Early Church (Page 2)

Pope Saint Eleutherius

On: May 24, 2026

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Saint Eleutherius led the Catholic Church during a critical era of persecution and doctrinal challenges. His faithful leadership, pastoral wisdom, and devotion to preserving unity left a lasting mark on early Christianity and continue to inspire Catholics today.Continue Reading

Pope Saint Soter

On: May 23, 2026

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Saint Soter guided the Church during a difficult era of persecution and doctrinal conflict, becoming remembered for his charity, pastoral care, and unwavering defense of Christian unity.Continue Reading

Pope Saint Anicetus

On: May 23, 2026

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Saint Anicetus guided the Church during a critical era of doctrinal challenges and persecution, preserving apostolic tradition and strengthening Christian unity in the second century.Continue Reading

Pope Saint Pius I

On: May 23, 2026

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Saint Pius I faithfully guided the Catholic Church during a critical era of persecution and doctrinal conflict. Discover his leadership, spiritual legacy, and enduring impact on early Christianity.Continue Reading

Pope Saint Hyginus

On: May 23, 2026

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Saint Hyginus led the Catholic Church during one of Christianity’s earliest and most difficult eras. Learn about his papacy, spiritual leadership, and lasting legacy as a saint of the early Church.Continue Reading

Pope Saint Telesphorus

On: May 23, 2026

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Saint Telesphorus courageously led the Catholic Church during intense Roman persecution, strengthening Christian worship, prayer, and apostolic unity through faithful pastoral leadership and martyrdom.Continue Reading

Pope Saint Sixtus I

On: May 23, 2026

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Saint Sixtus I faithfully led the early Church during a difficult era of Roman persecution, strengthening Catholic worship, discipline, and apostolic unity through humble spiritual leadership.Continue Reading

Wednesday of the Tenth week in Ordinary Time

1st book of Kings 18,20-39.

Ahab sent... to all the Israelites and had the prophets assemble on Mount Carmel.
Elijah appealed to all the people and said, "How long will you straddle the issue? If the LORD is God, follow him; if Baal, follow him." The people, however, did not answer him.
So Elijah said to the people, "I am the only surviving prophet of the LORD, and there are four hundred and fifty prophets of Baal.
Give us two young bulls. Let them choose one, cut it into pieces, and place it on the wood, but start no fire. I shall prepare the other and place it on the wood, but shall start no fire.
You shall call on the name of your gods, and I will call on the name of the LORD. The God who answers with fire is God." All the people answered, "Agreed!"
Elijah then said to the prophets of Baal, "Choose one young bull and prepare it first, for there are more of you. Call upon your gods, but do not start the fire."
Taking the young bull that was turned over to them, they prepared it and called on Baal from morning to noon, saying, "Answer us, Baal!" But there was no sound, and no one answering. And they hopped around the altar they had prepared.
When it was noon, Elijah taunted them: "Call louder, for he is a god and may be meditating, or may have retired, or may be on a journey. Perhaps he is asleep and must be awakened."
They called out louder and slashed themselves with swords and spears, as was their custom, until blood gushed over them.
Noon passed and they remained in a prophetic state until es, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the LORD had said, "Your name shall be Israel."
Then Elijah said to all the people, "Come here to me." When they had done so, he repaired the altar of the LORD which had been destroyed.
He took twelve stones, for the number of tribes of the sons of Jacob, to whom the LORD had said, "Your name shall be Israel."
He built an altar in honor of the LORD with the stones, and made a trench around the altar large enough for two seahs of grain.
When he had arranged the wood, he cut up the young bull and laid it on the wood.
"Fill four jars with water," he said, "and pour it over the holocaust and over the wood." "Do it again," he said, and they did it again. "Do it a third time," he said, and they did it a third time.
The water flowed around the altar, and the trench was filled with the water.
At the time for offering sacrifice, the prophet Elijah came forward and said, "LORD, God of Abraham, Isaac, and Israel, let it be known this day that you are God in Israel and that I am your servant and have done all these things by your command.
Answer me, LORD! Answer me, that this people may know that you, LORD, are God and that you have brought them back to their senses."
The LORD'S fire came down and consumed the holocaust, wood, stones, and dust, and it lapped up the water in the trench.
Seeing this, all the people fell prostrate and said, "The LORD is God! The LORD is God!"

Psalms 16(15),1-2a.4.5.8.11.

Keep me, O... God, for in you I take refuge;
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."

They multiply their sorrows
Who court other gods.
Blood libations to them I will not pour out,
Nor will I take their names upon my lips.

O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever.

Holy Gospel of Jesus Christ according to Saint Matthew 5,17-19.

Jesus said... to his disciples: "Do not think that I have come to abolish the law or the prophets. I have come not to abolish but to fulfill.
Amen, I say to you, until heaven and earth pass away, not the smallest letter or the smallest part of a letter will pass from the law, until all things have taken place.
Therefore, whoever breaks one of the least of these commandments and teaches others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of heaven. But whoever obeys and teaches these commandments will be called greatest in the kingdom of heaven."

Copyright © Confraternity of Christian Doctrine, USCCB
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