Daybreak for July 4, 2026
Daybreak
* Saturday of the 13th Week in Ordinary Time * Independence Day in the U.S. * Optional Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal, 1271-1336; given in marriage at the age of 12 to Denis, king of Portugal; she helped pilgrims, strangers, the sick, the poor—in a word, all those whose need came to her notice; Elizabeth of Portugal long sought peace for her husband with God, and was finally rewarded when he gave up his life of sin; after the death of her husband, Elizabeth retired as a Franciscan tertiary to the monastery of the Poor Clares in Coimbra; from there, she brought about a lasting peace between her son Alfonso, now king of Portugal, and his son-in-law, the king of Castile * Office of Readings and Morning Prayer for 7/4/26 * Gospel: Matthew 9:14-17