonnatus, cardinal and confessor, of the Order of Mercedarians, renowned for holiness of life and miracles. — At Treves, the birthday of St. Paulimis, a bishop, who was exiled for the Catholic faith by the Arian emperor Constantius, in the time of the Arian persecution. By having to change the place of his exile, which was beyond the limits of Christendom, he became wearied unto death, and finally, dying in Phrygia, received a crown from the Lord for his blessed martyrdom. — Also, the holy martyrs Robustian and Mark. — At Transaqua, among the Marsi, near lake Celano, the birthday of the holy martyrs Cresidius, priest, and his companions, who were crowned with martyrdom in the persecution of Maximinus. — At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, the Saints Theodotus, Rufina, and Ammia. The first two were the parents of the martyr St. Mamas, who was born in prison, and whom Ammia brought up. — At Athens, St. Aristides, most celebrated for his faith and wisdom, who presented to the emperor Adrian a treatise on the Christian religion, containing the exposition of our doctrine. In the presence of the emperor, he also delivered a discourse in which he clearly demonstrated that Jesus Christ is the only God. — At Auxerre, St. Optatus, bishop and confessor. — In England, St. Aidan, bishop of Lindisfarne. When St. Cuthbert, then a shepherd, saw his soul going up to heaven, he left his sheep and became a monk. — At Nusco, St. Amatus, bishop. — On Mount Senario, near Florence, blessed Bonajuncta, confessor, one of the seven founders of the Order of the Servites of the Blessed Virgin Mary, who gave up his soul into the hands of the Lord whilst discoursing to his brethren on the Passion of our Saviour.

Read and verify the full entry

Highlighted saint

St. Raymund Nonnatus

Confessor of mercy toward captives and endangered souls.

St. Raymund Nonnatus is honored as a confessor of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy, remembered for holiness, miracles, and mercy toward captives.

His feast keeps before the Church the ransom of captives and the protection of souls in danger. Mercy is not a soft feeling, but a Catholic work that seeks deliverance for those bound by force, sin, fear, or error.

Virtue to practice

Mercy ordered to deliverance.

Error to resist

The indifference that leaves souls captive because rescue would be costly.

For the pilgrim in exile

Ask St. Raymund for courageous mercy. The Church in exile must remember prisoners, the unborn, the tempted, the confused, and all souls who need real deliverance.

Imitate today

  • Pray for captives and those trapped in error.
  • Practice mercy without weakening truth.
  • Offer one sacrifice for endangered souls.

Sources

  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, August 31.
  • Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, August 31.

Breviary Witness

Mercy that seeks deliverance.

Matins - St. Raymund Nonnatus

Breviary witness

  • The Breviary remembrance of St. Raymund Nonnatus keeps the merciful spirit of the Order of Our Lady of Mercy before the faithful.
  • His witness directs charity toward captives and endangered souls, teaching that mercy must be willing to pay a price for deliverance.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let mercy become intercession and sacrifice. Remember those bound in body, fear, sin, error, or danger, and ask Our Lady to obtain deliverance.

Sources

  • Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for August 31, St. Raymund Nonnatus.
  • Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, August 31.

Meditation

The Church Made Public

Pentecost teaches that the Holy Ghost does not create private religious enthusiasm detached from doctrine, worship, and authority. He gathers, sends, teaches, and strengthens the visible Church. The remnant must therefore seek fire without disorder and zeal without novelty.

Prayer

The day should become prayer.

O Lord, do not permit me to admire truth without submitting to it. Give me the courage to obey what Thou hast already made known.

Thought for the pilgrim

Truth becomes fruitful when it is obeyed.

Practice

The day should become obedience.

Choose one known duty and obey it without delay or complaint.

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.
Browse the Roman Martyrology