MEMORIAL OF SAINTS SOTER AND CAIUS, POPES AND

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: APRIL 22, 2024

MEMORIAL OF SAINTS SOTER AND CAIUS, POPES AND MARTYRS; SAINT LEONIDES, MARTYR AND SAINTS EPIPODIUS AND ALEXANDER, MARTYRS

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter!

We continue to celebrate and rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. May God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this Easter season and always🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | April 22, 2024” |

Pray “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | April 22, 2024 !

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | April 22, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | April 22, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | April 22, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday, April 22, 2024
Reading 1, Acts 11:1-18
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 42:2-3; 43:3, 4
Gospel, John 10:1-10

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF APRIL – MONTH OF THE HOLY EUCHARIST: The month of April is traditionally dedicated to devotion to Jesus in the sacrament of the Holy Eucharist. The Catholic Church teaches that the Blessed Sacrament is the real and living presence of Christ—His Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity—received into our souls with every reception of Holy Communion. Our Eucharistic Lord is the source and summit of our Christian life, the ultimate proof of His infinite love for us.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL – FOR THE ROLE OF WOMEN: We pray that the dignity and immense value of women be recognized in every culture, and for the end of discrimination that they experience in different parts of the world. 🙏

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls 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 their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… 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🙏

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

As we continue to rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Soter and Caius, Popes and Martyrs; Saint Leonides, Martyr and Saints Epipodius and Alexander, Martyrs. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners and for Christians all over the world. We also pray for bachelors, victims of betrayal and torture and for the poor and the needy, especially during these incredibly challenging times.🙏

SAINTS SOTER AND CAIUS, POPES AND MARTYRS

SAINT SOTER, POPE, MARTYR: Saint Soter, Pope (c. 174-175 A.D.) was the twelfth bishop of Rome. He was of Greek origin, though born in Fondi, Italy. He reigned as Pope from 166-175. Saint Soter is known for declaring that marriage was valid only as a sacrament blessed by a priest and also for formally inaugurating Easter as an annual festival in Rome. He was attentive to the needs of Christians and the east, and his pontificate was marked by works of charity and care for the poor. He fought against Montanism, and regulated the order of deaconesses. Saint Soter was raised to the papacy upon the death of Saint Anicetus in 161. By the sweetness of his discourses he comforted all afflicted persons with the tenderness of a father, and assisted the indigent with liberal alms, especially those who suffered for the Faith. He liberally extended his charities, according to the custom of his predecessors, to remote churches. He aided in particular that of Corinth, to which he addressed an excellent letter. Saint Dionysius of Corinth in his letter of thanks to Saint Soter, adds that the Pontifical letter together with the letter of Saint Clement, Pope, was read for the edification of the faithful on Sundays, during their assemblies to celebrate the divine mysteries. One of Saint Soter’s ordinances required all Christians except those in public penance to receive Communion on Holy Thursday. Saint Soter vigorously opposed the heresy of Montanus, and governed the Church up to the year 175. He was martyred on April 22, 175, under the emperor Marcus Aurelius, and buried on the Appian Way in the catacombs of St. Callixtus. His feast day is April 22nd.

SAINT CAIUS, POPE, MARTYR: Saint Caius, Pope was born in the Dalmatian city of Salona, to a noble family, possibly related to the emperor Diocletian. He was Pope  for 13 years, reigned from 283 to 296, and may have been the uncle of St Susanna. He fought against emerging heresies and gave definitive structure to the lower orders of the episcopate. Pope Saint Caius, though a relative of the emperor Diocletian, him or his family were not spared during the bloody persecution of the years 283 to 296, during which the Christians of Rome were obliged to conceal themselves in caverns and cemeteries. Saint Caius counseled a patrician named Chromatius to receive the tracked disciples of Christ in his country residence. He himself went to visit them on a Sunday, and said to the faithful assembled there that Our Lord Jesus Christ, knowing the fragility of human nature, established two degrees in the practice of Christianity, confession and martyrdom. Our Saviour did so, he said, so that those who do not believe they could stand up under torment, may nonetheless conserve the grace of the faith by their confession. Our Lord had indeed specified, When you are persecuted in one city, flee to another… Then he said, Those who wish to stay in the house of Chromatius, remain with Tiburtius, while those who prefer to return with me to the city, come. Several followed him back to Rome; among them are the martyrs of the same persecution, the brothers Saints Marcus and Marcellinus, and Saint Sebastian. Saint Caius himself received the crown of martyrdom in the final year of the persecution, 296, and was buried in the cemetery of St. Callixtus, where his body was found in 1622, with an inscription identifying him as Vicar of Christ. His feast day is April 22nd.

Both St. Soter and St. Caius are buried in the cemetery of St. Calixtus and are venerated on the date of the death of Pope St. Caius.

PRAYER: O God, who to pasture your people filled the Bishops blessed Soter and Caius with a spirit of truth and of love, grant that, as we celebrate their feast day with honor, we may benefit by imitating them and be given relief through their intercession. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever… Amen🙏

SAINT LEONIDES, MARTYR: The Emperor Severus, in the year 202, the tenth of his reign, raised a bloody persecution which filled the entire empire with martyrs, but especially Egypt. The most illustrious of those who by their triumphs ennobled and edified the city of Alexandria was Leonides, father of the great Origen. He was a Christian philosopher and excellently versed both in the profane and sacred sciences. He had seven sons; the eldest was Origen, whom he brought up with very great care, returning thanks to God for having blessed him with a son of such an excellent disposition for learning, and so remarkable a piety. After his son was baptized, he would come to his bedside while he was asleep and, bending over the child, would kiss his breast respectfully, as the temple of the Holy Spirit.

When the persecution reached Alexandria in 202, under Laetus, governor of Egypt, Leonides was cast into prison. Origen, who was then only seventeen years of age, burned with a fervent desire for martyrdom, and sought every opportunity of facing it. His ardor redoubled at the sight of his father’s chains, and his mother was forced to lock up all his clothes to oblige him to stay at home. She conjured him not to forsake her; thus, unable to do more, he wrote a letter to his father in very moving terms, strongly exhorting him to look at the crown that was offered him with courage and joy. He added this exhortation: Take heed that for our sakes you do not change your mind! Leonides was indeed beheaded for the faith in 202. He’s the Patron Saint of Large families. His feast day is April 22nd.

Saint Leonides, Martyr ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINTS EPIPODIUS AND ALEXANDER, MARTYRS: Sts Epipodius and Alexander, Martyrs, were two Christian young men of Lyon, both unmarried and of good position. St. Epipodius was a native of Lyon, while St. Alexander was said to be a native of Phrygia, and a physician by profession. They were both martyred during the reign of Marcus Aurelius. During the fierce persecution of Marcus Aurelius in that city (178), they were arrested, imprisoned, and finally brought before the governor. Their ready acknowledgment of being Christians elicited astonishment of the governor who was well aware of the fierce tortures and executions that had already been meted out to Christians. However, the governor was not deterred in carrying out his task. He separated the two and attempted to cajole St. Epipodius (the younger of them) to abandon his Faith. But the loyal youth continued to profess it. Then he was stretched out on a rack and his sides were rent by iron claws. He was finally beheaded.

Two days later, it was St. Alexander’s turn. Instead of being frightened by the reminder of his companion’s fate, he thanked God for his example and expressed a firm desire to join him. He was scourged unmercifully but stood fast in the Faith. Finally, he was sentenced to be crucified, and the moment his battered body was fastened to the cross he passed on to his heavenly reward. St. Epipodius is the patron saint of bachelors, victims of betrayal, and victims of torture. Saints Epipodius and Alexander are great intercessors for anyone who has felt the coldness of betrayal.

PRAYER: May the prayers of Sts. Epipodius and Alexander make us pleasing to You, Lord, and strengthen us in professing Your truth. Amen🙏

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We 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! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth during this Easter Season. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying. We particularly pray for sick children, those who are sick with convulsive disorder, mental illness, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families, for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle 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 their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. 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. 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, Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ John 10:1-10

“I am the gate for the sheep”

“Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of Himself as the gate. Jesus uses an image drawn from the rural life of Galilee. There is a sheepfold or sheep pen. The sheep enter the sheepfold through the gate at night for protection. In the morning the shepherd enters the sheepfold through the gate and calls the sheep to follow him back out through the gate to pasture. Jesus identifies Himself with two elements of that image, firstly with the gate, and then with the shepherd. The sheep go through the gate at night for protection and go through the gate in the morning for pasture. In this way the gate is both life-protecting and life-sustaining. This is the sense in which Jesus applies ‘the gate’ to Himself. ‘I am the gate’. If we pass through Him, if we interact with Him, He both protects us and sustains our life. He protects in that He delivers us from evil, in the words of the Lord’s Prayer, and from the evil one who stands behind all evil. He sustains our life in that He works to give us life to the full, a sharing in God’s own life. God’s life is a life of love. Jesus sustains our life by working to make us as loving as God is loving. To the extent that we love as God loves we already share in God’s life, here and now in this earthly life. Jesus is the gate who both protects and sustains our life. That is why He calls on us to keep entering through Him, to keep interacting with Him, to keep growing in our relationship with Him. Far from getting in God’s way, Jesus was the gate through whom God came to people and they came to God. Jesus is the open gate onto God. People can go freely in and out through Him and experience the life of God. As Jesus says in the Gospel reading, ‘I have come that they may have life and have it to the full’. There is a sense in which we all share in that role of Jesus to be the gate. We too are called to be openings for God, people through whom God can enter people’s lives, just as the Spirit of God entered the lives of Cornelius and his household through St. Peter in the first reading. At the very least, this will mean, in the words of St. Peter, not standing in God’s way. We have a role to play in each other’s lives but we also have to leave room for God to work. There is a time to be the shepherd and a time to be the gate.

In today’s first reading, Peter asks the question, ‘Who am I to stand in God’s way?’ When the Holy Spirit came down upon the pagan Cornelius and his household Peter realized that God was doing something in the lives of these pagans and, at the very least, Peter’s role was not to get in the way of what God was doing. Today’s first reading suggests that the Holy Spirit was always one step ahead of the early church. The first Christians were Jews and there was a natural reluctance among them to eat food that was considered unclean in their tradition, and there was an even stronger reluctance to visit the homes of pagans. However, in today’s reading, Peter has a vision in which he is told to regard no food as unclean. Immediately afterwards, the Spirit prompted St. Peter to do something he would not have done if left to himself, namely to go to the home of a pagan so as to witness to the Lord. When Peter went to this home and preached, something happened that Peter never would have expected. The Holy Spirit came down on the members of this pagan household in the same way that the Spirit had come down upon Jesus’ Jewish followers at the first Pentecost. Peter and the rest of the early church were being led by the Holy Spirit in directions they had not expected. The Holy Spirit is one step ahead of the church in every age. We are always trying to keep up with where the Spirit is leading us. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of Himself as the gate and calls on us to enter through Him. However, today’s first reading suggests that Jesus is not a gate in any static or fixed way. Jesus, the gate, like the Spirit, is always ahead of us. We are always having to discern what it means to go through Jesus the gate. We have to keep searching for the gate that Jesus wants us to go through. It is often an unexpected gate, as Peter learned when the Spirit prompted him to go through the gate of a pagan house. We always need to be open to the Lord’s guidance. He often calls on us to go through a gate, that is new. We need to pray, in the words of today’s responsorial psalm, ‘O send forth your light and your truth; let these be my guide’.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded that we must always follow the path and way set by the Lord, our loving God and Good Shepherd, and we must not allow ourselves to be easily swayed and tempted by all sorts of worldly temptations and evils, by those desires which may lead us astray into the wrong path, because we trusted more in our own intellect, power and abilities rather than to trust in the Lord and in what He has provided, revealed and explained to us, in all the guidance and path that He has shown us. As Christians, we should always be strongly rooted in faith, in our commitment and dedication to God, at all times. We are therefore reminded to focus our attention once again towards our Good Shepherd, our Lord and Saviour. We should heed His call and embrace His path, and we should be vigilant and careful lest the temptations and the allures of worldly glory, fame and all the falsehoods and lies around us, the paths shown by false leaders and false shepherds may end up leading us down the path of ruin and destruction. Let us all therefore seek to follow the Lord, our Good Shepherd ever more faithfully at all times, doing what He has called and entrusted to all to do in our respective parts and areas in life. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may He continue to bless us all and guide us in our every good works, efforts and endeavours. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

Jesus, my Good Shepherd, You speak to me each and every day. You are constantly revealing to me Your most holy will for my life. Help me to always recognize Your gentle voice so that I can be led by You through the challenges of life. May my life of prayer become so deep and sustaining that Your voice always echoes within my heart and soul. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saints Soter and Caius; Saint Leonides and Saints Epipodius and Alexander ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for His Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all and for vocations to priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful Fourth Week of Easter 🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖