Year: 2024

SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 31, 2024

Greetings beloved family and Happy Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time!

We thank God for the  gift of life and for bringing us safely and successfully to the end of the month of July. May God’s grace and mercy be with us all now and always. Amen 🙏

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we humbly pray for justice, peace and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world. We pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to 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 & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. Amen🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | July 31, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 31, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |July 31, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 31, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 31, 2024 |

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

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

NOVENA TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS | https://novenaprayer.com/novena-to-the-precious-blood-of-jesus/ (When to begin: Any time – The whole month of July)

Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday, July 31, 2024
Reading 1, Jeremiah 15:10, 16-21
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 59:2-3, 4, 10-11, 17, 18
Gospel, Matthew 13:44-46

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, PRIEST AND SAINT GERMANUS, BISHOP OF AUXERRE ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 31ST: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest and Saint Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the safety and well-being of all those in the military, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for those going through difficulties especially during these challenging times, for the poor and the needy. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏 

SAINT IGNATIUS OF LOYOLA, PRIEST: St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556) was a Spanish Basque Catholic priest and theologian. He was born of a noble family at the castle of Loyola in Giupuscoa, Basque country, Spain on October 23, 1491, the youngest of thirteen children. Reared in the Court of Ferdinand V of Aragon, the husband of Isabella of Castile, he entered the army and distinguished himself by his valor. In keeping with the young aristocrats of his day, Ignatius sought after military prowess, vainglory, and fame, and became a knight at the age of seventeen. He was known as a fancy dresser, an expert dancer, a womanizer, sensitive to insult, and involved in criminal behavior. He was wounded at the siege of Pamplona, in a war between Charles V and Francis I, King of France. During a period of convalescence after being wounded at the battle he read the “Lives of the Saints,” a collection of saint biographies and a Life of Christ. These books profoundly affected him, and he experienced a conversion of heart from worldliness to piety. Henceforth, his life belonged entirely to God. He desired to pattern his life after the great saints, and ceremoniously hung up his military garments before an image of the Virgin Mary. After experiencing a vision of the Blessed Mother with the Infant Jesus, he had a general confession in the monastery of Monserrat. The Saint spent ten months in the solitude of Manresa, he lived for a time as an ascetic in a cave. It was during this time that he formulated his famous Spiritual Exercises, the spiritual centerpiece of the religious order he would later establish. He then went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and studied theology for many years, where he worked to convert Muslims. St. Ignatius returned to complete his studies in Spain and then France, where he received his theology degree.

During his studies he gathered a group of six like-minded men, including Sts. Peter Faber and Francis Xavier and founded the Society of Jesus, today known as the Jesuits and became its first Superior General at Paris in 1541. The Jesuit order is dedicated to teaching and missionary work. They went as missionaries all over the world to spread the Gospel, especially focusing on education. At Montmarte they vowed to go to Palestine, or to offer themselves to the Pope to be employed in the service of God in some other manner. Receiving ordination at Venice together with his companions, St. Ignatius went to Rome where he was graciously received by Pope Paul III. The Society was approved by Pope Paul III in 1540, and it grew rapidly, spreading to India in the East and to Brazil in the West. St. Ignatius remained in Rome, where he employed in consolidating and governing his Society. There he became the friend of St. Philip Neri. He was General of the Society more than fifteen years. Saint Ignatius was noted as an inspired spiritual director. He recorded his method in a celebrated treatise called the Spiritual Exercises, a simple set of meditations, prayers, and other mental exercises, first published in 1548. It is known as “Ignatian spirituality”, often used today for retreats and individual discernment. St. Ignatius died peacefully on July 31, 1556. He was beatified in 1609, and canonized by Pope Gregory XV on March 12, 1622. He is the patron saint of the Basque provinces of Gipuzkoa and Biscay as well as of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits). He was declared patron saint of all spiritual retreats by Pope Pius XI in 1922. Ignatius is also the foremost patron saint of soldiers. St. Ignatius of Loyola’s feast day is July 31st.

The Jesuits remain numerous today, have over 30,000 members and 500 universities and colleges worldwide. On April 22, 2006, Pope Benedict XVI presided over a Eucharistic concelebration for the Society of Jesus. He addressed the fathers and brothers of the Society present at the Vatican Basilica, calling to mind the dedication and fidelity of their founder. “St. Ignatius of Loyola was first and foremost a man of God who in his life put God, his greatest glory and his greatest service, first,” the Pope said. “He was a profoundly prayerful man for whom the daily celebration of the Eucharist was the heart and crowning point of his day.” “Precisely because he was a man of God, St Ignatius was a faithful servant of the Church,” Benedict continued, recalling the saint’s “special vow of obedience to the Pope, which he himself describes as ‘our first and principal foundation.’” Highlighting the need for “an intense spiritual and cultural training,” Pope Benedict called upon the Society of Jesus to follow in the footsteps of St. Ignatius and continue his work of service to the Church and obedience to the Pope, so that it’s members “may faithfully meet the urgent needs of the Church today.” 

PRAYER: God, You raised up St. Ignatius in Your Church for the greater glory of Your Name. Grant that we may labor on earth with his help and after his example and merit to be crowned with him in heaven. Amen 🙏

SAINT GERMANUS, BISHOP OF AUXERRE: St. Germanus (c 378 – c 448), was a western Roman clergyman who was bishop of Auxerre in Late Antique Gaul. A Lawyer, Missionary, Reformer, Exorcist, Miracle-Worker – was born into a noble Gallo-Roman family in Autissiodorum, now Auxerre, France, in 378. He was the son of Rusticus and Germanilla, and his family was one of the noblest in Gaul in the latter portion of the fourth century. He received an excellent education in the best Gallic schools of Arles and Lyon, and then studied law in Rome, where he eventually became a lawyer. He practiced there before the tribunal of the prefect for some years with great success. His high birth and brilliant talents brought him into contact with the court, and he married Eustachia, a lady highly esteemed in imperial circles, a devout Roman woman. He was appointed Duke of the Gaul border regions. However, he was not destined to hold a civil office – God gave St. Germanus a higher calling. The elderly local bishop St. Amator called the governor to the church, locked the doors behind him, and against Germanus’s will, tonsured him into clergy. St. Germanus accepted this unexpected turn of fate as God’s sign and was elected to the See of Auxerre in 418 by a unanimous decision of the people. The former Dux changed his life drastically: he worked hard to pray, fast and do ascetic deeds, serving the poor with his possessions. According to his hagiography he followed the example of the Lord by washing his guests’ feet and personally serving everyone at meals. The saint founded a coenobitic monastery in honor of Saints Cosmas and Damian on the banks of the local river, thus creating a unique Gallican monasticism, a century ahead of the Benedictine monasticism.

St. Germanus abandoned his career as a high-ranking government official to devote his formidable energy towards the promotion of the church and the protection of his “flock” in dangerous times, personally confronting, for instance, the barbarian king “Goar”. In Britain he is best remembered for his journey to combat Pelagianism in or around 429 AD, and the records of this visit provide valuable information on the state of post-Roman British society. He also played an important part in the establishment and promotion of the Cult of Saint Alban. The saint was said to have revealed the story of his martyrdom to St. Germanus in a dream or holy vision, and St. Germanus ordered this to be written down for public display. St. Germanus died on July 31, 448 at Ravenna, Italy of natural causes. He’s Patron Saint of Auxerre, France. St. Germanus is venerated as a saint in both the Roman Catholic and Orthodox churches, which commemorate him on 31 July.

St. Germanus, Bishop of Auxerre ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 13:44-46

“He sells all he has and buys that field”

“Jesus said to his disciples: “The Kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field. Again, the Kingdom of heaven is like a merchant searching for fine pearls. When he finds a pearl of great price, he goes and sells all that he has and buys it.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the two short parables, portrayed two people who find something valuable, a box of treasure in the first parable and a pearl of great price in the second. Yet, the way that the two people come upon these two valuable objects is quite different. The person in the first parable comes across the treasure by accident. He wasn’t looking for it; he was a day labourer digging in someone else’s field. The last thing he expected to find was a box of treasures buried in the field. In the second parable the merchant was actively searching for fine pearls and, eventually, as a result of his persistent searching, he came across one pearl of great value which stood out from all the rest. Both parables are images of the kingdom of God. Both suggest that our relationship with God through Jesus is a treasure greater than any earthly treasure. The first parable suggests that this treasured relationship comes to us as a grace. We can be surprised by God’s gracious initiative towards us; God is with us, hidden beneath the surface of our lives, and can break through to us when we are least expecting it. The second parable highlights the importance of the human search in coming to know God. It is those who seek who will find; it is those who knock who will have the door opened. We can be, and will be, surprised by Lord’s initiative towards us, and, yet, we are also called to seek the Lord with all our hearts and minds and souls.

According to the Gospel of St. Matthew. the Lord spoke to His disciples and followers using those two parables to highlight what the Kingdom of Heaven or the Kingdom of God is like. He used the parable of the treasure in the field and as well as the parable of a pearl of great price to show that the Kingdom of Heaven, God’s glorious Kingdom, His triumph and victory is something that we should value over all else, and is what we should put as the focus and emphasis of our whole lives. Each and every one of us as Christians should put our focus on the Kingdom of God and value it above everything else in our lives, above all the temptations and distractions all around us, the false treasures that will not lead us to the ultimate triumph and victory with God. There are times when the Lord suddenly blesses us at a moment in life when we are least expecting it. The Lord is always taking some gracious initiative towards us if we use our eyes to see and ears to hear; He seeks us out. When it comes to the Lord, there is also a seeking involved on our part. Jesus calls on us to keep on seeking, to keep on asking, to keep on knocking, like the rich merchant in the second parable. When we are graced by the Lord, because of His initiative towards us and our searching for Him, then, like the two men in the parables, we must be ready to give up whatever is necessary to hold on to that gift of the Lord, the gift of the kingdom.

Our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah talks about the frustrations of the prophet Jeremiah who at that time had been sent by God to minister to the people of the kingdom of Judah, the southern half of what was once the united kingdom of Israel. Jeremiah was sent to proclaim God’s words and judgment to the people and kingdom of Judah, telling them all of the wickedness that they had done as well as the consequences of those wickedness and sins. The Lord wanted His people to know that He still loved them and was concerned for them, and therefore told them through His prophet that they should repent from their many sins, and warning them of the doom and destruction which they would face if they continued to disobey Him. But for all these works and things that he had done in God’s employ, Jeremiah faced a lot of stubborn resistance and rejection from those who refused to listen to God’s words. He was persecuted and had a difficult journey and life as God’s prophet, just like many others before him. And just like any one of us, even Jeremiah could break under pressure and duress, after he had to face such stubbornness and all the difficulties that he had to endure amidst all those challenges. But at the same time, the Lord also spoke to Jeremiah, reassuring him of His protection and guidance, and how despite all the hardships, challenges and dangers that he had to endure, God would always be with him and guard him, and indeed, according to the life and story of the prophet Jeremiah, God had saved and protected him on many occasions, and gave him the strength to persevere through those difficulties.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded that we should continue to put our focus, attention and emphasis on the Lord at all times and opportunities, and we should not allow the many temptations and allures of worldly glory, pleasures, ambitions and other things from leading us astray down the path towards our downfall and destruction. We should always keep in mind that as Christians, each and every one of us are the ones whom God had called and chosen from this world, and whom He embraced as His own beloved sons and daughters, as those whom He is pleased with, and seek to be reunited with. Therefore, as we ponder and reflect on the lives of the Saints and Holy men and women,particularly the life and experiences of St. Ignatius of Loyola, the great Saint whose memory we remember and venerate today, let us all as Christians renew our commitment to be ever more faithful, zealous and committed disciples and followers of God, giving our best in whatever areas and missions that He had entrusted to us, so that by our various contributions and efforts, we may truly glorify Him and bear rich fruits of our efforts in the advance of the proclamation of the truth of God and His salvation to all. May the Lord, our most loving God continue to guide and strengthen us in our journey and faith, at each and every moments so that we may continue to be good and worthy examples for everyone around us in our lives and actions. May He bless our many good works and endeavours, our efforts and contributions to the missions of His Church, and may He strengthen us in the commitment and conviction to continue proclaiming Him at all times, in our every niches in life and in all of our various communities. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to live in accordance with God’s expectations which is ultimately the way to true and lasting life. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY:

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood. The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood.

“The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it.”

PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYER: Almighty, and everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our salvation, that the power thereof may here on earth keep us from all things hurtful, and the fruit of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen 🙏🏾

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JULY – FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

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 Ordinary Time, 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 🙏🏾

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our 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 soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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 Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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 🙏🏾

Let us pray:

My Lord of all riches, You bestow upon me and upon all Your children countless graces every day. The treasures of Your mercy are of infinite value. Please open my eyes so that I can see and my ears so that I can hear so as to discover all that You wish to bestow. May You and the riches of Your Kingdom become the one and only, all-consuming focus of my life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Ignatius of Loyola, Priest and Saint Germanus, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏🏾

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 29, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we humbly pray for justice, peace and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world. We pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to 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 & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. Amen🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | July 29, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 29, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |July 29, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 29, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 29, 2024 |

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

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

NOVENA TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS | https://novenaprayer.com/novena-to-the-precious-blood-of-jesus/ (When to begin: Any time – The whole month of July)

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday, July 29, 2024
Reading 1, Jeremiah 13:1-11
Responsorial Psalm, Deuteronomy 32:18-19, 20, 21
Gospel, John 11:19-27

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINTS MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS; SAINT FELIX II, POPE; SAINTS SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS AND BEATRICE, MARTYRS ~ FEAST DAY – JULY 29TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus; Saint Felix II, Pope and Saints Simplicius, Faustinus & Beatrice, Martyrs. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for all families, for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. We pray for homemakers, and maids, for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for those going through difficulties especially during these challenging times, for the poor and the needy. We also pray for all travelers and we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏 

SAINTS MARTHA, MARY AND LAZARUS: On January 26, 2021, Pope Francis ordered the inscription of Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus into the General Roman Calendar, to replace the existing celebration of Saint Martha alone. The Feast day of Saints  Martha, Mary and Lazarus will be celebrated each year as an Obligatory Memorial on July 29, which means it must be observed. Pope Francis approved the memorial for Martha, Mary and Lazarus after “considering the important evangelical witness they offered in welcoming the Lord Jesus into their home, in listening to Him attentively, (and) in believing that He is the resurrection and the life.” For many centuries, the Church’s liturgy taught that the “Mary” of Bethany and the “Mary” of Magdala were one and the same, with the “composite Mary” feast day on July 22. The liturgical reforms after the Second Vatican Council, however, specifically identified the memorial of July 22 as that of Saint Mary Magdalene, leaving unresolved whether she is, or is not, the same person as Mary of Bethany. In 2021 Pope Francis resolved this question, at least liturgically. The memorial of July 29, until 2021 dedicated exclusively to Saint Martha, was expanded to include Mary and Lazarus as well. So the memorials of July 22 (Mary Magdalene) and July 29 celebrate two distinct Marys. Mary of Bethany is not Mary of Magdala. While Scripture scholars are now closer to separating Mary Magdalen from Mary of Bethany, the true identity of Mary, the sister of Martha and Lazarus is still not solidly known.

Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus were three siblings who resided in the town of Bethany, just outside of Jerusalem. Having lived during the time of Jesus Christ, they have personally experienced the goodness of the Son of God. Saints Martha, Mary, and their brother Lazarus were evidently close friends of Jesus. He came to their home simply as a welcomed guest. The sisters felt free to call on Jesus at their brother’s death, even though a return to Judea at that time seemed to spell almost certain death. In the household of Bethany, the Lord Jesus experienced the family spirit and friendship of Martha, Mary and Lazarus, and for this reason the Gospel of John states that He loved them,” it said. “Martha generously offered Him hospitality, Mary listened attentively to His words and Lazarus promptly emerged from the tomb at the command of the one who humiliated death.” Martha would serve the Lord faithfully when He was a guest in her home, once busying herself so much with her work that she neglected to spend time enjoying His presence, for which she earned a gentle rebuke from Our Lord Jesus when she complained about Mary not helping with the cooking when He came to visit (Luke 10: 38-42). Martha had great faith in Christ, especially evidenced in her belief that He could raise her brother Lazarus from the dead. In the Gospels we read that St. Martha testified that Jesus was the Son of God even before His Passion and Resurrection. It is also recorded that Martha served Jesus at supper six days before the Passover. (John 12: 1-2). According to tradition, after the Ascension of Jesus into heaven, St. Martha gathered a group of women together to live, pray, and do penance in common, one of the early Christian houses of consecrated women. According to legend, after our Lord’s Ascension St. Martha traveled to France with her brother Lazarus and sister, Mary. Martha, Mary and Lazarus evangelised Provence. Lazarus became a missionary to Gaul, and became the first bishop of Marseilles, France, and a martyr in the persecutions of Domitian. The Order of Lazarists founded by St Vincent de Paul took its name from the church in Paris dedicated to Saint Lazare. Chichester Cathedral has an 11th century sculpture depicting the Raising of Lazarus. In 1187, the alleged relics of St. Martha were discovered at Tarascon, France, and placed in a magnificent crypt in the collegiate church there. Saint Martha is a Patron Saint of cooks; housewives; domestic servants; homemakers; restaurant servers; innkeepers; laundry workers; maids; servants; servers; single laywomen; travellers; hotel-keepers; manservants. St. Lazarus Patron Saint of Gravediggers. Together, Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus are Patron Saints of Siblings.

PRAYER: Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus, your family life of faith provides a model of unity to all siblings. May all brothers and sisters rise above mundane family tensions and disagreements and unite around things eternal and transcendent. Amen 🙏

SAINT FELIX II, POPE: The Holy Pontiff, Felix II, is a Pope of the 4th-Century. He was Martyred in Tuscany, Italy, in the time of the Arians, 365 A.D. Pope Felix was a Roman archdeacon in the 4th century who was installed irregularly in 355 as an antipope and reigned until 365 after Emperor Constantius banished the current pope, Liberius. St. Felix was the archdeacon of Rome in the mid-4th century, when the Church, so recently freed by the Emperor Constantine from pagan persecution, was subjected to its first “Christian” persecution by his son Constantius, an ardent supporter of the Arian heresy. In 355, the latter banished Pope Liberius to Greece for his opposition to Arianism, and Felix was consecrated by three Arian bishops to take his place. Although the majority of the Roman clergy apparently did recognize him as their bishop, the laity would have nothing to do with him. Two years later, when Liberius was permitted to return from exile, Felix and his supporters tried but failed to occupy the basilica of Pope Julius I (now known as Santa Maria in Trastevere); he was then banished from Rome by the Senate, never to return. After living for eight years near Porto in quiet retirement, he died on November 22, 365. St Felix was buried in a catacomb named for him along the via Portuensis, the great ancient road which led to the port of Rome.

The Roman Martyrology records his martyrdom at Cervetro (Caerae) in Tuscany, Italy probably about 365 A.D; but it is the opinion of some authors that he lived on for several years in retirement and died a peaceful death. The Church also commemerate the finding of the body of Saint Felix with those of other Martyrs. It is especially to be noted that from the outset he has always been regarded as a Saint, and there are no real grounds for setting him aside as a mere Anti-Pope.

Saint Felix II, Pope ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINTS SIMPLICIUS, FAUSTINUS AND BEATRICE, MARTYRS: The brothers Simplicius and Faustinus and their sister, Beatrice, gave their lives for Christ at Rome, A.D. 304. Saints Simplicius and Faustinus, denounced as Christians to the persecutors, were put to death at Rome under Emperor Diocletian in 304 A.D. The two brothers were cruelly tormented, and at length beheaded at Rome in the persecution of Diocletian, in the year 304. From the bridge called the pons aemilius, which spanned the Tiber River over Tiber Island, the bodies of the two brothers were tossed into the waters below. Their sister Beatrice took up their bodies out of the Tiber and gave them burial. She concealed herself for seven months in the house of a virtuous widow called Lucina, with whom she spent her time, night and day in fervent prayer, and in the exercise of other good works. It was not long before Beatrice met the same fate as her brothers. She was denounced as a Christian, imprisoned and, despite the threats she received, persevered in the faith. She was discovered and impeached by a pagan kinsman, who designed to possess himself of her estate, which was contiguous to his own; she resolutely protested to the judge that she would never adore gods of wood and stone, and was strangled by his order in prison the following night. Lucina buried her body near her brothers on the side of the highway to Porto, in the cemetery called Ad Ursum Pileatum. Pope Leo II translated their relics into a Church at Rome dedicated in their names which he built to the honor of these Martyrs in the city, they now lie in that of St. Mary Major.

The catacomb called “Generosa” was on the via Portuense, and the three saints came to be known as the martyres portuenses. Of particular note in the catacomb is the fresco with Byzantine characteristics, which was discovered there, called Coronatio Martyrum, dating back to the 6th century. In it are depicted five characters: in the center Christ who offers the crown of martyrdom to Simplicius, flanked by Beatrice, while on the left are the figures of Faustinus, with the palm of martyrdom in his hand, and of Rufus. Later, the relics of Saint Beatrice and her brothers were brought to the Oratory of the Church of Saint Bibiana around 682 by Pope Leo II. Pope Urban VIII then later decided that the ancient church was to be restored by the hand of Bernini. The latter brought down the Oratory and the marble arch was carried to the Basilica of Saint Mary Major. Some of her relics are found in other parts of Europe, the most significant in Germany. The Benedictine Sisters of Perpetual Adoration have relics purported to be those of Saint Beatrice at their monastery in Clyde, Missouri, where a wax effigy of the saint lies in a glass case. Saint Simplicius is the patron saint of Lauterbach and one of the patrons pf the city of Fulda. Images of Simplicius can be found on monuments, house facades and as a work of art throughout Lauterbach.

PRAYER: O Lord, all Christian nations joyfully unite today to celebrate the feast of your martyrs Felix, Simplicius, Faustinus, and Beatrice. Grant that the faithful may rejoice in it through all eternity and share the triumph of Your saints which they commemorate. 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 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Memorial of Saints Martha, Mary, and Lazarus | USCCB| https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ John 11:19-27

“I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God”

“Many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother [Lazarus, who had died]. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet Him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to Him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to Him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.”

or Alternative Gospel reading:

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 10:38-42

“Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things”

“Jesus entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed Him. She had a sister named Mary who sat beside the Lord at his feet listening to Him speak. Martha, burdened with much serving, came to Him and said, “Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me.” The Lord said to her in reply, “Martha, Martha, you are anxious and worried about many things. There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part and it will not be taken from her.”

Today’s Gospel reading suggests that Jesus had a warm, friendly, relationship with the family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. When Lazarus was seriously ill, Jesus was immediately contacted by the two sisters, Martha and Mary. Although Lazarus died before Jesus arrived, Jesus brought Lazarus back from death to life and spoke a wonderful word of hope to Martha that has consoled believers ever since as they grieve the death of a loved one, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though they die they will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die’. Martha is portrayed as a woman in grief, because of the death of her brother Lazarus. Martha, her sister Mary and her brother Lazarus are referred to as loved by Jesus, as friends of Jesus. This is a family of disciples who have experienced the love of God present in Jesus and have responded to that love. Martha’s grief at the death of her brother Lazarus is the grief of a disciple, of a believer. We can sympathize with Martha’s gentle rebuke of Jesus, ‘If you had been here, my brother would not have died’. There was a recognition there of Jesus’ healing power, but also an expression of disappointment that He did not come sooner. We can all feel a little let down by the Lord when a loved one dies. The timing of death rarely seems right to us. Jesus’ response to Mary’s disappointment and grief has spoken to believers ever since as they struggle to let go of a loved one from this life, ‘I am the resurrection and the life. If anyone believes in me, even though they die the will live, and whoever lives and believes in me will never die’. Jesus is declaring that our communion with Him, which His love for us and our faith in Him creates, will not be broken by death. In virtue of that communion, we already live with His risen life, over which death has no power. In speaking to her, the Lord was speaking to each of us. His question to her is addressed to each one of us, ‘Do you believe this?’ Today’s feast is an appropriate moment to make our own response to Jesus’ question, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who has come into this world’. To Martha’s answer we can add, ‘Yes, Lord, I believe that you are the resurrection and the life’.

In Luke’s Gospel, both sisters, Martha and Mary showed Jesus hospitality when He visited them. Martha’s hospitality took the form of active serving, preparing a meal for Jesus. Mary’s hospitality took the form of sitting at His feet and listening to Him speaking. Martha did not appreciate Mary’s way of showing hospitality, judging her to be inconsiderate towards herself. Jesus did appreciate Mary’s way of showing hospitality. He was of the view that Martha had something to learn from Mary. Perhaps Jesus had something important to say and He needed a listening ear more than an elaborate meal. In our dealings with others, there is a time to sit and listen to them and a time to get busy serving them. There is a wisdom in knowing which form of hospitality is being called for at any given time. In our relationship with the Lord too, there is a time to sit and listen to Him in prayer, and there is a time to become one of His labourers, by bringing His loving presence in practical ways to those we meet. This is a reminder for us that the Lord wants from us our love and attention, our whole hearts and minds, undivided focus and more, and not all the busy actions and preoccupations we have in life, in all the things that may distract us from focusing ourselves upon the true focus of our lives, that is the Lord Himself, the Lord and Master of us all. That is why today, all of us are reminded as we rejoice in the glorious memories of the three siblings turned saints, St. Martha, St. Mary and St. Lazarus, that each and every one of us should always put our faith and trust in the Lord, and we should always place the Lord first and foremost before everything else. We must always do our best so that we will not be swayed easily by the temptations and obstacles present all around us, threatening to mislead us away from the path of the Lord and His salvation.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all presented with the words of wisdom from God on how each one of us can serve and follow Him better, through the inspirations of the Saints, St. Martha, St. Mary and St. Lazarus. The three of them were siblings and according to the Scriptures, they were friends of the Lord Jesus. Lazarus was the one whom the Lord raised from the dead, and Mary and Martha were the ones to whom the Lord visited, as we heard from the Scripture reading today. Each one of them brought about inspiration for all of us Christians. Inspired by the good examples of the siblings, St. Martha, St. Mary and St. Lazarus, their love for God and faith in the Lord, in all that they had done in following and obeying God’s will, let us all also do the same in our own lives as well. All of us should do whatever we can to seek the Lord from now on, and do our best to live our lives worthily in all things, committing our time, effort and attention on the Lord. May the Lord, ever glorified through the lives and actions of His holy ones, the glorious Saints and Martyrs, and particularly on this day, through St. Martha, St. Mary and St. Lazarus, who are dear to Him, continue to bless us all and guide us in our own journey of faith and life, so that we may always be ever faithful to the Lord in all things. May we continue to strive and persevere in faith, even amidst the many challenges and trials all around us. May the Lord, our most loving God and Father, our loving Creator and Master, continue to be with us all and may He empower each and every one of us so that we may truly love Him wholeheartedly and ever more courageously, focusing our attention and whole lives on Him, and no longer on the many temptations and wickedness of this world. May God bless our every good efforts, works and endeavours, so that inspired by the examples and lives of His Saints, especially the glorious St. Martha, St. Mary and St. Lazarus, holy men and women of God, we may continue to walk ever more righteously in God’s path. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to trust and believe in our Lord Jesus Christ and may the Lord continue to guide us in our journey. May He empower and strengthen each and every one of us to live as good and devout Christians, and may He bless our efforts and good works, our every endeavours, now and always. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY:

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood. The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood.

“The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it.”

PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYER: Almighty, and everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our salvation, that the power thereof may here on earth keep us from all things hurtful, and the fruit of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen 🙏🏾

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JULY – FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

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 Ordinary Time, 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 🙏🏾

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our 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 soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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 Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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 🙏🏾

Let us pray:

My loving Lord, You befriended and loved this ordinary family of Martha, Mary and Lazarus. In doing so, You also reveal to us Your desire to love all families with a holy love. You visited their home, received their hospitality, gently corrected them when needed and eventually raised them to the new life of eternal glory. May I also welcome You into the home of my soul, within my family and into every aspect of my life. Please come to me and raise me to the newness of the life of grace. I invite You into my life and into my family, dear Lord. Please strengthen our bonds, bring unity and mutual respect. Please remove any past hurt and division and enable every family to share more fully in Your friendship and love. Jesus, I love You.  Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Martha, Mary and Lazarus; Saint Felix II, Pope and Saints Simplicius, Faustinus & Beatrice ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled, and fruitful week🙏🏾

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

SEVENTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 28, 2024

WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY [The Catholic Church celebrates the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly each year on the Sunday closest to the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents. This year it is celebrated today, July 28, 2024]

Greetings, beloved family. Happy Sunday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time and Happy Grandparent’s day!

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we humbly pray for all grandparents and the elderly. We pray for their safety and well-being. Lord God almighty, bless our grandparents with long life, happiness, and health. May they remain constant in your love and be living signs of your presence to their children and grandchildren. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen 🙏

We continue to pray for justice, peace and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world. We pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to 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 & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. Amen🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | July 28, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 28, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |July 28, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 28, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 28, 2024 |

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

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

NOVENA TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS | https://novenaprayer.com/novena-to-the-precious-blood-of-jesus/ (When to begin: Any time – The whole month of July)

Today’s Bible Readings: Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) | July 28, 2024
Reading 1, Second Kings 4:42-44
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 145:10-11, 15-16, 17-18
Reading 2, Ephesians 4:1-6
Gospel, John 6:1-15

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ John 6:1–15

“He distributed as much as they wanted to those who were reclining”

“Jesus went across the Sea of Galilee. A large crowd followed him, because they saw the signs he was performing on the sick. Jesus went up on the mountain, and there he sat down with his disciples. The Jewish feast of Passover was near. When Jesus raised his eyes and saw that a large crowd was coming to him, he said to Philip, “Where can we buy enough food for them to eat?” He said this to test him, because he himself knew what he was going to do. Philip answered him, “Two hundred days’ wages worth of food would not be enough for each of them to have a little.” One of his disciples, Andrew, the brother of Simon Peter, said to him, “There is a boy here who has five barley loaves and two fish; but what good are these for so many?” Jesus said, “Have the people recline.” Now there was a great deal of grass in that place. So the men reclined, about five thousand in number. Then Jesus took the loaves, gave thanks, and distributed them to those who were reclining, and also as much of the fish as they wanted. When they had had their fill, he said to his disciples, “Gather the fragments left over, so that nothing will be wasted.” So they collected them, and filled twelve wicker baskets with fragments from the five barley loaves that had been more than they could eat. When the people saw the sign he had done, they said, “This is truly the Prophet, the one who is to come into the world.” Since Jesus knew that they were going to come and carry him off to make him king, he withdrew again to the mountain alone.”

In today’s Gospel reading, we find Jesus and His disciples facing a situation that seemed beyond their resources to cope with. They were faced with a hungry crowd and little or no means of feeding them. In this situation different people reacted in different ways. Philip made a calculation: on the basis of the number of people and the amount of money available to buy food, and decided that nothing could be done. You could say that this was the reaction of the realist. The facts are the facts, and on the basis of the facts, these people cannot be helped. We can all find ourselves reacting in that way to demanding situations. We conclude that the numbers do not add up and we resign ourselves to doing nothing. Andrew has another reaction to the situation. He recognized that one of the crowd had a small amount of food but he dismissed this small resource as of no value. This is the reaction of the person who belittles the resources that are there and the efforts that could be made to address the challenging situation. You could say it is the reaction of the cynic, and again we can all be prone to that kind of reaction. There were two other reactions in the story that the Gospel tells. There is the reaction of the small boy who willingly gave to Jesus the few pieces of food that he had. This is the reaction of the generous person, of the one who is prepared to give all he or she has, even though it appears to be far less than what is needed. Such people are wonderful to have around when challenging times come our way. They do not allow the demanding situation to disempower them. They give all they have to give. Then there is the reaction of Jesus Himself. He took the few resources that the young boy was generous enough to part with and, having prayed the prayer of thanksgiving to God over these small pieces of food, He somehow fed the enormous crowd. As a result, everyone had more than enough to eat and there was even some food left over.

St. Paul once made the great discovery that God’s power can be made perfect in weakness. God can work powerfully in and through very weak instruments like St. Paul himself. In the Gospel reading, Jesus works powerfully in and through what were, from a merely human point of view, very weak resources indeed, five barley loaves and two fish. Jesus took the resources that were given to Him and with them He fed the hunger of the crowd. The realist, Philip, and the cynic, Andrew, and all the other disciples, discovered that the impossible became possible in the power and prayer of Jesus. The Lord needs our resources of generosity and giftedness today as much as He needed the five barley loaves and the two fish of that young boy, if He is to continue to do His work in the world, if He is to continue to feed those who hunger for food, for love, for God. In responding to all those hungers of His people today, the Lord will not bypass our own resources. They may seem very inadequate to us, but to the Lord they are vital. He asks us to give ourselves and our resources generously to Him, to place ourselves, all that we have and all that we are, at His disposal. If we do that, we can never underestimate what the Lord can do in our own lives and in the lives of others through us.

Our first reading today, from the Second Book of Kings of Israel and Judah, gives an account of the miracle that happened during the time of the prophet Elisha and his ministry among the people of the northern kingdom of Israel. At that time, there were a hundred men assembled in that place where Elisha was. Then while they were there, a man brought the products of the first harvest to Elisha, a total of twenty loaves of bread. If we assume that each of the hundred men eat one loaf of bread each, there were not nearly enough for a quarter of their number to eat, less still for all of them. In addition, there was also a famine raging at the timeline of this event in the land of Israel. As such, if we understand the context of these events, we can see just how significant this miracle from God truly was. In our Gospel reading today was a similar miracle by the Lord Jesus, the prophet Elisha miraculously made the loaves of bread to be sufficient for all the hundred men to share and eat, with leftovers, just as the Lord had said it. This was the proof of God’s love for His people, that He did not just care for them spiritually, but even also physically, and ensuring that they had enough for themselves in whatever they need in the physical sustenance and requirements in their lives. He did not abandon them all and still loved them all even though many of them at that time had disobeyed Him, disregarded His Law and commandments, persecuted His prophets and messengers, among the many other evil and wicked deeds which they had done. He has always loved them and His love for them endured through all that, and He wanted them all to repent from those sins and return to Him.

In our second reading from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful in the city and region of Ephesus, the Apostle spoke about the calling and mission of all Christians, of God’s holy and beloved people to be truly faithful and worthy of the Lord in all the things that they do and carry out in their lives. He reminded all of us through this Epistle that all of us ought to always strive to do what God had taught us to do, to be righteous and faithful in all things, being committed to God and His ways, and to be loving and compassionate to one another, showing our generous love and kindness to everyone around us. As Christians, each and every one of us must always exude the love and grace of God in all of our lives, in each of our actions and at every moments. Immediately before the second reading, St. Paul in his letter to the Ephesians, declared that God’s power ‘at work within us is able to accomplish abundantly far more than all we can ask or imagine’. We can be surprised at what the Lord’s power can accomplish within us and through us if we give of ourselves generously to Him. Often our faith is not expectant enough. We can fail to appreciate how powerfully the risen Lord can work through generous lives.

If we believe in a Lord whose power at work within us can do immeasurable more than all we ask or image, we will always remain people of hope, no matter how hopeless things may seem from a merely human perspective. St. Paul reminds us in the second reading that we are all called into one and the same hope. As Christians we are not disposed to writing off any situation, or any person, as hopeless. We never despair before the enormity of the task that lies before us, whether that task relates to our own situation or the situation of those in greater need than ourselves. We continue to give generously of the little we have, even when the mountain ahead seems beyond reach, because we know how powerfully the Lord can work through our generous efforts. The Lord can continue to work powerfully today in situations that seem hopeless and lacking in promise. The Lord continues to have hopes and dreams for all of us who are searching for wholeness and nourishment and life. He invites us to keeping entering into His hopes and dreams for ourselves and others, rather than allow ourselves to become bitter and pessimistic because the situation seems so daunting. The Lord also calls on us to trust that, even when our resources seem meagre and the situation facing us seems to overwhelm us, his power at work in and through us can accomplish far more than we could imagine or hope for.

As we reflect on the words of the Lord in the Sacred Scriptures this Sunday, we are all reminded that each and every one of us are the ones whom God had loved and shown His favour to, and all of us need to realise just how fortunate we all to have been beloved by the Lord in such a way. All of us has received from the Lord Himself the generous love and kindness, forgiveness and mercy for all of our wrongdoings and evil deeds, as long as we are willing to seek Him for forgiveness and mercy. Therefore each one of us as His disciples and followers, as Christians, are all called to do our best in our lives in each and every moments so that our lives may truly be a reflection of God’s love and truth, and that we may truly be His worthy disciples and followers. We should no longer take God’s love and generosity for granted, and we should also share this same love in our own lives, by being generous and kind, what we give out of generosity from our hearts, we shall be blessed manyfold more by the Lord, just as we have seen how God multiplied the loaves of bread. It is also a lesson to remind us all not to worry about our lives and not to lose our trust and faith in God. We must always remember that in the Lord and with Him, all of us will eventually be triumphant with Him, and it is in Him alone that we can find true happiness and joy in life, and not in all the pleasures of the world, all of which are fleeting and illusory in nature. May the Lord, our most loving and compassionate God, Who has always watched over us and remembered us even when we have sinned against Him, continue to love us ever more generously, and may He continue to shine His love, kindness and mercy on us, especially when we come to Him seeking for His mercy and forgiveness. Let us all continue to do our part in our respective lives so that by our renewed dedication and commitment to God, we may grow ever stronger in our relationship with Him, and we may continue to bear witness to His love and kindness at all times. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may He bless us in all of our works and efforts, all of our deeds, now and always. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT SAMSON, BISHOP OF DOL; SAINTS NAZARIUS AND CELSUS, MARTYRS; SAINT VICTOR I, POPE AND MARTYR AND SAINT INNOCENT I, POPE ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 28TH Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Samson, Bishop of Dol; Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs; Saint Victor I, Pope and Martyr and Saint Innocent I, Pope. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers, and  other terminal diseases. We pray for those going through difficulties especially during these challenging times, for the poor and the needy, for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏 

SAINT SAMSON, BISHOP OF DOL: St. Samson (490-565) is one of the greatest of the Welsh Saints. St. Samson was a bishop who became one of the greatest missionaries of the sixth century in western Europe, evangelizing for Christ in Ireland, Cornwall, Channel Islands, and Brittany. Saint Samson was born in South Wales about 490 and brought up in the Abbey of Llanwit, then ruled by St. Illtud. His parents whose names are given as Prince Amon the Black of Dyfed and Anna of Gwynedd, were of noble, but not royal, birth. While still an infant he was dedicated to God and entrusted to the care of St. Illtyd, by whom he was brought up in the monastery of Llantwit Major. He was ordained and decided to increase his austerities, fervor, and prayer life. Retiring to another community in the neighborhood, he eventually became its Abbot. However, the Saint was so struck by the superior leading of some Irish monks who paid him a visit that he accompanied them to Ireland and remained a considerable time, laboring for the faith. As time went on, the gift of miracles, which he already enjoyed, attracted so much attention that his humility could not tolerate it. Returning to is own country, he lived for a while as a hermit on the banks of the Severn.

The holy monk was consecrated Bishop by St. Dubricius and as the result of a vision crossed the sea to Brittany in company with other monks. With the aid of land given him, the saintly Bishop established a monastery at a place later called Dol, which became an important Episcopal See. His influence can be gauged by the fact that he visited King Childerbert I to intercede on behalf of the dispossessed Breton ruler Judual. St. Samson was a tireless traveler, great ascetic, and fearless monk who rendered innumerable benefits to his adopted country as well as a dedicated pastor who zealously looked after his flock. He died on July 28, 565 and was immediately honored in England, Normandy, and Brittany; later his cult spread to Italy. Saint Samson is revered as one of the seven founding saints of Brittany, along with Saint Pol Aurelian, Saint Tugdual (Tudwal), Saint Brieuc, Saint Malo, Saint Patern, and Saint Corentin. Dol was overwhelmed by a catastrophic tidal wave in 709, and there is now no trace of the monastery. St. Samson’s relics were taken to Canterbury and Ely in the time of King Athelstan of Wessex (895 –939).

PRAYER: God, by Your ineffable mercy, St. Samson proclaimed the unsearchable riches of Christ. Through his intercession help us to grow in the knowledge of You and faithfully walk before You according to the truth of the Gospel, filled with every good work. Amen 🙏
 
SAINTS NAZARIUS AND CELSUS, MARTYRS: St. Nazarius and St. Celsus (1st c.) were early Christian martyrs, but nothing else is known with certainty about their lives or the time they lived, other than that they were put to death for their Christian faith in Milan, Italy, perhaps during the persecution of the Emperor Nero. What we know about these saints is from St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. According to one account, St. Nazarius was the son of St. Perpetua, the child she bore just prior being executed for her faith. Celsus was a youth given to the care of St. Nazarius by the boy’s mother, who desired for the saint to teach her son the Christian faith. The two Sts. traveled and preached the Gospel together zealously before being tortured and executed in Milan.

St. Nazarius was baptized by the blessed Pope Linus. He went into Gaul, and there baptized a child named Celsus whom he had instructed in the Christian doctrine. Together they went to Treves, and in Nero’s persecution were both thrown into the sea, but were saved by a miracle. They proceeded to Milan, where they spread the faith of Christ; with great constancy confessed Christ to be God, the prefect, Anolinus, condemned them to death, beheaded about the year 68. Their bodies were buried outside the Roman gate, and for a long time remained unknown. But through a divine revelation, they were found by St. Ambrose in 395 A.D. St. Ambrose discovered the body of St. Nazarius, with severed head, along with a vial of his blood still as fresh as the day it was spilled, in a garden outside the city gates. St. Ambrose carried the body in procession to bury in the city’s Basilica of the Apostles. In the same garden he also discovered the body of St. Celsus, and likewise had the body taken to the same basilica. Miracles occurred in the church at the presence of the relics of these two holy martyrs. Both Sts. Nazarius and Celsus share a feast day on July 28th.

Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT VICTOR I, POPE AND MARTYR: St. Victor was pope from 189 to 199 A.D. He was born in Africa, his father’s name was Felix. He succeeded St. Eleutherius, on the pontifical throne. In fact, St. Victor is the first Pope to have been of African origin. He is known for having obtained the release of many Christians who had been deported to the mines of Sardinia, and for being the first Pope to celebrate the liturgy and write Church documents in Latin rather than Greek. It was St. Victor who made Latin the official language of the Roman Catholic Church. He regulated the date for the celebration of Easter throughout the Church in accordance with the Roman tradition observed till now. He decided that any one might baptize in cases of necessity with unblessed water. St. Victor was a favorite of the mistress of the Emperor Commodus, and his good relationship with her allowed him to present to her lists of imprisoned Christians. Through her power, she was able to secure their releases. Yet, his reign was not without its difficulties. During his reign, he excommunicated several bishops for celebrating Easter on 14 Nisan. Prior to his elevation, a difference in dating the celebration of the Christian Passover/Easter between Rome and the bishops of Asia Minor had been tolerated by both the Roman and Eastern churches. The churches in Asia Minor celebrated it on the 14th of the Jewish month of Nisan, the day before Jewish Passover, regardless of what day of the week it fell on, as the Crucifixion had occurred on the Friday before Passover, justifying this as the custom they had learned from the apostles; for this, the Latins called them Quartodecimans.

Synods were held on the subject in various parts—in Palestine under Theophilus of Caesarea and Narcissus of Jerusalem, in Pontus under Palmas, in Gaul under Irenaeus, in Corinth under its bishop, Bachillus, at Osrhoene in Mesopotamia, and elsewhere—all of which disapproved of this practice and consequently issued by synodical letters declaring that “on the Lord’s Day only the mystery of the resurrection of the Lord from the dead was accomplished, and that on that day only we keep the close of the paschal fast” (Eusebius H. E. v. 23). St. Irenaeus of Lyons criticized St. Victor’s severity at times. Accounts also show that Victor excommunicated Theodotus of Byzantium for teaching that Christ was a mere man. Yet, St. Victor remained steadfast and stern as he faced great threats to the True Faith from both Gnosticism and Monarchianism. St. Victor I ultimately suffered martyrdom under Septimus Severus in A.D. 199 A. D. All in all, St. Victor fought for the True Faith and strongly condemned heresies strongly for the uniformity of the Church.

Saint Victor I, Pope and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT INNOCENT I, POPE: Pope Saint Innocent I (378-417) was pope from 401 to March 12, 417. He was born on March 11, 378 AD at Albano and was one of the greatest early Popes. He was, according to his biographer in the “Liber Pontificalis”, the son of a man called Innocens of Albano; but according to his contemporary Jerome, his father was Pope Anastasius I (399-401), whom he was called by the unanimous voice of the clergy and laity to succeed (he had been born before his father’s entry to the clergy, let alone the papacy). He was a contemporary of St. Augustine and of St. Jerome. The latter wrote of him: “Keep the faith of St. Innocent who fills the Apostolic Chair and who is the successor and spiritual son of Anastasius, of happy memory; receive no other doctrine, however wise and attractive it may appear.” He was one of the great champions of the primacy of the Holy See. He fought the unjust removal of Saint John Chrysostom and spoke strongly in favor of clerical celibacy. It was during Pope Innocent I’s papacy that the siege of Rome by Alaric I (395-410) and the Visigoths (408) took place, when, according to an anecdote of Zosimus, the ravages of plague and famine were so frightful, and divine help seemed so far off, that papal permission was granted to sacrifice and pray to the pagan deities. The pope, however, happened to be absent from the city on a mission to Honorius at Ravenna at the time of the sack in 410.

Pope Innocent I lost no opportunity of maintaining and extending the authority of the Roman see as the ultimate resort for the settlement of all disputes; and his still extant communications with Victricius of Rouen, Exuperius of Toulouse, Alexander of Antioch and others, as well as his actions on the appeal made to him by John Chrysostom (397-403) against Theophilus of Alexandria, show that opportunities of the kind were numerous and varied. He took a decided view on the Pelagian controversy, confirming the decisions of the synod of the province of proconsular Africa, held in Carthage in 416, which had been sent to him, and also writing in the same year in a similar sense to the fathers of the Numidian synod of Mileve who, Augustine being one of their number, had addressed him. Among Pope Innocent I’s letters is one to Jerome and another to John, bishop of Jerusalem, regarding annoyances to which the former had been subjected by the Pelagians at Bethlehem. Pope Innocent I sat fifteen years, one month, and ten days. Saint Innocent died in Rome, March 12, 417, and was buried in the cemetery called ad Ursum Pileatum. Accordingly, though from the thirteenth to the twentieth century, he was commemorated on 28 July, his feast day is now March 12th.

Saint Innocent I, Pope  ~ Pray for us 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY:

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood. The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood.

“The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it.”

PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYER: Almighty, and everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our salvation, that the power thereof may here on earth keep us from all things hurtful, and the fruit of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen 🙏🏾

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JULY – FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

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 Ordinary Time, 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 🙏🏾

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our 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 soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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 Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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 🙏🏾

Let us pray:

My Eucharistic Lord, You call me to journey up the mountain of faith in the most Holy Eucharist through prayer and determination. May I more deeply discover the great value of the Holy Mass and seek to be fed by You in this superabundant way. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏🏾

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Samson, Bishop; Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Martyrs; Saint Victor I, Pope and Saint Innocent I, Pope ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled Sunday week ahead🙏🏾

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 27, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we humbly pray for justice, peace and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world. We continue to pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to 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 & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. Amen🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | July 27, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 27, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |July 27, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 27, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 27, 2024 |

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

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

NOVENA TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS | https://novenaprayer.com/novena-to-the-precious-blood-of-jesus/ (When to begin: Any time – The whole month of July)

Today’s Bible Readings: Saturday, July 27, 2024
Reading 1, Jeremiah 7:1-11
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 84:3, 4, 5-6, 8, 11
Gospel, Matthew 13:24-30

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT CELESTINE  I, POPE; SAINTS NATHALIA, AURELIUS, LILIOSA, FELIX, AND GEORGE, MARTYRS AND SAINT PANTALEON OF NICOMEDIA, PHYSICIAN AND MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY – JULY 27TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Celestine I, Pope; Saints Nathalia, Aurelius, Liliosa, Felix, and George, Martyrs and Saint Pantaleon of Nicomedia, Physician and Martyr. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for physicians and all Healthcare workers, for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for those going through difficulties especially during these challenging times, for the poor and the needy, for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏 

SAINT CELESTINE  I, POPE: Pope St. Celestine I (d. 432 A.D.) was a Roman deacon who was elected Supreme Pontiff in 422 A.D. He also lived with St. Ambrose in Milan prior to serving in Rome. Pope St. Celestine lead the Church for nine years during a troubled time of social upheaval. Within the Church there were multiple dangerous heresies spreading and corrupting the faith of the people, especially Nestorianism and Pelagianism, which he staunchly fought against, and for this he is known as a defender of orthodox doctrine. A major campaign of his pontificate was his vigorous attack on Nestorianism, the unorthodox teaching of Patriarch Nestorius of Constantinople, which stressed that Christ’s human and divine natures were independent and which denounced the Virgin’s title Theotokos (God-bearer).⁵ Pope Celestine also challenged the doctrine of Pelagius, which minimized the role of divine grace in man’s salvation. In 429, Pope Celestine sent the French bishops Sts. Germanus of Auxerre and Lupus of Troyes to combat Pelagianism in England. It was Pope Celestine who sent St. Palladius as the first bishop to Ireland in 431. The Holy Father also sent St. Patrick, who would be Palladius’ successor to evangelize Ireland. Also, during his papacy, Pope Celestine assigned Archbishop St. Cyril of Alexandria with Nestorius’ recantation at the Council of Ephesus in 431. Pope Celestine approved the council’s decision to condemn, depose and banish Nestorius, which caused a schism that remained unresolved for more than a century.

Outside the Church, barbarian hordes were invading the West, leading to the collapse of the Roman Empire. Pope St. Celestine I worked to restore the churches that were attacked when Alaric the Goth sacked Rome. He also established the papal diplomatic service to send ambassadors, known as nuncios, from the Vatican to other governments around the world. Pope Celestine was the one who introduced the responsorial psalm into the papal Mass at Rome. His feast day is July 27th.

Saint Celestine I, Pope ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINTS NATHALIA, AURELIUS, LILIOSA, FELIX, AND GEORGE, MARTYRS: Saints Natalie & Aurelius were Christian martyrs who were put to death in AD 852 for practicing Christianity under Muslim rule, and are counted among the Martyrs of Córdoba. During the 8th century, Mohammedans ruled Cordoba, Spain, and initiated a persecution of the Chrisitans. St. Aurelius was the son of a Muslim father and a Christian mother. He was also secretly a follower of Christianity, as was his wife Natalie, who was also the child of a Muslim father. They decided to practice the faith openly. After setting aside enough money to take care of their daughter’s future, poor and practiced penance and devotion. One of Aurelius’s cousins, Felix, accepted Islam for a short time, but later converted back to Christianity and married a Christian woman, Liliosa. Sts. Aurelius and Natalie’s example proved to be an inspiration for the relative of Aurelius Felix and his wife Liliosa, who had been practicing her faith in secret. They joined Nathalia and Aurelius in visiting and ministering to the Christians in prison.

Under Sharia Law, all four of them were required to profess Islam. In time all four began to openly profess their Christianity, with the two women going about in public with their faces unveiled. They were all swiftly arrested as apostates from Islam. They were given four days to recant, but they refused and were beheaded. They were martyred with a local monk, George, who had openly spoken out against the Islamic prophet Mohamed. George, belonged to the monastery of St. Sabas in Jerusalem and had toured Egypt and Europe in search of alms for his house. He had been offered a pardon as a foreigner but chose instead to denounce Islam again and die with the others. They were all condemned to death—the first four giving up the Moslem religion and George for insulting Mohammed. On July 27, 852, these saintly followers of Christ achieved the martyrdom when Muslims ruled Spain, they so avidly sought.

PRAYER: Almighty, ever-living God, You conferred on Sts. Nathalia, Aurelius, Liliosa, Felix, and George the grace to suffer for Christ. Extend Your Divine help also to our weakness, so that just as they never shrank from dying for You we may remain steadfast in our confession of You. Amen 🙏

SAINT PANTALEON OF NICOMEDIA, PHYSICIAN AND MARTYR: Saint Pantaleon, (c. 275-305) whose name in Greek means “mercy for everyone,” or “all-compassionate one” was one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers and is one of the patron saints of physicians. He was born near the Black Sea in Asia to a wealthy pagan father and Christian mother. His father, Eustorgius of Nicomedia, and had been instructed in Christianity by his Christian mother, Eubula, who taught him the faith. He was a celebrated “fee-less physician” from Nicomedia who placed his skill in the service of God’s kingdom! As a physician to Emperor Maximianus, St. Pantaleon became estranged from Christianity through the influences of being in his service. With the help of a holy priest named Hermolaus, St. Pantaleon reverted back to the faith and gave his fortune and services to the poor, he distributed his goods among the poor and devoted his talents for healing to the most wretched and poor among the sick. Upon the death of his father he came into possession of a large fortune. Envious colleagues denounced him to the emperor during the Diocletian persecution. The emperor wished to save him and sought to persuade him to apostasy. Pantaleon, however, openly confessed his faith, and as proof that Christ is the true God, he healed a paralytic. Notwithstanding this, he was condemned to death by the emperor, who regarded the miracle as an exhibition of magic. He was martyred during the Diocletian persecution after he implored heaven to forgive his persecutors.

According to legend, Pantaleon’s flesh was first burned with torches; upon this Christ appeared to all in the form of Hermolaus to strengthen and heal Pantaleon. The torches were extinguished. After this, when a bath of liquid lead was prepared, Christ in the same form stepped into the cauldron with him, the fire went out and the lead became cold. He was now thrown into the sea, but the stone with which he was loaded floated. He was thrown to the wild beasts but these fawned upon him and could not be forced away until he had blessed them. He was bound on the wheel, but the ropes snapped, and the wheel broke. An attempt was made to behead him, but the sword bent, and the executioners were converted. Pantaleon implored heaven to forgive them, for which reason he also received the name of Panteleemon (the all- compassionate). It was not until he himself desired it that it was possible to behead him. St. Pantaleon is known as the “Great Martyr”, a “Wonder-Worker” and “Pantaleon the Healer”. In the Middle Ages he came to be regarded as the patron saint of physicians and midwives, and became one of the fourteen guardian martyrs. From early times a phial containing some of his blood has been preserved at Constantinople. On the feast day of the saint the blood is said to become fluid and to bubble. Relics of the saint are to be found at St. Denis at Paris; his head is venerated at Lyons. St. Pantaleon is the Patron Saint of physicians; bachelors; consumption; doctors; midwives; torture victims; tuberculosis; protection of domestic animals; Apothecaries, lottery winners and victories, invoked against headaches, consumption, locusts, witchcraft, accidents and loneliness; helper for crying children. His feast day is July 27th, alsoJuly 28th, and  February 18th.

Saint Pantaleon of Nicomedia, Physician and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 13:24-30

“Let them grow together until harvest”

“Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven may be likened to a man who sowed good seed in his field. While everyone was asleep his enemy came and sowed weeds all through the wheat, and then went off. When the crop grew and bore fruit, the weeds appeared as well. The slaves of the householder came to him and said, ‘Master, did you not sow good seed in your field? Where have the weeds come from?’ He answered, ‘An enemy has done this.’ His slaves said to him, ‘Do you want us to go and pull them up?’ He replied, ‘No, if you pull up the weeds you might uproot the wheat along with them. Let them grow together until harvest; then at harvest time I will say to the harvesters, “First collect the weeds and tie them in bundles for burning; but gather the wheat into my barn.”’”

In today’s Gospel reading, the Lord spoke to His disciples and the people using the parable of the good seeds and the weeds, in which the Lord spoke of the sower of the seeds, representing God Himself, and the enemy who sowed the seeds of weeds, which represents the devil, the evil one. In the parable, the seeds of the good seeds grew into good and fruitful plants that grew along the weeds that were competing with them for the nutrients, the space and all the resources needed for them to grow well. Weeds here often refer to those plants that are not useful or beneficial to us, and as competitors to the crop plants are therefore undesirable as they can make the good plants and crops unhealthy and lacking the resources they need to grow well. Jesus in parable was warning us against a premature separation of wheat from weed, of the good from the bad. He was saying that this kind of separation is really God’s work, not our work, and that it will happen at the end of time rather than in the course of time. Just as the servants in the parable would have been unable to distinguish the wheat from the weeds if they had been let loose, we do not always have the necessary insight to distinguish who is good and who is evil. We can get it terribly wrong; we only have to think of those innocent people who have been wrongly imprisoned. How often in our own personal lives have we judged someone harshly only to discover in time that we were very wide of the mark. The church itself has not always heeded the warning of Jesus about the dangers of premature separation. The inquisition was not in the spirit of the parable that Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel reading. Too great a zeal to purify the wheat field risks doing more harm than good. A weed-free garden may be highly desirable, but the Gospel today suggests that we may have to learn to live with weeds. We need to be patient with imperfection, in ourselves and in others. As we know only too well, life is not tidy. It is not like a well-manicured garden, in which order and harmony prevail. Each of us is a mixture of wheat and weed; we are each tainted by sin and yet touched by grace. Our calling is to grow in grace before God and others, as Jesus did. We look to Him to help us to keep on turning from sin and growing in grace.

In our first reading today, from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, the prophet of God told the people the words of the Lord at the Temple of God in Jerusalem, which had long been profaned and corrupted by the wicked practices and actions of the people of the kingdom of Judah and Jerusalem. As the Lord Himself said to His people, telling them through Jeremiah how wicked their actions and deeds had been, in their lack of genuine faith in Him and in their many hypocritical actions and deeds, which angered the Lord and would lead them to their doom and downfall. They were to suffer the consequences of their actions, all their deeds in manipulating and persecuting their fellow brothers and sisters for their own selfish ambitions and desires. God wanted His people at that time in the kingdom of Judah and hence all of us to realise that as His disciples and followers, all of us must realise that each and every one of our actions, words and deeds in life, our interactions and all our dealings with one another have to be accounted for, and we must understand that while God loves us all and does not despise us, all kinds of sins and wickedness are abhorrent to Him, and no sin and evil can stand before God’s Presence, or else we will be condemned and judged by those same sins which we have committed in our lives. That is why we need to turn away from all the wickedness that we ourselves had done in our lives, and embrace once again God’s love and mercy, seeking His forgiveness for our many sins.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded of the need for each and every one of us as those who believe in the Lord to contemplate our path in life, our actions and whatever it is that we have done, in all that we carry out in our lives so that our whole lives may always be truly exemplary and be faithful to God, and that we will strive to avoid falling into the temptations to sin, to disobey God and His Law and commandments. We must not allow the evil ones to persuade us otherwise and to mislead us down the path of darkness and ruin, by strengthening our own relationships with God, our Lord and Master, He Who has always loved us all these while. Let us all therefore no longer be ignorant of what we need to urgently do in order to seek God’s forgiveness for our many sins, and for us to reorientate our lives so that we may once again live them in accordance with God’s will. Let us all be good role models, examples and inspiration for our fellow brothers and sisters, that in all the things we do and carry out in each and every moments, we will always strive to cultivate a life that is truly holy and worthy of God. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord continue to strengthen and empower us all so that we may always be faithful to Him at all times, and may He grant us the strength and the courage to carry on living our lives ever more courageously and worthily as good and devout Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people, now and always. Amen 🙏🏾

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY:

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood. The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood.

“The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it.”

PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYER: Almighty, and everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our salvation, that the power thereof may here on earth keep us from all things hurtful, and the fruit of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen 🙏🏾

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JULY – FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

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 Ordinary Time, 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 🙏🏾

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our 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 soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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 Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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 🙏🏾

Let us pray:

Most holy Word of God, You are the living Word who sows seed upon the fertile ground of our Hearts. You plant Yourself in the hearts of those who believe so that Your life can bear good fruit in the faithful. Please sow the seed of Your Word in my own heart, dear Lord, and protect me from the deceptions of the evil one. As You do, I pray that You bring forth an abundance of good fruit through me. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏🏾

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Celestine I, Pope; Saints Nathalia, Aurelius, Liliosa, Felix, and George and Saint Pantaleon of Nicomedia ~ Pray for us 🙏🏾

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled, and relaxing weekend 🙏🏾

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

SIXTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 26, 2024

WORLD DAY FOR GRANDPARENTS AND THE ELDERLY [The Catholic Church celebrates the World Day for Grandparents and the Elderly each year on the Sunday closest to the feast of Sts. Joachim and Anne, Jesus’ grandparents. This year it is July 28, 2024]

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we humbly pray for justice, peace and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world. We continue to pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to 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 & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. Amen🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | July 26, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 26, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |July 26, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 26, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | July 26, 2024 |

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

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

NOVENA TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS | https://novenaprayer.com/novena-to-the-precious-blood-of-jesus/ (When to begin: Any time – The whole month of July)

Today’s Bible Readings: Friday July 26, 2024
Reading 1, Sirach 44:1, 10-15
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 132:11, 13-14, 17-18
Gospel, Matthew 13:16-17

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE, PARENTS OF THE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (GRANDPARENTS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST) ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 26TH

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Most Blessed Virgin Mary and grandparents of our Lord Jesus Christ. Despite the importance of their role as the maternal grandparents of our Lord Jesus Christ, we do not know too much about them. The couple’s faith and perseverance brought them through the sorrow of childlessness, to the joy of conceiving and raising the immaculate and sinless woman who would give birth to Christ. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saints Joachim and Anne on this special feast day, we humbly pray for all for those seeking for the fruit of the womb, may God bless them with the gift of children; we pray for safe delivery for all expectant mothers; we pray for all women, men, parents and grandparents and the elderly. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for those going through difficulties especially during these challenging times, for the poor and the needy, for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏 

SAINTS JOACHIM AND ANNE, PARENTS OF THE MOST BLESSED VIRGIN MARY (GRANDPARENTS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST): Sts. Joachim and Anne (1st c. B.C.), both of the tribe of Judah of the royal house of David, are venerated by the Church as the parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary who was probably their only child and grandparents of our Lord Jesus Christ. Saint Joachim, whose name means “Yahweh prepares”, was a Shepherd from Jerusalem and probably rich. He married St. Anne from Bethlehem and Mary was promised to them by an Angel. They are honored as role models for parents. They did not have any children, and they were a rather elderly couple. They began to devote themselves to rigorous prayer and fasting, in isolation from one another and from society. They regarded their inability to conceive a child as a surpassing misfortune, and a sign of shame among the tribes of Israel. When, one day, while St. Joachim was at work in the fields as usual, an angel appeared to announce the birth of a child, and St. Anne also had the same vision. The angel revealed this to Anne when he appeared to her and prophesied that all generations would honor their future child: “The Lord has heard your prayer, and you shall conceive, and shall bring forth; and your seed shall be spoken of in all the world.” Their moment of joy at this happy news is depicted with their embrace and kiss at the Golden Gate in Jerusalem. It was from their holy and chaste marriage that the Immaculate Conception was brought into the world.

Saints Joachim and Anne called their little girl Mary, which means “loved by God,” and then they moved to Nazareth, where they educated Mary, teaching her the law of the Lord. The Blessed Virgin Mary had good, faithful parents who raised her with a love and devotion to God like none other except Jesus Christ Himself. According to tradition, when the Child Mary was three years old, they dedicated her to God and presented her to live in the Jerusalem temple until the time of her betrothal to St. Joseph. St. Anne has been honored from early Christian times. Churches were dedicated to her honor, and the Fathers, especially of the Eastern Churches, loved to speak of her sanctity and privileges. She is often represented as teaching her little daughter to read the Scriptures. St. Anne is invoked as the protector of pregnant women, who turn to her to obtain from God three great favours: a happy birth, a healthy child, and sufficient milk to be able to raise the baby. And she is the patron of many jobs related to her duties as mother, including washerwomen and embroiderers. St. Joachim has been honored from time immemorial in the Churches of the East, and since the 6th century public devotion to him has been observed in all countries. However, as in the case of St. Anne, the Gospel tells us nothing about his life. St. Joachim only found space in the liturgical calendar in 1584: initially on March 20th, moving to Sunday in the octave of the Assumption in 1738, then to August 16th in 1913, before rejoining his holy wife on July 26th with the new liturgical calendar.

According to tradition, Sts. Joachim and Anne came from Galilee to settle in Jerusalem in their old age, and there they born and raised the Blessed Mother of God; there also they died and were buried. We do not know when St. Joachim and Anne died, and for many centuries their memory remained in the shadows. A church was built during the 4th century, possibly by St. Helena, on the site of the home of Sts. Joachim and Anne in Jerusalem. Sts. Joachim and Anne serve as role models for parents and both deserve to be honored and emulated for their devotion to God and Our Lady Mary, the Mother of God. They are Patron Saints of Holy Family; Grandparents; Marriages. Saint Anne is the Patron Saint against poverty; barren; unmarried women; wives; expectant mothers; pregnancy; women in labor; grandmothers; childless couples; and against poverty and sterility; broommakers; cabinetmakers; carpenters; childless couples; equestrians; grandmothers; grandparents; homemakers; housewives; lace makers; lace workers; lost articles; miners; mothers; old-clothes dealers; horse riders; seamstresses; stablemen; sterility; turners; Brittany; Canada; France; Quebec; archdiocese of Detroit, Michigan; diocese of Norwich, Connecticut; Santa Ana Indian Pueblo; Taos, New Mexico. Women praying to meet their future spouse often turn to St. Anne. Saint Joachim is the Patrion Saint of fathers, grandfathers, grandparents. Their feast day is July 26th.

PRAYER: O Lord, God of our Fathers, who bestowed on Saints Joachim and Anne this grace, that of them should be born the Mother of your incarnate Son, grant, through the prayers of both, that we may attain the salvation you have promised to your people. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever… Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Memorial of Saints Joachim and Anne, Parents of the Blessed Virgin Mary | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/0726-memorial-joachim-anne.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 13:16-17

“Many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “Blessed are your eyes, because they see, and your ears, because they hear. Amen, I say to you, many prophets and righteous people longed to see what you see but did not see it, and to hear what you hear but did not hear it.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus proclaims blessed the eyes that see and the ears that hear. He is referring there to the eyes and ears of faith, all those among His own contemporaries who recognized God’s powerful presence in His own ministry. Jesus declares that many of the prophets and holy people of the past longed to see and hear what His contemporaries had the privilege of seeing and hearing. We share in that same privilege. We give thanks for all we have been allowed to see and hear of God’s presence in Jesus and for all those people of faith who preceded us and have made it possible for us to see and hear with the eyes and ears of faith. Jesus makes reference to all the forces that can prevent the seed of faith from growing to its full potential. There is the presence of the evil one, the great tempter. There are our own personal weaknesses, our tendency to turn from the Lord when trials come, our capacity to allow the worries and the pleasures of life to undermine our faith. Yet, Paul reminds us in his letter to the Romans that nothing need come between us the love of God. The Lord works to overcome those forces that separate us from Him and He does so above all through other people of faith, through the community of faith. We call that community of faith the church. Within the church, there are smaller communities of faith that help to nurture the seed of faith in our own lives. Jesus’ parents and grandparents were such a small community of faith in His life. We are all called in our own way to help form such small communities of faith, and in that way to help each other to grow towards the Lord. In this regard, Joachim and Anne can be our inspiration.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, on this great feast of St. Joachim and St. Anne, who were remembered as loving parents who loved their daughter Mary and who taught her well in obeying God and in the ways of the world. They were Mary’s role models in life, and they should be ours too. It was because of Sts. Joachim and Anne’s own faith that Mary was able to make her great response of faith to God’s call to her through the angel Gabriel. The parents of Mary,  grandparents of Jesus helped to create that environment of faith in which He would grow in wisdom and in stature before others and God. Today’s feast encourages us to remember the people of faith who supported us on our own faith journey. We might remember especially our own parents and grandparents and the faith by which they lived and which helped to light the flame of faith in our own lives. We are reminded today to be appreciative and grateful for our grandparents and our elders who have shown us their love, care and concern. In our world today, due to changing nature of the family and relationships, many families tend to neglect their elders and forget about them, and many people do not even live with their own grandparents and the elders anymore, and this led to many of the latter facing hardships, challenges and loneliness in the conduct of their daily living and actions. We must not forget all the love that they had shown to us, much as how the Lord our God Himself has loved us all patiently. Our elderly and grandparents often made many sacrifices and went the extra mile for us without us realising it, and we often realised it only when it is already too late for us to do so, when they are no longer by our side. Today therefore as we have been reminded to develop that strong and genuine relationship with God, let us also remember those around us especially our elders and grandparents, all those who have loved us and are now living through their twilight years. We should continue to love them all and develop a strong, genuine and loving relationship with our elders and grandparents, in all that we do in our lives. Let our love for our elders and grandparents be good examples and inspirations for everyone that more and more people will continue to grow in love for their family members particularly their elders, and grow ever stronger in their faith in God. Let us all therefore seek the Lord with renewed faith and commitment, and do our best to live our lives in a true Christian manner, distancing ourselves from sin and wickedness, and being faithful in all things that we may become inspiration and role models for one another. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may St. Joachim and St. Anne, their faith and dedication to God, their love for their daughter Mary, the Mother of Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, continue to inspire us always. May God bless each and every one of us, now and always. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY:

THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: The month of July is dedicated to the Precious Blood. The feast of the Precious Blood of our Lord was instituted in 1849 by Pius IX, but the devotion is as old as Christianity. The early Fathers say that the Church was born from the pierced side of Christ, and that the sacraments were brought forth through His Blood.

“The Precious Blood which we worship is the Blood which the Savior shed for us on Calvary and reassumed at His glorious Resurrection; it is the Blood which courses through the veins of His risen, glorified, living body at the right hand of God the Father in heaven; it is the Blood made present on our altars by the words of Consecration; it is the Blood which merited sanctifying grace for us and through it washes and beautifies our soul and inaugurates the beginning of eternal life in it.”

PRECIOUS BLOOD PRAYER: Almighty, and everlasting God, who hast appointed Thine only-begotten Son to be the Redeemer of the world, and hast been pleased to be reconciled unto us by His Blood, grant us, we beseech Thee, so to venerate with solemn worship the price of our salvation, that the power thereof may here on earth keep us from all things hurtful, and the fruit of the same may gladden us for ever hereafter in heaven. Through the same Christ our Lord.
Amen 🙏🏾

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JULY – FOR THE PASTORAL CARE OF THE SICK: We pray that the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick confer to those who receive it and their loved ones the power of the Lord and become ever more a visible sign of compassion and hope for all.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

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 Ordinary Time, 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 🙏

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our 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 soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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 Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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🙏

Let us pray:

Saints Joachim and Anne, you were given the incredible privilege and responsibility to give birth to and raise the Immaculate Conception, the Mother of God. Her presence in your lives touched you both deeply and left you in awe of God’s grace. Please pray for me, that I may come to love your daughter and your Grandson with the same love you bore for each of them, so that I will enjoy their company in Heaven one day, just as you do today. Saints Joachim and Anne, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Joachim and Saint Anne ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled, and relaxing weekend🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖