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. Catherine, Virgin and Martyr
Wednesday, November 25, 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. Catherine, Virgin and Martyr
Rank: Double
Color: red
Quote for the day
Pope St. Gregory the Great
“There are three states of the converted: the beginning, the middle, and the perfection.”
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - November 25
The birthday of St. Catharine, virgin and martyr, under the emperor Maximinus. For the confession of the Christian faith, she was cast into prison at Alexandria, and afterwards endured a long scourging with whips garnished with metal, and finally ended her martyrdom by decapitation. Her body was miraculously conveyed by angels to Mount Sinai, where pious veneration is paid to it by a great concourse of Christians. — At Rome, St. Moses, priest and martyr, who, with others detained in prison, was often consoled by the letters of St. Cyprian. After he had withstood with unbending courage not only the Gentiles, but also the Novatian schismatics and heretics, he was finally, in the persecution of Decius, crowned with a martyrdom which fills the mind with admiration, according to the words of pope St. Cornelius. — At Antioch, St. Erasmus, martyr. — At Caesarea, in Cappadocia, St. Mercury, soldier, who vanquished the barbarians and triumphed over the cruelty of Decius through the protection of his guardian angel. Finally, having acquired great glory from his sufferings, he was crowned with martyrdom and went to reign forever in heaven. — In Emilia, a province of Italy, St. Jucunda, virgin.
Highlighted saint
St. Catherine
Virgin and martyr of Alexandria.
The Martyrology honors St. Catherine, virgin and martyr, who confessed the Christian faith at Alexandria under Maximinus.
She was cast into prison, endured a long scourging with metal-tipped whips, and completed her martyrdom by decapitation; her body is venerated at Mount Sinai.
Virtue to practice
Courageous confession of Christian truth.
Error to resist
The worldly wisdom that treats Christian confession as childish before power and learning.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask St. Catherine for a clear mind and a brave heart. Truth is not less true because rulers threaten it.
Imitate today
- Confess the faith without shame.
- Guard virgin purity and courage.
- Use learning and speech in service of Christ.
Sources
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, November 25.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, November 25.
Breviary Witness
Confession of faith before power.
Matins - St. Catherine
Breviary witness
- The Martyrology honors St. Catherine as virgin and martyr who confessed the Christian faith at Alexandria, endured prison and scourging, and was beheaded.
- Her witness teaches the courage of truth before rulers, learning, and threats.
For the pilgrim in exile
Ask for a mind and heart loyal to Christ. The faith need not apologize for being hated by worldly power.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Matins lessons for November 25, St. Catherine.
- Roman Martyrology, 1916 Baltimore edition, November 25.
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.