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
Advent Ember Day
Wednesday, December 20, 2028
Season: Advent
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
Advent Ember Day
Rank: Non-privileged Feria
Color: violet
Vigil: Vigil of St. Thomas, Apostle.
Quote for the day
St. John the Baptist
“It is not lawful for thee to have her.”
Matthew 14:4, 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.
December intention
The Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary
As Advent prepares the Church for the Nativity, the Immaculate Conception displays God's victorious preparation of the Mother of the Redeemer. Ask for hatred of sin, purity of heart, and readiness to receive Christ.
Intention
For the preservation of baptismal innocence, the recovery of purity through repentance, and faithful preparation for the coming of Our Lord.
A faithful act
Remove voluntary occasions of sin and needless distractions as an Advent offering through Our Lady.
Prayer
O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee, and prepare our souls for Jesus.
Wednesday remembrance
St. Joseph
Midweek, turn to St. Joseph, whose hidden labor guarded Jesus and Mary. He teaches authority without self-importance, work without complaint, and silence joined to decisive obedience.
Intention
For fathers, laborers, families, the protection of the Church, and those approaching death.
A faithful act
Do necessary tasks thoroughly without seeking notice or praise.
Prayer
St. Joseph, patron of the universal Church, guard our homes and obtain for us purity, courage, and a holy death.
Roman Martyrology
Roman Martyrology - December 20
The vigil of St. Thomas, apostle. — At Rome, the holy martyrs Liberatus and Bajulus. — At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingen, and Theophilus, soldiers, who, standing near the tribunals, and seeing a Christian trembling under the torture and almost on the point of apostatizing, endeavored to encourage him by their looks and by signs, and when for this reason the whole people raised an outcry against them, they rushed forward, and declared themselves Christians. By their victory, Christ, who had given to them such fortitude, triumphed most gloriously. — At Gelduba, St. Julius, martyr. — In Arabia, the holy martyrs Eugene and Macarius, priests. For reproving Julian the Apostate for his impiety, they received a most severe scourging, were banished to a vast desert, and finally were put to the sword. — At Antioch, the birthday of St. Philogonius, bishop, who was called by the will of God from the practice of law to the government of that church. With the saintly bishop Alexander and other auxiliaries, he engaged the first combat for the Catholic faith against Arius, and, being renowned for merits, rested in the Lord. His festival was commemorated by St. John Chrysostom with an excellent panegyric. — At Brescia, St. Dominic, bishop and confessor. — In Spain, the departure from this world of St. Dominic de Sylos, abbot, of the Order of St. Benedict, most renowned for the miracles he wrought for the deliverance of captives.
Highlighted saint
The Advent Ember Day
The winter fast of expectation and ordination prayer.
The Advent Ember Days sanctify the season of expectation with fasting, prayer, and supplication for the Church's ministers.
They teach that preparation for Christmas must include purification. The Church asks the Lord of the harvest for holy laborers and asks that her own children be made ready for the coming King.
Virtue to practice
Purified expectation and prayer for the Church.
Error to resist
The Advent that becomes noise and consumption instead of fasting, prayer, and longing for Christ.
For the pilgrim in exile
Let the Ember fast make Advent serious without making it gloomy. The King is near, and the Church prepares with prayer.
Imitate today
- Pray for priests and clerics.
- Offer a small fast or restraint in Advent.
- Ask Our Lady to teach expectant purity.
Sources
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Advent Ember Days.
- Luke 1:26-38, Douay-Rheims.
From the Roman Martyrology
Christ triumphs when the wavering are strengthened to confess Him.
Martyrology - Martyrology Notice - Vigil of St. Thomas the Apostle
Roman Martyrology, December 20 notice
“They rushed forward, and declared themselves Christians.”
Doctrine taught
- On the vigil of St. Thomas, the Martyrology remembers five Christian soldiers who saw another Christian trembling under torture and near apostasy.
- They first encouraged him by looks and signs; when the crowd turned against them, they openly declared themselves Christians.
- Their fortitude shows fraternal charity under persecution: Catholics must strengthen the wavering toward confession, accepting personal cost rather than silently watching a soul surrender Christ.
For the pilgrim in exile
Strengthen Catholics who are frightened, isolated, or tempted to compromise. Encourage them privately when possible, confess Christ publicly when necessary, and pray that His fortitude may triumph in every wavering soul.
Complete Roman Martyrology notice
Roman Martyrology Notice - December 20
At Alexandria, the holy martyrs Ammon, Zeno, Ptolemy, Ingen, and Theophilus, soldiers, who, standing near the tribunals, and seeing a Christian trembling under the torture and almost on the point of apostatizing, endeavored to encourage him by their looks and by signs, and when for this reason the whole people raised an outcry against them, they rushed forward, and declared themselves Christians. By their victory, Christ, who had given to them such fortitude, triumphed most gloriously.
Sources
- The Roman Martyrology, Baltimore: John Murphy Company, 1916, December 20, printed pp. 390-391; local checked transcription at content/martyrology/roman-martyrology-1916-raw.txt, lines 13245-13279.
Breviary Witness
The fast of expectation.
Matins - Advent Ember Day
Breviary witness
- The Advent Ember Days sanctify the season of waiting with fasting and prayer for the Church and her ministers.
- Their witness joins Our Lady's expectant purity to the Church's supplication, asking that Christ find His people ready.
For the pilgrim in exile
Prepare for Christmas by prayer that costs something. The King is near, and the Church fasts while she waits.
Sources
- Roman Breviary, Advent Ember Days.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Advent Ember Days.
Meditation
O Key of David, Open What Sin Has Shut
The Fourth Sunday places St. John the Baptist before us as the voice preparing the Lord's way, while the Church calls Christ the Key of David. Only He opens the kingdom and releases souls imprisoned in darkness; no human program can replace repentance and grace. Let confession, forgiveness, or restitution straighten the path before Christmas.
Related paths
Walk the day through the City.
Today's chapters
Read with the feast.
Prayer
The day should become prayer.
O Key of David, come and lead the captive from darkness; make straight in me the road prepared for Thy coming.
Thought for the pilgrim
Christ opens the prison, but the soul must cease loving its chains.
Practice
The day should become obedience.
Make or firmly arrange a good confession, and begin repairing every injury that still obstructs peace with God or neighbor.
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. xiii and xv: Ember Days occur in Advent, Lent, Whitsuntide, and after September 14.
- St. Andrew Daily Missal, Division of the Ecclesiastical Year, p. x: Ember Days are non-privileged ferias; their commemoration remains distinct from the feast and from the separate 1952 fasting layer.
- 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.
- Genesis 3:15 and Luke 1:28, Douay-Rheims.
- Matthew 1:19-24, Douay-Rheims.