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Traditional Catholic Daily Devotional

SSPX US District, Angelus Press

All in 8-10 minutes: Start each day with the Collect of the Mass, asking for God's graces. Then we'll give a short consideration of today's saint or feast, and a reflection of the day from Scripture. Then we'll keep you up to date on Church news, or give a preview of one of our podcasts or sermons. Finally, we close with a thought from Archbishop Lefebvre.

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Yesterday · 11 min
Sep 7 – Feria / S Magdalene of Nagasaki
It's a Feria, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "The Sorrowing Mother", today's news from the Church: "St. Pius X Against Half-Hearted Journalism", a preview of the Sermon: "Total Confidence in God", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Sorrowing Mother" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "St. Pius X Against Half-Hearted Journalism" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/st-pius-x-against-half-hearted-journalism-60892 "Total Confidence in God" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki was only twenty-two when she was killed, but by then she had already watched nearly every spiritual guide in her life suffer for the Catholic faith. She was born around 1611 near Nagasaki, Japan, into a Christian family. This was no longer the hopeful age when Saint Francis Xavier had first brought the Gospel to Japan. Christianity was now outlawed, missionaries were hunted, and Catholic families faced imprisonment, torture, or death. Magdalene's own parents were reportedly martyred while she was still young. She remained Catholic. Later, she came under the spiritual direction of Augustinian missionaries, including Saints Francis of Jesus and Vincent of Saint Anthony. She wanted to belong more completely to God, so she became an Augustinian tertiary, living a consecrated life while helping the underground Church. Then her priests were arrested and killed. Magdalene remained Catholic. She worked with two more missionaries, Saints Martin of Saint Nicholas and Melchior of Saint Augustine. They were killed too. At some point, hiding probably began to feel like simply waiting for the authorities to find her. So Magdalene did something extraordinary. She turned herself in. According to the traditional accounts, she appeared before the authorities wearing her Augustinian habit and openly declared that she was a Christian. She hoped that by publicly defending the faith, she might strengthen Catholics who were frightened into silence. The authorities subjected her to one of the most horrifying punishments used during the Japanese persecution, the ana-tsurushi, or "pit torture." The prisoner was suspended upside down over a pit, often with the body tightly bound and the head lowered into the opening. The torture could continue for days because the authorities wanted apostasy, not simply death. Magdalene endured it for nearly two weeks. Witnesses later remembered her remarkable composure. Even during the torture, she reportedly continued praying and singing hymns. Eventually she died in 1634, probably from suffocation after heavy rain flooded the pit. The authorities burned her body and scattered the ashes into Nagasaki Bay so Christians would have no relics to venerate. That didn't erase her memory. In fact, Nagasaki became home to one of the most astonishing stories in Catholic history. For more than two centuries after the missionaries were expelled, communities of hidden Christians, the Kakure Kirishitan, secretly preserved baptism, prayers, and fragments of Catholic tradition without priests. Magdalene never lived to see that. But she belonged to the generation whose courage made that survival possible. Saint Magdalene of Nagasaki, fearless daughter of Japan's hidden Church, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
Sunday · 8 min
Sep 6 – XV Sun of Pentecost / S Liberato of Loro Piceno
It's the Feast of XV Sun of Pentecost, 2nd Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "The Resurrection of the Widow's Son", today's news from the Church: "The Hymn of the Society of Saint Pius X", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Resurrection of the Widow's Son" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "The Hymn of the Society of Saint Pius X" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/hymn-society-saint-pius-x-60879 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Blessed Liberato of Loro Piceno is one of those medieval Franciscan figures where the history is a little hazy, but the tradition surrounding him gives us a beautiful glimpse into the earliest generations after Saint Francis. Liberato lived in thirteenth-century Italy and came from Loro, in the Marches, the region facing the Adriatic Sea. Some traditions identify him with a nobleman named Liberato da Loro who gave up wealth and status to enter the Franciscan life. And this was still very early Franciscanism. Saint Francis had died only a generation before. His memory was fresh. Friars were still trying to figure out exactly what it meant to live his radical ideal of poverty after the order had expanded across Europe. Liberato wanted the simplest version possible. He withdrew to a small hermitage at Soffiano, in the wooded hills near Sarnano. There he lived with other friars in prayer, fasting, manual work, and the kind of poverty that had characterized the first companions of Saint Francis. The place itself is worth imagining. No great monastery. No elaborate choir stalls. Just a few friars living in the hills, trying to pray and stay out of everyone's way. One reason Liberato became remembered is his connection with an extraordinary medieval book, the Little Flowers of Saint Francis. A friar named Liberato appears in stories surrounding the hermitage of Soffiano, along with Brothers Humble and Pacificus. These accounts describe a small community marked by contemplation and mystical prayer. One particularly beautiful tradition says that Liberato received a warning in prayer that his death was approaching. Rather than being frightened, he prepared quietly, received the sacraments, and entrusted himself to God. After his death, devotion remained local but persistent. And that's fitting, because Liberato's entire life was local. The region around Loro Piceno and Sarnano is still filled with Franciscan history. Ancient hermitages, mountain sanctuaries, and little churches dot the landscape, preserving the memory of friars who deliberately chose places where almost nobody would notice them. Liberato never became a famous preacher like Saint Anthony. He never led the Franciscan Order like Saint Bonaventure. He didn't leave behind great books. Instead, he belonged to that quieter stream of Franciscan life: men who heard Francis say that poverty, prayer, and simplicity were enough, and then spent their lives trying to prove it. There's something refreshing about a saint whose great accomplishment was essentially disappearing into the hills to pray. Blessed Liberato of Loro Piceno, hidden son of Saint Francis and lover of holy poverty, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
Saturday · 9 min
Sep 5 – S Lawrence Justinian / 1st Sat
It's the Feast of St. Lawrence Justinian / First Sat, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Recourse to God", today's news from the Church: "Education: An Agreement Between Parents", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "Recourse to God" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Education: An Agreement Between Parents" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/education-agreement-between-parents-60845 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Lawrence Justinian became the first Patriarch of Venice, but he spent most of his life trying to avoid exactly the kind of attention that came with that title. He was born in Venice in 1381 into the powerful Giustiniani family. Wealth, connections, and a comfortable future were all waiting for him. As a young man, however, Lawrence became convinced that God was calling him somewhere very different. So he joined a community of canons living on the little island of San Giorgio in Alga, across the lagoon from Venice. His family wasn't exactly thrilled. According to tradition, when relatives tried to persuade him toward a prestigious marriage, Lawrence chose instead a life of poverty, prayer, and penance. Once ordained, he became known for walking through Venice begging alms for his community. That could be humiliating for anyone. For a member of one of Venice's noble families, it was especially noticeable. When people insulted him or refused him, he simply moved on. When they gave generously, he sometimes deliberately returned to houses where he had been treated badly, reasoning that begging was supposed to teach humility, not make him popular. Eventually, his reputation reached Rome, and in 1433 Pope Eugene IV appointed him Bishop of Castello, the diocese that then included much of Venice. Lawrence reportedly tried very hard to get out of it. He failed. As bishop, he lived with the same simplicity he had practiced in the monastery. He reduced unnecessary expenses, improved the formation of clergy, visited parishes, and quietly redirected money toward the poor. His episcopal household looked considerably less impressive than people expected from a Venetian bishop. Then, in 1451, something historically important happened. The old Patriarchate of Grado was reorganized and united with the Venetian see. Lawrence became the first Patriarch of Venice, beginning the line of patriarchs that continues today. Centuries later, three Patriarchs of Venice would become popes: Pius X, John XXIII, and John Paul I. Lawrence was also a serious spiritual writer. His works focused especially on prayer and the interior life, and people sought his advice because he had a gift for making deep spiritual ideas practical. When he died in 1456, devotion spread quickly. His body became an object of particular veneration and was preserved for centuries in Venice. There's something wonderfully Venetian about his story. Lawrence lived amid one of Europe's wealthiest cities, surrounded by merchants, palaces, ships, and political power. Yet right in the middle of all that splendor, he chose simplicity. He became important almost despite himself. And when the Church gave him greater authority, he simply found more people to serve. Saint Lawrence Justinian, first Patriarch of Venice and humble shepherd of the poor, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
Friday · 10 min
Sep 4 – Feria / 1st Fri / S. Ultan
It's a Feria / 1st Fri, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "Trust In Providence", today's news from the Church: "What "Communion"?", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "The Incarnation and the Virgin Birth", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "Trust In Providence" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "What "Communion"?" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/what-communion-60832 The SSPX Podcast: "The Incarnation and the Virgin Birth" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTube Listen & Subscribe on SSPXpodcast.com The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Ultan of Ardbraccan is one of those early Irish saints whose biography comes to us in fragments, but one particular detail makes him stand out immediately. He cared for abandoned children. Ultan lived in seventh-century Ireland and became bishop and abbot at Ardbraccan, in what is now County Meath. He belonged to the remarkable age of Irish monasticism when monasteries were not simply places where monks prayed. They functioned as schools, farms, libraries, hospitals, and centers of charity for the surrounding countryside. Then Ireland was struck by a terrible epidemic. A plague sometimes called the Buidhe Chonaill, or Yellow Plague, swept through the country during the seventh century. Among its victims were enormous numbers of adults, leaving children without parents to care for them. Ultan saw what was happening and stepped in. Later Irish tradition remembers him gathering orphaned children around the monastery at Ardbraccan and personally helping care for them. One particularly memorable story says that there were so many infants needing to be fed that Ultan devised ways of supplying them with milk, including keeping cows specifically for the children. It's a wonderfully practical image of sanctity. A bishop surrounded by crying babies, trying to figure out how to feed everybody. For that reason, Ultan became especially associated with the care of children and the poor. Centuries before orphanages or organized social services existed, monasteries like his often became the only safety net available when families were destroyed by disease or famine. But Ultan wasn't only remembered for charity. Irish tradition also describes him as a scholar and a collector of writings about Saint Brigid of Kildare. One medieval source even credits him with assembling hymns and accounts concerning her life. That gives us another glimpse of what an Irish bishop actually did in this period: care for the poor, govern a monastery, teach, preserve manuscripts, and somehow keep the local Church functioning. Even the place connected with him is interesting. Ardbraccan comes from the Irish Ard Breacáin, meaning the "height of Breacán." It became an important ecclesiastical center for centuries after Ultan's time. The old Diocese of Ardbraccan was eventually absorbed into the Diocese of Meath, but the area retained its religious importance long afterward. Very little of Ultan's personal story survives. But maybe the detail that survived is exactly the one worth remembering. When plague swept through Ireland and children were left with nobody to care for them, Ultan didn't write a treatise about the problem. He picked them up. He fed them. And he gave them a home. Saint Ultan of Ardbraccan, father of orphans and protector of abandoned children, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
Thursday · 11 min
Sep 3 – S Pius X
It's the Feast of St Pius X, 1st Class (SSPX), with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Meaning of Our Trials", today's news from the Church: "Ceuta in Turmoil: Can Christian Charity Ignore the Common Good?", a preview of the Sermon: "St. Pius X and His Example for Us", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Meaning of Our Trials" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Ceuta in Turmoil: Can Christian Charity Ignore the Common Good?" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/ceuta-turmoil-can-christian-charity-ignore-common-good-60746 "St. Pius X and His Example for Us" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Pius X became pope in 1903, but he never really stopped thinking like the village priest he had once been. He was born Giuseppe Sarto in 1835 in Riese, a small town in northern Italy. His family was poor. His father worked as a postal carrier, and Giuseppe sometimes walked miles to school, reportedly carrying his shoes to keep from wearing them out and putting them on when he reached town. From parish priest to bishop, cardinal, and eventually pope, he kept moving upward through the Church almost despite himself. When he was elected pope, he reportedly protested that he was unworthy and begged the cardinals to choose someone else. They didn't. Pius chose as his motto: "To restore all things in Christ." And he got to work. One of his most important reforms affected something Catholics today barely think twice about: frequent Holy Communion. In many places, even devout Catholics received Communion only occasionally. Pius strongly encouraged frequent, even daily, Communion for properly disposed Catholics. Then he turned his attention to children. At the time, First Communion was often delayed until twelve, fourteen, or even later. Pius thought that made very little sense. If a child could understand the basic difference between ordinary bread and the Eucharist, why keep him away from Our Lord? In 1910, he lowered the normal age of First Communion to around seven, the age of reason. Millions of Catholic childhoods changed because of that decision. Pius also loved sacred music and wanted Gregorian chant restored to Catholic churches. He reformed seminaries, reorganized parts of Church government, promoted better catechesis, and began the enormous project of organizing centuries of canon law into a single code. But his pontificate also involved a serious intellectual battle. Pius saw Modernism as a threat that could hollow out Catholic doctrine from within by treating dogma as something that evolved according to changing religious experience. In 1907, he condemned these errors in Pascendi Dominici Gregis and required strong measures to prevent them from spreading through seminaries and Catholic institutions. Then came 1914. Europe moved toward war. Pius watched the crisis with horror and repeatedly urged peace. According to those around him, the prospect of Catholic nations tearing one another apart weighed heavily on him. He died on August 20, only weeks after the First World War began. There's a wonderfully tangible connection to him in Rome today. His body rests beneath an altar in Saint Peter's Basilica, dressed simply in papal vestments. Pilgrims still stop there to pray before the pope who wanted ordinary Catholics, especially children, to draw much closer to the Eucharist. And perhaps that's the simplest way to remember Pius X. For all the reforms, controversies, and enormous responsibilities of his pontificate, he wanted Catholics to know Christ, receive Christ, and build their lives around Christ. Saint Pius X, pope of the Eucharist and courageous defender of the faith, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
Wednesday · 11 min
Sep 2 – S Stephen / Bl Brocard of Mt Carmel
It's the Feast of St Stephen, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Tribulations of the Holy Family", today's news from the Church: "Rosa Mystica Mission in the Philippines: Testimonies from Volunteers", a preview of the Sermon: "How to Live Free", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Tribulations of the Holy Family" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Rosa Mystica Mission in the Philippines: Testimonies from Volunteers" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/rosa-mystica-mission-philippines-testimonies-volunteers-60733 "How to Live Free" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Blessed Brocard of Mount Carmel takes us back to a version of the Carmelite Order that looked very different from the Carmelites we know today. No Saint Teresa of Ávila yet. No Saint John of the Cross. Not even the familiar Carmelite monasteries of Europe. Instead, picture a handful of Western hermits living in small cells scattered across the slopes of Mount Carmel in the Holy Land. Brocard lived around the beginning of the thirteenth century, during the Crusader period. Very little is known about his early life, and even some details of his later story come from Carmelite tradition rather than contemporary records. But he is remembered as one of the earliest leaders of the hermits on Mount Carmel, succeeding Saint Berthold. These men had gathered near a spring traditionally associated with the prophet Elijah. They lived separately in little cells, coming together for Mass and community prayer. And they had a particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Their small chapel was dedicated to her. Eventually, they needed something more organized. The hermits asked Albert of Jerusalem, the Latin Patriarch of Jerusalem, to give them a formal rule of life. Around the beginning of the thirteenth century, Albert wrote what became the Rule of Saint Albert, traditionally addressed to Brocard and his companions. It's surprisingly short. Rather than creating an elaborate system, the Rule tells the hermits to remain in their cells meditating on the law of the Lord, pray the Psalms, celebrate Mass together, work, fast, keep silence, and obey their prior. That little document became the foundation of Carmelite spirituality. And here's the fascinating part. The order that would eventually produce Teresa of Ávila, Thérèse of Lisieux, John of the Cross, Elizabeth of the Trinity, and generations of contemplatives began with these mostly anonymous hermits trying to pray quietly on a mountain. Brocard's own life remained largely hidden. Later Carmelite tradition remembers him as a holy superior who guided the community through its fragile early years. Some accounts connect him with miracles and with dealings involving the rulers of the Holy Land, but the historical evidence is thin, so it's better not to make those the center of his story. The more interesting legacy is the place itself. Mount Carmel rises above the Mediterranean near modern Haifa, and Carmelites still live there. The Stella Maris Monastery preserves the order's connection with the mountain from which it takes its name. Brocard didn't leave us famous books or sermons. He helped preserve something quieter: a way of life. Eight hundred years later, Carmelites around the world are still living from it. Blessed Brocard of Mount Carmel, guardian of Carmel's first contemplative spirit, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
September 1 · 11 min
Sep 1 – Feria / Anna the Prophetess
It's a Feria, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "The Thoughts of the Heart of Jesus", today's news from the Church: "Defending the Liturgical Reform Despite a Crisis", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "Audioboook Ch. 15 - Charter of Resistance", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Thoughts of the Heart of Jesus" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Defending the Liturgical Reform Despite a Crisis" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/defending-liturgical-reform-despite-crisis-stemming-novus-ordo-60728 The SSPX Podcast: "Audioboook Ch. 15 - Charter of Resistance" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTube Listen & Subscribe on SSPXpodcast.com The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Anna the Prophetess appears in only a few verses of Saint Luke's Gospel, but those few verses describe a woman who had spent almost her entire adult life waiting for one particular moment. She lived in Jerusalem and belonged to the tribe of Asher, one of the ancient tribes of Israel. Luke even preserves the name of her father, Phanuel, which is remarkable considering how little Scripture tells us about her. Anna had been married as a young woman, but her husband died after only seven years. And then she did something unusual. Rather than remarry, Anna devoted the rest of her life to God. By the time we meet her in the Gospel, she is an elderly widow, traditionally understood to be eighty-four years old. Saint Luke tells us that she "departed not from the temple," serving God night and day with fasting and prayer. Think about how many ordinary days that represents. She watched generations of families enter the Temple. She saw priests come and go. She watched children grow into adults and bring children of their own. And she kept praying. Then one day, an ordinary-looking young couple walked in carrying a baby. Mary and Joseph had come to present Jesus according to the Law of Moses. There was no royal procession. No crowd waiting for the Messiah. Just two parents carrying a child and making the offering of a poor family. But Anna knew. The elderly Simeon had already taken Jesus into his arms and proclaimed Him the salvation God had promised. Then Anna approached. Scripture doesn't tell us exactly what she said, which almost makes the scene more intriguing. We are simply told that she began giving thanks to God and speaking about the Child "to all that looked for the redemption of Israel." In other words, Anna became one of the very first evangelists. Before the Apostles. Before John the Baptist began preaching. Before Jesus had spoken a single public sermon. An elderly widow was already telling people that the Redeemer had arrived. There's another beautiful detail hidden in her name. Anna, or Hannah, means "grace" or "favor." Her father Phanuel's name recalls Peniel, "the face of God." Ancient Christian writers naturally saw something fitting there: Anna, after decades of prayer, was finally given the grace of looking upon the face of God in the Christ Child. And then she almost completely disappears from history. We don't know how long she lived afterward or what became of her. Perhaps that's appropriate. Anna's whole life wasn't about becoming known. It was about being ready. She reminds us that years spent quietly praying are never wasted. Sometimes God is preparing us for a moment we cannot yet see. Holy Anna the Prophetess, patient watcher of Israel and joyful herald of the Christ Child, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 31 · 13 min
Aug 31 – S Raymon Nonnatus / S Aidan of Lindisfarne
It's the Feast of St. Raymond Nonnatus, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Ritual Of the Miracle", today's news from the Church: ""I am the one you seek!"", a preview of the Sermon: "The Virtue of Obedience", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Ritual Of the Miracle" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption ""I am the one you seek!"" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/i-am-one-you-seek-60727 "The Virtue of Obedience" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne helped bring Christianity to northern England, and one of the best things about his story is that he got the job because somebody else was apparently terrible at it. In the seventh century, King Oswald of Northumbria wanted his newly recovered kingdom evangelized. He asked the monks of Iona in Scotland to send a missionary. Their first choice returned frustrated, complaining that the Northumbrians were stubborn and practically impossible to teach. Aidan listened and suggested that perhaps the missionary had simply expected too much too quickly. Maybe, he said, the people needed the "milk of simpler teaching" before they were ready for stronger things. The monks apparently looked around the room and thought: Fine. You go. So Aidan went. And he was exactly the right man. King Oswald gave him the island of Lindisfarne, just off the Northumbrian coast. There Aidan founded a monastery in 635 that became one of the great centers of Christianity in medieval Britain. At first, there was a language problem. Aidan spoke Irish. The Northumbrians spoke Old English. So Oswald, who had learned Irish during his years of exile, sometimes sat beside Aidan and translated his preaching for the people. It's a wonderful image: the king acting as interpreter for the missionary bishop. Aidan's own missionary method was remarkably personal. He preferred walking rather than riding horseback because it allowed him to stop and talk with ordinary people along the road. If they were Christians, he encouraged them. If they weren't, he gently introduced them to the faith. Someone eventually gave him a fine horse so he could travel more efficiently. Aidan gave it away to a poor man. When the donor complained, Aidan reportedly asked why the son of a mare should be valued more highly than a son of God. That pretty much ended the discussion. Aidan also used gifts from wealthy people to ransom slaves, and some of those freed men later became his students and eventually priests. His monastery at Lindisfarne became known as Holy Island, and its influence continued long after Aidan's death. Missionaries trained there traveled throughout England establishing churches and monasteries. Later, Lindisfarne would produce the magnificent Lindisfarne Gospels, one of the treasures of medieval Christian art. Visitors can still reach Holy Island today by a tidal causeway. Twice each day, the sea covers the road completely, temporarily cutting the island off from the mainland. Pilgrims have to check the tide tables before crossing, which somehow feels appropriate for a place where monks once built their lives around rhythms of prayer and nature. Aidan died in 651, leaning against the outside wall of a church near Bamburgh. He had arrived among people another missionary considered hopeless. He simply approached them differently. Saint Aidan of Lindisfarne, gentle Apostle of Northumbria and friend of the poor, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 30 · 10 min
Aug 30 – XIV Sun of Pentecost / S Rose of Lima
It's the Feast of XIV Sun of Pentecost, 2nd Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "The Healing of the Deaf-Mute", today's news from the Church: "Leo XIV Consolidated Women's Access to Church Government", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Healing of the Deaf-Mute" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Leo XIV Consolidated Women's Access to Church Government" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/leo-xiv-consolidated-womens-access-church-government-60725 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Rose of Lima was the first canonized saint born in the Americas, but during her lifetime she was mostly known as a young woman who took prayer and penance much more seriously than anyone around her expected. She was born Isabel Flores de Oliva in Lima, Peru, in 1586. According to tradition, a servant once saw the infant's face mysteriously transform into the appearance of a rose, and the nickname stuck. Rose herself later took the name formally at Confirmation. She was famous for her beauty, which actually became something of a problem. Her family expected her to marry. Rose had absolutely no intention of doing that. When admirers praised her appearance, she deliberately tried to avoid encouraging the attention. Eventually she consecrated herself to God and became a Dominican tertiary, taking Catherine of Siena as one of her great models. But Rose didn't enter a convent. Instead, she built herself a tiny hermitage in her family's garden. There she spent long hours in prayer while still helping support the household by sewing, embroidering, and growing flowers to sell. She also turned part of the family home into a place where she cared for sick and poor people who had nowhere else to go. Her penances could be extremely severe, even by the standards of her time, and they're probably not the part of her life most people should try to imitate. What mattered underneath them was something simpler: Rose had an intense desire to belong completely to Christ. And she lived in an extraordinary Catholic city. Seventeenth-century Lima produced an almost unbelievable cluster of saints. Rose knew Martin de Porres, and she was confirmed by Turibius of Mogrovejo. Imagine having three canonized saints crossing paths in the same city within a single generation. Rose died in 1617 at only thirty-one. Her funeral became an enormous public event. Crowds filled the streets, and important officials reportedly helped carry her coffin because so many people already considered her a saint. Her canonization in 1671 was historic. She became the first saint canonized from the New World and soon became a patroness not only of Peru, but of the Americas and the Philippines. Today, visitors to Lima can still see the house where she lived and the garden connected with her little hermitage. One particularly beloved tradition involves a well there. Pilgrims write letters containing their prayers and intentions and drop them into the well, continuing a devotion that draws thousands of visitors each year. Rose spent much of her life trying to disappear into a garden and pray. Instead, she became one of the most beloved saints of an entire hemisphere. Saint Rose of Lima, first flower of sanctity in the Americas, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 29 · 10 min
Aug 29 – Beheading of S John Baptist / S Sabina
It's the Feast of Beheading of St. John the Baptist, 3rd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: "Prayer", today's news from the Church: "Bishops Consecrated Clandestinely to Ensure "The Survival of the Church"", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "Prayer" — From the Assumption to Advent https://angeluspress.org/products/assumption-to-advent "Bishops Consecrated Clandestinely to Ensure "The Survival of the Church"" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/china-bishops-consecrated-clandestinely-ensure-survival-church-60711 The Spiritual Life— Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Sabina is one of those early Roman saints whose biography is difficult to separate from ancient tradition, but whose name has been preserved in a very tangible way. You can still walk into her church in Rome. According to tradition, Sabina was a wealthy Roman widow who lived sometime around the end of the first or beginning of the second century. She belonged to the upper levels of Roman society and lived on the Aventine Hill, one of the city's most fashionable neighborhoods. Her path to Christianity began through someone Roman society probably considered far less important: an enslaved woman named Serapia. Serapia was a Christian. Through her influence, Sabina became interested in the faith and eventually converted. It's a fascinating little reversal of the social world of ancient Rome. The wealthy mistress possessed money, property, and status, but the enslaved woman possessed the one treasure Sabina didn't have. She introduced her to Christ. Eventually Serapia was arrested for being a Christian and put to death. Sabina recovered her body and gave her an honorable burial. That was dangerous. In the Roman world, publicly caring for the body of an executed Christian could advertise your own allegiance. According to tradition, Sabina was soon denounced, arrested, and ordered to sacrifice to the pagan gods. She refused. Sabina was beheaded, probably sometime in the early second century, and Christians preserved her memory alongside that of Serapia. But here's where the story becomes especially tangible. About three hundred years later, a magnificent basilica was built on the Aventine Hill, traditionally over or near Sabina's home. The Basilica of Santa Sabina still stands today, and it is one of the best-preserved early Christian basilicas anywhere in Rome. Even its wooden doors are extraordinary. They date from the fifth century and contain some of the oldest surviving carved Christian scenes in the world, including what may be the earliest surviving public depiction of Christ's Crucifixion. Centuries later, Santa Sabina became closely connected with the Dominican Order. Dominic lived there, and the basilica eventually became the headquarters of the Dominicans. Saint Thomas Aquinas also taught there. So the memory of an obscure Roman widow ended up attached to a church that has witnessed nearly sixteen centuries of Catholic history. And perhaps the most interesting part of Sabina's story is still where it began: with Serapia. A woman with almost no social power helped convert a woman with enormous social privilege. Together, they became saints. Saint Sabina and Saint Serapia, courageous daughters of the early Roman Church, pray for us. • • • • • Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 28 · 12 min
Aug 28 – S Augustine
It's the Feast of St. Augustine, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Means of Acquiring Humility", today's news from the Church: "Does the SSPX practice a "Free Examination" of Tradition?", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "Catechism: What Catholics Mean By Christ", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Means of Acquiring Humility" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Does the SSPX practice a "Free Examination" of Tradition?" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/does-sspx-practice-free-examination-tradition-60713 The SSPX Podcast: "Catechism: What Catholics Mean By Christ" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTube Listen & Subscribe on SSPXpodcast.com The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Augustine may be one of the easiest saints to relate to because he spent a surprising amount of his early life knowing exactly what he should do and finding reasons not to do it yet. He was born in 354 in North Africa. His mother was Monica, whose years of prayer for her son we've already talked about. Augustine was brilliant, ambitious, and restless. He studied rhetoric, built a successful teaching career, and searched everywhere for answers, including philosophies and religions far outside Christianity. The problem wasn't that Augustine never thought about God. He thought about God constantly. He just wasn't ready for God to interfere with his lifestyle. In his Confessions, Augustine famously remembers praying, essentially, "Lord, give me chastity and continence... but not yet." That's Augustine in one sentence. Eventually he moved to Milan, where he began listening to Ambrose of Milan. Augustine initially went because Ambrose was famous as a speaker. Then, inconveniently, he started realizing that what Ambrose was saying actually made sense. His conversion finally came in a garden. Tormented by indecision, Augustine heard what sounded like a child's voice repeating, "Take and read." He opened the letters of Saint Paul and read a passage calling him to abandon his old life. That was it. The years of arguing stopped. Augustine was baptized by Ambrose in 387, with Monica finally seeing the answer to the prayers she had offered for decades. He eventually returned to North Africa, hoping for a quiet life of prayer and study. That plan lasted about as well as most plans to become a quiet saint. While visiting Hippo, Augustine attended Mass, and the local bishop mentioned that the Church needed another priest. The congregation apparently decided Augustine was the obvious candidate. They surrounded him and essentially pushed him toward ordination. He later became Bishop of Hippo and spent more than thirty years preaching, writing, debating heresies, caring for his people, and producing some of the most influential works in Christian history. His Confessions still feels surprisingly modern. Augustine writes openly about ambition, lust, friendship, grief, memory, temptation, and the strange ways we hide from ourselves. His famous line captures the whole journey: "Our heart is restless until it rests in Thee." Augustine died in 430 while Vandals were literally besieging Hippo outside the city walls. As his world collapsed around him, the former restless young man spent his final days praying the penitential psalms. He had spent decades searching everywhere for happiness. In the end, he found exactly where his mother had always told him it would be. Saint Augustine of Hippo, restless seeker who became a great Doctor of grace, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 27 · 11 min
Aug 27 – S Joseph Calasanctius
It's the Feast of St. Joseph Calasanctius, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Priest in the Confessional", today's news from the Church: "In Cusco, Pachamama Precedes Leo XIV", a preview of the Sermon: "Lessons from the Good Samaritan", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Priest in the Confessional" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "In Cusco, Pachamama Precedes Leo XIV" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/peru-cusco-pachamama-precedes-leo-xiv-60650 "Lessons from the Good Samaritan" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Joseph Calasanctius discovered his life's work almost by accident. He was born in 1557 in Aragon, Spain, into a respected family. Intelligent and well educated, Joseph studied philosophy, theology, and law before becoming a priest. His abilities seemed to point toward a comfortable Church career, and eventually he traveled to Rome hoping to advance his position. Then he started walking through the poorer neighborhoods. What he saw changed everything. Rome was filled with children whose families simply couldn't afford an education. Many spent their days working, begging, or roaming the streets. Education was largely a privilege of families who could pay for it. Joseph began teaching some of them. Then more showed up. And more. Before long, what had started as a small act of charity became something much bigger. In 1597, Joseph opened a free school for poor children in the parish of Santa Dorotea in Trastevere. It is often described as the first free public school in Europe. His idea sounds completely normal today. At the time, it was radical. Joseph believed poor children deserved serious education, not simply enough instruction to keep them out of trouble. They learned reading, writing, arithmetic, religion, and practical subjects that could actually help them build a future. Eventually he founded the Piarists, formally the Clerks Regular of the Poor Schools of the Mother of God, a religious order dedicated specifically to educating children. And then everything nearly collapsed. Joseph was a gifted educator, but administration brought enormous problems. Internal disputes, financial troubles, and serious misconduct by some members of the order eventually reached Rome. Joseph, already an old man, was removed from leadership. The Piarists were stripped of their status as a religious order, and the work he had spent decades building seemed finished. Imagine being in your eighties and watching your life's work dismantled around you. Joseph didn't leave. He didn't become bitter. He simply continued serving the children and trusted that the work belonged to God. He died in 1648 at ninety years old without seeing the Piarists fully restored. Eight years later, the congregation was revived. Today, Piarist schools continue educating young people around the world. There's something wonderfully appropriate about Joseph's story. He spent his life teaching children that failure wasn't the end of their future, and then had to live that lesson himself. His rooms and the school connected with his work can still be visited at San Pantaleo in Rome, where his relics are venerated. Saint Joseph Calasanctius, patient teacher and father of the poor, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 26 · 10 min
Aug 26 – Feria / S Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars
It's a Feria, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "Confession: Source of Light", today's news from the Church: "The Archbishop of Bourges on the Consecrations of July 1st (Part 2)", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "Confession: Source of Light" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "The Archbishop of Bourges on the Consecrations of July 1st (Part 2)" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/archbishop-bourges-consecrations-july-1st-part-2-60595 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Teresa of Jesus Jornet Ibars found her vocation by noticing a group of people that almost everyone else had forgotten. The elderly poor. She was born in 1843 in a small village in Catalonia, Spain, into a large Catholic farming family. Teresa was intelligent, practical, and deeply religious, but figuring out what God wanted from her took time. She trained as a teacher and worked in education. She considered religious life and even spent time with the Poor Clares, but poor health forced her to leave. For a while, nothing seemed to fit. Then she met a priest named Saturnino López Novoa. He had become deeply concerned about elderly men and women who had reached the end of their lives with no family, no money, and nowhere to go. In nineteenth-century Spain, there was very little public assistance for someone in that situation. If your family couldn't care for you, old age could become frighteningly lonely. Teresa immediately understood the need. In 1873, she and a small group of women opened a home in Valencia and founded the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly. The name tells you almost everything about their mission. Teresa wanted the sisters to create something more than institutions where elderly people could simply be housed and fed. She wanted them to have homes. The residents were to be treated with affection, dignity, patience, and the kind of attention someone would give an aging parent. And apparently Spain desperately needed exactly that. The congregation grew at an astonishing pace. Teresa traveled constantly, opening new houses, training sisters, finding resources, and somehow keeping the original family spirit alive as the work expanded. Within only a few decades, houses had opened throughout Spain and beyond. Teresa herself wasn't physically strong. Her health had already interrupted one religious vocation, and the constant travel and responsibility took a toll. But she had an extraordinary ability to keep moving without becoming harsh or impatient. One of her favorite ideas was beautifully simple: "Let us care for the bodies in order to save the souls." She understood that feeding someone, changing a bed, sitting beside a lonely person, or listening to the same story for the tenth time could become genuine works of holiness. Teresa died in 1897 at only fifty-four years old. The congregation she founded didn't disappear with her. Today, the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly continue caring for older people in countries around the world. There's something especially timely about her story. A society can reveal a great deal about itself by how it treats people who can no longer produce, earn, or contribute in obvious ways. Teresa saw something different. She saw someone's mother. Someone's father. And above all, she saw Christ. Saint Teresa Jornet Ibars, loving mother of the abandoned elderly, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 25 · 10 min
Aug 25 – S Louis IX
It's the Feast of St Louis IX, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Confession: Remedy for Sin", today's news from the Church: "Papal Infallibility: What Are the Limits?", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "Abp. Lefebvre Audiobook Chapter 14: Superior General", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "Confession: Remedy for Sin" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Papal Infallibility: What Are the Limits?" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/papal-infallibility-what-are-limits-60640 The SSPX Podcast: "Abp. Lefebvre Audiobook Chapter 14: Superior General" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTube Listen & Subscribe on SSPXpodcast.com The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Louis IX of France is one of those saints whose life raises an interesting question: what does holiness look like when you are one of the most powerful people in Europe? Louis became king of France at only twelve years old in 1226. His mother, Blanche of Castile, governed while he was young and gave him an intensely Catholic upbringing. One line traditionally attributed to her captures that formation: she would rather see her son dead than know he had committed a mortal sin. Louis apparently took that seriously. As an adult, he built his day around Mass, the Divine Office, government business, and care for the poor. He regularly invited poor people to his table and personally served them. He founded hospitals and charitable institutions and was known for hearing the complaints of ordinary people who otherwise had little access to a king. There's a wonderful image associated with Louis as judge. Rather than always sitting in some intimidating royal courtroom, he sometimes heard cases beneath an oak tree at Vincennes. People could approach the king directly, explain their dispute, and ask for justice. Whether every detail of the famous image is literal or idealized, it reflects how medieval Christians remembered him: a ruler who believed kingship meant responsibility before God. Louis also left behind one of the most spectacular buildings in Paris. After acquiring what was believed to be Christ's Crown of Thorns and other Passion relics, he built the Sainte-Chapelle to house them. Walk inside today and the walls almost disappear behind enormous panels of medieval stained glass. It feels less like entering a stone building and more like stepping inside a jewel box. Louis himself often carried the Crown of Thorns barefoot during solemn processions. His reign also included two Crusades, and this part of his story was much less successful. During the Seventh Crusade in Egypt, Louis was captured along with much of his army and had to be ransomed. Years later, despite poor health, he attempted another expedition to North Africa. It ended disastrously. Disease swept through the camp outside Tunis, and Louis became seriously ill. He died there in 1270, reportedly lying on a bed of ashes and speaking of Jerusalem. One particularly beautiful piece of his legacy is the advice he wrote for his son. Louis told the future king to love God, avoid mortal sin, care for the poor, administer justice fairly, and accept suffering patiently. It reads less like political strategy and more like a father trying to teach his child how to get to heaven. That's really the key to understanding Saint Louis. He wanted to be a good king. But even more than that, he wanted to be a saint. Saint Louis IX, Christian king, defender of justice, and servant of the poor, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 24 · 11 min
Aug 24 – S Batholomew / S Émilie de Vialar
It's the Feast of St Bartholomew, 2nd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: "The Leprosy Of Sin", today's news from the Church: "Bishop de Castro-Mayer's Response to the Holy See's Secret Inquiry Into the Mass", a preview of the Sermon: "The Truth About Our Dark Side", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Leprosy Of Sin" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Bishop de Castro-Mayer's Response to the Holy See's Secret Inquiry Into the Mass" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/bishop-castro-mayers-response-holy-sees-secret-inquiry-mass-60625 "The Truth About Our Dark Side" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Émilie de Vialar was the kind of woman who saw suffering and had a hard time simply walking past it. She was born in 1797 in Gaillac, in southern France, into a wealthy family. Her mother died when Émilie was young, and as she grew older, her relationship with her father became difficult. He expected a fairly conventional future for his daughter. Émilie had other plans. She began quietly helping poor families, teaching children, visiting the sick, and using whatever money she could spare for people who needed it. Then, in her thirties, she inherited a substantial fortune from her grandfather. Most people would call that financial security. Émilie treated it like startup money. In 1832, she bought a house and gathered several women around her. Together they founded the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition, named for the Gospel scene in which the angel appears to Saint Joseph and tells him not to be afraid to take Mary as his wife. The congregation took off remarkably quickly. Within a few years, Émilie was asked to send sisters to Algeria. She went herself. The sisters opened schools, cared for the sick, and worked among people of different languages, cultures, and religions. Soon new requests began arriving from other places. And Émilie kept saying yes. Her sisters eventually established communities throughout the Mediterranean and Middle East, including Tunisia, Malta, Cyprus, Lebanon, Palestine, and Greece. Remember, this was the 1800s. Every new foundation meant ships, long journeys, unfamiliar languages, disease, unreliable communication, and political instability. There was no easy way home if something went wrong. And plenty went wrong. Émilie faced financial problems, opposition from government officials, disputes with Church authorities, and painful conflicts surrounding some of the communities she had founded. At one point, she even lost control of houses established through her own money and work. She kept going. That's probably the most impressive thing about her story. Émilie wasn't successful because everything worked out smoothly. She was successful because setbacks never convinced her that God had stopped asking her to serve. By the time she died in Marseille in 1856, she had helped establish dozens of houses in only twenty-four years. The congregation she began in one French home had already become international. And there's something fitting about Saint Joseph being at the center of it all. Joseph's own life repeatedly involved God interrupting his plans and telling him to go somewhere unexpected. Émilie understood that kind of vocation very well. Today, the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition continue the work she began in schools, hospitals, and missions around the world. Saint Émilie de Vialar, courageous missionary and friend of the poor, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 23 · 9 min
Aug 23 – XIII Sun of Pentecost / S Eugene of Ardstraw
It's the Feast of XIII Sun after Pentecost, 2nd Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "Our Native Misery", today's news from the Church: "Archbishop Lefebvre's Apostolic Journey - Part 4", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "Our Native Misery" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Archbishop Lefebvre's Apostolic Journey - Part 4" (FSSPX.news) https://sspx.org/en/news/archbishop-lefebvres-apostolic-journey-part-4-60606 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Eugene of Ardstraw is one of those early Irish saints whose biography has almost disappeared, but whose name somehow survived for fifteen centuries. His original Irish name was Eoghan, which eventually gave us forms like Owen and Eugene. He lived sometime around the sixth century, during that remarkable period when Ireland was becoming filled with monasteries, schools, and missionary communities. According to tradition, Eugene's childhood took a dramatic turn when he was captured by raiders and carried across the Irish Sea to Britain. Eventually, he escaped. But something important had happened during those years away. Eugene had encountered monastic Christianity and received an education among religious communities. So when he returned to Ireland, he came back prepared to take part in the enormous missionary movement then transforming the island. Later traditions connect him with several famous centers of early Christianity, including the community associated with Saint Ninian in Britain and, back in Ireland, with Kevin of Glendalough. With saints from this period, it's difficult to separate every historical detail from stories added centuries later. But Eugene clearly belonged to the network of monks who moved between Ireland and Britain carrying books, learning, and the faith with them. Eventually he settled at Ardstraw, in what is now County Tyrone in Northern Ireland. The name itself is interesting. Ardstraw comes from the Irish Ard Sratha, meaning roughly "height of the river valley" or "height of the strath." Eugene established a monastery there and became remembered as its first bishop. And the place lasted. Ardstraw developed into an important center of the Irish Church, eventually giving its name to an entire medieval diocese. Centuries later, that diocese was united with Derry, where Eugene also became honored as one of the local patrons. That's one of the fascinating things about these early Irish saints. They often didn't leave us books. They left us maps. Across Ireland, their names remain attached to villages, holy wells, ruined churches, islands, valleys, and entire dioceses. Sometimes that's the only biography we have left. Ardstraw itself still exists beside the River Derg. The monastery Eugene knew is long gone, but the place continues to carry the memory of the man who helped establish Christianity there nearly fifteen hundred years ago. For someone whose personal story is mostly lost, that's an impressive legacy. Eugene reminds us that we don't always know how far the work we begin will travel. Sometimes our job is simply to plant something worth preserving and let the generations after us carry it forward. Saint Eugene of Ardstraw, ancient shepherd of Tyrone and builder of the Irish Church, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 22 · 9 min
Aug 22 – Immaculate Heart of Mary
It's the Feast of Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin, 2nd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "On the Road to Heaven", today's news from the Church: "Archbishop Lefebvre's Apostolic Journey - Part 3", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "On the Road to Heaven" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Archbishop Lefebvre's Apostolic Journey - Part 3" (FSSPX.news) https://sspx.org/en/news/archbishop-lefebvres-apostolic-journey-part-3-60605 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook The Feast of the Immaculate Heart of Mary celebrates something Scripture mentions almost in passing, but the Church has spent centuries thinking about. Twice in Saint Luke's Gospel, we're told that Mary kept the events surrounding Christ and "pondered them in her heart." And when the infant Jesus was presented in the Temple, Simeon told her that a sword would pierce her soul. Mary's heart, then, became a way of speaking about her entire interior life: her love for God, her purity, her sorrow, and especially her complete union with her Son. The devotion grew slowly. By the Middle Ages, Catholics were already meditating on Mary's joys and sorrows, but one of the great figures who gave the devotion a clearer shape was John Eudes. In fact, we met him just a few days ago. In 1648, he composed a Mass and Office honoring the Holy Heart of Mary and began celebrating a feast with his communities. That was more than two centuries before Fatima. Then came 1917. At Fatima, Our Lady told the three shepherd children that God wished to establish devotion to her Immaculate Heart in the world. The children described seeing her heart surrounded by thorns, a striking image of Mary's sorrow over sin and her maternal concern for souls. The devotion suddenly took on a much greater urgency. In 1942, with the Second World War raging, Pope Pius XII consecrated the world to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. Two years later, he extended the feast to the universal Church, assigning it to August 22, the octave day of the Assumption. That placement was beautiful. August 15 celebrated Mary being taken body and soul into heaven. Eight days later, the Church honored the heart that had loved Christ so perfectly throughout her earthly life. In the traditional calendar, that remains the date of the feast. After the calendar reforms following the Second Vatican Council, the celebration was moved to the Saturday following the Sacred Heart of Jesus. That new placement emphasizes another important part of the devotion: the union between the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. The imagery surrounding the Immaculate Heart is especially rich. Mary's heart is usually shown surrounded by roses, representing purity and love, but pierced by a sword, recalling Simeon's prophecy. At Fatima, the thorns surrounding her heart added another layer, representing the sins by which mankind wounds the heart of its Mother. So this devotion isn't simply about honoring Mary's emotions. It's about learning to love Christ the way she did. To keep His words. To ponder them. To remain near Him at the Cross. And to allow our own hearts to become more like hers. Immaculate Heart of Mary, burning with love for Jesus and compassion for sinners, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 21 · 12 min
Aug 21 – S Jane Frances de Chantal
It's the Feast of St. Jane Frances Fremiot de Chantal, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Spirit of Sacrifice", today's news from the Church: "The Archbishop of Bourges on the July 1st Consecrations (Part 1)", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "Sacred Restorations: New Novitiate for the Consoling Sisters in Denver, CO", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "The Spirit of Sacrifice" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "The Archbishop of Bourges on the July 1st Consecrations (Part 1)" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/archbishop-bourges-july-1st-consecrations-part-1-60573 The SSPX Podcast: "Sacred Restorations: New Novitiate for the Consoling Sisters in Denver, CO" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTube Listen & Subscribe on SSPXpodcast.com The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Jane Frances de Chantal lived several lives in one lifetime. She was a wife, mother, widow, religious foundress, and spiritual friend of one of the Church's great saints. And much of her holiness grew out of a tragedy she never expected. She was born Jane Frances Frémyot in Dijon, France, in 1572. At twenty, she married Baron Christophe de Rabutin-Chantal. By all accounts, they genuinely loved each other. Jane managed the family estate, cared for the poor living nearby, and raised their children while her husband was frequently away. Then, after only nine years of marriage, everything changed. Christophe went hunting with a friend. During the hunt, the friend accidentally fired his gun, striking Christophe in the leg. He died several days later. Jane was devastated. She also struggled intensely to forgive the man who had killed her husband. This wasn't an abstract spiritual exercise. She knew him. She saw him. And for years, the pain remained. Eventually, Jane did something remarkable. She not only forgave him, but became godmother to one of his children. A few years later, another relationship changed her life. While attending a Lenten sermon in Dijon, Jane heard Francis de Sales preach. She immediately recognized him as the spiritual guide she had been praying to find. Francis, remarkably, believed he had already seen Jane in a vision. The two developed one of the great spiritual friendships in Catholic history. Under Francis's direction, Jane gradually discovered that holiness didn't require dramatic penances. He encouraged her toward patience, gentleness, and doing God's will in ordinary circumstances. Together they founded the Order of the Visitation in 1610. Their original idea was unusual. They wanted a community open even to women who were older, widowed, or physically unable to endure the severe austerities required by many religious orders. The sisters would combine prayer with works of charity. Jane understood those women because she had already lived through marriage, motherhood, grief, and middle age herself. By the time she died, she had helped establish dozens of Visitation monasteries across Europe. There's also a beautiful connection that Jane never lived to see. Fifty years after the order's founding, a young Visitation nun named Margaret Mary Alacoque would receive the famous revelations of the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The community Jane and Francis created became the home from which that devotion spread throughout the Catholic world. Jane died in 1641 after nearly seventy years filled with joy, loss, responsibility, friendship, and service. Her story is a reminder that God doesn't waste the different chapters of our lives. Marriage prepared Jane for motherhood. Grief taught her forgiveness. Widowhood opened the way to religious life. And all of it became part of her path to heaven. Saint Jane Frances de Chantal, courageous widow and gentle mother of the Visitation, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 20 · 11 min
Aug 20 – S Bernard of Clairvaux
It's the Feast of St. Bernard, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Renouncing Our Own Interests", today's news from the Church: "Unjustly Condemned: Respond With Charity", a preview of the Sermon: "The Letter Kills, The Spirit Gives Life", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "Renouncing Our Own Interests" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Unjustly Condemned: Respond With Charity" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/unjustly-condemned-respond-charity-60596 "The Letter Kills, The Spirit Gives Life" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons Playlist Listen & Subscribe: SSPX Sermons Podcast The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Bernard of Clairvaux was a monk who wanted a quiet life of prayer and somehow ended up advising popes, preaching crusades, settling Church disputes, and becoming one of the most influential men in Europe. He was born in Burgundy, France, in 1090 into a noble family. After the death of his mother, Bernard began seriously considering religious life and eventually decided to enter the new Cistercian monastery at Cîteaux. He didn't go alone. Bernard was apparently so persuasive that when he announced his decision, about thirty relatives and friends went with him. Brothers, cousins, and companions all followed. Family gatherings must have gotten noticeably smaller. The monastery suddenly had the opposite problem most monasteries have: too many vocations at once. A few years later, Bernard was sent out to establish a new monastery in a remote valley. The place became known as Clairvaux, the "Valley of Light," and Bernard would spend the rest of his life associated with it. He loved the simplicity of monastic life, but Europe refused to leave him alone. Kings asked his advice. Bishops sought his help. Popes called upon him to settle disputes. When rival claimants threatened to divide the Church, Bernard traveled throughout Europe persuading rulers and bishops to support the legitimate pope. One of his own former monks eventually became Pope Eugene III, which created the unusual situation of a pope receiving spiritual advice from his former abbot. Bernard could be forceful and controversial, particularly in his preaching of the Second Crusade. When that expedition ended disastrously, he carried much of the public disappointment himself. But the Bernard who appears in his spiritual writings feels surprisingly different. He wrote with extraordinary tenderness about Christ and especially about the Blessed Virgin Mary. Medieval devotion to Our Lady owes a great deal to him. The famous prayer Memorare has long been associated with Bernard, although historians do not believe he actually composed the familiar text. He did, however, preach beautiful sermons about Mary as the "Star of the Sea," urging Christians caught in temptation or sorrow to look toward her as sailors look toward a guiding star. There's another charming tradition about him. While praying before a statue of Our Lady, Bernard is said to have greeted her with the words, "Hail, Mary." The statue responded, "Hail, Bernard." True or legendary, it captures the affection medieval Catholics associated with his Marian devotion. Bernard died in 1153. The abbey he built at Clairvaux was later largely destroyed and, remarkably, part of the site became a prison after the French Revolution. Yet Bernard's words survived everything. Saint Bernard of Clairvaux, preaching Doctor and devoted son of Our Lady, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org
August 19 · 11 min
Aug 19 – S John Eudes
It's the Feast of St. John Eudes, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Charity: A Virtue That Acts", today's news from the Church: "Bishop Schneider: The SSPX Provides the Church a Historic Service", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? podcast@sspx.org Sources Used Today: "Charity: A Virtue That Acts" — From Trinity Sunday to the Assumption https://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Bishop Schneider: The SSPX Provides the Church a Historic Service" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/bishop-schneider-sspx-provides-church-historic-service-60603 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Please support our new project, the Archbishop Lefebvre Biography Audiobook: Learn more:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y-Wp4MQdK2o Donate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint John Eudes was one of the great missionary priests of seventeenth-century France, but his most lasting contribution came from something Catholics today take almost for granted: devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and the Immaculate Heart of Mary. He was born in Normandy in 1601 and entered the priesthood during a difficult period for the Church in France. Many Catholics received very little religious instruction, and the formation of priests could be uneven at best. John decided to go where the people were. For decades, he traveled through towns and villages preaching parish missions. These weren't quick Sunday sermons. A mission might last several weeks, with preaching, catechism, confessions, and instruction filling the day. Thousands sometimes attended, and John could spend hours in the confessional afterward. Then the plague arrived. When an epidemic struck Normandy, John volunteered to care for the sick. He knew that returning each evening to his religious community might expose the other priests, so according to tradition, he lived for a time in a large barrel or cask in a field outside town. It's an odd image. One of France's great future saints finishing a day of ministry to plague victims and going home to sleep in a barrel. But it tells you something about him. John also became convinced that reforming Catholic life required better priests. Complaining about bad clergy wasn't going to fix anything. So he founded seminaries to give young priests serious spiritual and theological formation. Eventually he established the Congregation of Jesus and Mary, known today as the Eudists, to continue that work. But his deepest legacy came from the Hearts of Jesus and Mary. Long before devotion to the Sacred Heart became widespread through Margaret Mary Alacoque, John Eudes was preaching about the Heart of Christ as the burning center of His love for mankind. He also taught that the Heart of Mary was perfectly united to the Heart of her Son. And he didn't stop at preaching about it. In 1648, John composed and celebrated a liturgical feast in honor of the Holy Heart of Mary. Later, in 1672, he established a feast honoring the Sacred Heart of Jesus within his communities. He wrote the Mass texts and Divine Office himself. That makes him one of the great pioneers of two devotions that would eventually spread throughout the entire Catholic world. John died in 1680, but the prayers and liturgical texts he composed continued long after him. Today, the Church remembers him not simply as someone devoted to the Sacred Heart, but as one of the men who helped give that devotion its liturgical voice. Saint John Eudes, apostle of the Hearts of Jesus and Mary, pray for us. Please Support this Apostolate with 1-time or Monthly Donation >> - - - - - - Explore more: Subscribe to the email version of this Devotional- it's a perfect companion! Subscribe to this Podcastto receive this and all our audio episodes Subscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and Sermons FSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.news Visit the US District website:https://sspx.org/ What is the SSPX Podcast? The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition. What is the SSPX? The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood. Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls. Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it. https://sspx.org

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