Daybreak
1,859 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 22 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 January 27, 2024
January 27, 2024 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Angela Merici, 1474-1540; born in Italy; in a visionary experience, she felt called to found a "company" of women; at age 60, Angela and 12 other women began the Company of St. Ursula, constituting a new way of life--single women consecrated to Christ and living in the world rather than in a monastery, what today is called a "Secular Institute"; Angela died in Brescia, Italy, in 1540; in the early 1600s, Companies that ...
Daybreak for January 26, 2024
January 26, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus; Timothy was a convert of Paul around 47 A.D., and later joined him in his apostolic work; one of Paul's most trusted friends; Titus is seen as a peacemaker, administrator, great friend; Paul’s second letter to Corinth affords an insight into the depth of his friendship with Titus, and the great fellowship they had in preaching the gospel Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/26/24 Gospel: Mark 4:26-...
Daybreak for January 25, 2024
January 25, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFeast of the Conversion of St. Paul, apostle Thursday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/25/24 Gospel: Mark 16:15-18
Daybreak for January 24, 2024
January 24, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Francis de Sales, 1567-1622; studied for law, but was ordained a priest and elected provost of the Diocese of Geneva, then a center for the Calvinists, whom Francis attempted--with considerable success--to convert; he preached and distributed little pamphlets explaining true Catholic doctrine; he became bishop of Geneva at 35, still preaching, hearing confessions, and catechizing children; wrote "Introduction to the Devout Life...
Daybreak for January 23, 2024
January 23, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Marianne Cope, 1838-1918; born in Germany, came to the United States two years later with her family, and settled in Utica, New York; she worked in a factory until 1862, and then joined the Sisters of the Third Order of Saint Francis in Syracuse, New York; in 1883, Mother Marianne and six other sisters left for Hawaii where they took charge of the Kakaako Receiving Station outside Honolulu; on the island of Maui they als...
Daybreak for January 22, 2024
January 22, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time Day of Prayer for Legal Protection of the Unborn Saint of the Day: St. Vincent Saragossa; protomartyr of Spain, a deacon of the Third Century; Vincent and his bishop, Valerius, were apprehended during a persecution; Valerius was banished, but Vincent was tortured to death Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/22/24 Gospel: Mark 3:22-30
Daybreak for January 21, 2024
January 21, 2024 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBThird Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/21/24 Gospel: Mark 1:14-20
Daybreak for January 20, 2024
January 20, 2024 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of St. Fabian, 200-250; a layman who came to the city of Rome when a new pope was about to be elected; a dove alighting on his was taken as a sign, and he was elected; he led the Church for 14 years, and died a martyr in the persecution of Decius Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/20/24 Gospel: Mark 3:20-21
Daybreak for January 19, 2024
January 19, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Henry of Sweden, 1100-1156; Englishman residing at Rome, who became bishop of Uppsala, Sweden, in 1152; accompanied King Eric in an expedition against the Finns; when Eric returned to Sweden, Henry remained behind to convert the Finns; Henry was slain by a former soldier whom Henry had excommunicated Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/19/24 Gospel: Mark 3:13-19
Daybreak for January 18, 2024
January 18, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Margaret of Hungary, 1242-1271; daughter of King Bela IV; became a Dominican novice at 12; though a princess, she objected to any special treatment and went out of her way to perform the most menial tasks for the poor and sick; her labors, prayers, and fasting brought on the fatigue from which she died Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/18/24 Gospel: Mark 3:7-12
Daybreak for January 17, 2024
January 17, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Memorial of St. Anthony of Egypt, 251-356; spent most of his life in solitude, but drew many people to himself for spiritual healing and guidance; at 54, he founded a sort of monastery of scattered cells; at 60, he hoped to be a martyr in the renewed Roman persecution of 311; at 88, he was fighting the Arian heresy; died in solitude at age 105 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/17/24 Gospel: Mark 3:1-6
Daybreak for January 16, 2024
January 16, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Joseph Vaz, 1651-1711; Catholic Oratorian priest from Goa; entered Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) during the Dutch occupation, when Calvinism was the official religion; brought the sacraments to clandestine groups of Catholics; later, in the Kandyan kingdom, he was able to work freely; managed to rebuild the Catholic church on the island before his death Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/16/24 Gospel: Mark 2:23-28
Daybreak for January 15, 2024
January 15, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Arnold Jansen, 1837-1909; ordained in 1861, and served as a parish priest and as a chaplain at an Ursuline convent; in 1875, he founded the Society of the Divine Word in Holland to provide priests and lay brothers for the missions; Arnold also founded the Servant Sisters of the Holy Ghost for the missions in 1889 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/15/24 Gospel: Matthew 2:18-22
Daybreak for January 14, 2024
January 14, 2024 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSecond Sunday in Ordinary Time Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/14/24 Gospel: John 1:35-42
Daybreak for January 13, 2024
January 13, 2024 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Optional Memorial of Saint Hilary of Poitiers, 315-368; raised a pagan, he was converted to Christianity when he met his God of nature in the Scriptures; chosen, against his will, to be the bishop of Poitiers in France, and he took up the battle against the Arian heresy; for his defense of the faith, he was banished from France to far off Phrygia; he was invited to a council called by the emperor, but when he he sought public debate with the he...
Daybreak for January 12, 2024
January 12, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Saint Aelred of Rievaulx, 1110-1167; son of a Saxon priest, educated at Roxburgh; became steward to King David of Scotland, but left to join the Cistercian community at Rievaulx; wrote his most famous work, "The Mirror of Charity," at the request of Bernard of Clairvaux Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/12/24 Gospel: Mark 2:1-12
Daybreak for January 11, 2024
January 11, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: Saint Paulinus of Aquileia, 726-802; born near Friuli, Italy, and grew up a farmer with an excellent education; summoned to the court of Charlemagne in 774; sent back to Italy in 776 and was appointed Patriarch of Aquileia; he represented Charlemagne at various Church Councils, wrote against and denounced the heresy of Adoptionism, and sent missionaries to attempt the evangelization of the Avars Office of Readings and Morni...
Daybreak for January 10, 2024
January 10, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Gregory of Nyssa, 335-394; brother of at least five saints; became bishop of Nyssa in about 371; Arians deposed him in 376, but he was able to return two years later; attended the first council of Constantinope, and helped to settle disputes among church in Arabia; he attended a synod in Constantinople and is thought to have died shortly after that Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/10/24 Gospel: Mark 1:29-39
Daybreak for January 9, 2024
January 09, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time Saint of the Day: St. Adrian, the Abbot; also known as St. Adrian of Canterbury; born in Africa in the Seventh Century, he was appointed abbot of the monastery of Saints Peter and Paul in Canterbury; it became one of the most important centers of learning; Adrian taught there for 40 years, and died in about 710 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/9/24 Gospel: Mark 1:21-28
Daybreak for January 8, 2024
January 08, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFeast of the Baptism of the Lord Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/8/24 Gospel: Mark 1:7-11
Daybreak for January 7, 2024
January 07, 2024 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSolemnity of the Epiphany of the Lord Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/7/24 Gospel: Matthew 2:1-12
Daybreak for January 6, 2024
January 06, 2024 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday before Epiphany Optional Memorial of St. André Bessette, 1845-1937; entered the Congregation of Holy Cross at the age of 25, and was given the job of doorkeeper at Notre Dame College in Montreal, with additional duties as sacristan, laundry worker and messenger; spent most nights on his knees in prayer; when he heard that someone was ill, he visited the person to bring them cheer and pray with him, and word of healing powers began to spread; the Holy Cross Congregation bought la...
Daybreak for January 5, 2024
January 05, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTwelfth Day of Christmas Memorial of St. John Neumann, 1811-1860; born in what is now the Czech Republic, came to New York at 25, was ordained a priest, and joined the Redemptorists; at 41, as bishop of Philadelphia, he organized the parochial school system into a diocesan one, attracting teaching communities of sisters and the Christian Brothers to the city; first American bishop to be beatified; canonized in 1977 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/5/24 Gospel: John 1:43-51
Daybreak for January 4, 2024
January 04, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBEleventh Day of Christmas Memorial of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, 1774-1821; she was the "belle of New York" when she married William Magee Seton; they had five children when William died of tuberculosis; when she converted to the Catholic faith, many of her relatives and friends rejected her; to support her children, she opened a school in Baltimore, following the lines of a religious community; her many letters reveal her growing heroic sanctity; first American born citizen to be canonize...
Daybreak for January 3, 2024
January 03, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTenth Day of Christmas Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Jesus Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/3/24 Gospel: John 1:29-34
Daybreak for January 2, 2024
January 02, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBNinth Day of Christmas Memorial of Saints Basil the Great (329-379) and Gregory Nazianzen (329-390); bishops and friends, both from families of saints; both lived as hermits for a time, with Basil forming the model for monasticism in the East; they fought the heresy of Arianism, and suffered for it, but remained faithful Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/2/24 Gospel: John 1:19-28
Daybreak for January 1, 2024
January 01, 2024 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBSolemnity of Mary, Mother of God Eighth Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 1/1/24 Gospel: Luke 2:16-21
Daybreak for December 31, 2023
December 31, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBFeast of the Holy Family Seventh Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/31/23 Gospel: Luke 2:22-40
Daybreak for December 30, 2023
December 30, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSixth Day of Christmas Saint of the Day: St. Egwin of Evesham; English noble who became the bishop of Worcester, England, in 692; prompted by a vision of Mary he founded Evesham Monastery with the aid of the kingdom of Mercia Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/30/23 Gospel: Luke 2:36-40
Daybreak for December 29, 2023
December 29, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFifth Day of Christmas Optional Memorial of St. Thomas Becket, 1118-1170; as a friend of King Henry II of England, he became chancellor of England, and then archbishop of Canterbury; Henry and Thomas immediately disagreed on the rights of the Church; Henry eventually cried out, "Will no one rid me of this troublesome priest?"; two of Henry's knights killed Thomas in Canterbury Cathedral Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/29/23 Gospel: Luke 2:22-35
Daybreak for December 28, 2023
December 28, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFeast of the Holy Innocents Fourth Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/28/23 Gospel: Matthew 2:13-18
Daybreak for December 27, 2023
December 27, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFeast of St. John, apostle and evangelist, 6-100 A.D.; "the apostle whom Jesus loved"; John's is the Gospel of Jesus' glory Third Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/27/23 Gospel: John 20:1-8
Daybreak for December 26, 2023
December 26, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFeast of St. Stephen; first martyr, and one of the first ordained deacons; died about 34 A.D. Second Day of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/26/23 Gospel: Matthew 10:17-22
Daybreak for December 25, 2023
December 25, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSolemnity of Christmas Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/25/23 Gospel: Luke 2:1-14
Daybreak for December 24, 2023
December 24, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBFourth Sunday of Advent/Christmas Eve Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/24/23 Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
Daybreak for December 23, 2023
December 23, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the Third Week of Advent Optional Memorial of St. John of Kanty, 1390-1473; a country boy who did well in the city and University of Krakow, Poland; after ordination, he became a professor of theology; he was then sent to be a parish priest; he returned to Krakow and taught scripture for the remainder of his life; he slept little, ate sparingly, and took no meat Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/23/23 Gospel: Luke 1:57-66
Daybreak for December 22, 2023
December 22, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the Third Week of Advent Saint of the Day: St. Zeno; martyred soldier at Nicomedia (modern Turkey); he was seized and condemned to death for laughing while Emperor Diocletian offered a sacrifice to the Roman god Ceres; Zeno had his jaws shattered and was then beheaded in 303 A.D. Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/22/23 Gospel: Luke 1:46-56
Daybreak for December 21, 2023
December 21, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the Third Week of Advent Optional Memorial of St. Peter Canisius, 1521-1597; born in Holland; he had edited and written several volumes on Church history and theology, been a delegate to the Council of Trent, and reformed the German universities from heresy; he was called to Vienna to reform their university, and administered the diocese for a year; in 1565, the pope called on him to distribute the decrees of the Council of Trent to the European bishops Office of Readings a...
Daybreak for December 20, 2023
December 20, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the Third Week of Advent Saint of the Day: St. Dominic of Silos, 1000-1073; Benedictine abbot who refused to surrender some of the order's lands to the crown, so he was exiled to Castile; King Ferdinand I made him abbot of St. Sebastian Abbey at Silos, now called St. Dominic's; Dominic reformed the abbey, built the cloisters in Romanesque style, and started a scriptorium that became famous; Dominic also rescued Christian slaves from the Moors, and was noted for miracles of h...
Daybreak for December 19, 2023
December 19, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBTuesday of the Third Week of Advent Saint of the Day: St. Anastasius I; a Roman by birth, elected pope in 399; he was among the first to condemn the works of Origen; he also urged the church in North Africa to continue its struggle against Donatism; died in 401 and was buried in the cemetery of Pontian Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/19/23 Gospel: Luke 1:5-25
Daybreak for December 18, 2023
December 18, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the Third Week of Advent Saint of the Day: St. Winebald; born in Wessex, England, the brother of Saints Willibald and Walburga; traveled to Rome, and at the invitation of St. Boniface, gathered together a group of English missionaries and went to Germany in 739; with his brother, he founded the monastery of Heidenheim, Germany, where he served as abbot with his sister as abbess; helped to make the monastery one of the leading ecclesiastical centers in Germany Office of Readin...
Daybreak for December 17, 2023
December 17, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBThird Sunday of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/17/23 Gospel: John 1:6-8, 19-28
Daybreak for December 16, 2023
December 16, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the Second Week of Advent Saint of the Day: St. Adelaide, 932-999; entered an arranged marriage at about 15 to Lothair of Italy; when Lothair died, his successor tried to force Adelaide to marry his son; she appealed to Otto of Germany, who conquered Italy and married Adelaide; the two became rulers of the Holy Roman Empire; after Otto's death, Adelaide established many monasteries and churches; she died at the convent at Seltz, which she founded Office of Readings and Morn...
Daybreak for December 15, 2023
December 15, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFriday of the Second Week of Advent Saint of the Day: St. Maria Crocifissa di Rosa, 1813-1855; born in Brescia, Italy; cared for the spiritual needs of young girls working in her father's mills, volunteered at the Brescia hospital during the cholera epidemic of 1836, and founded a home for girls and a school for deaf mutes; in 1840, she became superior of a group of religious who cared for the sick, the Handmaids of Charity of Brescia Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/15/23 ...
Daybreak for December 14, 2023
December 14, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBThursday of the Second Week of Advent Memorial of St. John of the Cross, 1542-1591; Carmelite priest who, along with Teresa of Avila, vowed himself to the primitive rule; in his efforts at reform of the order, he encountered increasing opposition, misunderstanding, persecution, and imprisonment; in prison, his spirit came into the light, revealing him as a mystic-poet; John died at the age of 49 Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/14/23 Gospel: Matthew 11:11-15
Daybreak for December 13, 2023
December 13, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBWednesday of the Second Week of Advent Memorial of St. Lucy, virgin and martyr; lived in Syracuse, and was martyred in the persecution of Christians in the early Fourth Century; legend has it that her mother arranged for her to marry a pagan, after she had promised her life to Christ; Lucy prayed to St. Agatha, who appeared to Lucy in a dream, said that Lucy's mother would be cured of her illness, and Lucy used this to convince her mother to give the dowry money to the poor; but the reje...
Daybreak for December 12, 2023
December 12, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBFeast of Our Lady of Guadalupe Tuesday of the Second Week of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/12/23 Gospel: Luke 1:26-38
Daybreak for December 11, 2023
December 11, 2023 08:00 - 51 minutes - 47.1 MBMonday of the Second Week of Advent Optional Memorial of Pope St. Damasus I, 304-384; when elected pope, Damasus had to endure the existence of an antipope, Ursinus, elected and consecrated by a minority; this resulted in violent battles between two basilicas; supporters of the antipope even had Damasus accused of a grave crime, from which he had to clear himself in civil court and a Church synod; during his pontificate, Christianity was declared the official religion of the Roman state,...
Daybreak for December 10, 2023
December 10, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSecond Sunday of Advent Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/10/23 Gospel: Mark 1:1-8
Daybreak for December 9, 2023
December 09, 2023 08:00 - 59 minutes - 55 MBSaturday of the First Week of Advent Optional Memorial of St. Juan Diego, 1474-1548; Our Lady of Guadalupe appeared to Juan at Tepeyac hill on December 9, 1531; the roses gathered in his tilma were transformed into the miraculous image of Our Lady; in time he lived near the shrine constructed at Tepeyac, revered as a holy, unselfish, and compassionate catechist, who taught by word and especially by example Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 12/9/23 Gospel: Matthew 9:35-10:1, 5...