Welcome to the traditional Catholic daily devotional.

Today's Tuesday, March 18th, 2025, the Tuesday of the second week of Lent,

with a commemoration of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, third class with the color of violet.

In this episode, the meditation 40 steps to Easter, and St. Joseph's Fidelity to Grace.

Today's news from the church, the Jubilee pilgrimage to

Pire Le Maniol, and today's thought from Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. But first, the collect of

today's Mass. Mercifully perfect within us, we beseech the O Lord, the aid given us by this holy

observance, that what, by thine instruction we know we should do, by thine

assistance, we may do it. Imagine standing in a church built by Emperor Constantine himself,

right on Mount Calvary, hearing a bishop explain the mysteries of the faith. That's exactly what

happened in the 4th century when St. Cyril of Jerusalem gave some of the earliest recorded

teachings on the

creed and the sacraments. His words were clear, powerful, and deeply rooted in Scripture,

so much so that we still have them today. Cyril became Bishop of Jerusalem at a time of turmoil.

Heresies were spreading, and the Roman Emperor Julian the Apostate was determined to undermine Christianity.

He even tried to rebuild the Jewish temple, thinking that he could disprove Jesus' prophecy that not one stone would stand upon another.

But according to both Christian and pagan sources, fire erupted from the ground, stopping the construction in its tracks.

Cyril had predicted it.

The word of God abides, he said. Through all the political and religious upheaval, Cyril held firm. He was exiled multiple times, but always returned, never backing down from defending the truth.

He was there at the Second Council of Constantinople helping to shape the

church teaching. After 35 years as a bishop, he died in peace in 386. His story reminds us that

no matter the opposition, the truth of Christ will always stand. St. Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us.

...