Traditional Catholic Daily Devotional

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  Oct 4 – Rosary Sunday / S. Francis of Assisi 04.10.2026 9Min.

  It's the Feast of XIX Sunday after Pentecost - Rosary Sunday, 2nd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The First Espousals", today's news from the Church: "In Flüeli, Pilgrims Kept Vigil Beside St. Nicholas", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "The First Espousals" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "In Flüeli, Pilgrims Kept Vigil Beside St. Nicholas" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/switzerland-flueli-pilgrims-kept-vigil-beside-st-nicholas-61281 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Today is the feast of Saint Francis of Assisi, but this year it also falls on Rosary Sunday, which gives us a perfect excuse to look at a side of Francis we don't talk about nearly as often: his deep love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. Francis is usually remembered for poverty, the stigmata, and maybe a bird or two. But one of the deepest threads running through his spirituality was his love for the Blessed Virgin Mary. Francis lived before the Rosary had developed into exactly the form Catholics know today, so we shouldn't picture him walking around Assisi with a modern five-decade rosary. But Marian prayer was everywhere in his life. And one little chapel became especially important. Early in his conversion, Francis discovered a crumbling church outside Assisi dedicated to Saint Mary of the Angels. We know it better as the Portiuncula. Francis repaired it with his own hands and came to love the place so much that it became the spiritual home of the entire Franciscan movement. He wanted his friars close to Mary. According to his early biographer Thomas of Celano, Francis had an almost indescribable love for the Mother of Jesus because, as he put it, she "made the Lord of Majesty our brother." That's such a Franciscan way of looking at Mary. He loved her because she gave us Jesus. Francis composed prayers in her honor as well. In his *Salutation of the Blessed Virgin Mary*, he piles title upon title upon her: Holy Lady, Queen, Mother of God, Virgin made Church. And his Marian devotion became part of the DNA of the Franciscan Order. Later Franciscans became some of the strongest defenders of the Immaculate Conception. Blessed John Duns Scotus provided the theological explanation that became enormously influential in the Church's understanding of the doctrine. Franciscans also helped spread devotions such as the Franciscan Crown, a seven-decade rosary meditating on the Seven Joys of Mary. So there's a beautiful connection this year with Saint Francis's feast falling on Rosary Sunday. Francis didn't see devotion to Mary as something competing with devotion to Christ. Quite the opposite. Mary fascinated him because everything about her pointed toward Jesus. And perhaps nowhere is that clearer than at the end of his life. When Francis knew he was dying, he asked his brothers to carry him back to the Portiuncula. Back to Saint Mary of the Angels. Back to the little chapel dedicated to Our Lady where so much of his vocation had begun. There, lying near the tiny church he loved, Francis died on the evening of October 3, 1226. For all the enormous basilicas, paintings, statues, and stories that later surrounded him, Francis chose to finish his life beside a little chapel of the Blessed Virgin. That's not a bad image for Rosary Sunday. Stay close to Mary. Because Francis understood exactly where she always takes us. To Christ. Saint Francis of Assisi, devoted son of Our Lady and joyful brother of Christ, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Oct 3 – 1st Sat / S Thérèse of the Child Jesus 03.10.2026 8Min.

  It's the Feast of St Therese of the Child Jesus, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Acts and Fruits of Penance", today's news from the Church: "A Successful First Outing for the "O Roma Felix" Camp of the Sisters of the SSPX", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Acts and Fruits of Penance" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "A Successful First Outing for the "O Roma Felix" Camp of the Sisters of the SSPX" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/rome-successful-first-outing-o-roma-felix-camp-sisters-sspx-61235 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus is famous for her "Little Way," the idea that holiness doesn't necessarily require doing spectacular things. Sometimes it means doing something very small that costs you quite a lot. And one of my favorite examples involves a nun Thérèse simply could not stand. Thérèse entered the Carmelite convent at Lisieux at only fifteen. Life there meant living every day with the same small group of women. You prayed together. Ate together. Worked together. Saw each other constantly. And inevitably, there was one sister whose personality rubbed Thérèse completely the wrong way. Thérèse never names her in Story of a Soul, which is probably the first charitable thing she did for her. She admits that this sister had "the faculty of displeasing me in everything." Her mannerisms bothered Thérèse. Her personality bothered her. Thérèse couldn't even explain everything that irritated her. So she made a decision. She would treat this sister as though she were her favorite person in the convent. Whenever they met, Thérèse gave her a warm smile. She prayed for her. She looked for opportunities to help her. When the sister said something irritating, Thérèse tried not merely to suppress an annoyed response, but to answer with genuine kindness. She even tried to discover something admirable about the sister so that her charity wouldn't become completely fake. And apparently Thérèse became too good at it. One day the sister finally asked her something along the lines of, "Sister Thérèse, would you tell me what attracts you so much to me? Whenever you look at me, I see you smile." That's the best part of the story. The poor woman had absolutely no idea. Thérèse writes that what attracted her was Jesus hidden within this sister, because Christ makes lovable even what naturally seems unlovable. There's another wonderfully human convent story. During prayer, a sister near Thérèse repeatedly made a small clicking or rattling noise that drove her crazy. Thérèse couldn't stop noticing it. So instead of spending prayer mentally complaining about the noise, she deliberately listened to it and turned it into a kind of music offered to God. That is the Little Way in real life. Not floating around the convent feeling affectionate toward everyone. Not pretending difficult people aren't difficult. It's recognizing, "This person is driving me absolutely nuts, and I am going to love her anyway." Thérèse died from tuberculosis in 1897 at only twenty-four. She never traveled as a missionary, founded a religious order, or accomplished anything the world would have considered particularly important. She smiled at the nun who annoyed her. She tolerated the irritating noise. She did tiny things with enormous love. And the Church eventually declared her a Doctor of the Church. Saint Thérèse of the Child Jesus, teacher of the Little Way and saint of ordinary acts of love, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Oct 2 – Holy Guardian Angels / Frist Friday 02.10.2026 8Min.

  It's the Feast of First Fri /Holy Guardian Angels, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Arise and Walk", today's news from the Church: "From the Élysée Palace to the Stade de France, the First Day of Leo XIV in Paris", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Arise and Walk" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "From the Élysée Palace to the Stade de France, the First Day of Leo XIV in Paris" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/elysee-palace-stade-france-first-day-leo-xiv-paris-61328 The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press) https://angeluspress.org/products/spiritual-life-archbishop The Feast of the Holy Guardian Angels celebrates one of those Catholic beliefs that many of us learn as children and then perhaps don't think about nearly enough as adults: God has entrusted each of us to the care of an angel. The idea is deeply rooted in Scripture. Christ Himself speaks of children whose angels "always see the face of my Father who is in heaven." In the Book of Tobias, the Archangel Raphael accompanies young Tobias on a dangerous journey, protecting and guiding him even though Tobias initially has no idea who his traveling companion really is. Early Christians took this very seriously. Church Fathers wrote about angels assigned to individuals, and over the centuries devotion became increasingly personal. By the Middle Ages, Christians were regularly praying to their guardian angels for protection against temptation, danger, and especially a sudden or unprepared death. But interestingly, the feast itself took a while to develop. Local celebrations honoring guardian angels appeared during the Middle Ages, particularly in Spain. In the sixteenth century, devotion spread rapidly, and in 1608 Pope Paul V approved a feast of the Guardian Angels. Later in the seventeenth century, Pope Clement X extended it throughout the universal Church and fixed its celebration on October 2. That placement makes perfect sense. September 29 honors Saint Michael and the Archangels. Three days later, October 2 honors the angels assigned to ordinary people like us. One of the most charming parts of this devotion is how universal it became. Catholic children across completely different cultures learned essentially the same habit: before bed, ask your angel to watch over you. The familiar English prayer begins, "Angel of God, my guardian dear," but versions of that prayer exist in languages all over the Catholic world. And Catholic tradition doesn't imagine guardian angels merely preventing car accidents or helping children sleep peacefully. Their real job is much bigger. They help us get to heaven. Saints wrote about asking their angels for help during prayer, sending them ahead when entering difficult conversations, and asking their guardian angel to cooperate with the guardian angel of another person. Saint Padre Pio famously encouraged people to "send me your guardian angel" when they needed his prayers. There's something wonderfully humbling about the whole idea. According to Catholic teaching, an intelligent spiritual creature far more powerful than we are has been given an assignment by God. You. Not because you're famous. Not because you're important. Simply because God considers one human soul worth guarding. And apparently, our guardian angels have been watching us make questionable decisions since childhood without requesting reassignment. That's patience. Holy Guardian Angels, our unseen companions and guides on the road to heaven, watch over us and 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Oct 1 – Feria / S. Remigius / Protection of the Mother of God 01.10.2026 10Min.

  It's a Feria, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Faith of the Paralytic", today's news from the Church: "Pokrov: The Protection of the Mother of God", a preview of the Sermon: "The Strength of St. Michael", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "The Faith of the Paralytic" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Pokrov: The Protection of the Mother of God" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/paris-banner-addressed-leo-xiv-support-sspx-61327 "The Strength of St. Michael" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons PlaylistListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Remigius of Reims baptized one man and, in doing so, helped change the religious future of France. He was born around the year 437 in Roman Gaul, as the Western Roman Empire was coming apart. Roman authority was disappearing, Germanic kingdoms were taking its place, and nobody really knew what the political map of Europe would look like a generation later. Remigius became Bishop of Reims while still quite young and would remain there for an astonishing seventy years. Then a Frankish king named Clovis entered his life. Clovis was a pagan warrior who was steadily conquering much of Gaul. His wife, Clotilde, was Catholic and had spent years encouraging her husband to accept Christianity. Eventually, after a military crisis in which Clovis reportedly prayed to the God of Clotilde for help, he agreed to be baptized. That brought him to Remigius. Tradition places the baptism at Reims, probably around the year 496, on Christmas Day. Clovis entered the church with thousands of his warriors, and Remigius baptized the king. One famous line has echoed through French history ever since. Remigius is traditionally said to have told Clovis: "Bow thy head, proud Sicambrian. Adore what thou hast burned, and burn what thou hast adored." In other words: everything changes now. Clovis's conversion was enormously important because many of the other Germanic rulers in Western Europe had embraced Arian Christianity, which denied the full divinity of Christ. Clovis instead became Catholic. And his people followed. That helped create the alliance between the Frankish monarchy and the Catholic Church that would shape medieval France for centuries. Then comes one of the most fascinating traditions associated with Remigius. According to later accounts, during Clovis's baptism the sacred chrism was running short. A dove miraculously appeared carrying a small vial of holy oil, the Sainte Ampoule. That vial became one of the great relics of the French monarchy. For centuries afterward, kings of France traveled to Reims for their coronations, where oil associated with the Sainte Ampoule was used to anoint them. From Louis VIII in 1223 through Charles X in 1825, Reims became the great coronation city of France. Even Napoleon noticed the symbolism. When he crowned himself emperor, he deliberately chose Paris rather than Reims and created a completely different ceremony. The original Sainte Ampoule was publicly smashed during the French Revolution in 1793, although fragments were reportedly rescued and later preserved. So when you walk into the magnificent Notre-Dame de Reims today, you're standing in a place whose royal traditions ultimately reach back to one bishop pouring baptismal water over the head of a pagan Frankish king. Remigius probably couldn't have imagined what would follow. He simply baptized a convert. History took it from there. Saint Remigius of Reims, apostle of the Franks and baptizer of Christian France, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 30 – S Jerome 30.09.2026 9Min.

  It's the Feast of St. Jerome, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Our Spiritual Healing", today's news from the Church: "A Banner Addressed to Leo XIV in Support of the SSPX", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Our Spiritual Healing" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "A Banner Addressed to Leo XIV in Support of the SSPX" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/paris-banner-addressed-leo-xiv-support-sspx-61327 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Jerome is one of the great Doctors of the Church, but he may also be one of the saints you'd least want criticizing your work. He was brilliant, sarcastic, argumentative, occasionally hot-tempered, and absolutely obsessed with getting the words of Scripture right. Jerome was born around the year 347 in Stridon, somewhere near the borderlands of the Roman Empire in the Balkans. His family sent him to Rome for an excellent education, and Jerome became fascinated with classical literature. He loved Cicero and the great Latin authors so much that, according to his own account, he once had a terrifying dream in which he stood before God's judgment seat and was accused of being "a Ciceronian, not a Christian." That got his attention. Jerome eventually embraced a much more serious Christian life and spent several years living as an ascetic in the Syrian desert. But he brought books. Lots of books. He studied Greek, and then did something unusual for a Western Christian scholar of his time: he learned Hebrew, reportedly receiving lessons from Jewish teachers. That decision would eventually change the Bible used by Western Christianity. In the 380s, Pope Damasus I asked Jerome to revise the existing Latin translations of Scripture, which varied considerably from place to place. Jerome didn't simply tidy up the wording. He spent years comparing manuscripts, consulting the original languages, and eventually translating much of the Old Testament directly from Hebrew. The result became the foundation of what we call the Latin Vulgate, the Bible that would shape Western Catholic worship, theology, art, and culture for more than a thousand years. And Jerome definitely had opinions while doing it. His surviving letters show a man who could be warm and deeply pastoral one moment and absolutely devastating toward an opponent the next. He once complained about people criticizing his translations who didn't know Hebrew themselves. Jerome was not especially interested in losing an argument politely. Later in life, he settled in Bethlehem, where he established monasteries and spent roughly three decades studying Scripture near the place of Christ's birth. Visitors to the Church of the Nativity can still visit a cave traditionally associated with Jerome's years of work. There's something wonderfully fitting about imagining one of history's greatest biblical scholars surrounded by manuscripts in a cave beneath Bethlehem. Artists often depict Jerome with a lion because of a later legend that he removed a thorn from the animal's paw and the grateful lion remained with him afterward. He's also usually surrounded by books, which is probably much closer to historical reality. Jerome could be difficult. He could also be wrong. But he believed Sacred Scripture deserved a lifetime of serious study. And he gave it one. Saint Jerome, brilliant Doctor of Scripture and tireless translator of the Word of God, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 29 – S Michael the Archangel 29.09.2026 7Min.

  It's the Feast of Dedication of St. Michael the Archangel , 1st Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "The Sacrament of Penance", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "Audiobook: Operation Survival", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "The Sacrament of Penance" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption The SSPX Podcast: "Audiobook: Operation Survival" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTubeListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook The Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel, traditionally called Michaelmas, was once one of the great landmarks of the year in Catholic Europe. We know Saint Michael from Scripture as the great defender of God's people, the archangel who battles the dragon in the Apocalypse. But September 29 developed a personality all its own, combining liturgy, pilgrimage, harvest customs, food, folklore, and even the way people organized the calendar. The feast's September date is traditionally connected with the dedication of a basilica of Saint Michael near Rome. By the Middle Ages, Michaelmas had become an important feast throughout Western Europe, and because it arrived just after the autumn equinox, it naturally became associated with the end of the harvest. In England and Ireland, Michaelmas goose became the traditional dinner. There's even an old belief that eating goose on Michaelmas would protect you from financial need during the coming year. Geese were fat after feeding on the harvested fields, so the tradition was practical as well as festive. Then there are the blackberries. An old British and Irish legend says that when Saint Michael cast Lucifer from heaven, the devil landed in a blackberry bush. Furious, he cursed the berries, and in some versions spat on them. So after Michaelmas, you weren't supposed to eat blackberries anymore. It's probably one of the stranger ways a theological battle ever became agricultural advice. Michaelmas also became a major legal and economic date. Rents were due. Accounts were settled. Servants were hired. Courts opened. Even today, British universities such as Oxford use the name Michaelmas Term for their autumn academic session. Across Europe, meanwhile, Saint Michael became associated with extraordinary mountaintop shrines. In Italy, pilgrims traveled to the ancient sanctuary of Monte Gargano, where tradition holds that Saint Michael appeared in the fifth century. In Normandy, the magnificent Mont-Saint-Michel rose from a tidal island. Across the Channel, England had its own Saint Michael's Mount in Cornwall. And strangely enough, several famous shrines dedicated to Saint Michael appear along a roughly northwest-to-southeast line across Europe and the Mediterranean. Modern popular devotion sometimes calls this the Sword of Saint Michael. The idea of a deliberately designed ancient straight line is modern rather than an old Church tradition, but the geography itself is fascinating. Michaelmas was also traditionally one of the quarter days in England, dates that divided the year into four sections for contracts, rents, and business. So September 29 wasn't merely something Catholics noticed at Mass. It helped organize ordinary life. That's perhaps the most interesting thing about Michaelmas. Medieval Catholics didn't keep feast days locked inside the church building. A feast could determine what you ate, when you harvested, when you paid your rent, when school began, and where you went on pilgrimage. September 29 meant autumn had arrived. And standing at the doorway of the darker half of the year was Saint Michael, sword in hand. Saint Michael the Archangel, defend us in battle. 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 28 – S Wenceslaus / S Simon de Rojas 28.09.2026 10Min.

  It's the Feast of St. Wenceslaus, 3rd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: "Spiritual Paralysis", today's news from the Church: "Jesus, Doctor of Souls", a preview of the Sermon: "The Vocation of Charity: Christ's Blood Changes Everything", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Spiritual Paralysis" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Jesus, Doctor of Souls" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/vienna-holy-name-mary-resounds-streets-61288 "The Vocation of Charity: Christ's Blood Changes Everything" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons PlaylistListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Simon de Rojas became famous for a prayer containing only 2 Latin words. Ave Maria. He loved the name of Mary so much that those words seemed to follow him everywhere. Simon was born in Valladolid, Spain, in 1552. According to tradition, he was unusually slow to begin speaking as a child, which worried his parents. When he finally did speak clearly, the first words attributed to him were "Ave Maria." Whether that happened exactly as later tradition remembered it or not, it certainly predicted the rest of his life. Simon entered the Trinitarian Order, the community originally founded to ransom Christians held captive in Muslim territories. He was intelligent, became a priest, studied theology, and eventually taught philosophy and theology himself. But Simon's real gift was dealing with people. He became a celebrated preacher and confessor and eventually attracted the attention of the Spanish royal family. King Philip III and later Philip IV trusted him enough that Simon became connected with the royal court and served as spiritual adviser to members of the family. That's usually where court life gets comfortable. Simon somehow made it uncomfortable instead. He used his access to the wealthy to talk constantly about the poor. Money and gifts given to him had a habit of disappearing into the hands of struggling families, prisoners, and people living on the streets of Madrid. He became especially concerned about poor children and founded charitable works to provide them with food and education. But the devotion that defined Simon was his love for the Holy Name of Mary. He wanted people to develop the habit of calling upon Our Lady throughout the day, so he promoted the simple greeting "Ave Maria" everywhere he went. He even founded the Congregation of the Slaves of the Sweet Name of Mary to spread Marian devotion and care for the poor. Simon apparently greeted people with "Ave Maria" rather than the ordinary greetings of the day. Eventually people began calling him the Apostle of the Ave Maria. There's something wonderfully simple about that. Simon was a theologian. He advised kings. He held important positions in his religious order. Yet the message people remembered was basically: Say Mary's name. Remember her. Ask her to lead you to Christ. Simon died in Madrid in 1624. His reputation for holiness was so strong that enormous crowds came to honor him, including members of the royal court and many of the poor whom he had served. His story fits beautifully near the Feast of the Holy Name of Mary. Simon understood that sometimes the shortest prayers are the ones we can carry with us everywhere. Three words were enough for him. Saint Simon de Rojas, Apostle of the Ave Maria 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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
• 
  Sep 27 - XVIII Sun of Pentecost / S Hiltrude of Liessies 27.09.2026 9Min.

  It's the Feast of XVIII Sunday after Pentecost, 2nd Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "Spiritual Paralysis", today's news from the Church: "Who Are You to Judge?", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Spiritual Paralysis" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Who Are You to Judge?" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/who-are-you-judge-61240 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Hiltrude of Liessies is one of those saints whose life never became famous far beyond her own region, but whose story has been quietly remembered in northern France for more than a thousand years. She lived during the eighth century and was born into a noble Frankish family. Her father, Wibert, founded a monastery at Liessies, near what is now the French-Belgian border. Her brother, Guntrad, became its abbot. Hiltrude, meanwhile, was expected to get married. A suitable husband was found, the arrangements were made, and everyone seemed to know what Hiltrude's future would look like. Everyone except Hiltrude. She wanted to give her life entirely to God. According to tradition, when the proposed marriage became unavoidable, Hiltrude fled rather than go through with it. She eventually returned after her family accepted her decision and allowed her to live as a consecrated woman. But she didn't simply join a large convent. Instead, Hiltrude chose a much more secluded life. She lived in a small cell near the monastery at Liessies, close enough to participate in its spiritual life but separated enough to maintain the solitude she desired. Her brother, as abbot, became an important support in her vocation. There's something interesting about that arrangement. Medieval Christianity included all sorts of religious vocations that don't fit neatly into our modern categories. Some people became monks or nuns. Others became hermits. Still others, like Hiltrude, lived almost as recluses, attached to a church or monastery but spending much of their lives in prayer and solitude. Hiltrude became known locally for exactly that kind of hidden holiness. No enormous missionary journeys. No royal courts. No theological controversies. Just years of prayer in one small corner of northern France. After her death, her tomb at Liessies became a local place of pilgrimage, and devotion to her spread through the surrounding region of Hainaut. Her relics were treasured there for centuries. The monastery itself had a much longer life. Liessies Abbey grew into an important Benedictine house and survived for roughly a thousand years before the French Revolution brought monastic life there to an end. Much of the abbey disappeared, but the village still preserves its memory, along with that of the young woman who chose solitude over the comfortable future her family had planned. Hiltrude's story isn't dramatic. That's actually what makes it interesting. She believed that a life could be completely given to God without being particularly visible to anyone else. And for her, that was enough. Saint Hiltrude of Liessies, hidden daughter of prayer and solitude, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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
• 
  Sep 26 – Ember Sat / N. American Martyrs 26.09.2026 9Min.

  It's the Feast of Ember Sat of Sept, 2nd Class, with the color of Violet. In this episode: the meditation: "Purity of Intention", today's news from the Church: "The SSPX Renews the Consecration of Germany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Purity of Intention" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "The SSPX Renews the Consecration of Germany to the Immaculate Heart of Mary" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/sspx-renews-consecration-germany-immaculate-heart-mary-61222 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook The North American Martyrs were eight French Jesuit missionaries who entered seventeenth-century North America knowing that the work might kill them. For several of them, it did so in extraordinarily brutal ways. The best known are Saints Isaac Jogues, Jean de Brébeuf, and their six companions. They worked primarily among Indigenous peoples in what is now Canada and the northeastern United States, especially the Wendat, or Huron. Their mission unfolded amid warfare, epidemics, and fierce conflict among Native nations, so their story is inseparable from a very complicated period of North American history. Brébeuf arrived in New France in 1625. He threw himself into learning the Wendat language and culture. He became so fluent that he compiled dictionaries and translated prayers and catechetical material. The famous Christmas hymn known today as the Huron Carol is traditionally attributed to him, originally composed in the Wendat language. Isaac Jogues had an even stranger story. In 1642, he was captured by Mohawk warriors, tortured, and held captive for months. Several of his fingers were mutilated, creating a serious problem for a priest because Church law at the time normally required intact hands for celebrating Mass. Eventually Jogues escaped. He made it back to France. At that point, most people would probably consider the mission complete. Jogues asked to go back. The pope gave him special permission to celebrate Mass despite his damaged hands, and Jogues returned to North America, knowing exactly what might happen. In 1646, he was killed in present-day New York. Brébeuf and Gabriel Lalemant were killed three years later during attacks on the Wendat missions. Others among the eight died at different mission stations during the same violent period. But there are fascinating pieces of their world still visible today. Near Midland, Ontario, the Martyrs' Shrine stands near the reconstructed Jesuit mission of Sainte-Marie among the Hurons. In Auriesville, New York, another shrine remembers Jogues and his companions near the area traditionally associated with his captivity and death. And there is an extraordinary connection to another saint. At the Mohawk settlement where Jogues had once been held prisoner, a girl was born about ten years after his death. Her name was Kateri Tekakwitha. The missionaries died without knowing what would become of their work. Their missions were destroyed, communities scattered, and years of labor seemed lost. Yet the faith they planted didn't disappear. Saints John de Brébeuf, Isaac Jogues, and the Holy North American Martyrs, courageous missionaries of the New World, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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
• 
  Sep 25 – Ember Fri / S Vincent Strambi 25.09.2026 10Min.

  It's the Feast of Ember Fri of Sept, 2nd Class, with the color of Violet. In this episode: the meditation: "Holiness and Charity", today's news from the Church: "The French District of the SSPX Calls for Prayers for the Pope", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "The Roman Catechism: What Does "He Descended Into Hell" Mean?", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Holiness and Charity" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "The French District of the SSPX Calls for Prayers for the Pope" (FSSPX.news) https://sspx.org/en/news/visit-leo-xiv-french-district-sspx-calls-prayers-pope-61267 The SSPX Podcast: "The Roman Catechism: What Does "He Descended Into Hell" Mean?" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTubeListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Vincent Strambi is one of those saints whose story becomes especially interesting near the end, when an elderly bishop apparently offered his own life for the pope. He was born in 1745 in Civitavecchia, the port city outside Rome. His father hoped he would marry and continue the family business. Vincent had other plans. He wanted to become a priest, although by his own admission he wasn't naturally very pious as a boy. After ordination, he became increasingly drawn to preaching and eventually met Paul of the Cross. Vincent joined the Passionists. It was a perfect fit. The congregation centered its spirituality on the Passion of Christ, and Vincent became an extraordinary missionary preacher. He traveled throughout Italy giving missions that could last for days or weeks. His preaching was direct, emotional, and practical, and crowds came in enormous numbers. He also became one of Saint Paul of the Cross's closest companions and eventually wrote his biography, giving us much of what we know about the Passionist founder today. Then Vincent was made Bishop of Macerata and Tolentino. He didn't want the job. That seems to happen to saints fairly often. As bishop, Vincent lived simply, visited parishes, improved seminaries, and continued preaching. But his episcopacy happened during one of the most chaotic periods in Italian history: the Napoleonic era. When Napoleon demanded an oath of loyalty that Vincent believed violated his obligations to the Church, he refused. So he was expelled from his diocese. For years, Vincent lived in exile before eventually returning after Napoleon's fall. By then he was elderly and exhausted, and he finally received permission to retire. Then came one last remarkable episode. Vincent moved to Rome and became a close adviser to Pope Leo XII. In 1823, the newly elected pope became gravely ill. According to Passionist tradition, Vincent celebrated Mass and offered his own life to God in exchange for Leo's recovery. The pope recovered. Vincent became ill almost immediately. Within days, he was dead. He was seventy-nine years old. Whether we understand that event as miraculous or as a beautiful act of self-offering, it fits Vincent's entire life. He belonged to a religious community built around the Passion of Christ, and his final act was an attempt to imitate Christ by offering himself for another. His relics are venerated in Macerata, while his memory remains especially strong among the Passionists. Vincent spent decades preaching about the Cross. In the end, he tried to make his own life into one final sermon. Saint Vincent Strambi, Passionist preacher and generous shepherd of souls, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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
• 
  Sep 24 – Feria / Our Lady of Ransom 24.09.2026 10Min.

  It's a Feria, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "Holiness and Charity", today's news from the Church: "St. Bernard's Birthplace will be Restored", a preview of the Sermon: "Who Are You, O Immaculata?", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Holiness and Charity" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "St. Bernard's Birthplace will be Restored" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/france-st-bernards-birthplace-will-be-restored-61196 "Who Are You, O Immaculata?" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons PlaylistListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook The Feast of Our Lady of Ransom has one of the more dramatic origins among the Church's Marian feasts. It grew out of a very real medieval problem: Christians were being captured, enslaved, and held for ransom around the Mediterranean. In the early thirteenth century, Christian and Muslim powers were constantly fighting across Spain and the Mediterranean. Raids produced captives on both sides, and Christians taken into North Africa could spend years in slavery unless family, religious communities, or charitable organizations could raise enough money to free them. Into that world came Peter Nolasco. Peter had already begun using his own money to ransom Christian captives. According to Mercedarian tradition, however, something extraordinary happened on the night of August 1, 1218. The Blessed Virgin appeared to Peter and asked him to establish a religious order dedicated specifically to freeing captives. And the tradition says he wasn't the only one. Our Lady also appeared separately to King James I of Aragon and to Saint Raymond of Peñafort. When the three men compared what had happened, the mission became clear. The new community became the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy, better known as the Mercedarians. Their members took the usual religious vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience. Then they added a fourth. If necessary, a Mercedarian promised to take the place of a Christian captive whose faith was in danger. Think about that for a moment. These men didn't simply collect donations for prisoners. They promised that if the ransom couldn't be paid another way, they were willing to remain behind themselves. Mercedarian friars traveled repeatedly into Muslim-controlled territories carrying money donated by Christians throughout Europe. They negotiated with captors, located prisoners, paid ransoms, and brought the freed men, women, and children home. Over the centuries, the order traditionally claimed tens of thousands of captives redeemed through its work. Devotion to Our Lady of Ransom, also called Our Lady of Mercy, naturally grew alongside the order. Mary was pictured sheltering captives beneath her mantle or holding broken chains, a powerful image for families waiting at home for someone who might never return. The feast eventually spread beyond the Mercedarians and was placed on September 24 in the Roman calendar. There's something wonderfully concrete about this title of Our Lady. "Ransom" isn't poetic language here. There were actual prisoners. Actual chains. Actual money exchanged. And religious men willing to trade their own freedom for somebody else's. That makes the title point beautifully toward Christ Himself, who said He came "to give His life a redemption for many." Our Lady of Ransom, Mother of Mercy and hope of captives, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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
• 
  Sep 23 – Ember Wed of Sep. / S Adomnan of Iona 23.09.2026 9Min.

  It's the Feast of Ember Wed in September, 2nd Class, with the color of Violet. In this episode: the meditation: "Intimacy with God", today's news from the Church: "The Interior Renewal Effected by the Spiritual Exercises", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Intimacy with God" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "The Interior Renewal Effected by the Spiritual Exercises" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.asia/en/news/interior-renewal-effected-spiritual-exercises-60355 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Adomnán of Iona is one of those saints who becomes more interesting the more you dig into him. He was a monk and abbot, but also a historian, biographer, diplomat, traveler, and the driving force behind one of medieval Europe's earliest attempts to protect civilians during warfare. He was born in Ireland around 624 and eventually entered the great monastery of Iona, the island community off the coast of Scotland founded by Columba. About a century after Columba's birth, Adomnán became Iona's ninth abbot. And fortunately for us, he liked to write. His Life of Saint Columba is one of the most valuable works surviving from early medieval Britain and Ireland. Adomnán collected stories from older monks who had known people close to Columba himself. He recorded miracles, voyages, conversations, kings, monasteries, and little details of daily life that otherwise would have disappeared completely. So a surprising amount of what we know about Saint Columba comes from Adomnán. He also wrote a fascinating book about the Holy Land. Adomnán had never been there. Instead, a Frankish bishop named Arculf was apparently shipwrecked near Britain after making a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He eventually reached Iona and described everything he had seen. Adomnán carefully interviewed him and turned those conversations into On the Holy Places, complete with descriptions of Jerusalem, Bethlehem, and other biblical sites. But perhaps the most remarkable part of Adomnán's story came later. According to Irish tradition, he encountered a woman who had been brutally injured during warfare. The experience deeply disturbed him. Adomnán began pushing Irish kings and churchmen to agree that some people simply should not be legitimate targets in war. In 697, a major gathering at Birr adopted what became known as the Law of Adomnán, or Cáin Adomnáin. It offered special legal protection to women, children, and clerics and established penalties for killing, assaulting, or abusing them. For the seventh century, that's extraordinary. It wasn't modern humanitarian law, of course, but it came from a strikingly familiar conviction: even warfare needs limits, and the vulnerable deserve protection. Adomnán died in 704, leaving behind something unusual for an early medieval saint. We don't just have legends about him. We have his books. You can still visit Iona today and walk the island where he governed the monastery and gathered stories about Columba more than thirteen centuries ago. Saint Adomnán reminds us that preserving history, protecting the vulnerable, and telling the stories of holy people can themselves become works of Christian charity. Saint Adomnán of Iona, keeper of sacred memory and defender of the vulnerable, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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
• 
  Sep 22 - S Thomas of Villanova 22.09.2026 10Min.

  It's the Feast of St. Thomas of Villanova, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Charity and Friendship", today's news from the Church: "Leo XIV increases salaries in the Curia", a preview of this week's episode of The Archbishop Lefebvre Audiobook: Ch. 18: "Strongholds of Reconquest", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Charity and Friendship" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Leo XIV increases salaries in the Curia" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/rome-leo-xiv-increases-salaries-curia-61195 Lefebvre Audiobook: " Strongholds of Reconquest " (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTubeListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Thomas of Villanova became an archbishop, but he apparently never got very good at looking like one. He was born in Spain in 1486 and grew up in Villanueva de los Infantes. His family was comfortable but remarkably generous. His father regularly gave food to the poor, and Thomas absorbed that habit early. One story says that when his parents were away, young Thomas gave away several of the family's chickens to people who needed food. That instinct never really left him. Thomas was brilliant. He studied at the University of Alcalá and became a professor of philosophy before entering the Augustinian Order in his thirties. He quickly became known as an exceptional preacher and eventually served in leadership positions within the order. Then, in 1544, he was appointed Archbishop of Valencia. Thomas did not want the job. When obedience finally forced him to accept, the cathedral chapter gave him money to furnish his new residence appropriately. Thomas gave the money to a hospital. Apparently, the old furniture was good enough. That pretty much describes his entire episcopacy. Thomas wore patched clothing, kept a simple household, and distributed enormous amounts of the archdiocese's income to the poor. People sometimes criticized him for giving money too freely, but Thomas was actually quite thoughtful about charity. He didn't want merely to hand someone a coin and send him away. He tried to provide work, tools, education, and opportunities that could help families escape poverty permanently. He also had a particular concern for abandoned babies. Valencia had many infants left without families, so Thomas established programs to provide them with nurses, clothing, food, and eventually apprenticeships or dowries as they grew older. His generosity became so famous that people called him the "Father of the Poor." But Thomas wasn't simply a charitable administrator. He was also trying to reform an archdiocese badly in need of attention. He visited parishes, improved the formation of priests, established a seminary, and preached constantly. His sermons became famous throughout Spain for being direct, practical, and understandable. There's a wonderfully characteristic story from near the end of his life. Thomas knew he was dying and began giving away almost everything remaining in his possession. He even gave away the bed he was lying on, although he borrowed it back long enough to die in it. That's Thomas of Villanova in one image. Even his deathbed wasn't really his anymore. He died in 1555 while Mass was being celebrated nearby. His funeral drew enormous crowds, especially the poor of Valencia, who knew they had lost someone who had treated them not as a problem to manage, but as members of his own family. Saint Thomas of Villanova, father of the poor and humble shepherd of Valencia, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 21 – S Matthew 21.09.2026 10Min.

  It's the Feast of St. Matthew, 2nd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: "The Love of God for Us", today's news from the Church: "The Jesuits leave Liège, 450 years after their arrival", a preview of the Sermon: "The Power of Humility", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "The Love of God for Us" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "The Jesuits leave Liège, 450 years after their arrival" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/belgium-jesuits-leave-liege-450-years-after-their-arrival-61143 "The Power of Humility" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons PlaylistListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Matthew has one of the shortest conversion stories in the Gospel. Jesus walks past a tax booth, sees Matthew sitting there, and says, "Follow Me." Matthew gets up and goes. But there's much more packed into that moment than it first appears. Matthew was a publican, a tax collector working within the Roman system. Tax collectors were deeply disliked, partly because they cooperated with the occupying power and partly because the system gave plenty of opportunity for corruption. To respectable Jewish society, Matthew was not an obvious candidate for an Apostle. Jesus chose him anyway. And Matthew's first reaction is interesting. He threw a dinner. He invited Jesus, the disciples, and a collection of tax collectors and other people respectable society labeled "sinners." Matthew had only just begun following Christ, but he was already bringing his friends along. After Pentecost, Matthew disappears from the New Testament record, and this is where ancient traditions begin to diverge. Early Christian writers agreed that he preached first among the Jews. Papias of Hierapolis, writing in the early second century, recorded a tradition that Matthew compiled sayings of Jesus in the "Hebrew dialect." Exactly how that relates to the Greek Gospel of Matthew we possess today remains debated, but it shows how early Matthew was connected with preserving Christ's teaching in written form. Later traditions send him much farther afield. Some place his missionary work in Persia. Others speak of Syria or lands south of the Caspian Sea. The strongest later tradition associates his martyrdom with Ethiopia, although ancient sources differ enough that we shouldn't pretend we know exactly where or how he died. His relics have an interesting story too. By the Middle Ages, they were believed to have reached southern Italy and eventually the city of Salerno. Today, the Salerno Cathedral is dedicated to Saint Matthew, and his relics are venerated in the crypt beneath the cathedral. His presence became so important to the city that Matthew is still honored as Salerno's patron. There's also a nice bit of symbolism in Christian art. Matthew is represented by a winged man or angel, one of the four creatures associated with the Evangelists. The symbol fits because his Gospel begins with Christ's human genealogy: "The book of the generation of Jesus Christ." But perhaps the most interesting thing about Matthew is still that tax booth. Christ didn't wait for Matthew to clean up his reputation, find better friends, or prove himself worthy. He simply said, "Follow Me." And Matthew stood up. Saint Matthew, Apostle and Evangelist, who left everything at the call of Christ, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 20 – XVII Sun of Pentecost / Korean Martyrs 20.09.2026 9Min.

  It's the Feast of XVII Sun of Pentecost, 2nd Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "Jesus Christ, Son of God", today's news from the Church: "Preconception Genetic Screening: A New Form of Eugenics?", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Jesus Christ, Son of God" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Preconception Genetic Screening: A New Form of Eugenics?" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/preconception-genetic-screening-new-form-eugenics-61142 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook The story of the Korean Martyrs begins in a way that's almost unique in Catholic history. Christianity reached Korea before missionaries did. During the eighteenth century, Korean scholars traveling to China encountered Catholic books written by Jesuit missionaries. They brought them home and began studying Christianity on their own. A small group became convinced that the faith was true. There was just one problem. They didn't have any priests. So Korean lay Catholics began teaching one another, baptizing converts, gathering for prayer, and building an underground Church largely by themselves. When they eventually learned more about how the Church actually worked, they wrote to the Bishop of Beijing essentially saying: please send us a priest. That request became increasingly dangerous. Korean society was built around Confucian customs, including ancestral rites that Catholics came to understand they could not participate in as religious worship. Christianity also taught that every person possessed equal dignity before God, an idea that could unsettle a rigid social hierarchy. Persecution followed. Over the next century, thousands of Korean Catholics were killed. Among the best known was Saint Andrew Kim Taegon, the first native Korean Catholic priest. His journey to ordination was incredible. Because there was no seminary in Korea, he secretly traveled hundreds of miles to Macau, studied for the priesthood, was ordained in Shanghai, and then slipped back into Korea to serve Catholics in hiding. He lasted about a year. Andrew was arrested in 1846, tortured, and beheaded at only twenty-five. Another remarkable figure was Saint Paul Chong Hasang, a layman who repeatedly crossed into China seeking priests for Korea. He even wrote directly to the pope asking for help establishing a permanent Catholic mission. He was eventually executed too. What makes the Korean Martyrs especially striking is the variety among them. They included priests and laypeople, nobles and servants, husbands and wives, elderly believers and teenagers. Some families lost several generations. And yet the underground Church survived. When religious freedom finally began emerging in the late nineteenth century, missionaries discovered something astonishing: Catholic communities had continued praying, baptizing children, teaching the faith, and waiting for priests through decades of persecution. Today, several major shrines around Seoul preserve their memory, especially the sites where executions took place along the Han River. The Korean Church wasn't originally built around a missionary arriving from somewhere else. It began with ordinary laypeople reading books, discovering the Catholic faith, and deciding it was worth risking everything to keep it. Holy Martyrs of Korea, courageous priests, families, and lay apostles who kept the faith alive, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 19 – S Januarius 19.09.2026 9Min.

  It's the Feast of St. Januarius and Companions, 3rd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: "Sunday Rest", today's news from the Church: "France: Will Convents Disappear?", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Sunday Rest" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "France: Will Convents Disappear?" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/france-will-convents-disappear-61083 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Januarius is one of those early martyrs whose death is remarkable, but what has happened to his blood afterward has made him one of the most famous saints in Italy. Januarius, or San Gennaro as the Italians call him, was Bishop of Benevento during the persecution of Emperor Diocletian around the year 305. When several Christians were arrested near Naples, Januarius didn't keep a safe distance. He went to visit them. That got him arrested too. Among those caught up in the persecution were the deacons Festus and Proculus, the lector Desiderius, and the laymen Sosius, Eutyches, and Acutius. Ancient traditions vary on some details, but all seven came to be remembered together as companions in martyrdom. According to one popular account, they were thrown before wild beasts. The animals refused to attack. So the authorities settled on something considerably more reliable. They beheaded them. Januarius's body was eventually brought to Naples, where he became the city's great patron. But sometime afterward, another tradition appeared. A Christian woman named Eusebia was said to have collected some of Januarius's blood after his execution and preserved it in small glass ampoules. Those ampoules still exist. And this is where the story gets fascinating. Several times each year, the dried substance inside is publicly displayed in the Naples Cathedral. During the ceremony, what normally appears as a dark solid mass frequently becomes liquid. Neapolitans have been watching this happen for centuries. The best-known ceremony takes place around September 19. The cathedral fills with people, including a traditional group of local women known affectionately as the "aunts of Saint Januarius," who pray, call out to the saint, and sometimes become increasingly impatient if the liquefaction takes too long. It's one of those wonderfully human Catholic traditions. When the blood liquefies, bells ring and word quickly spreads through Naples. The Church permits devotion to the phenomenon but has not defined the liquefaction itself as a supernatural miracle. Scientists have proposed various explanations, but because the sealed relic cannot simply be opened for unrestricted testing, the phenomenon remains a fascinating subject of debate. For Neapolitans, however, San Gennaro is much more than a scientific curiosity. His image appears throughout the city. His feast fills the streets. His treasure includes centuries of gifts from kings, queens, popes, and ordinary people. Even Neapolitans who rarely enter a church often speak of him almost like a member of the family. Seventeen centuries after Januarius and his companions were executed, Naples still waits every September to see the blood of its bishop. That's a remarkable afterlife for a martyr Rome intended everyone to forget. Saint Januarius and Companions, martyrs of Campania and courageous witnesses to Christ, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 18 – S Joseph of Cupertino 18.09.2026 11Min.

  It's the Feast of St. Joseph of Cupertino, 3rd Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Servile Works", today's news from the Church: "The Priory of Notre-Dame du Pointet Celebrates its 50th Anniversary", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "Suffered, Crucified, Died, and was Buried", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Servile Works" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "The Priory of Notre-Dame du Pointet Celebrates its 50th Anniversary" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/priory-notre-dame-du-pointet-celebrates-its-50th-anniversary-61082 The SSPX Podcast: "Suffered, Crucified, Died, and was Buried" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTubeListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Joseph of Cupertino may have one of the strangest biographies in the entire calendar. He struggled in school, was considered absent-minded and clumsy, barely made it through his studies for the priesthood, and then became famous because he reportedly flew during prayer. He was born in 1603 in Cupertino, southern Italy, into a poor family. Joseph had difficulty concentrating and learning, and even simple tasks seemed to go wrong. He tried joining religious communities and was dismissed because he wasn't considered capable of handling the work. Eventually, the Conventual Franciscans allowed him to work in their stables. Joseph was good with animals. And slowly, something changed. The friars noticed his humility, obedience, and remarkable life of prayer. They eventually allowed him to become a Franciscan and begin studying for the priesthood. This created another problem. Joseph was terrible at studying. According to the famous story, he managed to learn one Gospel passage particularly well: "Blessed is the womb that bore thee." When his examination for the diaconate arrived, the bishop happened to ask him about exactly that passage. He passed. Later, during the examination for priestly ordination, the candidates questioned before Joseph answered so well that the bishop simply passed the remaining men without examining them individually. Joseph became a priest almost despite himself. Then things got much stranger. During Mass or intense prayer, Joseph would sometimes fall into ecstasy. Witnesses reported that he actually rose from the ground, sometimes remaining suspended for significant periods. These incidents became so frequent that crowds started coming specifically to watch him. Imagine being his superior. You're trying to maintain a quiet Franciscan monastery, and one of your friars keeps levitating during Mass. Church authorities investigated the reports carefully. Joseph was even questioned by the Roman Inquisition. Rather than being celebrated publicly, he was repeatedly moved and eventually ordered to avoid public ceremonies because the crowds had become so disruptive. One particularly famous story says that when Joseph saw a statue of the Blessed Virgin being carried in procession, he suddenly flew toward it in ecstasy. For obvious reasons, he eventually became the patron saint of aviators, pilots, and air travelers. Students also adopted him as a patron, especially students facing examinations. Given the rather unusual way Joseph passed his own exams, that devotion makes perfect sense. But underneath all the extraordinary stories was a remarkably humble man. Joseph never treated these experiences as achievements. In fact, they frequently embarrassed him. He preferred ordinary work, silence, and prayer. He died in 1663 at Osimo, Italy, where his body remains venerated today in the Basilica of Saint Joseph of Cupertino. Joseph's life is a wonderful reminder that God does not necessarily choose the person with the best résumé. Sometimes He chooses the friar who barely passed the exam. And occasionally, apparently, He lets him fly. Saint Joseph of Cupertino, patron of students, aviators, and everyone who has ever struggled through an exam, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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...
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  Sep 17 – Feria / Stigmata of St. Francis 17.09.2026 9Min.

  It's a Feria, 4th Class, with the color of Green. In this episode: the meditation: "Sanctification of the Family Through Mass", today's news from the Church: "Discovery of Two Unpublished Sermons by St. Augustine", a preview of the Sermon: "Friend, Go Up Higher", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Sanctification of the Family Through Mass" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Discovery of Two Unpublished Sermons by St. Augustine" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/poland-discovery-two-unpublished-sermons-st-augustine-61081 "Friend, Go Up Higher" (SSPX Sermons) SSPX YouTube: Sermons PlaylistListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook The Commemoration of the Stigmata of Saint Francis celebrates one of the strangest and most extraordinary events in the life of one of the Church's best-known saints. It happened in September of 1224, just two years before Francis died. By this point, the Franciscan Order had exploded across Europe. Thousands of friars had joined, and Francis increasingly withdrew from leadership. He was physically exhausted, often sick, and worried that the movement he had begun was becoming something much bigger and more complicated than he had ever intended. So he went somewhere quiet. Francis withdrew to Mount La Verna, a rugged mountain retreat in Tuscany, to spend several weeks fasting and praying in preparation for the feast of Saint Michael the Archangel. According to the earliest Franciscan accounts, Francis prayed for two particular graces before his death: to understand something of the love Christ experienced during His Passion, and something of the suffering He endured on the Cross. Then came the vision. Around the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Francis saw what appeared to be a seraph with six wings, bearing the figure of a crucified man. When the vision disappeared, Francis discovered wounds on his own body. His hands and feet bore marks corresponding to the nails of the Crucifixion, and his side carried a wound resembling the wound made by the soldier's lance. Francis tried to hide them. That's an important detail. He wasn't showing people the wounds or using them to prove his holiness. He wrapped his hands, wore footwear when possible, and told very few people what had happened. Brother Leo and a handful of companions eventually saw enough to understand. After Francis died in 1226, however, the wounds were seen openly by many who came to view his body. The event became known as the stigmata, from the Greek word meaning a mark or brand. Francis is traditionally regarded as the first person in Christian history to receive the visible wounds of Christ in this extraordinary way. La Verna remains one of the most moving Franciscan pilgrimage sites in Italy. Pilgrims can still walk through the mountain forest to the rocky place traditionally associated with the event. A chapel now stands there, and each day the friars process from the basilica to the Chapel of the Stigmata, singing and praying along the same cliffs where Francis once sought solitude. The Church eventually gave the event its own liturgical commemoration on September 17. And perhaps the most important part of the feast is easy to miss. Francis had spent his entire Christian life trying to imitate Christ. Near the end of that life, according to Franciscan tradition, that imitation became visible even in his flesh. Saint Francis of Assisi, marked with the wounds of the Crucified Christ, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 16 – Ss Cornelius & Cyprian / S Euphemia 16.09.2026 8Min.

  It's the Feast of Sts. Cornelius and Cyprian, 3rd Class, with the color of Red. In this episode: the meditation: "Sanctification of the Family Through Mass", today's news from the Church: "Small but Important Victory in the Euthanasia Law in France", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Sanctification of the Family Through Mass" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption "Small but Important Victory in the Euthanasia Law in France" (FSSPX.news) https://fsspx.news/en/news/france-small-important-victory-euthanasia-law-61080 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook Saint Euphemia is one of those early martyrs whose story didn't end with her martyrdom. More than a century after her death, her tomb became connected with one of the most important councils in Church history. Euphemia lived in Chalcedon, across the water from Constantinople, around the beginning of the fourth century. She came from a Christian family and was still a young woman when Emperor Diocletian's great persecution reached the city. According to the ancient accounts, the governor ordered everyone to participate in sacrifices to the pagan god Ares. Euphemia refused. She was arrested with other Christians and subjected to a series of tortures intended to make her abandon the faith. The traditional account describes the rack, fire, and eventually the arena, where she was exposed to wild animals. She died around the year 303. Christians buried her with honor in Chalcedon, and a great basilica eventually rose over her tomb. And that's where the story gets especially interesting. In 451, nearly 150 years after Euphemia's death, hundreds of bishops gathered in Chalcedon to settle an enormous controversy over the Person of Christ. The question was how Christians should speak correctly about Christ being both truly God and truly man. The meetings took place in the basilica dedicated to Euphemia. According to a beloved Eastern Christian tradition, the disagreement became so intense that representatives placed competing statements of faith inside Euphemia's tomb and sealed it. Then everyone prayed. When the tomb was reopened, tradition says the orthodox profession was found in Euphemia's hand, while the rejected statement lay at her feet. Whether we treat that account as miraculous history or later devotional tradition, it tells us how closely Christians associated Euphemia with the Council of Chalcedon. She became not merely a martyr of the early persecutions, but a symbol of the Church's defense of the truth about Christ. Her relics also had quite a journey. After Persian invasions threatened Chalcedon, they were eventually brought across the Bosporus to Constantinople. During the later Iconoclast persecutions, tradition says her relics were thrown into the sea, recovered, and eventually restored. They can still be venerated today in the Church of Saint George in Istanbul, the cathedral of the Ecumenical Patriarchate. That's an extraordinary journey for a young woman killed more than seventeen centuries ago. Euphemia never wrote a theological book. She never attended a council. She simply refused to deny Christ. Yet generations later, bishops debating exactly who Christ is gathered around her tomb to do it. Saint Euphemia, great martyr and witness to the true faith of Christ, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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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  Sep 15 – Seven Sorrows of Our Lady 15.09.2026 8Min.

  It's the Feast of Seven Sorrows of Our Lady, 1st Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: "Attendance at Mass", a preview of this week's episode of The SSPX Podcast: "Audiobook Chapter 17 "I Adhere to Eternal Rome"", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows? [email protected] Sources Used Today: "Attendance at Mass" — From the Assumption to Adventhttps://angeluspress.org/products/from-trinity-sunday-to-the-assumption The SSPX Podcast: "Audiobook Chapter 17 "I Adhere to Eternal Rome"" (SSPX Podcast) View on YouTubeListen & 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-Wp4MQdK2oDonate:https://sspx.gifts/audiobook The Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows asks us to look at the life of Christ from a perspective we don't always stop to consider: what was all of this like for His Mother? Catholics have meditated on Mary's suffering since the earliest centuries, especially her presence at Calvary. Simeon had foretold it when Jesus was still an infant: "Thy own soul a sword shall pierce." Medieval Christians eventually began identifying particular moments when that sword seemed especially sharp. These became the Seven Sorrows of Mary: Simeon's prophecy, the Flight into Egypt, losing the Child Jesus in Jerusalem, meeting Christ on the road to Calvary, standing beneath the Cross, receiving His dead body, and watching Him placed in the tomb. And devotion to them became enormous. By the Middle Ages, Christians were meditating on Mary's sorrows through prayers, artwork, processions, and hymns. The most famous is the Stabat Mater, traditionally attributed to the thirteenth-century Franciscan Jacopone da Todi. Its opening image is simple and devastating: Mary standing beside the Cross while her Son dies. The Servite Order made this devotion especially their own. Founded in Florence in the thirteenth century by the Seven Holy Founders, the Servites spread devotion to the Seven Sorrows throughout Europe. The familiar image of Mary's heart pierced by seven swords comes directly from this tradition. Interestingly, the Church eventually had two feasts honoring Mary's sorrows. One developed on the Friday of Passion Week, focusing particularly on Mary's compassion during the Passion. The other was celebrated by the Servites in September. In 1814, after returning to Rome following his captivity under Napoleon, Pope Pius VII extended the September feast to the universal Church in thanksgiving. Pope Pius X later fixed it on September 15, immediately after the Exaltation of the Holy Cross. That placement is almost perfect. September 14: look at the Cross. September 15: look at the Mother standing beneath it. The feast also inspired some striking traditions, particularly in Mediterranean countries. In Spain, Italy, Malta, and parts of Latin America, statues of the Sorrowful Mother are carried through streets dressed in dark robes, sometimes beneath elaborate canopies. During Holy Week, confraternities still carry enormous images of the Dolorosa, surrounded by candles and flowers, while crowds watch in silence. Our Lady of Sorrows isn't really about asking which of Mary's sufferings was worst. It's about remembering that she stayed. At Bethlehem, she held Christ when almost no one knew Him. At Calvary, she remained when almost everyone had left. Our Lady of Sorrows, Mother who stood faithfully beneath the Cross, 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 episodesSubscribe to the SSPX YouTube channelfor video versions of our podcast series and SermonsFSSPX News Website:https://fsspx.newsVisit 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