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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. Anacletus, Pope and Martyr

Tuesday, July 13, 2027

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. Anacletus, Pope and Martyr

Rank: Semi-Double

Color: red

Quote for the day

Holy Scripture

“Cast thy care upon our Lord: and he will nourish thee: he will not give fluctuation to the just for ever.”

Psalm 54:23, Original Douay-Rheims

The pilgrim's devotional rhythm

Keeping the month and the weekday in prayer

This chosen devotional rhythm does not change the feast, rank, or obligations shown above. It gives the passing days a steady intention, helping the pilgrim honor God, intercede for souls, and carry one Catholic practice into the day. It is a household aid to devotion, not another law of the Roman Calendar.

July intention

The Most Precious Blood of Jesus

The price of our redemption forbids a careless life. Remember the Precious Blood poured out upon Calvary and offered upon Catholic altars, and ask that no grace purchased at so great a cost be received in vain.

Intention

For reverence toward the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the conversion of sinners, and the deliverance of souls from slavery to mortal sin.

A faithful act

Offer the day's sacrifices for sinners who are far from confession and sanctifying grace.

Prayer

Most Precious Blood of Jesus, cleanse us from sin, strengthen the weak, and bring wandering souls home.

Tuesday remembrance

The Holy Angels

God has appointed His angels as ministers of His providence. Honor them by greater purity, recollection, and prompt obedience to grace, never forgetting that their whole service leads the soul to God.

Intention

For protection against temptation, guidance in duty, and the defense of children, travelers, and souls in spiritual danger.

A faithful act

Before a difficult duty or conversation, ask your Guardian Angel to help you act without sin and for God's glory.

Prayer

Holy Angel, my guardian, keep me from sin and direct me in the faithful accomplishment of today's duties.

Roman Martyrology

Roman Martyrology - July 13

At Rome, St. Anacletus, pope and martyr, who governed the Church of God after St. Clement, and shed lustre on it by a glorious martyrdom. — The same day, the holy prophets Joel and Esdras. — In Macedonia, blessed Silas, one of the first Christians. By the Apostles he was destined for the churches of the Gentiles with Paul and Barnabas. Filled with the grace of God, he zealously discharged the office of preaching, and after glorifying Christ by his sufferings, rested in peace. — Also, St. Serapion, martyr, who obtained the crown of martyrdom by fire, in the time of the emperor Severus and the governor Aquila. — In the island of Chio, in the time of the emperor Decius and the governor Numerian, the martyr St. Myrops. Being clubbed to death, he went to our Lord. — In Africa, the holy confessors Eugenius, the faithful and virtuous bishop of Carthage, and all the clergy of that church, to the number of about five hundred or more, among whom were many small children employed as lectors. In the persecution of the Vandals, under the Arian king Hunneric, they were subjected to scourging and starvation, and driven into a most painful banishment, which they bore with joy for God's sake. In their number were also two distinguished personages, the archdeacon Salutaris, and Muritta, occupying the second rank among the ministers of the church. Both had three times confessed the faith, and were illustrious by their sturdy perseverance in Christianity. — In Bretagne, St. Turian, bishop and confessor, a man of admirable simplicity and innocence.

Read and verify the full entry

Highlighted saint

St. Anacletus

Pope and martyr in the apostolic succession.

St. Anacletus, also called Cletus, belongs to the first Roman succession after St. Peter. The Church venerates him as pope and martyr, a shepherd in the generation nearest the apostolic foundation.

His feast keeps the soul near the early Roman line: the Church is visible, governed, apostolic, and sealed by witness. The papacy is not a later sentiment, but part of Christ's provision for His flock.

Virtue to practice

Visible apostolic fidelity.

Error to resist

The idea that the early Church was a loose fellowship without visible authority.

For the pilgrim in exile

Let St. Anacletus steady love for the Church's visible order. The line of shepherds is not an ornament; it is part of Christ's provision for His flock.

Imitate today

  • Love the apostolic succession as Christ's order.
  • Pray for faithful Roman shepherding.
  • Prefer martyrdom to betrayal of the Church.

Sources

  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, July 13.
  • The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. III, Summer, proper lesson for St. Anacletus, printed p. 726.

From Matins

The apostolic line guarded in visible order.

Matins - Second Nocturn - St. Anacletus, Pope and Martyr

Roman Breviary, Proper lesson for St. Anacletus

“He received the crown of his testimony, and was buried on the Vatican Hill.”

Doctrine taught

  • The lesson presents the early Roman Church as visibly governed, sacramentally ordered, and conscious of continuity with blessed Peter.
  • Holy Orders, Eucharistic worship, and reverence for the apostolic grave stand together in its remembrance of St. Anacletus.
  • His martyrdom seals pastoral government with testimony to Christ.

For the pilgrim in exile

Receive the Church as visible and apostolic. St. Anacletus teaches that order, sacramental worship, Roman continuity, and costly witness cannot be separated without loss.

Full Breviary lessons

Fourth Lesson

Anacletus was an Athenian who governed the Church in the time of the Emperor Trajan. The lesson remembers his ordinances concerning episcopal consecration, public ordination by the proper bishop, and Communion after the Consecration at Mass.

He adorned the grave of blessed Peter and appointed a place for the burial of the Popes. After governing the Church and conferring Holy Orders, he received the crown of martyrdom and was buried on the Vatican Hill.

Sources

  • The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. III, Summer, proper lesson for St. Anacletus, printed p. 726, lesson iv.
  • Bute 1908 is used here as an accessible pre-Pius X Breviary witness and is cited distinctly from the 1936-1937 Benziger / Burns Oates edition.

Breviary Witness

The Roman succession under blood.

Matins - St. Anacletus

Breviary witness

  • The Breviary remembers St. Anacletus, also called Cletus, as pope and martyr within the first Roman succession after St. Peter.
  • His witness teaches that visible authority, apostolic continuity, and martyrdom belong together in the Church's earliest memory.

For the pilgrim in exile

Love the Church as Christ made her: visible, apostolic, governed, and costly to betray.

Sources

  • The Roman Breviary, translated by John, Marquess of Bute, 1908, vol. III, Summer, proper lesson for St. Anacletus, printed p. 726.
  • St. Andrew Daily Missal, July 13.

Meditation

The Apostolic Line Guarded in Blood

St. Anacletus belongs to the first Roman succession after St. Peter. His feast joins visible government, sacramental order, reverence for the apostolic foundation, and martyrdom, teaching that Christ did not leave His flock to private improvisation.

Prayer

The day should become prayer.

O Lord, through St. Anacletus, keep me grateful for apostolic succession and obedient to the order Thou gavest Thy Church.

Thought for the pilgrim

The Church is visible, apostolic, governed, and costly to betray.

Practice

The day should become obedience.

Pray for true bishops and review why apostolic succession is necessary to the Church's visible life.

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 ordinarily come from eligible Catholic sources issued no later than December 31, 1954: Scripture, Fathers, Doctors, saints, Roman Pontiffs, traditional catechisms, approved devotional works, and received liturgical texts. Legitimate additions promulgated under Pope Pius XII may be retained when identified precisely; this does not adopt the reformed Holy Week or later rubrical changes.

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, Dom Gaspar Lefebvre, O.S.B., 1953 edition; proper Mass or devotion named in this entry.
  • 1 Peter 1:18-19, Douay-Rheims.
  • Psalm 90:11 and Matthew 18:10, Douay-Rheims.
Browse the Roman Martyrology