About Today
Saturday 7 February 2026
Saturday of week 4 in Ordinary Time
or Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Let us listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into his peace.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 4. Liturgical Colour: Green.
Saturday memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary
‘On Saturdays in Ordinary Time when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is allowed.
‘Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This memorial derives from Carolingian times (9th century), but the reasons for having chosen Saturday for its observance are unknown. While many explanations of this choice have been advanced, none is completely satisfactory from the point of view of the history of popular piety.
‘Whatever its historical origins may be, today the memorial rightly emphasizes certain values to which contemporary spirituality is more sensitive. It is a remembrance of the maternal example and discipleship of the Blessed Virgin Mary who, strengthened by faith and hope, on that “great Saturday” on which Our Lord lay in the tomb, was the only one of the disciples to hold vigil in expectation of the Lord’s resurrection. It is a prelude and introduction to the celebration of Sunday, the weekly memorial of the Resurrection of Christ. It is a sign that the Virgin Mary is continuously present and operative in the life of the Church.’
Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (2001), §188
Other saints: Saint Mel
Ireland
Saint Mel or Moel died in 488. He is said to have been a Briton who came to Ireland with Saint Patrick, his uncle, with whom he worked until he was ordained in Ardagh. He is one of the earliest Irish saints and gave the religious veil to Saint Brigid. See the article in Wikipedia.
Come away to a desolate place and rest a while
Gospel: Mark 6:30-34
At that time: The Apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognised them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
Reflection on the painting
Today's Gospel reading highlights the importance Jesus placed on rest. After a period of intense mission work, Jesus led his disciples to a secluded place to rest. Despite the abundance of work that awaited them, Jesus knew that taking time to step back from their duties was essential. Our lives too should be more than just constant labour. In fact, the value of rest is emphasised from the very beginning of the Bible. In the first chapter of Genesis, we read that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world in six days. As beings made in God’s image, we need periods of rest alongside our work. Rest allows us to reflect, appreciate our blessings, and observe God's work in our lives. Being too busy all the time might make us lose sight of God.
Flaming June, painted by Frederic, Lord Leighton in 1895, is a quintessential example of Victorian neoclassical art. The painting depicts a beautiful young woman, draped in a vibrant, semi-transparent orange gown, asleep on a marble bench by the sea. She has come away to a lonely place to rest. Her serene pose and the meticulous rendering of the folds of her dress capture a dream-like quality. The brilliance of the orange gown contrasts sharply with the cool marble background and the deep blue sea. The laurel leaves that frame her head suggest a classical reference to ancient Greece, reinforcing the timeless quality of the scene.
The representation of “Flaming June” goes beyond mere aesthetics; it embodies the Victorian ideal of beauty and femininity. The exact inspiration for the painting remains a subject of speculation, but it is widely believed that Leighton intended to capture the fleeting beauty of a moment of rest, frozen in time. The theme of sleep, often associated with death in art history, underscores the transient nature of existence. The peaceful, almost death-like slumber of the woman can be interpreted as a metaphor for the temporary nature of beauty and life itself.
Flaming June,
Painted by Lord Leighton PRA (1830–1896),
Painted in 1895,
Oil on canvas
© Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico; The Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Inc.
Saturday of week 4 in Ordinary Time
or Saturday memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary
Let us listen for the voice of the Lord and enter into his peace.
Year: A(II). Psalm week: 4. Liturgical Colour: Green.
Saturday memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary
‘On Saturdays in Ordinary Time when there is no obligatory memorial, an optional memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary is allowed.
‘Saturdays stand out among those days dedicated to the Virgin Mary. These are designated as memorials of the Blessed Virgin Mary. This memorial derives from Carolingian times (9th century), but the reasons for having chosen Saturday for its observance are unknown. While many explanations of this choice have been advanced, none is completely satisfactory from the point of view of the history of popular piety.
‘Whatever its historical origins may be, today the memorial rightly emphasizes certain values to which contemporary spirituality is more sensitive. It is a remembrance of the maternal example and discipleship of the Blessed Virgin Mary who, strengthened by faith and hope, on that “great Saturday” on which Our Lord lay in the tomb, was the only one of the disciples to hold vigil in expectation of the Lord’s resurrection. It is a prelude and introduction to the celebration of Sunday, the weekly memorial of the Resurrection of Christ. It is a sign that the Virgin Mary is continuously present and operative in the life of the Church.’
Directory on Popular Piety and the Liturgy (2001), §188
Other saints: Saint Mel
Ireland
Saint Mel or Moel died in 488. He is said to have been a Briton who came to Ireland with Saint Patrick, his uncle, with whom he worked until he was ordained in Ardagh. He is one of the earliest Irish saints and gave the religious veil to Saint Brigid. See the article in Wikipedia.
Come away to a desolate place and rest a while
Gospel: Mark 6:30-34
At that time: The Apostles returned to Jesus and told him all that they had done and taught. And he said to them, ‘Come away by yourselves to a desolate place and rest a while.’ For many were coming and going, and they had no leisure even to eat. And they went away in the boat to a desolate place by themselves. Now many saw them going and recognised them, and they ran there on foot from all the towns and got there ahead of them. When he went ashore he saw a great crowd, and he had compassion on them, because they were like sheep without a shepherd. And he began to teach them many things.
Reflection on the painting
Today's Gospel reading highlights the importance Jesus placed on rest. After a period of intense mission work, Jesus led his disciples to a secluded place to rest. Despite the abundance of work that awaited them, Jesus knew that taking time to step back from their duties was essential. Our lives too should be more than just constant labour. In fact, the value of rest is emphasised from the very beginning of the Bible. In the first chapter of Genesis, we read that God rested on the seventh day after creating the world in six days. As beings made in God’s image, we need periods of rest alongside our work. Rest allows us to reflect, appreciate our blessings, and observe God's work in our lives. Being too busy all the time might make us lose sight of God.
Flaming June, painted by Frederic, Lord Leighton in 1895, is a quintessential example of Victorian neoclassical art. The painting depicts a beautiful young woman, draped in a vibrant, semi-transparent orange gown, asleep on a marble bench by the sea. She has come away to a lonely place to rest. Her serene pose and the meticulous rendering of the folds of her dress capture a dream-like quality. The brilliance of the orange gown contrasts sharply with the cool marble background and the deep blue sea. The laurel leaves that frame her head suggest a classical reference to ancient Greece, reinforcing the timeless quality of the scene.
The representation of “Flaming June” goes beyond mere aesthetics; it embodies the Victorian ideal of beauty and femininity. The exact inspiration for the painting remains a subject of speculation, but it is widely believed that Leighton intended to capture the fleeting beauty of a moment of rest, frozen in time. The theme of sleep, often associated with death in art history, underscores the transient nature of existence. The peaceful, almost death-like slumber of the woman can be interpreted as a metaphor for the temporary nature of beauty and life itself.
Flaming June,
Painted by Lord Leighton PRA (1830–1896),
Painted in 1895,
Oil on canvas
© Museo de Arte de Ponce, Puerto Rico; The Luis A. Ferré Foundation, Inc.