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Tuesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Independence Day in the U.S. Optional Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, 1271-1336; given in marriage to Denis, King of Portugal, at the age of 12; practiced piety and charity; became a peacemaker between royal family members; after being widowed, she retired to a monastery of Poor Clares Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/4/23 Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27

Feast of St. Thomas, apostle; known, unfortunately, for his doubt, but also for his faith; believed to have evangelized and preached in India; died 72 A.D. Monday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/3/23 Gospel: John 20:24-29

13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/2/23 Gospel: Matthew 10:37-42

Saturday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Junipero Serra, 1713-1784; born in Mallorca, Spain, joined the Franciscans, and became famous as a preacher; gave it up and followed his desire to convert the Native peoples of the New World; founded missions in San Diego, Monterey/Carmel, San Antonio/San Gabriel, San Luis Obispo, San Francisco and San Juan Capistrano, and San Buenaventura; baptized 5,000; brought the native Americans the gift of faith and a decent standard of living Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/1/23 Gospel: Matthew 8:5-17

Friday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Church of Rome; in 64 A.D., nearly half of Rome was destroyed by fire, likely caused by Nero; Nero blamed the Christians; many Christians were put to death, likely including Peter and Paul Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/30/23 Gospel: Matthew 8:1-4

Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Thursday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/29/23 Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19

Wednesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Irenaeus, 130-202; as bishop of Lyons, he was concerned with the Gnostics, a group of heretical sects claiming to have "secret knowledge" imparted by Jesus to only a few; the work of Irenaeus gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics; declared a Doctor of the Church by Pope Francis in 2022 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/28/23 Gospel: Matthew7:15-20

Tuesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, 378-444; began his career as bishop of Alexandria with numerous harsh actions; but, he championed the cause of orthodoxy against the Nestorian heresy; Cyril was the pope's representative at the Council of Ephesus in 431, and proclaimed Mary the "God-bearer"; after that, he was deposed and imprisoned for three months, but was then welcomed back to Alexandria Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/27/23 Gospel: Matthew 7:6, 12-14

Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, 1902-1975; born in Spain, became a priest to make himself available for whatever God desired; in 1928, while on a retreat, he discerned that he was to found Opus Dei, an institution within the Catholic Church dedicated to helping people in all walks of life to follow Christ, to seek holiness in their daily life and grow in love for God and their fellow men and women; Opus Dei now has over 84,000 members in 60 countries Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/26/23 Gospel: Matthew 7:1-5

12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/25/23 Gospel: Matthew 10:26-33

Solemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist Saturday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/24/23 Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80

Friday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Joseph Cafasso, 1811-1860; born in Italy, ordained in 1833; popular teacher, sought-after confessor and spiritual advisor; close friend of St. John Bosco, and encouraged him in his work with boys; patron of prison chaplains Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/23/23 Gospel: Matthew 6:19-23

Thursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Saints John Fisher and Thomas More; More was a literary scholar, eminent lawyer, gentleman, father of four children, and chancellor of England; Fisher was a priest who was asked to study the question of King Henry VIII's marriage to Catherine of Aragon, which he affirmed to be valid; both rejected Henry's remarriage and claim to be the head of the Church of England, and were executed in 1535 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/22/23 Gospel: Matthew 6:7-15

Wednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, 1568-1591; had a profound spiritual quickening at the age of 7; eventually joined the Society of Jesus, with St. Robert Bellarmine as his spiritual advisor; assisted in the Jesuit hospital in Rome during the plague of 1591, and fell ill; upon recovery, he still had a fever, and was very weak, but maintained his discipline of prayer; died at the age of 23 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/21/23 Gospel: Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

Tuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Silverius; became pope in 536, but Empress Theodora tried to get him deposed; he was accused of conspiring with the Goths and exiled; he was allowed to return to Rome, but was then sent to the island of Palmaria, where he was persuaded to abdicate; he died in 537 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/20/23 Gospel: Matthew 5:43-48

Monday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Romuald, 950-1027; watched his father kill a man, which horrified him, fleeing to a monastery; he was gently ejected after a period; spent thirty years founding monasteries and hermitages; in later life, his father became a monk, wavered, but remained faithful due to the encouragement from his son Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/19/23 Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42

11th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/18/23 Gospel: Matthew 9:36-10:8

Saturday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of Mary Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/17/23 Gospel: Luke 2:41-51

Solemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Friday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/16/23 Gospel: Matthew 11:25-30

Thursday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Adelaide; born in Belgium, and lived in a Cistercian convent from the age of 7; she was loved the sister, but contracted leprosy, and was isolated for health reasons; she received many graces, including visions and ecstasies, and miracles were credited to her intercession; she eventually became blind and paralyzed, and died in 1250 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/15/23 Gospel: Matthew 5:20-26