January 7
St Raymond of Penyafort
Canada : St. André Bessette, religious
Feast shown for the year 2027; movable feasts can vary from year to year.
St Raymond of Penyafort was a Spanish Dominican friar and priest who lived in the 13th century and is renowned for his immense contribution to canon law. Born near Barcelona, he joined the Order of Preachers (Dominicans), where he became known for his wisdom, learning, and pastoral charity. Raymond was appointed as the Master of the Order and later served as confessor to the pope. Perhaps his greatest legacy is the compilation of the 'Decretals of Gregory IX', a major codification of ecclesiastical laws that served the Church for centuries and brought clarity and organization to Church governance. St Raymond was also known for his dedication to the sacrament of Reconciliation, for his pastoral care, and his commitment to preaching. He strongly promoted the mission of preaching to non-Christians, especially in Spain and North Africa, encouraging the study of languages to better evangelize. Tradition recalls instances of his humility and trust in God, including a famous story about miraculously crossing the sea to return to Barcelona. The Church honors St Raymond of Penyafort to celebrate his role as a model of charity, scholarship, and tireless service, particularly in the administration of justice and reconciliation.
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Local variations
- Canada — St. André Bessette, religious
Liturgical texts of January 7, 2027
The liturgical day
Mass readings
Reading1 Jn 4, 19 – 5, 4
Beloved,
we love
because God himself loved us first.
If someone says, "I love God,"
but hates his brother,
he is a liar.
Indeed, whoever does not love his brother whom he sees
is incapable of loving God, whom he does not see.
And here is the commandment we have from him:
whoever loves God
must also love his brother.
Whoever believes that Jesus is the Christ,
that one is born of God;
whoever loves the Father who begot
also loves the Son who is born of him.
This is how we know
that we love the children of God:
when we love God
and keep his commandments.
For this is the love of God:
to keep his commandments;
and his commandments are not burdensome,
since everyone who is born of God
is victorious over the world.
And the victory that conquers the world
is our faith.
– The word of the Lord.
Psalm71 (72), 1-2, 14.15bc, 17
O God, give your judgment to the king,
your justice to a king's son.
Let him govern your people with justice,
and your poor with right judgment!
He redeems them from oppression and violence;
their blood is precious in his eyes.
Prayer will be made for him without ceasing;
and all day long he shall be blessed.
May his name endure forever;
may his name be lasting under the sun!
In him may all the families of the earth be blessed;
may all the nations declare him happy!
GospelLc 4, 14-22a
At that time,
when Jesus, in the power of the Spirit,
returned to Galilee,
his fame spread throughout the whole region.
He taught in their synagogues,
and everyone praised him.
He came to Nazareth, where he had grown up.
As was his custom, he entered the synagogue on the Sabbath day,
and he stood up to read.
The book of the prophet Isaiah was handed to him.
He unrolled the scroll and found the place where it is written:
The Spirit of the Lord is upon me
because he has anointed me.
He has sent me to bring the Good News to the poor,
to proclaim liberty to captives,
and to the blind, that they will recover their sight,
to set free the oppressed,
to proclaim a year of favor
granted by the Lord.
Jesus rolled up the scroll, gave it back to the attendant and sat down.
The eyes of all in the synagogue were fixed on him.
Then he began to say to them:
"Today this passage of Scripture
which you have just heard is fulfilled."
All bore witness to him
and were amazed at the gracious words that came from his mouth.
– Let us acclaim the word of God.
Liturgical texts: © AELF — aelf.org