• Four Crowned Martyrs: Severus, Severian, Carpophorus, and Victorinus (306). Martyrs. They are patrons of stonemasons, sculptors, and marble workers. (Traditional)
• St. Godfrey (Geoffrey) (1115). Bishop. (Historical)

PROTESTANTISM pretends to regard the veneration which the Church pays to the relics of the Saints as a sin, and contends that this pious practice is a remnant of paganism. The Council of Trent, on the contrary, has decided that the bodies of the martyrs and other saints who were living members of Jesus Christ and temples of the Holy Ghost, are to be honored by the faithful. This decision was based upon the established usage of the earliest days of the Church, and upon the teaching of the Fathers and of the Councils. The Council orders, however, that all abuse of this devotion is to be avoided carefully, and forbids any relics to be exposed which have not been approved by the bishops, and these prelates are recommended to instruct the people faithfully in the teaching of the Church on this subject. While we regret, then, the errors of the impious and of heretics, let us profit by the advantages which we gain by hearkening to the voice of the Church.

WORD OF THE DAY

CREATION. The production of material and spiritual things in their whole substance, done by God and of nothing. God creates out of nothing both because he starts with no pre-existing matter and because he parts with nothing of his own being in the act of creation. Thus creation in the proper sense (first creation) is to be distinguished from the so-called second creation described in Genesis, by which is understood the shaping of formless matter and giving it life and activity.

Modern Catholic Dictionary, Fr. John Hardon SJ (Get the real one at Eternal Life — don’t accept an abridged or edited version of this masterpiece!)