https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/ As the earth cycles annually through its seasons, just so the Church celebrates with quiet, deliberate rhythm the seasons of the liturgical year – always the same, yet ever new and renewing. en-us https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-23 Tomorrow is the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist. Observance of the solemnity begins with First Vespers (Evening Prayer I) in the Liturgy of the Hours on June 23, and a special Vigil Mass before or after First Vespers. The liturgical day is from midnight to midnight in the Church's observance, except for Sunday and solemnities which begin with the evening of the preceding day. There are many customs and traditions connected with the Vigil of the the Birth of St. John the Baptist, often referred to as "Midsummer's Eve." Tue, 23 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-22 The Church celebrates two Optional Memorials today: Mon, 22 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-21 From today's Gospel: Jesus said to the Twelve: "Fear no one. Nothing is concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. What I say to you in the darkness, speak in the light; what you hear whispered, proclaim on the housetops. And do not be afraid of those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul; rather, be afraid of the one who can destroy both soul and body in Gehenna. (Matt 10:26-28). Sun, 21 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-20 The Roman Martyrology commemorates on this date St. John Matera (also known as John Pulsano) (1070-1139). St. John was a native of Matera, Italy and in his childhood longed to become a hermit. As a young man, he worked for a time as a shepherd in the service of a monastery. His exceptional austerity, however, was so irksome to the less fervent monks that he soon had to leave. Thereafter he journeyed from place to place as he strove to carry out God's will for him. At one point, acting upon a vision of Saint Peter he had experienced, John rebuilt a dilapidated church dedicated to the saint. Later, he traveled to Bari, where he preached with great efficacy. Certain individuals, motivated perhaps by jealousy, attacked the popular preacher with false charges of heresy, but he was in the end totally cleared of their accusations. Eventually John founded a Benedictine monastery at Pulsano and became its first abbot. Sat, 20 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-19 The Church celebrates the Optional Memorial of St. Romuald (951-1027) who was born in Ravenna of a noble family. He was the founder of the Camaldolese monks--one of the Italian branches of the Benedictines--in which the eremitical life is combined with life in community. He died in 1027, after a life of prayer and rigorous penance. Fri, 19 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-18 Today the Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Gregory Barbarigo (1625-1697), canonized by Pope St. John XXIII in 1960. He was the Bishop of Bergamo and of Padua. St. Gregory was noted as a distinguished churchman and leading citizen whose charities were on a princely scale. He worked for unity of the Latin and Orthodox Churches. Thu, 18 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-17 Today St. Albert Chmielowski (1845-1916) is commemorated in Poland. He was born in Igolomia near Kraków as the eldest of four children in a wealthy family, he was christened Adam. During the 1864 revolt against Czar Alexander III, Adam's wounds forced the amputation of his left leg. His great talent for painting led to studies in Warsaw, Munich, and Paris. Adam returned to Kraków and became a Secular Franciscan. In 1888, when he founded the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants to the Poor, he took the name Albert. They worked primarily with the homeless, depending completely on alms while serving the needy regardless of age, religion, or politics. A community of Albertine sisters was established later. Pope St. John Paul II beatified Albert in 1983, and canonized him six years later. The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Albert on December 25. Wed, 17 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-16 The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Benno of Meissen (1010-1106), who labored to convert the Slavs, established numerous religious edifices, and is said to have founded the Cathedral of Meissen. Tue, 16 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-15 The Roman Martyrology commemorates today: Mon, 15 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-06-14 From Today's Gospel: At the sight of the crowds, Jesus' heart was moved with pity for them because they were troubled and abandoned, like sheep without a shepherd. Then he said to his disciples, "The harvest is abundant but the laborers are few; so ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest." (Matt 9:36-38). Sun, 14 Jun 2026 04:00:00 GMT