It's a
Feria / St. Benedict Labre,
4th Class, with the color of
White. In this episode: the meditation: "A Life of Fraternal Charity", today's news from the Church: "Notre-Dame de Paris: Seven Years Later", a preview of the Sermon: "The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Answers to Objections", and today's thought from the Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre.
Have feedback or questions about the DD or our other shows?
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Sources Used Today:
- "A Life of Fraternal Charity" — Eastertide Day by Day
- "Notre-Dame de Paris: Seven Years Later" (FSSPX.news)
- "The Resurrection of Jesus Christ: Answers to Objections" (SSPX Sermons)
- The Spiritual Life — Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre (Angelus Press)
Saint Benedict Joseph Labre is one of the most unusual saints of the Church, a man who embraced poverty so completely that he lived as a pilgrim and beggar, wandering from shrine to shrine in search of God alone. He was born in 1748 in Amettes, France, the eldest of many children in a devout family. From a young age, he showed a desire for religious life and attempted to enter several monasteries, including the Carthusians and Trappists. Each time, however, he was turned away, often because of his fragile health or unsuitability for communal life.
What might have seemed like failure became, for Benedict, a new calling. Instead of the cloister, he embraced a life of continual pilgrimage. He traveled on foot across France and Italy, visiting holy sites such as Rome, Assisi, and Loreto. He owned almost nothing, wore tattered clothing, and depended entirely on alms. Outwardly, he appeared as one of the poorest of the poor, often overlooked or even despised.
Yet beneath this exterior was a soul deeply united to God. Benedict spent long hours in prayer, often remaining in churches or near shrines in quiet contemplation. He frequently examined his conscience, practiced penance, and sought to detach himself completely from worldly comforts. Those who observed him more closely recognized a profound holiness. He bore suffering with patience, accepted rejection without complaint, and radiated a quiet peace.
In Rome, he became a familiar figure, often seen near churches such as Santa Maria dei Monti, where he would pray for extended periods. Though he avoided attention, people began to seek him out for his prayers, sensing that he was close to God. He died there in 1783, collapsing in the street after a life of complete poverty. Almost immediately, he was venerated by the people of Rome as a saint.
Devotion to Saint Benedict Joseph Labre has remained especially strong among those who live on the margins of society. He is honored as a patron of the homeless, pilgrims, and those who struggle with rejection or instability. His feast day on April 16 is observed with special prayers for those in need and for the grace of detachment.
In some places, he is remembered as a model of radical trust in divine providence, reminding the faithful that holiness is not limited to structured paths, but can be found wherever a soul seeks God with sincerity.
Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, humble pilgrim and faithful servant of Christ, pray for us.
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The SSPX Podcast is produced by Angelus Press, which has as its mission the fortification of traditional Catholics so that they can defend the Faith, and reaching out to those who have not yet found Tradition.
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The main goal of the Society of Saint Pius X is to preserve the Catholic Faith in its fullness and purity, to teach its truths, and to diffuse its virtues, especially through the Roman Catholic priesthood.
Authentic spiritual life, the sacraments, and the traditional liturgy are its primary means of bringing this life of grace to souls.
Although the traditional Latin Mass is the most visible and public expression of the work of the Society, we are committed to defending Catholic Tradition in its entirety: all of Catholic doctrine and morals as the Church has always defended them. What people need is the Catholic Faith, without compromise, with all the truth and beauty which accompanies it.
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