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The Catholic Day has its
own rhythm, and each day of the week and each month has a special devotional
emphasis.
Day
The hours of the day are broken
up into the Canonical Hours during which priests,
religious, and some pious laymen pray from the Breviary. At 6AM, Noon, and
6PM the Angelus is prayed.
Some Catholics might pray, instead or in addition to the above, the
Morning Offering upon awakening, and make
a Nightly Examination of Conscience
at night, just before bed.
Week
Fridays are penitential days
and Catholics are to keep in mind Christ's suffering and to sacrifice something
for the sake of penance and discipline. Catholics fulfill this duty by
abstaining from meat and making other penances.
Saturdays are, traditionally, the days Catholics go to Confession in preparation
for receiving the Eucharist on Sundays. Some Catholics might make a habit
of going to Confession on Saturdays; other might
go before Mass on Sunday, or might go only when they need to confess, or
on some other schedule.
Sundays are, of course, the
day for renewing Christ's once and for all Sacrifice during the Sacrifice
of the Holy Mass. Because Christ rose from His tomb on Sunday, Sabbath was
changed from Saturday to Sundays, or "the Lord's
Day." On this day we fulfill God's Third Commandment, to "remember the
sabbath day [which means "rest", not "Saturday"], to keep it holy." We refrain
from unecessary servile work and fulfill our "Sunday Obligation" to attend
Mass.
Day of the Week |
Dedicated to: |
Mystery of the Rosary
traditionally prayed: |
Sunday |
Resurrection & the
Holy and Undivided Trinity |
Glorious |
| Monday |
The Holy Ghost & the
Souls in Purgatory |
Joyful |
| Tuesday |
The Holy Angels
1 |
Sorrowful |
| Wednesday |
St. Joseph
2 |
Glorious |
| Thursday |
The Blessed Sacrament
3 |
Joyful |
| Friday |
Christ's Passion and His
Sacred Heart 4 |
Sorrowful |
| Saturday |
The Blessed Virgin and
her Immaculate Heart. 5 |
Glorious |
Month
Month |
Dedicated to: |
| January |
The Holy Name and Childhood
of Jesus |
| February |
The Holy Family |
| March |
St. Joseph |
| April |
The Blessed Sacrament |
| May |
Mary |
| June |
Sacred Heart of Jesus |
| July |
The Precious Blood |
| August |
Immaculate Heart of
Mary |
| September |
Seven Dolours (Sorrows)
of Mary |
| October |
The Holy Rosary (and,
less formally, the Holy Angels) |
| November |
Poor Souls in
Purgatory |
| December |
The Immaculate
Conception |
Footnotes:
1 Tuesdays are also the day for honoring the Holy
Face and, unofficially, honoring St. Anthony of Padua. On the Tuesday after
St. Anthony's death, the day his funeral cortege took his body to the church,
many miracles took place, so this day is commemorated in his honor,
often by praying a Novena to St. Anthony
either for thirteen consecutive Tuesdays or perpetually.
A special Novena to St. Martha is also
made on 9 consecutive Tuesdays or on all Tuesdays by some Catholics.
2
On Wednesdays, many Catholics
make a special devotion to St. Joseph by going to Mass on the first Wednesdays
of 9 consecutive months and offering their Communions in his honor and for
the salvation of the dying..
3 On Thursdays, many Catholics make
"Holy Hour," that is, they spend
an hour in adoration of the Blessed Sacrament as an aspect of
devotion to the Sacred Heart.
4
On Fridays, many Catholics make what is known as the "First Fridays Devotion"
in honor of the Sacred Heart. This entails going to Mass and receiving Communion
in reparation to the Sacred Heart on the first Friday of the month for 9
consecutive months. See Devotion to the Sacred Heart of
Jesus..
5 On Saturdays, many Catholics make what is called
the "First Saturdays Devotion" which entails going to Mass and receiving
Communion for the first Saturday of the month for 5 consecutive months in
reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. See Devotion
to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
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