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
Ss. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs
Saturday, September 26, 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
Ss. Cyprian and Justina, Martyrs
Rank: Simple
Color: red
Saturday Mass of Our Lady: Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Quote for the day
Pope St. Pius X
“Many suffer everlasting calamity because of ignorance of those mysteries of faith which must be known and believed.”
Acerbo Nimis, n. 2
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - September 26
At Nicomedia, the birthday of the holy martyrs Cyprian, and Justina, virgin. Under the emperor Diocletian and the governor Eutholmius. Justina suffered much for the faith of Christ and converted Cyprian, who, while a magician, endeavored to bring her under the influence of his magical practices. She afterwards suffered martyrdom with him. Their bodies being exposed to the beasts, were taken away in the night by some Christian sailors, and carried to Rome. They were subsequently taken into the Constantinian basilica, and deposited near the baptistery. — At Rome, the holy martyr Callistratus, and forty-nine other soldiers, who endured martyrdorn together, in the persecution of Diocletian. The companions of Callistratus were converted to Christ on seeing him miraculously delivered from drowning in the sea, where he had been thrown sewed up in a bag. — Also, at Rome, pope St. Eusebius. — At Bologna, St. Eusebius, bishop and confessor. — At Brescia, St. Vigilius, bishop. — At Albano, St. Senator. — In the territory of Frascati, the blessed abbot Mlus, founder of the monastery of CryptaFerrata, a man of eminent sanctity. — At Citta-diCastello, St. Amantius, a priest distinguished for the gift of miracles.
Highlighted saint
Ss. Cyprian and Justina
Martyrs of conversion, chastity, and deliverance from evil.
The Martyrology records that Justina suffered much for the faith of Christ and converted Cyprian, who had tried by magical practices to bring her under his power.
They afterwards suffered martyrdom together under Diocletian. Their feast teaches the victory of grace over occult bondage, impurity, and the attempt to dominate another soul.
Virtue to practice
Chaste courage and conversion.
Error to resist
The superstition that seeks power apart from God and calls it harmless.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask Saints Cyprian and Justina for clean freedom. Christ breaks the pride that tries to possess, manipulate, or corrupt another soul.
Imitate today
- Reject superstition and occult practices completely.
- Guard purity by prayer and resistance.
- Pray for conversions that turn enemies into saints.
Sources
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, September 26.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, September 26.
Breviary Witness
Grace stronger than occult bondage.
Matins - Ss. Cyprian and Justina
Breviary witness
- The Martyrology remembers Justina's suffering for Christ and the conversion of Cyprian, who had once tried by magical practices to bring her under his power.
- Their martyrdom together teaches the victory of chastity, conversion, and divine grace over superstition and spiritual domination.
For the pilgrim in exile
Reject every occult compromise without curiosity. Christ gives freedom; false powers seek possession, impurity, and pride.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins remembrance for September 26, Ss. Cyprian and Justina.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, September 26.
Gospel of the day
Blessed are they who hear the word of God and keep it.
Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary - Luke 11:27-28
“Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.”
What Our Lord teaches
- Our Lord praises the deepest Marian blessedness: hearing the word of God and keeping it.
- True devotion to Our Lady is obedient, doctrinal, and practical; it forms souls who receive Christ faithfully.
Virtue to practice
Marian obedience in ordinary duties.
Error to resist
The sentimental devotion that honors Our Lady with words while neglecting obedience to the word of God.
For the pilgrim in exile
Give Saturday to Our Lady in some concrete way. Let her teach you to hear, keep, and remain faithful in the ordinary hours.
Sources
- Luke 11:27-28, Douay-Rheims.
- Traditional Roman Gospel for the Saturday Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary.
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, bring this day to judgment before Thy mercy. Show me where I obeyed, where I resisted, where I loved, and where I must begin again.
Thought for the pilgrim
The day must end beneath truth.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
End the day with thanksgiving, examination, contrition, and a firm purpose for tomorrow.
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, Proper of the Time, Saturdays after Pentecost: Mass of the Blessed Virgin Mary.