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. Linus, Pope and Martyr
Wednesday, September 23, 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. Linus, Pope and Martyr
Rank: Semi-Double
Color: red
Quote for the day
St. Francis de Sales
“Faith is like a bright ray of sunlight. It enables us to see God in all things as well as all things in God.”
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - September 23
At Rome, St. Linus, pope and martyr, who governed the Roman church next after the blessed apostle Peter. He was crowned with martyrdom, and buried on the Vatican hill beside the same apostle. — At Iconium, in Lycaonia, St. Thecla, virgin and martyr, who was converted to the faith by the apostle St. Paul. Under the emperor Nero, she was victorious over the flames and the beasts to which she was exposed for the faith of Christ, and after many combats endured for the instruction of others, she went to Seleucia, where she ended her days in peace. Her memory has been eulogized by the Holy Fathers. — In Campania, the commemoration of blessed Sosius, deacon of the church of Misenum. The holy bishop Januarius, seeing a flame arise from his head as he was reading the Gospel in the church, foretold that he would be a martyr; and not many days after, when he was thirty years of age, he and the holy bishop suffered martyrdom by decapitation. — In Africa, the holy martyrs Andrew, John, Peter, and Anthony. — In the diocese of Coutances, St. Paternus, bishop and martyr. — At Ancona, St. C.onstantius, sacristan of the Church, renowned for the gift of miracles. — In Spain, the holy women Xantippa and Polyxena, who were disciples of the Apostles.
Highlighted saint
St. Linus
Pope and martyr next after blessed Peter.
The Martyrology honors St. Linus, pope and martyr, who governed the Roman Church next after the blessed apostle Peter and was buried on the Vatican hill beside him.
His feast teaches visible succession under the shadow of martyrdom. Apostolic office is not an abstraction, but a real charge borne in history for the guarding of the Church.
Virtue to practice
Apostolic continuity under trial.
Error to resist
The private religion that wants Peter's doctrine without visible apostolic succession.
For the pilgrim in exile
Let St. Linus steady your mind about continuity. The Church passes through persons and offices in history, yet the charge belongs first to Christ.
Imitate today
- Honor apostolic succession rightly understood.
- Pray for Roman fidelity.
- Prefer martyrdom to betrayal of office.
Sources
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, September 23.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, September 23.
Breviary Witness
The successor of Peter under martyrdom.
Matins - St. Linus
Breviary witness
- The Breviary honors St. Linus as pope and martyr, governing the Roman Church next after blessed Peter.
- His witness places apostolic succession beneath the sign of sacrifice, not worldly security.
For the pilgrim in exile
Hold visible apostolic continuity with sobriety. The office is Christ's gift, and history shows it carried under suffering.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for September 23, St. Linus.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, September 23.
Meditation
Growth After Pentecost
The Time after Pentecost teaches perseverance after the great feasts. Many souls receive light and then return to forgetfulness. The pilgrim must instead turn light into rule: morning prayer, the Angelus, Rosary, examination, custody of speech, and fidelity to the duty before him.
Related paths
Walk the day through the City.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Lord, when confusion, scarcity, or loneliness presses upon me, keep me from despair. Thou hast not abandoned the faithful who cling to truth.
Thought for the pilgrim
The soul in exile is not abandoned.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Name one grace God has preserved for you in exile and thank Him for it plainly.
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.