Sunday 9 January

In the traditional Roman Rite today is the celebration of the Feast of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary, and Joseph. The collect prays Lord Jesus Christ, Who in the days of Thy subjection to Mary and Joseph didst hallow the life of the home with virtues beyond all telling, cause us, by the help of them both, to learn from the example of Thy holy family and to share its everlasting bliss: Thou who art God, living and reigning. Amen.

The traditional Roman Rite continues with Epiphanytide for another two weeks until Septuagesima Sunday on 23 January. But in the Pauline rite Christmas and Epiphanytide come to a screeching halt with today's celebration of the Feast of the Baptism of the Lord. Tomorrow "ordinary time" for this year begins.

Were this not a Sunday, it would be the feast of St Andrew Corsini in the Carmelite calendar. Like St Augustine, Andrew spent his early youth following the devices and desires of his own heart and was only brought back to a Godly, righteous and sober life by the prayers of his mother. Apparently he was easier to convince than St Augustine, as he became a Carmelite friar at the age of 15. Eventually he was named bishop of Fiesole. The Catholic Encyclopaedia gives his life here. A meditation by Our Holy Father, Pope John Paul II on the life of St Andrew given on the 700th anniversary of his birh can be found here.