MEMORIAL OF SAINT HYGINUS, POPE; SAINT THEODOSIUS, ABBOT AND SAINT PAULINUS, PATRIARCH OF AQUILEIA

FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 11, 2024

Greetings beloved family and Happy Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time!

Today, we continue to pray for God’s grace and mercy upon us through this Ordinary Time, and may the Lord grant us the grace to serve Him in spirit and in truth🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on Thursday, January 11, 2024 on EWTN” |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | January 11, 2024 |

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Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday, January 11, 2024
Reading 1, First Samuel 4:1-11
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 44:10-11, 14-15, 25-26
Gospel, Mark 1:40-45

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY – MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS: The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. After the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph and told him that the Child’s name should be called Jesus, meaning “God Saves.” According to Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth a male child was to be circumcised, receive his name, and become a full member of God’s covenant people. According to the old Roman liturgical calendar, the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus was celebrated on January 1st, eight days after Christmas, the same day that He was given His sacred name. Currently we celebrate the Solemnity of the Mother of God on January 1st and honor the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd. For Catholics, Jesus’ sacred name is the object of a special devotion symbolized by the monogram “IHS,” (sometimes called a Christogram), which is the first three letters of the Greek spelling of His name.

On this feast day, we continue to remember our beloved late Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI on the first memorial anniversary of his death. We pray for the repose of his gentle soul and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May the gentle soul of Pope Benedict XVI and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

Please let us continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen🙏

A PRAYER FOR PEACE: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen 🙏

Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Hyginus, Pope; Saint Theodosius, Abbot and Saint Paulinus, Patriarch of Aquileia.

SAINT HYGINUS, POPE: St. Hyginus was a philosopher born in Athens and became the ninth Pope circa 138. He reigned about 138-142; succeeded Pope Telesphorus, who, according to Eusebius died during the first year of the reign of the Emperor Antonius Pius in 138. During the four years of his pontificate (138-142), St. Hyginus had to oppose the heresy of Valentinus who at this period came to propagate his errors in the heart of the Christian community in Rome. He organized church hierarchy of the Clergy and established the order of ecclesiastical precedence among priests and deacons. It is likely that he addressed the Roman Clergy on the subjects of sin in general and of obedience to the Church.

The emergence of Gnosticism is probably the most significant development of Hyginus’ pontificate. According to Irenaeus, the Gnostic Valentinus came to Rome from Egypt in Hyginus’s time, remaining there until Anicetus became pontiff. Cerdo, another Gnostic and predecessor of Marcion, came from Syria and also lived at Rome in the reign of Hyginus. Together they taught this system of mystical belief, which was a combination of Greek philosophy and Oriental superstitions regarding Christ. For years Cerdo vacillated between teaching error and repenting, returning to the Church, then falling from grace, he fell back into the heresies and was expelled from the Church. Valentinus, however, staunchly defended his cause. Hyginus perceived this as heresy, for it deviated greatly from the true teachings of the Apostles. Pope St. Hyginus was said to have suffered gloriously and died four years into his papacy and buried on the Vatican Hill near the tomb of St. Peter.

Saint Hyginus, Pope ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT THEODOSIUS, ABBOT: St. Theodosius (423-529) was born to a pious family in 423 A.D., at Cappadocia in the village of Magarisso. Theodosius began his studies at an early age, and became a lector while still an adolescent. St. Theodosius was so inspired by Abraham’s example of leaving his loved ones and homeland for God that he left his homeland of Cappadocia to make a pilgrimage to Jerusalem. He met Saint Simeon Stylites in Antioch, and Simeon recognized him as a holy man and leader, and invited Theodosius onto his pillar for prayer, blessing, and advice. He then traveled to Jerusalem where legend says he worked with Saint Longinus, who would have been nearly 500 years old at the time. After a time, he was given charge of a small church near Bethlehem, however his time there did not last long. Dreading the vanity that comes from the esteem of men and unable to live in solitude with the multitude of admirers, he retired to a cave in the desert of Judah where he led a hermit’s life. Word of his holiness began to attract disciples, and Theodosius built a monastery at Cathismus to house them. So many came that there had to be sections built for Greeks, for Armenians, for Persions, etc., but they all happily worked and prayed together. Next to the monastery he built a hospital for the sick, a hospice for the aged, and a mental hospital. He became a friend of and co-worker with Saint Sabbas, and was later appointed visitor to all cenobitical communities of Palestine, the patriarch of Jerusalem.

He opposed heresies, including Eutychianism and Monophysitism. Emperor Anastatius was a supporter of Eutychianism and Emperor Anastasius was persecuting Christians who did not accept the Eutychian heresy, which states that Christ has only one nature, St. Theodosius preached orthodoxy throughout Palestine, even stating from the pulpit in Jerusalem: “If anyone receives not the four general councils as the four gospels, let him be anathema.” The Saint renewed the courage of those in whom the Emperor’s edicts had instilled fear. Emperor Anastatius, once sent Theodosius a large bribe, hoping to sway the influential monk to his thinking, however Theodosius distributed the money to the poor, and continued to preach against heresy. Because of his orthodox views, Anastatius removed him from his position in 513 and banished but he soon resumed his duties under Anastasius’ successor, Emperor Justinian. St. Theodosius, the holy abbot who after having endured great sufferings for the Catholic faith suffered a long and painful illness and refused to pray to be cured, calling it a salutary penance for his former successes. He took his rest in peace at the monastery which he had erected on a lonely hill in the diocese of Jerusalem at the age of a hundred and six (106);  many miracles occurred at his funeral. He’s the Patron Saint of file-makers.

PRAYER: “God of strength, grant me courage to live out the vision of the good life that you have planted in me. Help me to be strong in doing right in the face of opposition.”Amen🙏

SAINT PAULINUS, PATRIARCH OF AQUILEIA: St. Paulinus was born about 726 on a country farm in Premariacco near Cividale del Friuli, Italy. He spent his youth tilling the soil for engage in scholarly pursuits. So adept did he became at these pursuits that he gained a reputation as a grammarian and professor, and was invited by Charlemagne to come to his court, around 776. Here he met the noted Alcuin of York, and the two became fast friends.

In 787, the Emperor appointed Paulinus Patriarch of Aquileia near his birthplace in northern Italy, and he gave great luster to that Church by his outstanding zeal, solid piety, and extraordinary talents. He attended all the great councils that were convoked in his day, and he himself called a synod at Friuli in 791 (or 796) to combat the errors than circulating against the mystery of the Incarnation. He even wrote two tracts against the more serious of these errors, Adoptionism, which maintained that Christ as man is only the adoptive Son of God. He also wrote hymns, poems, and other works.

When Pepin conquered the Avars, St. Paulinus immediately dispatched missionaries to convert these pagans who were now accessible to the Faith. However, he vigorously condemned the practice that in vogue of baptizing uninstructed converts or imposing Faith by force on unwilling ones. On January 11, 802, the earthly life of this holy man came to an end. Died of natural causes and relics are under the altar of the crypt of the basilica of Cividale del Friuli, Italy

PRAYER: God, You made St. Paulinus an outstanding exemplar of Divine love and the Faith that conquers the world, and added him to the roll of saintly Pastors. Grant by his intercession that we may persevere in Faith and love and become sharers of his glory. Amen🙏

Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints, on this feast day, we humbly pray and thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! We pray for all mothers and those seeking for the fruit of the womb, may God answer their prayers and bless them with gifts of children just as He did for Hannah. May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. We pray for peace, love and unity in our marriages, our families and our world today, as we face these incredibly challenging times. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the sick and dying, especially sick children, those who are mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for an end to wars, political and religious unrest. We pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed and for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world… Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Thursday of the First Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 1:40-45

“The leprosy left him, and he was made clean”

“A leper came to him and kneeling down begged him and said, “If you wish, you can make me clean.” Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand, touched the leper, and said to him, “I do will it. Be made clean.” The leprosy left him immediately, and he was made clean. Then, warning him sternly, he dismissed him at once. Then he said to him, “See that you tell no one anything, but go, show yourself to the priest and offer for your cleansing what Moses prescribed; that will be proof for them.” The man went away and began to publicize the whole matter. He spread the report abroad so that it was impossible for Jesus to enter a town openly. He remained outside in deserted places, and people kept coming to him from everywhere.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus heals a leper. A leper in the time of Jesus was someone who lived in places where nobody lived. Lepers lived outside the community with only each other for company. For a leper to approach Jesus for healing was a very daring thing to do; he was doing something that was forbidden. For Jesus to respond to the leper’s plea by touching him was also a very daring thing to do. Lepers were the untouchables. In touching the leper, Jesus did what no one else would have done. For obvious reasons, people kept lepers at a distance, and lepers were expected to keep their distance from others. Jesus, however, kept no one at a distance, not even lepers. No one was beyond His reach; no one was untouchable. He came to touch our lives in a very tangible way, all of our lives, regardless of our condition. The leper wasn’t sure whether Jesus wanted to heal him, as is clear from his opening words to Jesus, ‘If you want to, you can cure me’. Jesus showed He wanted to heal him, by touching him. Jesus wants to touch all of our lives, because He wants to bring life to us all. Nothing we do or fail to do, no circumstance in which we find ourselves, need place us beyond His reach. As St. Paul says in his letter to the Romans, ‘nothing can come between us and the love of God made visible in Christ Jesus’. The Lord touches our lives, where we are, as we are. All we need is something of the leper’s daring initiative in approaching Jesus.

According to the Gospel reading, while the Lord healed the leper and made him healthy again, He told the leper that he should not speak of anything regarding his healing and all that happened to anyone, but just showing himself to the priests in accordance to the Law of God. The man did not listen to the Lord and spoke to everyone freely regarding his healing and what had happened to him against Jesus wishes. The leper’s action caused a very great problem for the Lord, Who then had to hide away and stay out of the towns. Jesus Himself had to stay in places where nobody lived. In other words, as a result of His healing the leper, Jesus went on to experience the isolation of the leper. Jesus gave life to others at great cost to Himself. Sometimes our own service of others can take a lot out of us; we may be tempted, as a result, to pull back. However, the example of Jesus inspires us to keep serving, trusting that God will bless us because of our service, in God’s own time.

Our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Samuel, details the story of the struggles between the Israelites and the Philistines. At that time, the Philistines were ravaging through the lands of the Israelites, raiding and attacking through the towns and villages of Israel, and putting the Israelites under their dominion. But under the Judge Samson, the Israelites had struggled and thrown the yoke of the Philistines, although as shown, the Israelites and the Philistines were still struggling for dominance, which led to this account on what happened at the Battle of Aphek. At that great battle between the Israelites and the Philistines, the Israelites were beaten after a fierce fighting, and the elders of the Israelites argued that if they were to bring the Ark of the Covenant with them into the battle, then God would fight by their side, and win the battle for them. However, this decision backfired as not only that the Israelites were defeated and crushed a second time after their first defeat, but the Ark of the Covenant itself was taken and seized by the Philistines. It was truly a great disaster for the Israelites, who were not just humiliated, but had their most important possession and relic, the very Ark of God’s Holy Presence, seized by their bitter enemies. It was also mentioned that Hophni and Phinehas, the two wicked sons of Eli, were killed in battle, which probably gave us more insight on what happened and the circumstances of that time. Both of them were priests and successors of Eli, who was Judge, Priest and Leader of the people, and their actions as recorded in the Scriptures, were truly full of wickedness and evil. They disobeyed the Lord, His Law and commandments, corrupt in their deeds and actions. The two of them tweaked the rules and regulations, for their own selfish benefits, and to satisfy their greed. They took the holy offerings that were supposed to be reserved for the Lord alone for themselves, and hence profaned the sanctity of God’s House and the offerings presented to Him, essentially committing great sin and blasphemy against Him. Therefore, the defeat of the Israelites at the Battle of Aphek, the seizure of the Ark of the Covenant and the deaths of the two sons of Eli can indeed be seen as a sign of clear Divine displeasure and anger against the wickedness of those whom the Lord had entrusted with the leadership and guidance over all of His people. Thus, their sins and wickedness had led to that great defeat and humiliation for the people of Israel. After all, they had chosen to put their trust in worldly desires and wealth, rather than in God.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded that we should obey the Lord and His commandments and Law, and not harden our hearts and minds against Him as many of us and our ancestors and predecessors had done. Many of us and our predecessors had been stubborn in living our lives the way we wanted it, even against the Law and commandments of God, living in the state of sin. And this is where we are reminded and called again to turn towards the Lord full of faith and love for Him, and obedience to His words and will so that each and every one of us may always be firmly attached to His path, and will always grow ever closer to Him as we continue to proceed through life. The Scripture readings reminds us of the virtue of obedience, and how important it is in our lives as Christians. It is through obedience that Christ has saved us all from our impending death and destruction, and by His obedience to His Father’s will, He has reached out to us, suffering for us, and healing us from our afflictions. Meanwhile, the two wicked sons of Eli and many others had disobeyed the Lord, including that healed leper as well, causing hardships, challenges and troubles for others. As Christians, it is clear that we are all called to obedience, and to put our faith and trust fully in the Lord, and not to be easily swayed by the whim of worldly temptations, pressures or any kinds of coercions present all around us. Let us all therefore do our best so that our lives may truly be enriched with faith and be truly obedient to the will of God, in obeying His Law and commandments. May the Lord continue to guide us and strengthen us, and may He empower each and every one of us to live ever more worthily each day, following His Law and commandments. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may He strengthen and encourage us in our faith, and help us to grow ever stronger in our love and devotion for Him, and may God bless all of us in our every efforts and endeavours, in our every good works and deeds, now and always. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

My divine Lord, help me to see that which is within me that most harms my relationships with others. Help me to see that which causes isolation and hurt. Give me the humility to see this and the trust I need to turn to You to confess it and seek Your healing. You and You alone can free me from my sin, so I turn to You in confidence and surrender. With faith, I also await Your healing words, “I do will it. Be made clean.” Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Hyginus; Saint Theodosius and Saint Paulinus ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this new year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all as we begin this Ordinary Time. Wishing all of us a most blessed, safe, healthy, prosperous and grace-filled New Year! Amen🙏

Blessings and  love always, Philomena💖