Welcome to the traditional Catholic daily devotional.

Today's Saturday, April 12th, 2025, the Saturday in Passion Week, third class with the color of violet.

In this episode, Mary and the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, the meditation 40 steps

to Easter, and today's thought from Archbishop Marcel O'fev. But first, the collect of today's

Mass. Grant we beseech the Almighty God that we, who devoutly keep the sacred observances year by

year, may be pleasing to you both in body and in soul.

Pope St. Julius I may not be a household name, but in the fourth century he stood like

a rock in the stormy sea of heresy and division threatening the early church.

Born in Rome, Julius was elected Pope in 337 during one of the most turbulent theological battles in church history, the Aryan crisis.

The Aryans, who denied the full divinity of Christ, were aggressively spreading their teaching across the Eastern Church.

They even launched attacks against St. Athanasius, the outspoken bishop of Alexandria, and champion of orthodoxy.

They thought Rome might be an easy win,

so they sent delegates to Pope Julius, expecting support, or at least neutrality. But Julius didn't

play along. Following proper procedure, he invited Athanasius to defend himself, and after a careful

review, Julius declared him innocent. When the Aryans pushed for a council, Julius agreed and held one in Rome in 341,

but the Aryans ditched it and held their own rival gathering in Antioch.

Despite this shady maneuvering, Julius held firm.

He saw through their excuses, reaffirmed Athanasius in his rightful place,

and even took the opportunity to write a letter to the Eastern bishops, a masterful defense of church order and

justice. Julius didn't stop there. He urged the emperors of East and West to convene a broader

council to settle the chaos. The council of Sartica held in 347 vindicated Athanasaceous again and laid down canons that affirmed Rome's authority in settling disputes, setting a precedent that would echo through church history.

St. Julius reigned for 15 years, dying in 352. Through it all, he showed steady leadership, clear reasoning, and a deep love for truth.

...