Daybreak
1,869 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 23 hours ago - ★★★★★ - 15 ratingsDaybreak™ is a fresh, upbeat approach to morning devotions and prayer. Host Paul Sadek leads you in spiritual reflections and meditations from the daily Mass readings, Morning Prayer, the Holy Father’s teachings, writing of the saints, and more.
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Episodes
Daybreak for July 7, 2024
July 07, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MB14th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/7/24 Gospel: Mark 6:1-6
Daybreak for July 6, 2024
July 06, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Maria Goretti, 1890-1902; daughter of a poor Italian tenant farmer; on a hot July afternoon, an 18-year-old neighbor, Alessandro, attempted to molest her, and ended up stabbing her multiple times; Maria was taken to a hospital, where she died; Alessandro was sentenced to 30 years in prison; while there, he received a dream--or vision--of Maria gathering flowers and offering them to him; his life changed, and he was relea...
Daybreak for July 5, 2024
July 05, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Zaccaria, 1502-1539; born in Cremona, Italy; ordained a priest at the age of 26; sent to Milan, and he laid the foundations of three religious congregations, one for men, one for women, and an association of married couples; Anthony encouraged such innovations as the collaboration of the laity in the apostolate, frequent Communion, the Forty Hours devotion, and the ringing of church bells at 3:00 p.m. on Frida...
Daybreak for July 4, 2024
July 04, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time; Independence Day in the United States Optional Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, 1271-1336; daughter of Pedro III, future king of Aragon; given in marriage to Denis, king of Portugal, at age 12; she exercised both piety and charity, and remained devoted to her husband, whose infidelity to her was a scandal to the kingdom; Denis gave up his life of sin, and Elizabeth became a peacemaker among family; after the death of her husband, she reti...
Daybreak for July 3, 2024
July 03, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFeast of St. Thomas, apostle; died about 72 A.D. Wednesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/3/24 Gospel: John 20:24-29
Daybreak for July 2, 2024
July 02, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Otto of Bamberg, 1060-1139; born in Swabia, served Emperor Henry IV in various posts; Otto was appointed bishop of Bamberg in 1103; he was a figure in the reconciliation of the pope and Emperor Henry V; headed a mission to Pomerania, and made numerous converts among the local inhabitants; known as the Apostle of Pomerania Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/2/24 Gospel: Matthew 8:23-27
Daybreak for July 1, 2024
July 01, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Junipero Serra, 1713-1784; born on Spain’s island of Mallorca, and joined the Franciscans; set out to convert native peoples in the New World; worked in central Mexico and the Baja Peninsula, and then traveled 900 miles north to set his first mission, San Diego; other missions followed; Junipero’s missionary life was a long battle with cold and hunger, with unsympathetic military commanders and even with danger of death fr...
Daybreak for June 30, 2024
June 30, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MB13th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/30/24 Gospel: Mark 5:21-43
Daybreak for June 29, 2024
June 29, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSolemnity of Saints Peter and Paul Saturday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/29/24 Gospel: Matthew 16:13-19
Daybreak for June 28, 2024
June 28, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Irenaeus, 130-202; as bishop of Lyons, he foughts the Gnostics, who claimed "secret" knowledge which Jesus had only revealed to a few; Irenaeus' work gradually ended the influence of the Gnostics; circumstances of his death remain unclear, but he is regarded as a martyr Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/28/24 Gospel: Matthew 8:1-4
Daybreak for June 27, 2024
June 27, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Cyril of Alexandria, 378-444; began his career as archbishop of Alexandria with impulsive--often violent--actions; but he championed the cause of orthodoxy against the heresy of Nestorius, who taught that in Christ there were two persons, one human and one divine; at the Council of Ephesus in 431, Cyril condemned Nestorianism and proclaimed Mary truly the “God-bearer”—the mother of the one Person who is truly God and tru...
Daybreak for June 26, 2024
June 26, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Josemaria Escriva de Balaguer, 1902-1975; knew, in 1918, that God was asking something of him; ordained a priest in 1925; in 1928, he realized that his mission was to found Opus Dei, an institution within the Catholic Church dedicated to helping people in all walks of life to follow Christ, to seek holiness in their daily life and grow in love for God and their fellow men and women; Opus Dei eventually spread first in Spai...
Daybreak for June 25, 2024
June 25, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. William of Vercelli, 1085-1142; became a hermit on Monte Vergine, Italy, and attracted so many followers that a monastery was built; in time, the austerity of his rule led to dissension, and to keep peace, he left, and was taken under the care of Roger I of Naples; Roger built him a monastery at Salermo; William founded monasteries throughout Naples, and died at the Guglielmo monastery near Nusco Italy Office of Readings a...
Daybreak for June 24, 2024
June 24, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBSolemnity of the Birth of St. John the Baptist Monday of the 12th Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/24/24 Gospel: Luke 1:57-66, 80
Daybreak for June 23, 2024
June 23, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MB12th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/23/24 Gospel: Mark 4:35-41
Daybreak for June 22, 2024
June 22, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Saints John Fisher, 1469-1535, and Thomas More, 1478-1535; the two great martyrs of England; condemned and executed for essentially the same reasons--refusal to acknowledge the divorce and remarriage of King Henry VIII, and refusal to accept the king as head of the Church in England, which would deny the pope as head Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/22/24 Gospel: Matthew 6:24-34
Daybreak for June 21, 2024
June 21, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Aloyisius Gonzaga, 1568-1591; grew up in royal courts and army camps, but the more that he saw of court life, the more disillusioned he became; his spiritual awakening began at the age of 7; eventually, his father allowed him to renounce his right to succession, and join the Society of Jesus; during the 1591 plague in Rome, Aloysius assisted patients and caught the disease; fever persisted after his recovery, but he maintained his ...
Daybreak for June 20, 2024
June 20, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. John of Matera, 1070-1139; longed to become a hermit, and served for a time as a shepherd at a monastery--but his exceptional austerity was so irksome to the less fervent monks, that he had to leave; later, he rebuilt a dilapidated church dedicated to St. Peter; in Bari, he preached with great efficacy; eventually founded a Benedictine monastery of which he was the first abbot Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/2...
Daybreak for June 19, 2024
June 19, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Romuald, 950-1027; after seeing his father kill a relative in a duel, he fled to a monastery; after three years, he was asked to leave; for thirty years, he founded monasteries and hermitages across Italy; he was falsely accused of a crime, and was excommunicated--an unjust punishment which he endured for six months; in later life, his father became a monk, and was encouraged by his son Office of Readings and Morning ...
Daybreak for June 18, 2024
June 18, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St Gregory Barbarigo, 1625-1697; embraced a diplomatic career, but became a priest, and then first bishop of Bergamo; he was later elevated to cardinal and given additional authority over the diocese of Padua; he worked to carry out the reforms set forth by the Council of Trent; through his efforts the seminaries of both Bergamo and Padua were substantially enlarged; at Padua he also added a library and a printing press Office...
Daybreak for June 17, 2024
June 17, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the 11th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Nectan of Hartland, 468-510; possibly a native of Wales or Ireland, best known through legends; lived as a hermit in Devonshire, England, founding churches there and in Cornwall, England; beheaded by robbers, and in some traditions was a relative of the chieftain Brychan; much revered during the Middle Ages Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/17/24 Gospel: Matthew 5:38-42
Daybreak for June 16, 2024
June 16, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MB11th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/16/24 Gospel: Mark 4:26-34
Daybreak for June 15, 2024
June 15, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Alice, 1220-1250; born near Brussels, and entered a Cistercian convent at a young age; contracted leprosy, and was isolated; her greatest consolation was reception of the Holy Eucharist; known for visions and ecstasies Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/15/24 Gospel: Matthew 5:33-37
Daybreak for June 14, 2024
June 14, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Joseph the Hymnographer, 810-886; the most prolific of the Greek hymn writers; a native of Sicily, he was forced to journey to Thessalonica in 830 because of an invasion by the Arabs; he went to Constantinople, and attempted to travel to Rome, but was captured by pirates; escaping, he founded a monastery in Constantinople; for his defense of the icons, he was sent into exile; Joseph is credited with the composition of about 1...
Daybreak for June 13, 2024
June 13, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Anthony of Padua, 1195-1231; Franciscan friar, and dedicated patron of the poor; hoped to preach to the Saracens, but became seriously ill on his way to Morocco, and returned home; taught theology in Italy and Southern France, and ended up in Padua, where he is believed to have founded a Franciscan community; died on his way to Padua, where he is buried; invoked for assistance in finding lost things Office of Readings and Morni...
Daybreak for June 12, 2024
June 12, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Peter of Mount Athos; first hermit to reside on Mount Athos is northern Greece; according to legend, he was a soldier captured by Muslims, and released through the intervention of St. Simeon; went to Rome, and received the monastic habit directly from the pope; took up residence on Mount Athos, where he remained for half-a-century; died in the Eighth Century Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/12/24
Daybreak for June 11, 2024
June 11, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Barnabas; closely associated with Saint Paul—he introduced Paul to Peter and the other apostles—and served as a kind of mediator between the former persecutor and the still suspicious Jewish Christians; Paul and Barnabas were sent to preach to the Gentiles; when Paul wanted to revisit the places they had evangelized, Barnabas wanted to take along his cousin John Mark, author of the Gospel, but Paul insisted that since Mark had des...
Daybreak for June 10, 2024
June 10, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the 10th Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Landericus; bishop of Paris in the mid 7th Century; known for his care for the poor and the sick; founded the first true hospital in Paris, dedicated to St. Christopher, which eventually be came the Hotel-Dieu; he welcomed the Benedictines to Paris, and encouraged them to set up the Abbey of Denis; died about 661 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/10/24 Gospel: Matthew 5:1-12
Daybreak for June 9, 2024
June 09, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MB10th Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/9/24 Gospel: Mark 3:20-35
Daybreak for June 8, 2024
June 08, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of the Immaculate Heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/8/24 Gospel: Luke 2:41-51
Daybreak for June 7, 2024
June 07, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBSolemnity of the Sacred Heart of Jesus Friday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/7/24 Gospel: John 19:31-37
Daybreak for June 6, 2024
June 06, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Norbert, 1080-1134; founder of the Praemonstratensians or the Norbertines; they praised God for success in converting heretics, reconciling numerous enemies, and rebuilding faith in indifferent believers; Norbert became archbishop of Magdeburg in central Germany, and continued his work for the Church until his death Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/6/24 Gospel: Mark 12:28-34
Daybreak for June 5, 2024
June 05, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Boniface, 675-754; asked by the pope to reform the Church of Germany; on his first visit in 719, he found that paganism was a way of life; he later admitted that his work would have been unsuccessful, from a human viewpoint, without a letter of safe-conduct from Charles Martel, the powerful Frankish ruler, grandfather of Charlemagne; Boniface restored the obedience of the clergy to their bishops in union with the pope of Rome; ...
Daybreak for June 4, 2024
June 04, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Petroc; possibly the son of a Sixth Century Welsh king; became a monk, studied in Ireland, and then settled in Cornwall, England; made a pilgrimage to Rome and Jerusalem, and returned to Cornwall, where he built a chapel, established a community, and then became a hermit; he attracted followers, and was known for miracles; died in 564 while visiting some of his disciples Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/4/24 ...
Daybreak for June 3, 2024
June 03, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Charles Lwanga and companions, died 1885-1887; Charles Lwanga was a convert from Uganda; he refused the sexual demands of the Bagandan ruler, Mwanga, and urged his fellow court pages to do likewise; imprisoned with his friends, Charles’ courage and belief in God inspired them to remain chaste and faithful; Charles was burned to death on June 3, 1886, by order of Mwanga Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/3/24 Gospel: M...
Daybreak for June 2, 2024
June 02, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSolemnity of the Body and Blood of Christ (Corpus Christi) Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/2/24 Gospel: Mark 14:12-16, 22-26
Daybreak for June 1, 2024
June 01, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Justin, 100-165; a student of Greek philosophy, he converted to Christianity and became the first Christian philosopher; he was also an apologist, correcting attacks and misunderstandings of Christianity; two of his "apologies" have come down to us, addressed to the Roman emperor and to the senate; because of his adherence to Christianity, he was beheaded Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 6/1/24 Gospel: Mark 11:27-3...
Daybreak for May 31, 2024
May 31, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFeast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary to Elizabeth Friday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/31/24 Gospel: Luke 1:39-56
Daybreak for May 30, 2024
May 30, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Joan of Arc, 1412.1431; a pious peasant in medieval France; she believed that God had chosen her to lead France to victory in its long-running war with England; she led a French army to Orleans, where they achieved a stunning victory; Joan was later captured by enemy forces, tried for witchcraft and burned at the stake at the age of 19; she is considered one of history's greatest martyrs, and the patron saint of France ...
Daybreak for May 29, 2024
May 29, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Maximinus of Trier; became bishop of Trier in 332, and gave refuge to St. Athanasius in 336; also helped to protect St. Paul, the patriarch of Constantinople; Maximinus opposed the Arian heretics at councils at Milan, Sardica, and Cologne; he was a known miracle worker and apologist for orthodox Catholicism; died in 347 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/29/24 Gospel: Mark 10:32-45
Daybreak for May 28, 2024
May 28, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Bernard of Montjoux, 923-1008; likely born in Italy; became a priest, then vicar general of Aosta; spent more than four decades doing missionary work in the Alps; best known for two Alpine hospices he built to aid lost travelers in the mountain passes named Great and Little Bernard, after him; patron of mountaineers, skiers, and the Alps Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/28/24 Gospel: Mark 10:28-31
Daybreak for May 27, 2024
May 27, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time, Memorial Day in the U.S. Optional Memorial of St. Augustine of Canterbury; traveled from Rome to England to evangelize the Anglo-Saxons; King Ethelbert set up a residence for Augustine and his monks in Canterbury, and was, himself, baptized a year later; Augustine heeded the missionary principles given him by Pope Gregory--purify rather than destroy pagan temples and customs, let pagan rites and festivals be transformed into Christian feasts, a...
Daybreak for May 26, 2024
May 26, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSolemnity of the Most Holy Trinity Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/26/24 Gospel: Matthew 28:16-20
Daybreak for May 25, 2024
May 25, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Bede the Venerable, 672-735; entrusted to the care of the abbot of the monastery of St. Paul, Jarrow, at an early age; well-versed in natural philosophy, the philosophical principles of Aristotle, astronomy, arithmetic, grammar, ecclesiastical history, the lives of the saints and especially, Holy Scripture; composed 45 books, including 30 commentaries on books of the Bible; died in 735, praying the "Glory be" Office...
Daybreak for May 24, 2024
May 24, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. David I of Scotland, 1080-1153; youngest son of Queen Margaret, succeeded his brother to the throne in 1124; known for his generosity to the poor; he also endowed the founding of dioceses and monasteries; as he neared death, he devoted himself to reading the Psalms with those at his bedside; he died at dawn on May 24, 1153 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/24/24 Gospel: Mark 10:1-12
Daybreak for May 23, 2024
May 23, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Crispin of Viterbo,1668-1750; studied at the Jesuit college, and became a shoemaker; joined the Franciscan Capuchins at age 25, where he served as gardener and cook, calling himself "the little beast of burden of the Capuchins"; through his intercession, there were many miraculous cures during a pandemic; he was also venerated for his prophecies and spiritual wisdom Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/23/24 G...
Daybreak for May 22, 2024
May 22, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Rita of Cascia, 1381-1457; born in central Italy, and pressured to marry a harsh man; she bore and raised two sons; after her husband was killed in a brawl and her sons had died, she joined the Augustinian nuns in Cascia, where her austerity, prayerfulness, and charity became legendary; along with St. Jude, she is known as a saint of hopeless cases Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/22/24 Gospel: Mark 9:...
Daybreak for May 21, 2024
May 21, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Christopher Magallanes, 1869-1927, and companions; Fr. Magallanes was killed without trial on the way to say Mass during the Cristero War in Mexico, after the trumped up charge of inciting rebellion Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/21/24 Gospel: Mark 9:30-37
Daybreak for May 20, 2024
May 20, 2024 07:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Mary, Mother of the Church Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/20/24 Gospel: John 19:25-34
Daybreak for May 19, 2024
May 19, 2024 07:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSolemnity of Pentecost Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 5/19/24 Gospel: John 20:19-23