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=2026-08-11 The Memorial of St. Clare of Assisi (1194-1253) is celebrated today. Clare was the first woman to practice the life of entire poverty as taught by St. Francis. Placed by him at the head of a few companions in the small convent of San Damiano, she governed her community for forty-two years thus founding at the gates of Assisi the Order of Poor Clares. Their Rule included austerities hitherto unknown in monasteries of women. They went barefoot, slept on the ground, kept perpetual abstinence and made poverty the basis of their lives. St. Clare died on August 11, 1253, and was canonized two years after her death. Tue, 11 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-10 Today the Church celebrates the Feast of Saint Lawrence (d. 258), who was chief among the seven deacons who served the Roman Church during the mid-third century. The young cleric held a position of great trust, caring for the goods of the Church and distributing its alms among the poor. He was arrested under the Emperor Valerian in 258, laid upon a gridiron and slowly roasted to death. Lawrence rejoiced in his gruesome martyrdom and died praying for the conversion of the city of Rome, in the hope that from it the faith of Christ might spread throughout the world. From that time idolatry began to decline in Rome. Mon, 10 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-09 From Sunday's Gospel: During the fourth watch of the night, he came toward them walking on the sea. When the disciples saw him walking on the sea they were terrified. "It is a ghost," they said, and they cried out in fear. At once Jesus spoke to them, "Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid" (Matt. 14:25-27). Sun, 09 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-08 Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Dominic (1170-1221). At the end of the twelfth century the Church in France was ravaged by the Albigensian heresy, a doctrine which was not only entirely unchristian but which, in addition, constituted a social evil. Effective measures were required to be taken to combat it. Where others had failed, a Spanish canon, St. Dominic Guzman, succeeded. He was notable for his learning and love of poverty. The Order of Preachers (Dominicans), which he founded about the year 1215, was endowed by him with these two characteristics; instead of manual labor, as practiced by the Cistercian monks, he required his friars to work with their minds by preaching and teaching. He died at Bologna on August 6, 1221. His friend, Gregory IX, canonized him three years later. Sat, 08 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-07 Today is the Optional Memorial of Sts. Sixtus II and his companions (d. 258). Pope Sixtus II was one of the first victims of the persecution under the Emperor Valerian. Felicissimus and Agapitus were two of his deacons who were executed with him. Sixtus governed the Church from 256 to 258. His name is mentioned in the Canon of the Mass. Fri, 07 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-06 The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord became widespread in the West in the 11th century and was introduced into the Roman calendar in 1457 to commemorate the victory over Islam in Belgrade. Before that, the Transfiguration of the Lord was celebrated in the Syrian, Byzantine, and Coptic rites. The Transfiguration foretells the glory of the Lord as God, and His Ascension into heaven. It anticipates the glory of heaven, where we shall see God face to face. Through grace, we already share in the divine promise of eternal life. Thu, 06 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-05 We celebrate today the Optional Memorial of the Dedication of the Basilica of St. Mary Major, one of the four most illustrious churches of Rome. While each diocese and parish keeps its own dedication anniversary, the universal Church commemorates the consecration of the four great Roman basilicas, the mother churches, we may call them, of Christendom: St. John Lateran, St. Peter, St. Paul Outside the Walls, and St. Mary Major. By means of these feasts the Church seeks to link all Christians with the Holy See. Wed, 05 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-04 Today the Church celebrates the Memorial of St. John Baptist Mary Vianney (1786-1859). He was born in Dardilly and died in Ars, France. Although his talents were limited and his education meager, he was ordained a priest in 1815. After three years at Ecully, he was appointed parish priest of Ars. Here he spent almost forty-two years of his life, devoting himself to prayer, mortification, and pastoral works. His success in directing souls made him known throughout the Christian world. Men of all ranks and conditions of life sought his guidance and advice. He was beatified by Pope St. Pius X, himself once a parish priest, and canonized by Pope Pius XI. Tue, 04 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-03 Today the Roman Martyrology commemorates the Martyrs of the Spanish Civil War who were clergy, religious, and laypersons executed during the Spanish Civil War, in a period known as the Red Terror. It is estimated that in the course of the Red Terror 6,832 members of the Catholic clergy were killed. Mon, 03 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/day.cfm?date=2026-08-02 From Sunday's Gospel: So they said to him, "Sir, give us this bread always." Jesus said to them, "I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst" (John 6:34-35). Sun, 02 Aug 2026 04:00:00 GMT