Saint Joseph Catholic Church

January 22 is also the anniversary of Roe v. Wade and the day established by the Church of penance for abortion, has been formally named as the "Day of Prayer for the Legal Protection of Unborn Children." On this day (or January 23rd when January 22nd falls on a Sunday) your parish, school or religious formation program may celebrate the "Mass for Giving Thanks to God for the Gift of Human Life." This Mass, found in our newly-translated Missal, may now be used on occasions to celebrate the dignity of human life.

The Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Agnes (c. 304). St. Agnes, like St. Cecilia, is to be numbered among the most famous martyrs of Rome. When the Diocletian persecution was at its height, and when priests as well as laymen were apostatizing from the faith, Agnes, a girl of twelve, freely chose to die for Christ. When she was commanded to offer incense to false gods, she raised her hand to Christ and made the Sign of the Cross. When the heathens threatened to bind her hand and foot, she herself hastened to the place of torture as a bride to her wedding feast. Pain had no terror for her--although the fetters slipped from her small hands while even the pagan bystanders were moved to tears.

St. Fabian and St. Sebastian have always been paired together, with their names coupled in the ancient martyrologies, and still paired in the Litany of Saints. The Church today celebrates separate Optional Memorials for Sts. Fabian and Sebastian:

The Roman Martyrology commemorates Sts. Marius (Maris), Martha, Audifax, and Abachum (d. 270), a group of Persian martyrs of the third century who died for the faith in Rome.

Today is Day One of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, January 18-25. The theme for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2026 is taken from Ephesians 4:4, "There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to the one hope of your calling."

The Church celebrates the Memorial of St. Anthony, Abbot (251-356) from the 3rd century. St. Anthony, the Father of the monastics, retired to the desert at about the age of eighteen in order to live in perfect solitude. Many heard about his ascetic life and came to join him in his hermitage, He laid the foundations of community life, and gave to his disciples that profound broad and sane instruction, the mature result of solitude and prayer, which forms the surest basis of Christian asceticism.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates Pope St. Marcellus I (d. 309), who was elected Pope in 308, just at the time when the Emperor Diocletian had spent somewhat his first violence against the Church. In Rome he reorganized the Catholic hierarchy disrupted by the persecution. He was exiled and put to labor. He is considered a martyr as he died in 309 because of his treatment during his exile.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Maurus (512-584), one of the first disciples of St. Benedict. In this son of a patrician Roman family, entrusted by his parents to the father of western monasticism, Benedictine tradition celebrates the perfect monk, and the model of childlike obedience. Many monasteries, particularly in France, adopted him as patron. He died about A.D. 580.

The Roman Martyrology commemorates St. Felix of Nola (d. 255), priest. After his father‘s death, Felix sold off most of his property and possessions, gave the proceeds to the poor, and pursued his vocation as a priest. He was ordained by, and worked with Saint Maximus of Nola. During the persecution of the Emperor Decius, Felix was arrested and beaten for his faith, but was freed by an angel, and managed to hide with St. Maximus until the end of the persecution in 251. Although chosen as bishop of Nola, he declined the position and worked as a farmer the rest of his days, sharing his profits with those poorer than himself. The letters and poetry of Saint Paulinus of Nola is where we have most of the information regarding St. Felix.