Welcome to the traditional Catholic daily devotional.

For Wednesday, June 4th, 2025, is the Feast of St. Francis Caracciola, third class with the color of white.

In this episode, the meditation, preparation for Pentecost.

Today's news from the church, two priests murdered within days of each

other in Kenya, a preview of the sermon, the dangers of set of ecantism, and today's thought

from Archbishop Marcel Lefev. But first the collect of today's Mass. Oh God, who endowed

Blessed Francis, the founder of a new order, with zeal for prayer and love of

penance, grant that your servants may make such progress in imitating him that praying constantly

and bringing their bodies under control, they may be found worthy to attain heavenly glory.

Today's saint began life with a very different name and a very different future.

Ascanio Caracciolo was born in 1563 to a noble family in Naples.

By all accounts, he was set for success, intelligent, well connected, and from an early age drawn to prayer.

But his life took a dramatic turn when he contracted a serious skin disease that left him disfigured

and facing death.

In the middle of that suffering, Asconio made a vow that once healed, he would dedicate his

life to the Lord.

He recovered completely.

And true to his word, he left behind his inheritance, his name,

an all-worldly ambition.

He became a priest and took the name Francis, after the poor man of Assisi.

But Francis Caracciolo wasn't just called to personal holiness.

He was also called to reform.

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