Year: 2024

TWELFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 25, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, 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 | June 25, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 25, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 25, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 25, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 25, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, June 25, 2024
Reading 1, Second Kings 19:9-11, 14-21, 31-35, 36
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 48:2-3, 3-4, 10-11
Gospel, Matthew 7:6, 12-14

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT WILLIAM OF VERCELLI, ABBOT; SAINT PROSPER OF REGGIO, BISHOP AND SAINT DOMINIC HENARES, PRIEST AND SAINT PROSPER OF AQUITAINE, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 25TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint William of Vercelli, Abbot; Saint Prosper of Reggio, Bishop; Saint Dominic Henares, Priest and St. Prosper of Aquitaine, Doctor of the Church. 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 the poor and needy, for justice, peace and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world especily those suffering from political and religious unrest. May God protect us all and keep united in peace, love and faith… Amen 🙏

SAINT WILLIAM OF VERCELLI, ABBOT: St. William of Vercelli (1085 – June 25th 1142 A.D.), also known as St. William of Monte Vergine or St. William of Monte Virgine, was Abbot and Founder of the Congregation of Monte-Vergine. He was born in Vercelli, a city of Lombardy, in the northern Italian region of Piedmont. He was born into a noble family, though he was orphaned very early on in his life, he lost his father and mother in his infancy and was brought up by a relative in great sentiments of piety. At fifteen years of age, having an earnest desire to lead a penitential life, he left his native region and made a long and austere pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela in Spain to the shrine of the Virgin founded by Saint James at Saragossa. While on the pilgrimage, he wore a ring of iron around his waist as an additional penance. After his return to Italy, St. William decided to make the pilgrimage to Jerusalem and traveled as far as southern Italy. St. William would have made the pilgrimage to Jerusalem but he was accosted by brigands on the road and was beaten and robbed. St. William took this as a sign that God was calling him to a solitary life and wished him to stay in Italy and spread the Gospel there. He retired into the kingdom of Naples and chose for his abode an uninhabited mountain. He settled on the top of Monte Vergiliana near Naples, and lived there as a hermit, changing the name to Montevergine (Mount of the Virgin). He lived in perpetual contemplation and the exercises of rigorous penitential austerities. His holiness and piety attracted many followers. Many miracles were attributed to him including a miracle of healing a blind man by his prayers. He was discovered and his fame throughout southern Italy grew. His contemplation was interrupted, so he decided to move to another mountain, where he built a very beautiful church in honor of Our Lady. With several former secular priests who joined him there, in 1119 he began the establishment of the Congregation of Monte Vergine, or Mount of the Virgin. This site is between Nola and Benevento in the same kingdom of Naples.

These sons of Our Lady lived in great austerity. Seeing the progress in holiness of the good religious being formed there, the devil sowed division and criticism; but God drew good from the evil when Saint William went elsewhere and founded several more monasteries, both for men and women, in various places in the kingdom of Naples. He assisted the king of Naples, who greatly venerated him, to practice all the Christian virtues of a worthy sovereign, and the king in gratitude had a house of the Order built at Salerno opposite his palace, to have him near him more often. When Saint William died on the 25th of June, 1142, he had not yet written a Rule for his religious; his second successor, Robert, fearing the dissolution of a community without constitutions, placed them under that of Saint Benedict, and is regarded as the first abbot of the Benedictine Congregation of Monte-Vergine with a Rule based on the Benedictines. A portrait of the Virgin venerated there has been an unfailing source of holy compunction; pilgrims continue to visit it. Five other houses were formed during his lifetime, but only the original survives today. St. William of Vercelli is honored as a saint who was a leader in monastic life—both because he established a number of monasteries and because his rigorous discipline, prayer, and fasting were an example for many monks. He died June 25, 1142 of natural causes.
He’s the Patron Saint of Irpinia, Italy.   

PRAYER: Grant us, O Lord, that amid the uncertainties of this world we may cling with all our heart to the things of heaven, for through the Abbot blessed William of Vercelli, you have given us a model of evangelical perfection. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever… Amen🙏

SAINT PROSPER OF REGGIO, BISHOP: St. Prosper of Reggio, was a 5th/6th-century Saint shrouded in obscurity; beginning with the 9th century he was venerated in the Italian province of Emilia, although he may have been a native Spain originally. He was Fifth century bishop of Reggio in Italy. Tradition holds that he was a bishop of Reggio Emilia for twenty-two years and was much loved for his kindness and modesty. He cared so little about his own glory that he specially asked to be buried in the small church outside the city walls, rather than the city’s large cathedral.

When a rich young man asked Jesus: “What have I to do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus told him: “Sell all that you own and distribute the money to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come and follow me.” According to tradition, Saint Prosper took this command so seriously he gave away all his possessions and goods to the poor in order to fulfill our Lord’s precept to the rich young man. He became a Bishop and his beneficent Episcopate lasted twenty-two years. In due time, Prosper passed on his heavenly reward, surrounded by his priest and deacons. He died on June 25 in 466 at Reggio Emilia and he was buried in the church of St. Apollinaris, which he had built and consecrated, outside the walls of Reggio. In 703, his relics were transferred to a great new church erected in his honor by Bishop Thomas of Reggio. And fittingly enough he is the principal Patron of that city. He is remembered for his sense of charity. He is the Patron Saint of Reggio Emilia, Italy; The Poor.

PRAYER:  God, You made St. Proper an outstanding exemplar of Divine love and the faith that conquers the world, and added him to the roll of saintly pastors. Grant by his intercession that we may persevere in faith and love, and become sharers of his glory. Amen 🙏
 
SAINT DOMINIC HENARES, PRIEST: St. Dominic Henares (1764-1838) was born to a poor family in Spain. He joined the Dominican Order and was ordained a priest in 1790. Ten years later he was sent as a missionary to the Far East. He went from Mexico to the Philippines, and finally to North Vietnam. He became Bishop of Phunhay, Vietnam, in 1803. In 1831 the Vietnamese emperor officially prohibited Catholicism and severely persecuted the Church. Whole villages were sent into exile; priests were arrested and subjected to the most terrible tortures before they were killed. Those who helped capture them were richly rewarded. Bishop Henares was arrested and beheaded in Nam Dinh on June 25, 1838; the soldiers and villagers who participated in his arrest received generous compensation. St. Dominic Henares is one of an estimated 130,000 to 300,000 Catholics martyred for the faith in Vietnam between the 15th and 20th centuries. They were canonized together by Pope St. John Paul II in 1988. St. Dominic Henares’ feast day is June 25, and the collective memorial for 117 of the Vietnamese Martyrs is November 24.

Saint Dominic Henares, Priest ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT PROSPER OF AQUITAINE, DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH: St. Prosper of Aquitaine (390 – c. 455 AD), was a Christian  writer and disciple of St. Augustine of Hippo, was the first continuator of Jerome’s Universal Chronicle. Saint Prosper was born in the Roman province of Aquitaine in the year 390. He is known chiefly through his writings, which reveal that in his youth he had applied himself to all branches both of sacred and secular learning. Because of the purity and sanctity of his manners, the writers of his time testify that he was a holy and venerable man. By his labors in France against the semi-Pelagian heretics, he was a strong collaborator of Saint Augustine in Africa. He was in correspondence with the African doctor, who wrote two of his works to refute and give light to the semi-Pelagians: On the predestination of the Saints and On the gift of perseverance. The enemies of Saint Augustine turned against Saint Prosper also, publishing fifteen errors which they attributed to the latter, then sixteen propositions supposedly clarifying Augustine’s true sentiments, and spread them widely. The Saint with gentleness answered all these writings without acrid reprisals.

Saint Prosper, insofar as is known, was not an ecclesiastic; but being of great virtue and possessing extraordinary talents and learning, he dealt with delicate questions with remarkable insight. Saint Leo the Great, when chosen Pope in 440, invited him to Rome, made him his secretary, and employed him in the most important affairs of the Church. It was primarily Saint Prosper who finally crushed the Pelagian heresy definitively, when it was raising its head in the see of Peter. Its complete overthrow is said to be due to his zeal, learning, and unwearied endeavors. The date of his death remains uncertain, but he was still living in 455, the date at which his Chronicle concludes.

Saint Prosper of Aquitaine, Doctor of the Church ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Tuesday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062524.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 7:6, 12-14

“Do to others whatever you would have them do to you”

“Jesus said to his disciples: “Do not give what is holy to dogs, or throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them underfoot, and turn and tear you to pieces. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the Law and the Prophets. “Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road broad that leads to destruction, and those who enter through it are many. How narrow the gate and constricted the road that leads to life. And those who find it are few.”

In today’s Gospel reading, in the words of the Lord to His disciples, he tells them all not to give what is holy to the dogs and throw the pearls to the pigs, using the connotations commonly known then to highlight how they should not profane the Holy Name of God, His Law and commandments, just as the King of Assyria had done in mocking Him and His power, and just as how the people of Israel disobeyed Him and refused to obey His Law and commandments, spurning His love and kindness, all of which eventually led to their destruction and tragic fates. It is an important reminder for us not to allow worldly temptations and corruptions from distracting and misleading us down the wrong path which can lead us to our downfall and destruction. All of us are also reminded by the Lord Himself in today’s Gospel reading that the path towards salvation in God, while it is always open and available for us, courtesy of His ever enduring and wonderful love for each and every one of us, but this path is truly a narrow one, and it is not an easy path for all of us to follow and walk through. Jesus is suggesting that the way of life He has set before His disciples is a difficult and challenging way. Entering through a narrow gate requires a clear focus and a certain concentration of effort. Jesus is also suggesting that His way will often run counter to the way taken by the great majority. The call of the Gospel, in that sense, will often be experienced as counter to the prevailing culture. For that reason, it will require a conscious decision on our part. The way of the Lord, with all it entails, is a way that needs to be chosen. That choice is always a response to a call, the Lord’s call, but it remains a human choice. We may have been baptized into this way of the Lord as infants but as we go through life we have to choose this way for ourselves. Every day we have to choose to go through the narrow gate, to take the Lord’s way. There are indeed many obstacles, challenges, distractions and pressures all around us, all of which can lead us down the wrong path in life. Sin is born out of our disobedience against God, and unfortunately often, time and again, we and many of our predecessors have been swayed by the temptations, allures and corruptions present in this world. Although the gate is narrow and the way may be difficult, Jesus assures us in the last line of the Gospel reading that His way is the way that leads to life. It not only leads to life beyond this earthly life, eternal life, but it leads to life here and now. As St. Paul says in his second letter to the Corinthians, ‘now is the day of salvation’. The Lord is calling on us to be Jesus figures for others. Through the power of the Holy Spirit, we can all be Jesus figures in our world today, to some degree.

Our first reading today from the Book of Kings of Israel and Judah details the story of the time when the forces of King of Assyria, Sennacherib came to Jerusalem and besieged it after this same King struck at Judah and its cities likely with the intent to conquer and destroy it as he had done with many other cities and states in the region. At that time, Assyria was an ascending great power that had conquered many nations, including that of the Aramaeans and the northern kingdom of Israel, which was destroyed not long before the circumstances of today’s first reading. King Sennacherib brought with him a mighty army to do the same to Judah and Jerusalem, and how He mocked God and His people for trusting in Him. But God reassured His people in Judah that He would not abandon them and that He would stand by them just as He has always promised them when King Hezekiah of Judah led the people in praying to God and asking for His Divine providence and intervention. The prideful boasts and mockery of Sennacherib, the King of Assyria God turned into a sorrowful and anguished cry of defeat when He sent His Angels and destroyed all of the whole massive army of the Assyrians, supposedly numbering a hundred and eighty-five thousand, a truly large army. God rescued His people and destroyed all those who mocked Him and those who were faithful to Him, and sent this Assyrian king in shame back to his own homeland, and according to the Scriptures, the same king would soon be killed by his own sons. A truly terrible ending for a prideful and sinful man. According to today’s reading, it is clear indeed that God truly has the authority over all things, and He has the power over all nations and all earthly forces, over life and death. God was with His people and He did not leave them at the hour of their need, fighting and journeying with them as He has always done throughout time and history. He is the one and only True God, Who has defended and protected His people, marching before them and destroying their enemies. While the other gods and pagan idols of the many countries and states, cities and places which King Sennacherib ransacked and destroyed did nothing to stop all that, the Lord alone stepped in and defended His beloved and faithful people when they were in need of His help.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, all of us are reminded that we are all called to remain true and faithful to the Lord in all things. We must not be dissuaded, swayed or tempted away from God and His path because of all the oppositions, hardships, challenges, trials and obstacles which we may encounter in our paths in life. Instead, we must always encourage one another and remain strong in our faith despite the many difficulties and obstacles that we may have to face in this path we face, and we should gain inspirations from our holy predecessors and also from supporting one another in the face of those challenges and trials so that we may remain strong in our faith.This is why each and every one of us must always remind ourselves that we have to remain firmly anchored in faith in God, adhere closely to His teachings and truth. Each and every one of us as Christians must always strive to be the worthy and faithful bearers of the truth and Good News of God, obedient to His Law and commandments, and ever righteous, just and good in all of our words, actions and deeds. All of us should be exemplary and committed in our desire to serve the Lord in each and every moments of our lives. We should be good role models and inspirations for our fellow brothers and sisters, in resisting the allures of worldly glory and temptations, and in doing what God has commanded and willed us to do in our respective lives. May the Lord continue to strengthen us all in faith and remind us all to stay true and strong in our faith in Him, and not be swayed or tempted to give up in exchange for the comforts and pleasures of the world. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may He guide us all in our path and journey of faith through our lives, and may He continue to guide and bless us all in our every efforts and endeavours, in everything that we say and do, so that by all these, we may continue to glorify the Lord by our lives, now and always. Amen 🙏🏾

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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. 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 most magnificent Lord, You and You alone are worthy of all glory, honor and praise. May everything I do in life lead to Your glory and may I avoid everything that harms my relationship with You. I love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You and glorify You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, Saint William of Vercelli, Saint Prosper of Reggio; Saint Dominic Henares and St. Prosper of Aquitaine ~ Pray for us🙏

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and the gift of the Holy Spirit 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 fruitful week 🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

TWELFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 24, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Feast of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist!

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, 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 | June 24, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 24, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 24, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 24, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 24, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday June 24, 2024
Reading 1, Isaiah 49:1-6
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 139:1-3, 13-14, 14-15
Reading 2, Acts 13:22-26
Gospel, Luke 1:57-66, 80

Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint John the Baptist and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick, especially those who are sick with throat diseases, seizures and convulsive disorders and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases, we pray for their divine healing. We also pray for all expectant mothers and those seeking for the fruit of the womb. We pray for all those who recently received the Sacrament of Baptism. We pray for the poor and needy, for justice, peace and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, with special intention for all Priests, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST: Today, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist, the one whom the Lord had sent to be His own Herald, in proclaiming His coming into this world, and to prepare the path and everything for His entry and appearance in our midst. Only Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother also have feast days celebrating their birthdays. So why does the Church give such special reverence to the birth of St. John the Baptist?

Today’s feast anticipates the feast of Christmas. We celebrate the birth of John the Baptist on June 24th, six months before we celebrate the birth of Jesus on December 25th. A family relation of Jesus, St. John the Baptist is called “the Forerunner” because he was sent by God to “prepare the way of the Lord” ahead of Jesus’ public ministry. The birth of St. John the Baptist to his elderly and previously barren parents, Zechariah and Elizabeth, is recorded in St. Luke’s Gospel. His birth was announced to his father Zechariah by the Archangel Gabriel, who also brought the news of Christ’s birth to the Blessed Virgin Mary. John the Baptist’s nativity is one of only three birthdays celebrated by the Church, along with the nativities of Jesus and Mary. Though not an official dogma, according to ancient tradition St. John the Baptist was freed from original sin at the moment his mother heard the greeting of the Blessed Virgin at the Visitation, causing John to leap in his mother’s womb through the action of the Holy Spirit. So, like Jesus and Mary, St. John would have been born without sin, and therefore his birthday is also worthy of special honor. Because Christ praised John the Baptist so highly by saying “Truly I tell you, among those born of women no one has arisen greater than John the Baptist,” he was one of the most highly venerated saints in the ancient and medieval Church. Before Christ’s public life began, a divine impulse sent Saint John into the desert; there, with locusts for his food and wearing haircloth, in silence and in prayer, he chastened his soul. In his youth he remained hidden, because He for whom he waited was also hidden. St. John the Baptist is the Patron Saint of Baptism; bird dealers; converts; convulsions; convulsive children; cutters; epilepsy; epileptics; farriers; hailstorms; Knights Hospitaller; Knights of Malta; lambs; Maltese Knights; lovers; monastic life; motorways; printers, spasms; tailors; builders. St. John also serves as the patron saint of a variety of places throughout the world. St. John the Baptist has two feasts: his nativity on June 24th and his passion on August 29th.

In the breviary St. Augustine explains the reason for today’s observance in the following words: “Apart from the most holy solemnity commemorating our Savior’s birth, the Church keeps the birthday of no other person except that of John the Baptist. [The feasts of the Immaculate Conception and of the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin had not yet been introduced]. In the case of other Saints or of God’s chosen ones, the Church, as you know, solemnizes the day on which they were reborn to everlasting beatitude after ending the trials of this life and gloriously triumphing over the world. “For all these the final day of their lives, the day on which they completed their earthly service is honored. But for John the day of his birth, the day on which he began this mortal life is likewise sacred. The reason for this is, of course, that the Lord willed to announce to men His own coming through the Baptist, lest if He appeared suddenly, they would fail to recognize Him. John represented the Old Covenant and the Law. Therefore he preceded the Redeemer, even as the Law preceded and heralded the new dispensation of grace.”

Today we mark the moment when the Lord brought forth into this world the news and revelation of His salvation, of the long awaited salvation and Saviour that He has always promised and spoken about to His people. The Lord has reassured all of us that His love for us has always endured, and He will deliver unto us His providence and strength.

PRAYER: O God, who raised up Saint John the Baptist to make ready a nation fit for Christ the Lord, give your people, we pray, the grace of spiritual joys and direct the hearts of all the faithful into the way of salvation and peace. 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, Solemnity of the Nativity of Saint John the Baptist | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 1:57-66, 80

“He asked for a tablet and wrote, John is his name”

“When the time arrived for Elizabeth to have her child she gave birth to a son. Her neighbors and relatives heard that the Lord had shown his great mercy toward her, and they rejoiced with her. When they came on the eighth day to circumcise the child, they were going to call him Zechariah after his father, but his mother said in reply, “No. He will be called John.” But they answered her, “There is no one among your relatives who has this name.” So they made signs, asking his father what he wished him to be called. He asked for a tablet and wrote, “John is his name,” and all were amazed. Immediately his mouth was opened, his tongue freed, and he spoke blessing God. Then fear came upon all their neighbors, and all these matters were discussed throughout the hill country of Judea. All who heard these things took them to heart, saying, “What, then, will this child be?” For surely the hand of the Lord was with him. The child grew and became strong in spirit, and he was in the desert until the day of his manifestation to Israel.”

In today’s Gospel reading, there was something special about John the Baptist. It suggests that his being given the name ‘John’ was itself special or unusual. The neighbours and relations seem to have decided that Elizabeth’s child would be called Zechariah after his father. However, the child’s mother stood up against this consensus, declaring that he would be called John, after the name given to him by the angel Gabriel at the annunciation of the child’s birth to Zechariah. The wider family and community were stunned and objected to this name. ‘No one in your family has that name’, they said. Yet, John’s parents understood that God wanted their child to be called ‘John’. Zechariah, who had been rendered dumb for doubting the promise made by Gabriel, confirmed in writing that his child would be called John. A new beginning in God’s dealings with his people called for a new name, a name that conveyed the nature of this new beginning. Most Hebrew names have a religious meaning and the name ‘John’ means ‘God is gracious’ or ‘the Lord has shown favour’. The child of Elizabeth and Zechariah would announce the coming of someone who would reveal God’s gracious love in a powerfully new way and God was inaugurating a new era of favour through this child. According to the Gospel reading, people were asking, ‘What will this child turn out to be?’ He turned out to be the adult God wanted him to be, the one who witnessed to the arrival of God’s special messenger to humanity and who prepared people to welcome him by calling on them to be baptized. John would lead people to Jesus, God’s gracious gift to all. John reveals the essence of our baptismal calling, which is to witness to Jesus by opening our lives to Jesus’ presence and allowing him to grow in us. On this feast of his birthday, we might give thanks for all those people in our lives who have led us to Jesus and have helped us to see Him more clearly.

In our first reading from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, God revealed to His people, to all of us through Isaiah, of everything that He had done for us, in sending us His servants, whom He had called and chosen, like Isaiah himself, Jeremiah, Ezekiel, Elijah, Elisha, and earlier on still, Moses, and other leaders and elders of the people, and like St. John the Baptist himself, all of whom had been entrusted with the particular missions and vocations, with purpose and commitments for them to help lead the people of God, us mankind, back to the Lord, our most loving God and Saviour. The Lord had prepared St. John the Baptist to be His servant, from before he was even born, telling that to his parents, revealing to them just how important his role would be. That is what we have also heard in our Gospel passage today, as God foretold the great deeds that St. John the Baptist would do. As Christians, all of us should be inspired by the great examples set by St. John the Baptist, whose contributions are not limited only just by what he had done in baptising the countless thousands and more at the River Jordan. It was his faithfulness and his dedication to the Lord which should inspire us all to follow his good examples and faith as well. Not only that, but St. John the Baptist also showed us great courage and steadfastness in faith, in courageously opposing even the powerful ones at his time, the teachers of the Law and the chief priests, whom he scolded and criticised as the band of vipers for their lack of faith, hypocrisy and mismanagement of the people, and also King Herod, whom St. John the Baptist criticised for his immoral and adulterous behaviour with his brother’s wife, Herodias.

St. John the Baptist, who did not fear persecution and oppression, and who gave his whole life and efforts to the service of God, is a paragon of virtue and Christian discipleship, and all of us as Christians should be inspired to walk in the same path that St. John the Baptist had traversed, and be inspired by his great courage and commitment to God. He is a great role model for us all, in how each and every one of us should be living our lives as well, with great virtue and commitment to God, and in doing whatever it is that we have been entrusted by God to do with our lives, in our respective areas of responsibilities, and in our various vocations in the Church and in this world, in doing our best to glorify God by our lives. In addition, there is also one more great virtue that St. John the Baptist had, which all of us should very well emulate as well in our own lives, and that is one of obedience and humility. In his commitment to God, St. John the Baptist was thoroughly committed to his mission and he did not do anything for himself or for his own selfish purposes and desires. Like what St. Paul said in the second reading today in his Epistle, in which the Apostle directly quoted St. John the Baptist himself saying that he himself was not the Messiah, and he was not even worthy to untie the straps of His sandals. This was the response that St. John the Baptist gave to all those who asked him and wondered if he was the Messiah long awaited by the people of God. Given how popular St. John the Baptist had been, he could have claimed that he was the Messiah that the people awaited for, but he did not do that, and he was even also glad when he heard that the Lord was gaining more and more followers, saying that it was just right that while He increased, that he decreased. Such was the virtue and the humility that St. John the Baptist has shown, and which we all should emulate in our own lives.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures on this special feast day as we rejoice in this celebration of the Solemnity of the Nativity of St. John the Baptist, rejoicing in the memory of the birth of this great saint and servant of God, let us also therefore remember everything that he had done for the sake of God’s people, the dedication and zeal with which he had carried out his mission, in embracing the call and the mission that God had entrusted to him, and which he carried out fervently and humbly, as when he was asked if he was the Messiah, he immediately told them that he was not the Messiah, but rather merely the one who prepared the way for the coming of the Saviour. Let us all discern our own path in life, and see how each one of us can be inspired to follow in the footsteps of St. John the Baptist, in all that he had done as a faithful disciple of the Lord. Each and every one of us as Christians have been called to various missions and ministries, given the opportunities and the talents, the gifts of abilities and other means to reach out to one another, and to proclaim God’s truth, love and hope to our world today. Every one of us should be inspired by the examples that St. John the Baptist has shown us, and we should walk in his footsteps as faithful disciples of the Lord. May the Lord continue to guide each and every one of us to be ever more faithful and committed to Him, and may He continue to bless us and strengthen us with faith, such that we may continue to serve Him in our own various capacities and opportunities with zeal and dedication, inspired by what His saints, especially that of St. John the Baptist, had shown us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to remain faithful to our baptismal calling and may St. John the Baptist, Holy Herald of the Lord and His faithful servant, continue to pray and intercede for us all, that God may continue to guide and strengthen each and every one of us in our lives and in our works, so that we may truly be worthy of Him, and be committed in living our lives most worthily and faithfully in all things, in our every words, actions and deeds, at all times. May God bless us all, in our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always, forevermore. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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. 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:

Lord of all greatness, You sanctified Saint John the Baptist in the womb, and You continued to pour forth Your grace upon him throughout his life. He responded to You and fulfilled his glorious mission. I thank You for the sanctification given to me by my Baptism and strengthened through Confirmation and the Holy Eucharist. Help me to be open to all the graces You wish to bestow so that I may fulfill the unique mission given to me. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary and Saint John the Baptist ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and the gift of the Holy Spirit 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 fruitful week 🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

TWELFTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 23, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Sunday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, 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 | June 23, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 23, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 23, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 23, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 23, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings, Twelfth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) | June 23, 2024
Reading 1, Job 38:1, 8-11
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 107:23-24, 25-26, 28-29, 30-31
Reading 2, Second Corinthians 5:14-17
Gospel, Mark 4:35-41

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

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

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 4:35–41

Who is this whom even wind and sea obey?

“On that day, as evening drew on, Jesus said to his disciples: “Let us cross to the other side.” Leaving the crowd, they took Jesus with them in the boat just as he was. And other boats were with him. A violent squall came up and waves were breaking over the boat, so that it was already filling up. Jesus was in the stern, asleep on a cushion. They woke him and said to him, “Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?” He woke up, rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, “Quiet! Be still!” The wind ceased and there was great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you terrified? Do you not yet have faith?” They were filled with great awe and said to one another, “Who then is this whom even wind and sea obey?”

In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord Jesus Christ and His disciples were struck by a great storm in the Sea of Galilee which battered their boat and threatened them with all the winds and the waves, all of which were greatly dangerous, and the disciples were all panicking, thinking that they would drown in that place with all that went against them. When they awakened the Lord, He rebuked them for their lack of faith in Him, their lack of trust in God’s power and providence, and then went on to calm the waves and the storm with the mere power of His words and will. During the storm, the disciples said to Jesus, ‘Master, do you not care? We are going down’. The panic of the disciples stands in sharp contrast to the attitude of Jesus – ‘in the stern, His head on a cushion, asleep’. The panic of the disciples revealed their anxiety that the chaos of the storm would overwhelm them; the sleep of Jesus indicated His deep conviction that all would be well. Different people can react to crises in different ways. Some remain calm and others go to pieces. In a crisis we need at least some people to remain calm and to have a calming influence on everybody else. This occasion is a reminder for us all, that God is always with His Church, represented and symbolised by that boat that was floating and battered by the great waves and the wind. The disciples were representing all of us, all the holy people of God, the members and parts of God’s Church. Those winds and great waves represent the great obstacles, trials and challenges which were facing us all in the Church, all the oppositions, persecutions and hardships that many among the faithful had to face. All those challenges and obstacles may indeed seem to be very daunting and terrible, scary and seemingly insurmountable, but we must never lose faith in the Lord, and remain firmly faithful in Him. We must not lose heart and give in to the temptations and challenges, or else, we may end up losing everything. According to the Gospel reading, the disciples undoubtedly learned something important from their traumatic experience on the Sea of Galilee. The storm made them question more deeply, ‘Who then is this?’ The church has had to grapple with many painful questions in recent times. A weakened, vulnerable church can come to recognize in a new way its total dependence on the Lord. When all is not well, we learn to seek the Lord with greater passion, like the disciples in the boat, rather than presuming that we already know Him. Difficult and painful times can deepen the church’s relationship with the Lord.

In our first reading today from the Book of Job, the Lord spoke to His servant Job, who had been afflicted greatly by many misfortunes affecting his property, family and personal health due to the attacks from the evil one, Satan, who wanted to test Job’s faith and trust in God. Job suffered greatly, but earlier on in the Book of Job, he did not waver in his faith and remained steadfast in trusting the Lord, not allowing all those misfortunes from tempting and misleading him down the path of rebellion and disobedience against God. He did not give in to despair, and while he struggled amidst the trials and challenges that he had faced, he continued to follow the Lord faithfully and blamed himself more for the misfortunes that he had faced. This was where God reminded Job of the vastness of His mysteries and all the things that were hidden from human understanding and perception, as something that is beyond our capacity and ability to know and understand. God told Job that He has the power and dominion over all things, and everything in this world happened because of what He has willed to be, and nothing is ever beyond His reach and ability. This is why through these words and reminders, we are also called to heed the fact that we must always put our faith and trust in the Lord, and we must never lose hope and the focus on Him, as it is in Him alone that we can find lasting and true peace that endures and saves.

In our second reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city of Corinth, the Apostle spoke of the salvation which everyone has received from the Lord through His Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour, the Son of God, through Whom God had revealed His salvation to everyone, so that through His Son, all of us mankind, who have once been separated from Him, may find the sure path to be reunited once again with Him. It was indeed a great mystery of God’s salvation and saving works among His people that He has sent none other than His own Beloved and begotten Son to be Our Saviour, and through the amazing manner by which He had done so, in lovingly bearing for our sake, our many burdens and the punishments for our sins and wickedness. Again, we are all reminded that our hope is in the Lord, which He has made clear through His Son, through Christ’s Light and Hope, which has illuminated our path in the darkness surrounding us, all the evils and wickedness, the power of sin and corruption that have surrounded and dominated us all these while. Despite all these things arrayed against us and all the challenges and trials that we have to face in our path and journey, but God reminds us all that in Him alone that there is truly the path to eternal life and true happiness. Separated from God, we truly have nothing and we cannot persist amidst all the challenges and trials facing us, and without Him as the anchor of our lives, we will easily be swept away by the destructive forces and waves of sin, evil and wickedness around us.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures this Sunday, all of us are reminded that in God alone we have hope and salvation, and as His people, we must always have this strong faith and trust in Him, believing that it is in Him that we shall always have the assurance of true happiness and eternal glory, all of which shall be ours if we remain steadfast in our dedication and commitment to God. We need to have faith and trust in the Lord even when we are encountering difficulties, challenges, trials and tribulations, as it is during all those period of challenges that we often lose our faith in God and ended up veering off into the path towards destruction and damnation. This is why we are all reminded this Sunday that we must always stay steadfast to this faith that we have in the Lord. All of us are reminded that we must always establish our lives and our livelihood, our actions and everything in our lives upon the firm foundation that God alone can provide us. It has certainly been too often that we have been disappointed again and again by the many worldly means and provisions which had been our staple and our means of survival, and yet, none of those could truly provide us with true and lasting satisfaction and happiness besides that of the Lord and His loving providence. That is why we are reminded again and again this day that we should always strive to put God at the centre and as the focus of our whole lives and existence. May the Lord continue to be with us all, His beloved people and His Church, and may He empower each and every one of us so that by our whole lives, our actions and by our examples, we may always be good role models in leading and inspiring more and more people to be ever more faithful to the Lord, to commit themselves to Him and to do His will, as we have all been called to do. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may bless our every efforts and endeavours, and may He be with His Church, and grant us all His strength and grace, now and always. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ETHELDREDA (AUDREY), VIRGIN; SAINT MARY OF OIGNIES, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT JOSEPH CAFASSO, PRIEST ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 23RD Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Etheldreda (Audrey), Virgin; Saint Mary of Oignies, Religious and Saint Joseph Cafasso, Priest. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick, especially those who are sick with diseases of the throat, seizures and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases, we pray for their divine healing. We also pray for all expectant mothers and those seeking for the fruit of the womb. We pray for the poor and needy, for justice, peace and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, with special intention for all Priests, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT ETHELDREDA (AUDREY), VIRGIN: St. Etheldreda or Audrey (636-679) is the most popular of Anglo-Saxon women saints, an Anglo-Saxon queen and founder of a double monastery at Ely, who took a vow of celibacy despite being married twice. St. Etheldreda was born c. 636 near Newmarket, Suffolk. This holy virgin was the third daughter of Annas, the saintly King of East Anglia. Three of her sisters, Sexburga, Ethelburga, and Withburga, are numbered among the Saints. To comply with the desire of her parents she married Prince Tonbert, but she remained a virgin, for they lived in perpetual continence, it was said that the marriage was never consummated. After three years, her husband died and she was widowed. She lived a secluded life of contemplation for five years. She had taken a perpetual vow of virginity, but married again, this time for reasons of state. The Saint’s fame reached the ears of Egfrid, the King of Northumberland, who extorted her consent to marry him.

With her second husband she lived, as she had done with the first, more as his sister than as his wife, devoting her time to the exercises of devotion and charity. Her young husband soon grew tired of living as brother and sister and began to make advances on her. She continually refused. He eventually attempted to bribe the local bishop, Saint Wilfrid of York, to release St. Audrey from her vows. Saint Wilfrid refused, and helped Audrey escape. She fled south, with her husband following. They reached a promontory known as Colbert’s Head, where a heaven sent seven day high tide separated the two. Eventually, Audrey’s husband left and married someone more willing, while Audrey took the veil, after twelve years of weddedlife, upon the advice of St. Wilfrid and more or less with her husband’s consent, she embraced the religious life. She retired to the monastery of Coldinghan near Berwick, where she lived in obedience to the Abbes, St. Ebba. In the year 672, St. Etheldreda returned to the Isle of Ely and founded a monastery, the great abbey of Ely, where she lived an austere life. Her life henceforward was one of great austerity and perfection. She became a model of virtue to all he Sisters. Suffering were her delight. She thanked God when, in her last sickness, she had much to suffer, she had an enormous and unsightly tumor on her neck, which she gratefully accepted as Divine retribution for all the necklaces she had worn in her early years. After the lingering illness she expired in peace on June 23, 679 at her monastery in 679 where she had been abbess for seven years. She’s Patron Saint of throat and neck complaints.

PRAYER: Lord God, You showed heavenly gifts on St. Etheldreda. Help us to imitate her virtues during our earthly life and enjoy eternal happiness with her in heaven. Amen 🙏

SAINT MARY OF OIGNIES, RELIGIOUS: St. Mary of Oignies (1167-1213) was born in Belgium (Nivelles in the diocese of Liege) to a wealthy family in 1167. But while still very young, she rejected everything childish or vain — games, beautiful clothing, ornaments. From her early youth Mary felt called to the religious life, but she entered into an arranged marriage to a virtuous young lord at age 14. despite her desire to be a nun. Her holy life caused admiration in her spouse and decided him to follow her examples; and together they resolved to practice continence for life, to distribute their wealth to the poor and consecrate themselves to works of piety. She convinced her husband to live chastely, and to turn their home into a leper hospice, after giving away much of her fortune to the poor as she could, St. Mary spent her days caring for lepers. The demon tried every artifice to make them relent in their holy resolution, but failed. They drew down on themselves the most abundant blessings, as well as sarcasms and insults from the worldly.

St. Mary had the gift of tears, and could not look at a crucifix without breaking into a torrent of tears or being ravished in ecstasy. When a priest told her to cease these exhibitions, she asked God to make him understand that it is not possible for a creature to arrest tears which the Holy Spirit obliges to well up. And the priest, that same day while saying his Mass, began to shed so many tears that the altar cloths and his vestments were wet with them. She had a great devotion to Saint John the Evangelist and conversed with him as well as with her Guardian Angel. Noted for visions, especially of Saint John and her guardian angel, ecstacies, prophecies, and psychic gifts; she ate no meat, dressed exclusively in white, may have been a stigmatist, and reported cut off pieces of her flesh to rid herself of desire for the world. By vision and revelation she often knew the temptations and secrets of the hearts of the persons who consulted her. She converted many, obtained graces by her prayers for the living and especially for the dead, for whom she offered prayers and sacrifices, and suffered various illnesses with invincible patience. Her many visitors made her life of contemplation difficult, and she decided to change her residence. Later in life, with the permission of her husband, she moved into a hermit‘s cell near the Augustinian house at Oignies, France and spent the rest of her life there, where she lived in retreat amidst her heavenly favors and conversations,  praying for souls in Purgatory, and giving advice to would-be spiritual students. She saw the place destined for her in heaven, and gave up her holy soul surrounded by angelic songs of bliss on June 23, 1213. The faithful who have addressed her were so impressed with the value of her intercession that her relics became the object of great respect. Buried at Oignies, her remains in 1609 were placed in a silver reliquary in its parish church of Our Lady; in 1817 they were transferred to the Church of Saint Nicolas at Nivelle, near her birthplace. She’s Patron Saint of women in labor and against fever.

St. Mary of Oignies, Religious ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT JOSEPH CAFASSO, PRIEST: St. Joseph Cafasso (1811–1860) was born in Castelnuovo d’Asti, Italy, to a peasant family near the city of Turin. Four years later, one of his most famous students St. John Bosco (feast day – March 31) was born in the same town. St. Joseph was born with a physical deformity of the spine, which caused him to grow into a stunted and crippled man for life. But he had loving parents who were willing to make big sacrifices so Joseph could study in Turin to become a priest. Discerning a call to Holy Orders, he entered the seminary in Turin where he later met another famous saint—John Bosco. St. Joseph talked to him at the church in 1827 when John was twelve. St. Joseph taught St. John Bosco and encouraged him in his mission to minister to the town’s impoverished street youth.  At that time Joseph was studying at the seminary to become a priest. After they talked, the excited John ran all the way home. “Mom, Mom,” John called, “I met him, I met him!” “Who?” his mother asked. “Joseph Cafasso, mother. He’s a saint, I tell you.” Mrs. Bosco smiled and nodded gently.

In 1833, St. Joseph was ordained a priest. He began his priestly work and went to an excellent school of theology (religious studies) for priests. When Father Cafasso graduated, he became a theology professor at the college in Turin. He taught many young priests over the years. They could tell that he really loved them. St. Joseph was an excellent professor of moral theology, as well as a famed preacher and confessor. He performed his duties so well that he became known as the “Priest’s Priest.” He spent entire days preaching in prisons, offering comfort to the prisoners, hearing their confessions, and even advocating to improve the poor conditions of the prison. For this work he also earned the name, “Priest of the Gallows.” Father Cafasso was known as the priest who believed in the gentle and loving mercy of God. His kindness gave people courage and hope. He guided many priests, religious and lay people. He helped John Bosco begin his great priestly work with boys and guided him in starting his religious order known as the Salesians. Father Cafasso directed other founders, too.

There were many social needs in Father Cafasso’s time. One of the most urgent was the prison system. Prison conditions were disgusting and he worked hard to improve them. But what most moved Father Cafasso was the custom of hanging in public, prisoners sentenced to death. Father Cafasso went to them and heard their confessions. He stayed with them, telling them of God’s love and mercy until they died. He helped over sixty prisoners who repented and died in the peace of Jesus. Father Cafasso called them his “hanged saints.” Father Cafasso also became the pastor of St. Francis Church in 1848. He was a wonderful example for people to follow promoting devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. He also did some great works in the Church. Father Cafasso died on June 23, 1860. His faithful friend, St. John Bosco, preached the homily at his funeral. The life of this saint was marked by kindness and understanding of the people of his time. St. Joseph Cafasso is the Patron Saint of prisoners, prisons, and prison chaplains. His feast day is June 23rd.

PRAYER: We humbly ask you, almighty God, that at the intercession of  blessed Joseph Cafasso  you may multiply your gifts among us  and order our days in peace. 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🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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. 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 sleeping Lord, as I endure the many storms of life, may I always have faith in the saving power of Your Cross and Resurrection. May I always call upon You to calm the storms and hear You speak to me the many truths I need to hear. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Etheldreda (Audrey), Saint Mary of Oignies and Saint Joseph Cafasso ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and the gift of the Holy Spirit 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 and week 🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

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

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

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, 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 | June 22, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 22, 2024 |

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings, Saturday, June 22, 2024
Reading 1, Second Chronicles 24:17-25
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 89:4-5, 29-30, 31-32, 33-34
Gospel, Matthew 6:24-34

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLA, BISHOP; SAINTS JOHN FISHER, BISHOP AND MARTYR AND THOMAS MORE, MARTYR AND SAINT ALBAN, MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 22ND Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Paulinus of Nola, Bishop; Saints John Fisher, Bishop and Martyr and Thomas More, Martyr and Saint Alban, Martyr. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and  the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, we  particularly pray for those who are sick and dying, those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray 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, with special intention for all Priests during this Novena, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT PAULINUS OF NOLA, BISHOP: St. Paulinus was born of a patrician
Senatorial Roman family at Bordeaux, Gaul, in present-day France during 354. Saint Paulinus of Nola gave up his life in politics to become a monk, a bishop, and a revered Christian poet of the 5th century. Born at Bordeaux in present-day France during 354, Paulinus came from an illustrious family in the Roman imperial province of Aquitania. He received his literary education from the renowned poet and professor Ausonius, and eventually rose to the rank of governor in the Italian province of Campania. Not yet baptized or a believer in Christ, St. Paulinus was nonetheless struck by the Campanians’ devotion to the martyr Saint Felix at his local shrine. He took the initiative to build a road for pilgrims, as well as a hospice for the poor near the site of St. Felix’s veneration. But Paulinus grew dissatisfied with his civil position, leaving Campania and returning to his native region from 380 to 390. He also married a Spanish Catholic woman named Therasia. St. Paulinus’ wife, Therasia, along with Bishop Delphinus of Bordeaux, and St. Martin the Bishop of Tours, guided him toward conversion.

St. Paulinus and his brother were baptized on the same day by Bishop Delphinus. But it was not long into his life as a Christian, that two shattering upheavals took place. St. Paulinus’ infant son, his only child died shortly after birth; and when St. Paulinus’ brother also died, he was accused in his murder. After these catastrophes, St. Paulinus and Therasia mutually agreed to embrace monasticism, living in poverty and chastity. Around 390, they both moved to Spain given away their considerable wealth. Approximately five years after his change of residence and lifestyle, the residents of Barcelona arranged for St. Paulinus’ ordination as a priest. During 395 he returned to the Italian city of Nola, where he and his wife both continued to live in chastity as monks. St. Paulinus made important contributions to the local church, particularly in the construction of basilicas. In 409, the monk was consecrated as the city’s bishop. St. Paulinus served as the Bishop of Nola for two decades. He gave his people not only an example of virtue but also wise guidance during the ravages and calamities of the Gothic invasion. His gifts as a poet and composer of hymns were matched by his knowledge of Scripture, generosity toward the poor, and devotion to the saints who had preceded him – especially St. Felix, whose intercession he regarded as central to his conversion. Praised by the likes of St. Augustine and St. Jerome for the depth of his conversion to Christ, the Bishop of Nola was regarded as a saint even before his death on the evening of June 22, 431 at the age of 78, and was buried at Nola near the tomb of St. Felix.

PRAYER: God, You willed that St. Paulinus, Your Bishop, should shine forth with pastoral solicitude and compassion for the poor. Help us who celebrate his merits to imitate the example of his charity. Amen 🙏

SAINTS JOHN FISHER, BISHOP AND MARTYR AND THOMAS MORE, MARTYR: St. John Fisher, Bishop of Rochester and St. Thomas More were martyrs against tyranny. St. John Fisher and his friend St. Thomas More gave up their lives in testimony to the unity of the Church and to the indissolubility of Marriage. St. John martyred on June 22, 1535, Tower of London and St. Thomas martyred on July 6, 1535. St. John was Canonized with Saint Thomas More in 1935.

SAINT JOHN FISHER, BISHOP AND MARTYR: St. John Fisher was born in Beverly, Yourkshine, in 1459. He studied Theology in Cambridge (England) and received his Master of Arts degree in 1491. He occupied the vicarage of Northallerton, 1491-1494; then he became proctor of Cambridge University. In 1497, he was appointed confessor to Lady Margaret Beaufort, mother of Henry VII, and became closely associated in her endowments to Cambridge. He created scholarships, introduced Greek and Hebrew into the curriculum, and brought in the world- famous Erasmus as Professor of Divinity and Greek. In 1504, St. John became Bishop of Rochester and Chancellor of Cambridge, in which capacity he also tutored Prince Henry who was to become Henry VIII. St. John was dedicated to the welfare of his diocese and his university. From 1527, this humble servant of God actively opposed the King’s divorce proceeding against Catharine, his wife in the sight of God, and steadfastly resisted the encroachment of Henry on the Church. Unlike the other Bishops of the realm, St. John refused to take the oath of succession, which acknowledged the issue of Henry and Anne as the legitimate heir to the throne, and he was imprisoned in the Tower in April 1534. The next year he was made a Cardinal by Paul III, and Henry retaliated by having him beheaded within a month. A half-hour before execution, this dedicated scholar and churchman opened his New Testament for the last time and his eyes fell on the following words St. John’s Gospel: “Eternal life is this: to know You, the only true God, and Him Whom You have sent, Jesus Christ. I have given You glory on earth by finishing the work You gave Me to do. Do You now, Father, give Me glory at Your side” (17:3-5). Closing the book, he observed: “There is enough learning in that to last me the rest of my life.” His friend, Thomas More, wrote of him, ‘I reckon in this realm no one man, in wisdom, learning and long approved virtue together, meet to be matched and compared with him.’ St. John was martyred on June 22, 1535, Tower of London and was canonized in 1935 by Pope Pius XI. He’s the Patron Saint of those persecuted for the Faith.

SAINT THOMAS MORE, MARTYR: St. Thomas More (1478–1535) was born in London England in 1478, the son of a lawyer and judge. He was educated in the finest schools and became a brilliant English statesman. After a thorough grounding in religion and the classics, he entered Oxford to study law. Upon leaving the university he embarked on a legal career that took him to Parliament. In 1505, he married his beloved Jane Colt who bore him four children, and when she died at a young age he married a widow, Alice Middleton, to be a mother for his young children. A wit and a reformer, this learned man numbered Bishops and scholars among his friends, and by 1516 wrote his world-famous book Utopia. King Henry VIII appointed St. Thomas to a succession of high posts, and finally made him Lord Chancellor in 1529. However, he resigned in 1532, at the height of his career and reputation, when Henry persisted in holding his own opinions regarding marriage and the supremacy of the Pope. As a family man and a public servant, his life was a rare synthesis of human sensitivity and Christian wisdom. The rest of Thomas’s life was spent in writing mostly in defense of the Church. In 1534, with his close friend, St. John Fisher, he refused to render allegiance to the King as the Head of the Church of England and was confined. Fifteen months later, and nine days after St. John Fisher’s execution, he was tried and convicted of treason. He told court that he could no go against his conscience and wished his judges that “we may yet hereafter in heaven merrily all met together to everlasting salvation.” And on the scaffold he told the crowd of spectators that he was dying as “the King’s good servant—but God’s first.” He was beheaded on July 6, 1535, and canonized in 1935 by Pope Pius XI. St. Thomas More is the Patron Saint of lawyers; statesmen and politicians (declared in 2000 by St. John Paul II); Adopted children; diocese of Arlington, Virginia; civil servants; court clerks; difficult marriages; large families;  diocese of Pensacola-Tallahassee Florida; politicos; step-parents; widowers.

PRAYER: God, You consummated the form of the true faith in martyrdom. Through the intercession of Sts. John and Thomas, grant that we may confirm by the testimony of our lives that faith which we profess with our tongues. Amen🙏

SAINT ALBAN, MARTYR: He was the first Christian martyr in Britain during the early 4th century. He was a citizen of Verulam, although he was not a man of faith, St. Alban was very hospitable and compassionate. As a soldier, he sheltered a persecuted priest, Amphibalus, during a time when Christians were being put to death in Britain. The priest’s faith and piety struck St. Alban, as well as his dedication to prayer. Alban soon converted to Christianity by the persecuted priest, Amphibalus whom he sheltered in his house. It was not long until the Roman authorities caught up with Amphibalus. However, Alban’s new-found faith would not allow him to let the authorities arrest the priest. In an effort to help the priest escape, he switched clothes with the priest. St. Alban was caught and ordered to renounce his faith. St. Alban refused to worship idols, and when asked to state his name, answered “My name is Alban, and I worship and adore the only true and living God, who created all things.” And to this day, St. Alban’s prayer is used in St Alban’s Abbey: “I worship and adore the true and living God who created all things.”

When St. Alban refused to renounce his beliefs, the magistrate ordered that he should receive the punishment intended for the escaped priest. Upon this ruling, Alban was led out of Verulamium and up the hillside where he was tortured and beheaded. The person first selected to execute St. Alban heard his testimony and converted on the spot. After refusing to kill Alban, he was executed as well. A number of other conversions are claimed to have happened thanks to the witness of St. Alban’s martyrdom, specifically on behalf of spectators of his execution. Finally, when the priest learned that Alban was arrested in his place, he turned himself in, hoping to save Alban’s life. But that wasn’t the case. The priest was killed as well. St. Alban was executed on Holmhurst Hill. On that spot King Offa erected the Benedictine abbey of St. Alban’s by which name Verulam has since been known. The town where he was born was also renamed after him. St. Alban died in 303 in England. St. Alban is venerated as the proto-martyr of Britain. For centuries, the shrine of St. Alban in the abbey has been a destination for pilgrimages, and remains so today. He’s the Patron Saint of converts, refugees, torture victims.

Saint Alban’s Prayer: Defend them day by day with your heavenly grace; strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Saturday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB |
https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/062224.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 6:24-34

“Do not worry about tomorrow”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “No one can serve two masters. He will either hate one and love the other, or be devoted to one and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink, or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food and the body more than clothing? Look at the birds in the sky; they do not sow or reap, they gather nothing into barns, yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are not you more important than they? Can any of you by worrying add a single moment to your life-span? Why are you anxious about clothes? Learn from the way the wild flowers grow. They do not work or spin. But I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was clothed like one of them. If God so clothes the grass of the field, which grows today and is thrown into the oven tomorrow, will He not much more provide for you, O you of little faith? So do not worry and say, ‘What are we to eat?’ or ‘What are we to drink?’ or ‘What are we to wear?’ All these things the pagans seek. Your heavenly Father knows that you need them all. But seek first the Kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given you besides. Do not worry about tomorrow; tomorrow will take care of itself. Sufficient for a day is its own evil.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is not saying ‘don’t ever worry about anything’. The focus of worry in the Gospel reading is food, drink and clothing, and the worry in question is excessive worry or preoccupation. Jesus makes reference in the reading to ‘the pagans who set their hearts on all these things’. The issue is setting our hearts on what is not of ultimate importance. Jesus must have worried about His disciples, especially when they did not seem to be fully receptive to His message. There is, however, a certain kind of worry that can take over our lives and leave us with very little freedom to attend to others. This seems to be the kind of worry that Jesus warns against in today’s Gospel reading, a fretful preoccupation about what is not of ultimate importance. We can be overly worried about food and clothing; we can fret about what we don’t yet possess. Jesus calls on us to have the kind of trusting relationship with God that preserves us from being unnecessarily anxious and fretful. He wants us to trust that God will look after us, just as He looks after the flowers of the field and the birds of the air, and, we, of course, are even more precious in His sight than those. There is a healthy worry that is of value, but there is also an unhealthy worry that Jesus is warning against and that shows a lack of trust in God as our loving and caring Father. At the end of the Gospel reading, Jesus suggests what we need to be anxious about, namely, God’s kingdom and His righteousness, the coming of God’s kingdom and the way of life that creates a space for its coming. Jesus says that if we give this the priority it deserves, then God will see to it that all our other needs will be met.

Our first reading today from the second Book of Chronicles of Israel and Judah details the story of the development in the kingdom of Judah during the reign of King Joash of Judah. In the earlier reading yesterday before today’s reading, this king by the grace of God had been saved from the massacre done by her grandmother, Queen Athaliah of Judah who usurped power from the House of David. God restored him and the House of David to power through the efforts and works of one faithful priest, Jehoiada, who helped and guided King Joash throughout the early years of his reign, ensuring that he and the people obeyed the Lord’s commandments and Law, and to live righteously and faithfully in God’s path. However, in today’s first reading, the moment the faithful Jehoiada passed away, King Joash was persuaded by his courtiers, nobles and advisors to carry out actions and practices that were against God’s Law and commandments, and the people once again began worshipping pagan gods and idols once again as they had done before. The people slipped once again back to their old wicked ways because they allowed themselves to be tempted by the many temptations, pressures, coercions and the allures of worldly pleasures, fame and glory being present all around them. All these were the reasons why God then raised the son of Jehoiada, named Zechariah to speak up against the King. But neither Zechariah nor the other prophets sent by the Lord to His people were able to persuade the King and all the others who had veered off from the path of righteousness and virtue. And not only that, the King and the others plotted against Zechariah and stoned the righteous man of God at the courtyard, committing murder against the Lord’s servant, a truly heinous and wicked act, and especially for the King, it was a total lack of appreciation and gratitude that he committed against the late Jehoiada, who had helped to shelter and protect the King himself in his youth, and raised him back to power, when this same King slaughtered Jehoiada’s son when the latter tried to advice and remind him to stay true to the Lord’s path as he should have done. Eventually, the retribution would come for the wicked, as the King and his forces, presumably all those who have committed the murder of Zechariah and led the people of God into sin, were crushed and routed by the forces of the Aramaeans, who wounded the King, and eventually, this same King Joash would be plotted against and killed by the other officers who disagreed with him, much in the same way that he had plotted the death of Zechariah, Jehoiada’s son. It was also mentioned in the Scriptures that he was not given burial in the place reserved to the kings of Israel and Judah, which was a clear sign that the king’s wickedness and vile actions were truly abominable and despised even after his death.

As we reflect on the words of the Scriptures today, we are all reminded clearly that as God’s holy and beloved people, each and every one of us must always be guided by God in all of our ways, in all of our words, actions and deeds, or else, we will find that it is easy for us to be persuaded, tempted and swayed into evil and wicked path in life, into actions that are contrary to the will and commandments of God. We will be dragged by all those temptations and wickedness into the ways that lead us into destruction and eternal damnation, rather than righteousness and salvation in God. Having witnessed and heard the great lives of the Holy Saints and Martyrs, let us all therefore do our best so that in our own respective lives, we may continue to live our lives worthily as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people, so that in all the things that we say and do, we will always do our best to put God first and foremost in all things. We are all reminded that we should not allow the temptations and wickedness of this world to distract and mislead us down the path of ruin and damnation, and we are reminded to remain ever strong and faithful in our journey towards the Lord. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with us all, now and always. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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. 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 and God, You are worthy of all of my love. You and You alone must become the single focus of all of my love. As I love You, dear Lord, help me to discover all that Your will directs me to love more and all that Your will calls me to detach from. May I choose only You and that which is contained in Your holy and perfect will. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Paulinus of Nola; Saints John Fisher and Thomas More and Saint Alban ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and the gift of the Holy Spirit 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 💖

ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 21, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Friday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time.

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, 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 | June 21, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 21, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 21, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 21, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 21, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings, Friday, June 21, 2024
Reading 1, Second Kings 11:1-4, 9-18, 20
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 132:11, 12, 13-14, 17-18
Gospel, Matthew 6:19-23

SAINT OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ALOYSIUS GONZAGA, RELIGIOUS (JESUIT SEMINARIAN) ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 21ST Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious (Jesuit Seminarian). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Aloysius Gonzaga and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for all Youths, for Seminarian and the sick and dying, we  particularly pray for those who are sick with cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray 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, with special intention for all Priests, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT ALOYSIUS GONZAGA, RELIGIOUS (JESUIT SEMINARIAN): St. Aloysius Gonzaga (1568–1591) was born on the 9th of March, 1568 to a noble Italian family, the eldest of seven children of Ferdinand Gonzaga, Marquis of Castiglione, his father was a compulsive gambler. The first words he pronounced were the holy names of Jesus and Mary. He grew up in a castle and and was destined for the military, he was trained from a very young age of four to be a soldier and courtier. At the age of eight he served in the court of Grand Duke Francesco I de’ Medici. He was baptized in the womb, because his life was in danger.  As a young boy, St. Aloysius always had a great desire to know and serve God, but his family life was not always supportive of this desire. At the age of nine Gonzaga made a private vow of chastity, a vow of perpetual virginity, and by a special grace was always exempted from temptations against purity. As a safeguard against sexual temptation he always kept his eyes downcast in the presence of women. St. Aloysius encountered many holy people in his lifetime; he received his first Communion from St. Charles Borromeo and studied under St. Robert Bellarmine. As a teen, he suffered from a kidney disease and in the process of recovery spent time in spiritual reading and prayer. He considered the disease a blessing, as it left him with plenty of time for prayer. At an early age he resolved to leave the world, and in a vision was directed by our Blessed Lady to join the Society of Jesus. At 18 he signed away his legal claim to his title and his family’s lands and entered the Jesuits. When St. Aloysius Gonzaga announced his intention to become a Jesuit, the Saint’s mother rejoiced on learning his determination to become a religious, but his father for three years refused his consent. Although his family wanted him to be a secular priest so that they could buy him a bishopric. However, he chose to become a Jesuit and at length Saint Aloysius obtained permission to enter the novitiate on November 25, 1585.

He pronounced his vows after two years, and studied, as was customary, philosophy and theology. A fervent penitent at all times, he was accustomed to say that he doubted whether without penance grace could continue to make headway against nature, which, when not afflicted and chastised, tends gradually to relapse into its unredeemed state, and thereby loses the habit of suffering. I am a crooked piece of iron, he said, and have come into religion to be made straight by the hammer of mortification and penance. While he was studying in Rome, during his last year of theology a malignant fever broke out in Rome. St. Aloysius volunteered to care for the sick during the outbreak of the plague, despite the delicateness of his own health. The Saint offered himself for the service of the sick, and was accepted for the dangerous duty. Several of the religious contracted the fever, and  St. Aloysius was among them. He was at the point of death but recovered, only to relapse a little later into a slow fever, which after three months his fragile health could no longer resist. He died at the age of twenty-three, repeating the Holy Name, a little after midnight between the 20th and 21st of June, 1591 on the octave day of Corpus Christi. He died before completing his priestly studies. St. Aloysius was connected with two great figures of the Counter-Reformation: he received his First Holy Communion at the age of twelve from St. Charles Borromeo, and his Last Rites from St. Robert Bellarmine, both of whom served as his spiritual advisers. On the night of his death, St. Mary Magdalene de Pazzi had a vision of him being received into great glory. In the sick, the helpless, the dying, St. Aloysius saw the crucified Christ. The man of the iron will who thought he could take Heaven by sheer determination surrendered at last to divine grace. St. Aloysius Gonzaga is the Patron Saint of youth and bodily purity; AIDS care-givers; AIDS patients; Catholic youth; Jesuit students; relief from pestilence; sore eyes; teenage children; teenagers; young people; now might be a patron of those who tend COVID-19 patients, our modern day plague. His feast day is June 21st.

Saint Aloysius’ Act of Dedication to the Virgin Mary: O Holy Mary, my Mother, into your blessed trust and custody, and into the care of your mercy I this day, every day, and in the hour of my death, commend my soul and body. To you I commit all my anxieties and miseries, my life and end of my life, that by your most holy intercession and by your merits all my actions may be directed and disposed according to your will  and that of your Divine Son… Amen🙏

PRAYER: God, Author of all heavenly gifts, You gave St. Aloysius both a wonderful innocence of life and a deep spirit of penance. Through his merits grant that we may imitate his penitence… Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 6:19-23

“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and decay destroy, and thieves break in and steal. But store up treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor decay destroys, nor thieves break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be. “The lamp of the body is the eye. If your eye is sound, your whole body will be filled with light; but if your eye is bad, your whole body will be in darkness. And if the light in you is darkness, how great will the darkness be.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus contrasts two kinds of treasures, treasures on earth and treasures in heaven. He implies that treasures on earth are vulnerable to all kinds of external forces, such as the actions of the thief. In contrast, treasures in heaven are totally secure. Elsewhere in the Gospels, Jesus speaks of being rich in the sight of God, which is equivalent to storing up treasures in heaven. Jesus is saying that it is not earthly treasures and possessions that make our life secure but being rich in the sight of God. The one person who was supremely rich in the sigh of God was His Son, Jesus, and we are rich in the sight of God to the extent that we are becoming conformed to the image of His Son, in the language of Saint Paul. Jesus shows us what being rich in the sight of God looks like. Rather than storing up treasures for Himself on earth, He emptied Himself in the service of others. He gave Himself away for others and this self-giving reached its completion on the cross. As He hung from the cross, He was supremely poor in the eyes of the world, but supremely rich in the sight of God. Insofar as we allow the risen Lord to live out His self-giving love in our lives, we too will be rich in the sight of God and our lives will be truly secure.

Jesus in today’s Gospel reading from the Sermon on the Mount invite us to ask the question, ‘Where does our treasure lie?’ ‘What is it that we truly treasure?’ As Jesus makes a contrast between treasures on earth and treasures in heaven, He calls on us to store up treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth. What does it mean to store up treasures in heaven? According to the Gospels, Jesus speaks about being rich in the sight of God, as distinct from being rich in worldly terms. We are rich in the sight of God when we use our possessions in the service of others, to promote their well-being. The Samaritan in the parable of the Good Samaritan is a good example of such a person. He had earthly resources; mention is made of oil, wine, a horse, money. That would suggest he was reasonably well-off in the culture of the time. Yet, he used his earthly treasures to store up treasure in heaven, to become rich in the sight of God, by placing them at the disposal of someone from whom everything had been taken and who was literally at death’s door. This is what Jesus had referred to a little earlier in this Sermon on the Mount as letting our light shine in the sight of all, so that, seeing our good works, they may give praise to God in heaven. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says, ‘where your treasure is, there will your heart be also’. The Samaritan treasured the broken man lying by the road side more than he treasured his possessions, and, so, his heart was moved by his plight. He is very much the Jesus figure we are all called to grow up into. Jesus continues to call on us to store up treasures in heaven rather than treasures on earth.

Our first reading today from the Second Book of Kings of Israel and Judah details the story of the usurpation done by Queen Athaliah of Judah, at the time when the Queen Mother Athaliah attempted and successfully managed to seize power in the kingdom for herself after her son, King Ahaziah of Judah was killed by Jehu, the new King of Israel appointed by God. King Ahaziah perished partly because of his sins, in his failures to bring the people of God to obey God’s Law and commandments, but his mother Athaliah committed an even greater sin and wickedness before God and man alike, she attempted to eradicate the entirety of the descendants of her son, and the extended family in order to secure power for herself.bThrough all of that, Athaliah had committed a truly grave sin before God, for the murders that she had carried out not just one but so many innocent people, not sparing even women and children on this. Why did Athaliah do so? While the full reason and details were not highlighted in the records in the Scriptures but based on other comparable events and similar actions by other figures throughout history pointed to greed and desire for worldly power, glory, fame, ambition for more personal gains among other things. It was likely that Athaliah had one of these as her motive to carry out such heinous acts and wickedness. But through what we heard in these series of events in today’s reading, we are all reminded that God would always be with His beloved and faithful ones, and while challenges might come upon them, but they would be triumphant in the end. That was how we heard of the survival of Joash, one of the descendants of the late king and helped him to survive the massacre when all the other relatives and members of the royal family were purged and massacred. Joash was protected by God, saved and helped to be prepared as future king under the guidance of the priest Jehoiada, whom we heard then eventually orchestrating the return of the House of David to power. Through the support of the people and others who disliked Queen Athaliah’s authoritarian rule, that was how Queen Athaliah met her ignominious end, overthrown and punished to death for all the wicked deeds which she had done all those years ago. King Joash of Judah ascended to the throne and restored the rule of the House of David just as God intended it.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, each and every one of us are reminded that we are all called to focus our attention and our whole lives upon the Lord our God, Who should be the sole focus and reason of our existence. We should not easily allow ourselves to be swayed by the many temptations, coercions, pressures and desires present all around us that we lose our focus and sight on what is truly important, and forgetting that as Christians, we are God’s holy and beloved people, and we should always strive to be worthy of Him at all times, in all of our words, actions and deeds, in our every interactions and commitments in life. Let us all therefore do our best so that our lives may truly be holy and worthy of God, focusing on Him and not on the many temptations of worldly pleasures and all the other things which may tempt and distract us away from the path towards salvation and eternal life in God. Many of our predecessors had fallen into this path, as the earlier example of Queen Athaliah of Judah had shown us. God has given us all the means and the help to lead us towards righteousness in Him, and we should therefore follow the examples of our holy predecessors, like that of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, who we celebrate today, so that we may truly be good role models and inspirations for one another in our Christian faith and life. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord be with us always, and may He bless our every efforts and endeavours in life, and grant us His grace, now and forevermore. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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. 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:

God of all glory, You and You alone are worthy of all my praise. Your will and Your will alone must become the foundation of all that I choose in life. Give me the spiritual insight I need to look deeply at all that motivates me and all of my most interior intentions in life. May all of my intentions and all of my actions have as their goal Your eternal glory. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Aloysius Gonzaga, Religious ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and the gift of the Holy Spirit 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 💖

ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 20, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Thursday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time.

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, 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 | June 20, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 20, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 20, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 20, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 20, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings, Thursday, June 20, 2024
Reading 1, Sirach 48:1-14
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 97:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 7
Gospel, Matthew 6:7-15

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF JOHN OF MATERA, ABBOT; SAINT SILVERIUS, POPE AND MARTYR; BLESSED JOHN FENWICK AND BLESSED JOHN GAVAN, PRIESTS AND MARTYRS; BLESSED MARGARET EBNER, RELIGIOUS AND BLESSED IRISH CATHOLIC MARTYRS ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 20TH Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint John of Matera, Abbot; Saint Silverius, Pope and Martyr; Blessed John Fenwick and Blessed John Gavan, Priests and Martyrs and Blessed Irish Catholic Martyrs. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the poor and the needy, for the sick and dying, and for those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, with special intention for all Priests, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT JOHN OF MATERA: St. John of Matera (c 1070-1139), also known as John of Pulsano, Giovanni di Matera, Giovanni Scalcione. A Monk, Abbot, Mystic, renowned Preacher, miracle-worker, gifted with bilocation. St John was born around the year 1070, towards the end of the 11th century at Matera, a town in the Kingdom of Naples, in the region of the Basilicata in Italy, to a noble family. He left everything behind, while still a young man and embraced the monastic life and joined a monastery on the island of Taranto. His single-mindedness in keeping the Rule created problems for the others monks and led John to leave. Seeking a monastery that would fit his makeup, the Saint went to Calabria and then to Sicily. In his guest he returned to the mainland at Ginosa. He rebuilt a church nearby dedicated to St. Peter. However, John was arrested and imprisoned because there was a belief that he had found and kept hidden treasure. He escaped to Capua and joined the community of St. William of Vercelli OSB (1085-1142).

When fire destroyed their dwelling, he journeyed to Bari, where the people were deeply moved by his preaching. A charge of heresy was leveled at the Saint out of jealousy, but he was easily cleared of it. Returning to Ginosa, he was welcomed by his former disciples and preached a successful mission at St. Peter’s Church. Still following his religious impulse, John went to Mount Gargano and at nearby Pulsano built a monastery. Some sixty monks flocked to his community, and he shepherded them as their Abbot. So well did he do so that he became renowned for his wisdom, miracles, and gift of prophecy. He died on June 20, 1139.

PRAYER: Lord, amid the things of this world, let us be wholeheartedly committed to heavenly things in imitation of the example of evangelical perfection You have given us in St. John. Amen🙏

SAINT SILVERIUS, POPE AND MARTYR: St. Silverius was a legitimate son of Pope Hormisdas, born in Frosinone, Lazio, some time before his father who had been married entered the priesthood. Upon the death of St Pope Agapetas I, after a vacancy of forty-seven days, Silverius, then sub-deacon, was chosen Pope and ordained on the 8th of June, 536, despite maneuvers on the part of heretics opposed to the Council of Chalcedon. He ruled the Holy See from 8 June 536 to his deposition in 538, a few months before his death. His rapid rise to prominence from a deacon to the papacy coincided the efforts of  King Theodahad (nephew to Theodoric the Great), who intended to install a pro-Gothic candidate just before the Gothic War. The heretical empress Theodora, resolved to win Silverius over to her interests, wrote to him, ordering that he should either acknowledge as lawful bishop the Eutychian heretic Anthimus, who had been deposed as patriarch of Constantinople, or come in person to Constantinople and reexamine his cause. Without the least hesitation or delay, Silverius returned her a short answer, by which he gave her to understand that he neither could nor would obey her unjust demands, which would be to countermand his predecessor’s decision and betray the cause of the Catholic faith.

The empress, finding that she could expect nothing from him, resolved to have him deposed. Vigilius, archdeacon of the Roman Church, a man of diplomacy, was then at Constantinople. To this ambitious ecclesiastic the empress exposed her wishes, and promised to make him pope and to bestow on him seven hundred pieces of gold, if he would engage himself to condemn the Council of Chalcedon and receive into Communion the three deposed Eutychian patriarchs. Vigilius assented to these conditions, and the empress sent him to Rome, charged with a letter to the Roman general Belisarius, commanding him to drive out Silverius and contrive the election of Vigilius to the pontificate. Vigilius urged the general to execute this project. In order to implement it, the Pope was accused of corresponding with the enemy, and a forged letter was produced, supposedly written by him to the king of the Goths, inviting him to the city and promising to open the gates to him. These dealings succeeded; Vigilius was made Pope, and Silverius was banished to Patara in Lycia.

The bishop of Patara received the illustrious exile with all possible marks of honor and respect, and thinking himself bound to undertake his defense, journeyed to Constantinople and spoke boldly to the emperor Justinian. He terrified him with threats of divine judgments for the expulsion of a bishop of so great a see, telling him, There are many kings in the world, but there is only one Pope over the Church of the whole world. Justinian appeared startled at the atrocity of the proceedings and gave orders that Silverius be sent back to Rome. The enemies of the Pope contrived to prevent this, however, and he was intercepted on his road toward Rome and transported to the deserted island of Palmeria, where he died of hunger a year later, on the 20th of June, 538 and was buried. It was perhaps in response to the martyred pope’s prayers that after his death the usurper of the pontifical throne, Vigilius, though he had wished to step down, was forced to remain in function and then transformed, like Saul of Tarsus, into another man. He exercised the pastoral duties with as much courage, piety, zeal and faith, as he formerly had used violence, avarice and cruelty during his predecessor’s lifetime. The traitor Belisarius was accused of conspiracy against the emperor, stripped of all he had, and his eyes put out; he was obliged to beg for alms in Constantinople. But he too repented and built a church with an inscription over the door which was a public reparation for his fault.

Saint Silverius, Pope and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏

BLESSED JOHN FENWICK AND BLESSED JOHN GAVAN, PRIESTS AND MARTYRS: Bl. John Fenwick and Bl. John Gavan (d. 1679) were Englishmen and Jesuit priests who were martyred for their faith in England during the monarchy’s persecution of the Catholic Church. John Fenwick’s Protestant parents disowned him when he became a Catholic. The two priests, along with three other Jesuits, were falsely accused of involvement in the “Popish Plot,” a fabricated conspiracy that mounted to anti-Catholic hysteria in England over the course of three years. The men were charged with complicity to assassinate King Charles II and condemned on the charges of High Treason and subversion of the nation’s Protestant religion. During their trial, John Gavan acted as the principal spokesman for the group; one historian called him one of the ablest priests of his generation. Both priests were condemned to be hung, drawn, and quartered. It is said that the King, knowing they were innocent yet unwilling to grant them pardon, permitted them to be hanged only. After giving a rousing speech declaring their innocence, Bl. John Fenwick and Bl. John Gavan were martyred together on June 20th, 1679. They share a feast day on June 20th.

Blessed John Fenwick and Blessed John Gavan, Priests and Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

BLESSED MARGARET EBNER, RELIGIOUS: St. Margareta Ebner  (1291-1351) was a Dominican nun  of the Order of Preachers at the Maria Medingen monastery near Dillingen, is one of the most important representatives of 14th century German female mysticism. She fell seriously ill in 1312 and was sick and bedridden all her life. She formed a deep spiritual friendship with the mystic Heinrich von Nördlingen (ca. 1310-1387), whom she met in 1332, with the long correspondence between them constituting the first preserved German-language collection of letters.

Bl. Margaret was born in 1291 at Donauworth in Bavaria and made her profession in the Dominican monastery at Maria Medingen in 1306. By her own account, her true conversion to God began in 1311, when she was twenty years old. Shortly thereafter she fell seriously ill and remained bedridden for nearly thirteen years. This life of continual suffering and prayer brought her to the heights of contemplative union with God. She became one of the most prominent of the Rhineland mystics, known and admired by her Dominican brothers, John Tauler and Henry Suso.

Bl. Margaret’s spirituality as almost entirely Christocentric and was profoundly influenced by the cycle of the liturgical year. One of her favorite invocations (which shows also her sense of Dominican identity) was: “Jesus, pure Truth, teach me the truth.” Among her writings are her Spiritual Journal or autobiography, and also a treatise on the Lord’s Prayer. She died on June 20, 1351, and she was beatified by Pope John Paul II on February 24, 1979. Recent years have seen a real surge of interest and publications on Bl. Margaret Ebner and the Rhineland mystics, the most notable being Margaret Ebner: Major Works, edited by Leonard Hindsley (Paulist Press, 1993). Several interesting articles on Margaret and her fellow Rhineland mystics can be found on-line, including “Life in Abundance: Meister Eckhart and the German Dominican Mystics of the the Century: The Importance of Dominican Sisters in German Mysticism” by Gundolf M. Gieraths, O.P. (Spirituality Today, 1986) and “Dominican Spirituality in the Rhineland.”

Blessed Margaret Ebner, Religious~ Pray for us🙏

BLESSED IRISH CATHOLIC MARTYRS: Irish Catholic Martyrs were Irish men and women who have been beatified or canonized for dying for their Catholic faith between 1537 and 1681 in Ireland. The canonisation of Oliver Plunkett in 1975 increased interest in, and awareness of other Irish men and women who had died for their Catholic faith in the 16th and 17th centuries in Ireland and who are regarded as martyrs (from the Greek, meaning “witness”). Seventeen representative Irish martyrs, selected from a list of almost three hundred, were beatified by Pope John Paul II 22 September 22, 1992. These were people who had been condemned for refusing to renounce their faith during the 16th and 17th centuries, when Catholicism was prohibited by law. They came from all walks of life: bishops and priests, lay men and women. Among them were a baker and three sailors, known as the Wexford Martyrs, and Margaret Ball, a wife and mother who died in prison, charged with sheltering priests. Another of the 17 was Conor O’Devany, a native of Raphoe, who was appointed Bishop of Down and Connor in 1582. He was hanged on 6th February 1612.

According to history, Henry VIII’s rejection of the Pope’s authority in 1534 led to the setting up of a state Church in England and in Ireland. In 1560 the Act of Supremacy made Queen Elizabeth the supreme head of the Church in England and Ireland. So it became a treasonable offence to refuse to acknowledge the English monarch as head of the Church and many Catholics were put to death for their faith in both countries. Forty English martyrs were canonised in 1970 and Oliver Plunkett was canonised in 1975, in 1987
Charles Mahoney was beatified and in 1992 a representative seventeen Irish martyrs, chosen from a list of almost three hundred who died for their faith in the 16th and 17th centuries, were beatified by Pope John Paul II. Below are their names in the chronological order of their deaths:

Canonized: Oliver Plunkett, Archbishop of Armagh, 1 July 1681 at Tyburn, London; beatified 1920 and canonized on October 12, 1975 by Pope Paul VI.

Beatified: John Carey (alias Terence Carey) and Patrick Salmon, laymen, 4 July 1594 at Dorchester, England. Beatified on December 15, 1929 by Pope Pius XI. Charles Mahoney (alias Meehan), Franciscan, 21 August 1679, Ruthin, Wales.
Beatified on November 22, 1987 by Pope John Paul II.

The following were beatified on September 27, 1992 by Pope John Paul II:  Bishop Patrick O’Healy and Father Cornelius O’Rourke, Franciscans: tortured and hanged at Kilmallock 22nd August 1579 ; The Wexford Martyrs: Matthew Lambert and sailors – Robert Tyler, Edward Cheevers and Patrick Cavanagh: died in Wexford 1581;  Bishop Dermot O’Hurley: tortured and hanged at Hoggen Green (now College Green), Dublin, 20th June 1584; Margaret Ball: lay woman, died in prison 1584; Maurice Kenraghty (or MacEnraghty): secular priest, hanged at Clonmel on 20th April 1585; Dominic Collins: Jesuit brother, hanged in Youghal 1602; Bishop Conor O’Devany and Father Patrick O’Loughran: Franciscans, hanged 6th February 1612; Francis Taylor of Swords, lay man, Lord Mayor of Dublin: died in prison 1621; Father Peter Higgins, Dominican, Prior of Naas: hanged at Hoggen Green, Dublin 23rd March 1642; Bishop Terence Albert O’Brien, Dominican: hanged and beheaded at Gallow’s Green, Limerick 30th October 1651; John Kearney, Franciscan, hanged 11th March 1653; William Tirry, Augustinian, hanged 2nd May 1654; Other Martyrs: Gelasius Ó Cuileanáin, Cistercian Abbot of Boyle, 21 November 1580

All of the Irish martyrs had one thing in common, their Catholic faith was their treasure. They gave up every earthly value, including life itself, for the sake of this treasure, the pearl of great price, and in doing so they stored up treasures for themselves in heaven. They teach us by their sacrifice to treasure the gift of faith we have received from those before us who witnessed to their faith at great cost to themselves.

Blessed Irish Catholic Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 6:7-15

“This is how you are to pray”

“Jesus said to his disciples: “In praying, do not babble like the pagans, who think that they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them. Your Father knows what you need before you ask him. “This is how you are to pray: ‘Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name, thy Kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive those who trespass against us; and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.’ “If you forgive others their transgressions, your heavenly Father will forgive you. But if you do not forgive others, neither will your Father forgive your transgressions.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus makes a contrast between how the pagans pray and how His followers are to pray. He characterizes pagan prayer as a form of babbling, as if the use of many words is more likely to catch the attention of their gods. This approach to prayer presumes that the gods have no interest in human affairs and they have to be pressured into giving us their attention. The more words and the louder they are spoken the better. Jesus reveals a very different God, a God who is already intimately involved with our affairs before we turn to Him in prayer. As Jesus says in the Gospel reading, ‘your Father knows your need before you ask Him’. Prayer is not so much a matter of trying to get the attention of God who has no interest in us, but, rather, it is about opening ourselves more fully to what God is already doing within us and among us. Many words are not needed; it is the attitude of heart that matters. The prayer that Jesus teaches His disciples in the Gospel reading, known as ‘the Lord’s Prayer’, Pater Noster or Our Father, expresses that proper attitude of heart which opens us up more fully to God’s life-giving work in the world. We begin by focusing on what God wants, what God is doing. We pray that God’s kingdom would come, not ours. We then acknowledge our dependence on God for our most basic needs, namely, nourishment, both material and spiritual, forgiveness when we fail, and strength when we are put to the test. In the Lord’s Prayer, Jesus not only gives us one prayer, but a whole way of praying. The ‘Lord’s Prayer’, as it has come to be known, is not just a prayer in itself, but it is also a teaching on prayer. Indeed, in Luke’s Gospel, Jesus gives this prayer in response to the request of the disciples, ‘Lord, teach us to pray’. It is a prayer of petition, but it also teaches us what we are to petition God for and how we are to petition. The shape of the prayer is itself instructive, a kind of teaching. Jesus gave us this prayer so that all of our prayers may be shaped by this model prayer.

In our first reading today, the prophet Sirach wrote extensively about the great deeds and wonders of the two great prophets, Elijah and Elisha. Both of these prophets had done great and wonderful deeds amongst the people of God, as they carried out many miracles and signs among the people, calling and reminding all of them to remain true and faithful to the Lord, their God and Master. We heard how Elijah and Elisha both humbled kings and rulers through their deeds, speaking the Word of the Lord, proclaiming His truth to all, bringing down fire from Heaven itself and raising the dead back into life. All these things were proofs that the Lord Himself was with them, and that they were all in God’s favour, fully attuned with God and His will. They could not have done all those things and great deeds, signs and wonders without God’s blessings, grace and power. Through God, they were strengthened and empowered, so that despite the challenges and trials that they often had to face alone against the many oppositions and persecutions they encountered, and against all the stubbornness and wickedness of the people that they had been sent to, who had always been hard-hearted, stubborn and wicked, refusing to listen to the words of the Lord and resisting His efforts to reach out to them and to be reconciled with them. But the Lord never gave up on all of them, and He sent His prophets to them to help them in their path and journey towards Him.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded of the need for each and every one of us to stay connected with God, Our Lord and Master. Each and every one of us as God’s beloved people must always be connected and attuned with the will of our loving God and Father. It is by being always attuned and connected with the Lord that we may gain the right path in life, and that we will know what we need so that our lives may always honour and proclaim the glory of God. As Christians, we must always be in harmony with the Lord just as our holy predecessors had done, as what the holy prophets and messengers of God had done, as the holy Saints, holy men and women of God had lived their lives in a worthy and good way before us. That is why the Lord Jesus taught His disciples and therefore all of us how we ought to pray, so that through our prayers, correctly and worthily done, we may grow ever stronger in our faith and relationship with God. Our prayers should always be filled with thanksgiving and glorification of God, just as how the Pater Noster, Our Father, or the Lord’s Prayer has begun, to thank God for each and every moments of our lives, which are truly filled with His blessings and graces. We thank Him for His constant presence in our lives and for His perseverance and commitment in loving us. We also then ask Him to continue to provide us all in whatever we need and to forgive us all our sins, faults and trespasses to one another, ever remembering how merciful and loving He has been towards us. Let us all therefore develop a good, healthy and vibrant prayer life from now on. Let us all continue to live faithfully and harmoniously with the Lord, attuning ourselves ever more closely to the Lord and adhering ever more faithfully to His teachings, His Law and commandments. May He continue to bless us all in our every efforts and deeds, and may He empower us all to be ever more courageous and faithful in all things, and at all times. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord be with us all, His beloved children and people, His holy Church, now and forevermore. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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. 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 forgiving Lord, You offer the perfection of forgiveness to me and call me to do the same toward others. I pray for Your forgiveness in my life. I am sorry for my sin and beg for Your mercy. In exchange for this holy gift, I pledge to You today to forgive everyone who has sinned against me. I especially forgive those with whom I remain angry. Free me from this anger, dear Lord, so that I may reap the full benefits of Your mercy in my life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary and Saint John of Matera; Saint Silverius; Blessed John Fenwick and Blessed John Gavan; Blessed Margaret Ebner and Blessed Irish Catholic Martyrs ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and the gift of the Holy Spirit 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 fruitful week🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 19, 2024

Greetings beloved family. Happy Wednesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time and Happy Juneteenth (USA)

[Juneteenth commemorates the day on June 19, 1865 when a Union general read orders in Galveston, Texas stating that all enslaved people in the state were free according to federal law. Juneteenth was designated a federal holiday in 2021.]

On this special feast day, we pray for all those who are marginalized in our society, the poor and the needy. We pray for justice, peace and love in our world today. We continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of our children and children all over the world. We pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, that they be sanctified in their ministry to God’s people. We pray for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world suffering from political and religious unrest. May God protect us all and keep united in peace, love and faith… Amen 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | June 19, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 19, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 19, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 19, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 19, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings, Wednesday, June 19, 2024
Reading 1, Second Kings 2:1, 6-14
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 31:20, 21, 24
Gospel, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ROMUALD, ABBOT; SAINT JULIANA OF FALCONIERI, RELIGIOUS AND SAINTS GERVASE AND PROTASE, MARTYRS ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 19TH Today, we celebrate the Memorial of
Saint Romuald, Abbot, Saint Juliana of Falconieri, Virgin and Religious and Saint Gervase and Protase,  Martyrs. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this special feast day, we humbly pray for the poor and the needy, for the sick and dying, particularly those who are sick with cancers and other terminal diseases, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, with special intention for all Priests, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT ROMUALD, ABBOT: St. Romuald (956 – 1027) was the Founder of the Camaldolese monks – one of the Italian branches of the Benedictines – in which the eremitical life is combined with life in community. St. Romuald spent about 30 years traversing Italy, founding and reforming monasteries and hermitages.
St. Romuald was born at Ravenna about the year 956 to a a noble family. In spite of an innate desire for virtue and sanctity, his early life was wasted in the service of the world and its pleasures. Then one day, obliged by his father, Sergius, to be present at duel fought by him, he beheld him slay his adversary. The crime made such an impression upon him that he determined to expiate it for forty days, as though it were entirely his own. For this purpose he retired to a Benedictine monastery of San Apollinare, near Ravenna, where he became Abbot (996-999). After founding several monasteries he laid the foundations of the austere Order of Camaldoli in Tuscany.

Like all Saints, Romuald fought a lifelong battle against the assaults of devils and humans. In the beginning of his spiritual life he was strongly assailed by numerous temptations, which he conquered by vigilance and prayer. More than one attempt was made on his life, but Divine Providence enabled him to escape from the danger. Like many servants of God, he also became the victim of calumny, which he bore in patience and silence. In his old age he increased his austerities instead of diminishing them. St. Romuald died in the monastery of Castro, which he founded in Marquisate of Ancona, on June 19, about the year 1027, after a life of prayer and rigorous penance. He was canonized in 1582 by Pope Gregory XIII.

PRAYER: O God, who through Saint Romuald renewed the manner of life of hermits in your Church, grant that, denying ourselves and following Christ, we may merit to reach the heavenly realms on high. 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🙏

SAINT JULIANA OF FALCONIERI, RELIGIOUS: Saint Juliana Falconieri, Religious and Virgin (1270-1340) was born in 1270, in answer to prayer to a wealthy Florentine family. Her father was the builder of the splendid church of the Annunziata in Florence, while her uncle, Saint Alexis Falconieri, became one of the seven Founders of the Servite Order. Under his surveillance Juliana grew up more like an angel than a human being, as he said. Her great modesty was remarkable; never during her entire lifetime did she look at her reflection in a mirror. The mere mention of sin made her shudder and tremble, and once, on hearing of a scandal, she fainted. Her devotion to the sorrows of Our Lady drew her to the Servants of Mary or Servite Order, and at the age of fourteen, after refusing an offer of marriage, at the end of 1284, St. Philip Benizi, General of the Servite Order, received her among the Mantellatae, the female branch of the Order. She had a great devotion to the Holy Eucharist and practiced to a rare degree the Servite devotion to the Sorrows of our Lady. Her sanctity attracted many novices, for whose direction she was bidden to draw up a rule, and thus she became foundress of the Mantellate. She was the servant of her Sisters rather than their mistress, while outside her convent she led a life of apostolic charity, converting sinners, reconciling enemies, and healing the sick. She was sometimes rapt for whole days in ecstasy, and her prayers saved the Servite Order when it was in danger of being suppressed.

Saint Juliana in her old age suffered various painful illnesses. She was wasting away through a disease of the stomach which prevented her taking food, and bore her silent agony with constant cheerfulness, grieving only for the privation of Holy Communion. At last, when in her seventieth year she was at the point of death, she begged to be allowed once more to see and adore the Blessed Sacrament. It was brought to her cell and reverently laid on a corporal, which was placed over her heart. At this moment she expired, and the Sacred Host disappeared. After her death the form of the Host was found stamped upon her heart, at the exact spot over which the Blessed Sacrament had been placed. Saint Juliana died in her convent in Florence, Italy on June 19, 1341. Miracles have been frequently effected through her intercession. She was Canonized on June 16, 1737, Rome, Papal States by Pope Clement XII. She’s the Patron Saint of Bodily ills; sick people; sickness.

PRAYER: Dear Lord, we thank You for giving us St. Juliana Falconieri as an example of holiness. Help us to imitate the love of You she showed in choosing to consecrate her life to You”…Amen🙏

SAINTS GERVASE AND PROTASE, MARTYRS: Sts. Gervase and Protase (2nd century) were twin brothers born in the Roman Empire to Christian parents, sons of St. Vitalis and St. Valeria. Their parents were killed for their Christian faith, and the brothers likewise suffered martyrdom. They were imprisoned, scourged, and martyred in Milan, Italy under the brutal persecutions of the Roman Emperor. St. Gervase was beaten to death, and St. Protase, after having been scourged, was beheaded. In the year 386 A.D. St. Ambrose, Bishop of Milan discovered their bodies, the location of their relics was revealed in a dream to St. Ambrose, just as he completed the building of the magnificent Milan basilica. He had the sacred relics moved to the new basilica, today called the Basilica of St. Ambrose, for veneration by the faithful. They rest now, with the body of St. Ambrose himself on the altar of the crypt of St. Ambrose church at Milan. The relics established that the brothers were indeed beheaded as tradition had handed down. Many miracles occurred at their finding, confirmed by St. Ambrose and his disciple St. Augustine. Sts. Gervase and Protase are invoked in the Litany of the Saints. They are Patron Saints of discovery of thieves; haymakers; Milan, Italy. Their feast day is June 19.

PRAYER: O God, who year by year dost gladden us by the solemnity of Thy holy martyrs Gervase and Protase, mercifully grant that we, who rejoice in their merits, may be inspired by their examples… Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

“And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “Take care not to perform righteous deeds in order that people may see them; otherwise, you will have no recompense from your heavenly Father. When you give alms, do not blow a trumpet before you, as the hypocrites do in the synagogues and in the streets to win the praise of others. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you give alms, do not let your left hand know what your right is doing, so that your almsgiving may be secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, who love to stand and pray in the synagogues and on street corners so that others may see them. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door, and pray to your Father in secret. And your Father who sees in secret will repay you. “When you fast, do not look gloomy like the hypocrites. They neglect their appearance, so that they may appear to others to be fasting. Amen, I say to you, they have received their reward. But when you fast, anoint your head and wash your face, so that you may not appear to others to be fasting, except to your Father who is hidden. And your Father who sees what is hidden will repay you.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is concerned with the tendency of religious people to do the right thing for the wrong reason. Almsgiving, prayer and fasting were important Jewish practices, which Jesus values. However, He warns against doing them for the wrong reason, in order to attract the notice of others, thereby receiving recognition and honour for oneself. Practices which seem God-centred and other-centred can be, in reality, self-serving. The Gospel reading begins with Jesus saying, ‘Be careful not to parade your good deeds before others to attract their notice’. Yet, a little earlier in the same Sermon on the Mount, Jesus appears to have said the very opposite of that, ‘Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good deeds and give glory to your Father in heaven’. There seems to be a tension between both of these sayings. Yet, there is truth in both. We are not to hide the light of our faith, keeping it under a bushel. Rather, we are to publicly proclaim our faith, our relationship with the Lord, by the lives that we lead, by the deeds that we do. On the other hand, we don’t publicly proclaim our faith in order to attract notice, in order to draw attention to ourselves, to bring praise or glory on ourselves. Rather, our public living of our faith is with a view to bringing glory to God. Today’s Gospel reading invites us to ask, ‘Who is being honoured by my public living of my relationship with the Lord? Is it myself or is it God?’ Another way of asking that question is, ‘Who is being served by my good deeds? Is it myself or is it the Lord?’ The opening petitions of the Lord’s Prayer points us in the right direction, ‘Hallowed be your name, your kingdom come’.

Our first reading today from the Second Book of Kings of Israel and Judah, details the moment when the prophet Elijah, who had spent a long time in arduous works among the people of the northern kingdom of Israel, was taken up into Heaven on a great flaming chariot, and then Elisha began his own ministry as the successor of Elijah among the Israelites. Elijah and Elisha obeyed God’s call and commands, and God worked His miracles and signs through those two great prophets. God had called them to do His will, and they dedicated themselves wholeheartedly and completely to His cause.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded of the need for each and every one of us to listen to the Lord and embrace God’s calling in our lives. Each and every one of us have been given the mission and the various responsibilities depending on what the Lord had led us through, the paths He has shown us into, and everything that He has presented to us. The Lord has called us all to go forth to the people of all the nations, to proclaim His truth and love, His Good News and salvation, to bring more and more people ever closer to Him and to embrace all of us once again, delivering us from the destruction and darkness due to our sins. Through the examples and inspirations from the great life and works of our holy predecessors, the prophets Elijah and Elisha, as well as the great and holy martyrs, especially those Saints we celebrate today, let us all therefore as the holy and beloved children of God, as His disciples and followers, continue to strive and do our best in our respective lives to do what we can to glorify the Lord by our lives, and to put Him first and foremost in all things, and to carry out His will and commands in our world today, in whatever that He has called us to do, and whatever He has entrusted to us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord continue to bless us in everything we say and do, and be with us all His Church, now and always. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. 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. 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 sacrificial Lord, You denied Yourself of many earthly delights, especially when You fasted for forty days in the desert. Help me to take seriously this obligation to fast and to mortify my appetites. And help me to do so in a hidden way. May my life continually imitate Your perfect sacrifice so that I may become more like You every day. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Romuald, Abbot, Saint Juliana of Falconieri, Virgin and Religious and Saint Gervase and Protase, Martyrs ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of the Holy Spirit  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 💖

ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 18, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time!

On this special feast day, we continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of our children and children all over the world. We pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, that they be sanctified in their ministry to God’s people. We pray for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world suffering from political and religious unrest. May God protect us all and keep united in peace, love and faith… Amen 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | June 18, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 18, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 18, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 18, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 18, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings, Tuesday, June 18, 2024
Reading 1, First Kings 21:17-29
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 11, 16
Gospel, Matthew 5:43-48

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT GREGORY BARBARIGO, BISHOP OF PADUA AND CARDINAL AND SAINTS MARK AND MARCELLIANUS, MARTYRS ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 18TH Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Gregory Barbarigo, Bishop of Padua and Cardinal and Saints Mark and Marcellianus, Martyrs. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the poor and the needy. We also pray for the sick and dying, particularly those who are sick with cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, with special intention for all Priests, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT GREGORY BARBARIGO, BISHOP OF PADUA AND CARDINAL: St. Gregory Barbarigo  (1625-1697) was the Bishop of Bergamo and of Padua. St. Gregory had all the skills for a successful life in politics, but instead dedicated himself to serving the Church. St. Gregory was noted as a distinguished churchman and leading citizen whose charities were on a princely scale. He worked for unity of the Latin and Orthodox Churches. St. Gregory was born on September 16, 1625, the son of a senator from Venice, Italy and of a very old and distinguished Venetian family and were held in high repute by the people there. He was the fourth son. He was a brilliant student and excelled in his studies at an early age. He became interested in diplomacy and statesmanship and embraced a diplomatic career with well-connected family. He knew Contarini, the Venetian ambassador, and accompanied him on ambassadorial mission and to several important negotiations and traveled extensively. He accompanied Contarini, to the Congress of Munster in 1648. After five years with the ambassador, he returned to Italy to continue his studies and to enter the world of politics. He soon became disillusioned by the political world, however, and sought advice from a cardinal he had met in his travels. St. Gregory was thinking of becoming a hermit, but the cardinal advised him to pursue his doctorate in law, then become a priest. Ten years later, St. Gregory had earned a doctorate in both civil and canon law and was ordained a priest.

After he was ordained a priest in 1655, he organized care for the plague-stricken people of Rome. His skills were valuable to the Church and he soon was named a bishop in 1657. Pope Alexander VII made him the first Bishop of Bergamo. He was a leader in promoting the reforms set forth by the Council of Trent, St. Gregory Barbarigo worked unceasingly in carrying out the reforms. St. Gregory was extremely interested in higher education and worked for the development of seminaries and libraries. He visited parishes, organizing the teaching of Christian doctrine and also worked with seminarians and clergy to raise their standards. Through his efforts the seminaries of both Bergamo and Padua were substantially enlarged. At Padua, he established a library and a printing press that printed pamphlets for Christians under Moslem rule. He was active in laboring to bring about a reunion with the Greek Church and worked hard to carry out the reforms that the Church was encouraging at the time. St. Gregory took part in five papal Conclaves (for the election of the Pope) and was a candidate in three of them. It is recorded that his congregation thought him to be a man filled with wisdom. His work was so respected that in 1660, he was elevated to the rank of Cardinal and also given authority over the diocese of Padua, Italy, and he guided his flock with pastoral wisdom and deep understanding. He died in 1697 and was canonized in 1960 by Pope St. John XXIII.

PRAYER: God, You willed that St. Gregory, Your Bishop, should shine forth with pastoral solicitude and compassion for the poor. Help us who celebrate his merits to imitate the example of his charity. Amen🙏

SAINTS MARK AND MARCELLIANUS, MARTYRS: Sts. Mark (Marcus) and Marcellianus (d. 286 A.D.) were twin brothers who were martyred for their faith in Rome under Emperor Diocletian. Sts. Mark and Marcellianus were twin brothers from a noble Roman family born to Tranquillinus and Martia. They had converted to Christianity when they were young and were now deacons in the Roman Church. Although the boys had converted in their youth, their parents remained unconverted. Sts. Mark and Marcellianus were honorably married, each brother had a wife and children. When Diocletian ascended the imperial throne in 284, the pagans raised persecutions; the brothers were arrested and thrown into prison for being Christians. They were threatened with the loss of their lives, unless they offered sacrifices to the Roman gods and condemned to be beheaded. Their friends intervened and obtained a thirty-day reprieve, the delay of the execution was in the hope of being able to persuade the two brothers to renounce their faith and make the required sacrifices. Their wives and little children, along with their unconverted parents, begged them with tears and pleading, to make the sacrifices to the Roman gods so they could be saved. Although they had been released from the prison on a thirty-day reprieve, they were still kept under guard and basically prisoners in the home of the public registrar Nicostratus. At that same time, St. Sebastian was a Roman officer in the emperor’s household. St. Sebastian visited Mark and Marcellianus every day and gave them encouragement to persevere and stand strong in their faith. St. Sebastian’s exhortation was so persuasive that the parents of Sts. Marcellianus and Mark were converted, along with several friends who were present, as well as the other prisoners.

The issue of the conferences was the happy conversion of the father, mother, and wives, also of Nicostratus, the public stenographer, and soon afterwards of Chromatius, the judge, who set the Saints at liberty and abdicating the magistracy, retired into the country. All of these new Christian converts were eventually martyred alongside Sts. Mark and Marcellianus. Sts. Mark and Marcellianus were concealed by a Christian officer of the imperial household, in his apartments in the palace, but they were betrayed by an apostate and reimprisoned. Fabian, a judge who had succeeded Chromatius, condemned them to be bound to two pillars, their feet nailed to the wood  post. In this posture they remained a day and a night, and on the following day were stabbed with lances. Their martyrdom occurred in the year 286. Their tomb and that of their father, Saint Tranquillinus, was found in Rome, in 1782, in the church of Saint Cosmas and Saint Damian, adjoining that of the martyred pope, Saint Felix II. They are honored particularly in Spain, where the city of Badajoz escaped destruction by their intercession. Their feast day is June 18th.

Saints Marcus and Marcellianus, Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Tuesday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB |

https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/061824.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 5:43-48

“Love your enemies”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall love your neighbor and hate your enemy. But I say to you, love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you, that you may be children of your heavenly Father, for he makes His sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust. For if you love those who love you, what recompense will you have? Do not the tax collectors do the same? And if you greet your brothers only, what is unusual about that? Do not the pagans do the same? So be perfect, just as your heavenly Father is perfect.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus calls on us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. We would be tempted to say, ‘Surely, it is not humanly possible to love your enemies and to intercede in prayer for those who persecute us’. Jesus rounds off that teaching by calling on us to be perfect as your heavenly Father is perfect. Again we would be tempted to ask, ‘how can we be as perfect as God? Surely it is unreasonable to expect that of us?’ We might be so taken aback by the challenging call that we could miss the fact that Jesus is saying something very important about God there. He is saying that God does not discriminate between friend and foe, that God loves those who dishonour Him as much as those who honour Him. The only human life which fully reflected such divine love was the life of Jesus. Yet, Jesus clearly believes that the lives of His disciples can and must reflect something of that same love of God which makes no distinctions between friend and foe. For that to happen, we need the help of the Holy Spirit, as the feast of Pentecost reminded us. We need to keep on praying, ‘Come, Holy Spirit…’

In yesterday’s Gospel reading, Jesus calls on His followers not to take vengeance on the enemy. While in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus goes further and calls on us to love our enemies and to pray for those who persecute us. The second part of today’s call makes the first part more concrete. We love our enemies by praying for them. Praying for others is always an act of love, whether we are praying for our friends, members of our family, those who are in need, or, in the case of the Gospel reading today, our enemies, those who wish us ill. Of the four evangelists, it is Luke who presents Jesus as doing just that. As He hung from the cross, He prayed, ‘Father, forgive them for they know not what they are doing’. That prayer of Jesus – and all prayers in the spirit of Jesus’ prayer – displays an extraordinary generosity of spirit. Jesus calls on us to pray for those who persecute us because that is the kind of person that He is, and more fundamentally, that is who God is like. God’s love does not discriminate between the morally good and the morally bad; He makes the sun to shine and the rain to fall on honest and dishonest alike. God’s love is the same for all; what differs is the response of people to that love. In so far as our love for others is not dependent on how people respond to it, we will be as perfect as God is perfect.

In our first reading today from the first Book of Kings, the Lord responded to the wicked actions of king Ahab as described in the readings of the Old Testament, in which he had acquired unlawfully the lands of Naboth, the owner of a vineyard by accusing him falsely of blasphemy and sin against God. The prophet Elijah conveyed God’s words and judgments against Ahab and also against his wife, the wicked Jezebel and Ahab’s whole family, because the wickedness which they had committed had been really too much, against God and His Law, blatantly acting in their pride and greed, in breaking the Law and Covenant of God, as well as in misleading the Israelites into sin. God wants each and every one of us to be free from the corruption and evils of sin, all the temptations of this world, of pleasures and wickedness that may mislead us into the path of evil and sin. He therefore showed that all the sins and wickedness of Ahab and his wife, Jezebel, in being directly involved in the death of Naboth and the unlawful seizure of his vineyard, as well as for the many other evil deeds, the worship of pagan idols and in misleading the people into the path of evil and damnation, hence, Ahab and his family’s reign would end in a tragic manner, as a just consequence for their behaviours and attitudes in this world, and also as a warning to all of us that we must not take sin and evil lightly. For although God does truly love us and shows compassion on us, but sin and evil still can lead us into destruction and eternal damnation.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, each and every one of us are reminded of what we all need to do as Christians, that is as God’s holy and beloved people. All of us are called and expected to be loving and compassionate as the Lord has been always full of love and compassion towards us. Unless we love one another as the Lord Himself has loved us and how we have loved ourselves, then we cannot truly call or consider ourselves as Christians. Love is the hallmark of what being a Christian is all about, as one cannot be a Christian and yet without love and compassion, first and foremost towards God, and then towards our fellow brothers and sisters. As we all continue to do our part in our respective areas in life to glorify the Lord and to proclaim His truth, let us always remember to be loving and filled with strong, genuine and ever-present love, for God first and foremost, and then towards our fellow brothers and sisters, and of course also towards ourselves. But this love must always be selfless and pure, free from the corruption of worldly desires and sins, all of which had perverted our love into all sorts of things that prevented us from truly loving God and one another, as love gave way to lust and desires, attachments and compulsion, obsessions, jealousy and other things that made us to forget about our calling and mission in life to be loving to God and to our fellow brothers and sisters around us. May the Lord continue to bless and guide us all in our path so that in everything that we say and do, we will continue to be filled with most generous love and kindness, compassion and grace, in all the things and at all times, that our lives may truly be nurturing and be inspirational to everyone who witness our efforts and works. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the love of God continue to touch our hearts and minds, so that we ourselves may also continue to love Him and love one another in the same way as well. May all of us be truly loving and compassionate, holy and worthy people of God. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. 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. 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 abundant mercy, Your command to pray for those who persecute me was first lived by You to perfection. You prayed for those who crucified You as You hung upon the Cross. Give me the grace I need to not only forgive but to also pray for those who have and continue to try to inflict harm upon me. Give me a heart so filled with mercy that every sin committed against me is transformed into love and my own holiness of life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Gregory Barbarigo and Saints Mark and Marcellianus ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of the Holy Spirit  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 💖

ELEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 17, 2024

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

On this special feast day, we continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of our children and children all over the world. We pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, that they be sanctified in their ministry to God’s people. We pray for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world suffering from political and religious unrest. May God protect us all and keep united in peace, love and faith… Amen 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | June 17, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 17, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 17, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 17, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 17, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings, Monday June 17, 2024
Reading 1, First Kings 21:1-16
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 5:2-3, 5-6, 7
Gospel, Matthew 5:38-42

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT HARVEY, ABBOT, SAINT ALBERT CHMIELOWSKI; AND SAINT AVITUS, BISHOP AND SAINT EMILY DE VIALAR, RELIGIOUS ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 17TH Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Harvey, Abbot, Saint Albert Chmielowski, Priest; Saint Avitus, Bishop and Saint Emily de Vialar, Religious. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the poor and the needy. We also pray for the sick, particularly those who are sick and dying and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, with special intention for all Priests, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT HARVEY, ABBOT: St. Harvey (c. 521 – 556 AD), also known Saint Hervé, Herveus Houarniaule, or Huva, was a sixth-century Breton saint. Along with Saint Ives, he is one of the most popular of the Breton Saints and makes up a considerable part of the folklore of that area. According to a biography dating from the late Middle Ages, St. Harvey was the son of a British bard Hyvarnion; born in Brittany during the 6th century, St. Harvey was blind from birth. His father died while the Saint was still an infant, and his mother,  Rivanone, became an anchoress, she entrusted him at the age of seven to the care of his uncles and a renowned holy man called Arzian, with whom he stayed until his teenage years and herself retired to a monastery. He lived for a while as a hermit and after learning everything Arzian could teach him, St. Harvey joined his uncle Urzel who had founded a monastic school at Plouvien, France helping him out with the students and the farm. In time, he himself became Abbot of the community at Plouvien and it flourished under his leadership. He became an Abbot at Plouvien.

St. Harvey ultimately migrated with part of his community to found a new house in Lanhouarneau in Finistere and made it famous throughout the country. He was a Singer, Minstrel, Teacher, and  Miracle worker. As one of the most popular saints in Brittany, he figures in the area’s folklore. St. Harvey is portrayed as a wandering monk and minstrel, and many popular tales are told about his person. Reported to have a special ministry of healing animals, and to have a domesticated wolf as a companion. Legend says that the wolf killed and ate the ox that Herve used to plow his fields; Herve then preached such a moving sermon the wolf repented his ways, moved to Herve’s hermitage, and ploughed Herve’s fields in place of the ox. He was joined by disciples and was never ordained, refused any ordination or earthly honour, accepting only to be ordained as an exorcist. he performed some of his most outstanding miracles as the result of his order of Exorcist. He also took part in the condemnation of the tyrant Conover in 550. He died in 556 AD and was buried at Lanhouarneau. He is invoked for eye-troubles of all types. He’s Patron Saint of the blind; bards; musicians; invoked against eye problems, eye disease; invoked to cure sick horses

PRAYER: Lord, amid the things of this world, let us be wholeheartedly committed to heavenly things in imitation of the example of evangelical perfection You have given us in St. Harvey the Abbot. Amen🙏

SAINT ALBERT CHMIELOWSKI, PRIEST: St. Albert was the Founder of the Albertine Brothers and Sisters, and one of the Saints who inspired the vocation of the young Karol Wojtyla, the future Saint Pope John Paul II. St. Albert was born on August 20, 1845 in (near Kraków) and Christened Adam Hilary Bernard Chmielowski. Born into a wealthy and aristocratic family, Adam was the oldest of four children. Actively involved in politics from his youth, Adam lost a leg fighting in an insurrection against Czar Alexander III at age 18 in 1864 revolt. Adam’s wounds forced the amputation of his left leg. His great talent for painting led to studies in Warsaw, Munich, and Paris and became a polar artist. A kind and compassionate person, Adam was always deeply aware of human suffering, and felt called to help those in need. Realizing that God was calling Him to a life of service, he returned to Krakow in 1874, determined to dedicate his talents to the glory of God. Instead of continuing his work as an artist, he decided to care for the poor and became a Secular Franciscan, taking the name Albert.

In 1887, Albert founded the Brothers of the Third Order of Saint Francis, Servants of the Poor, known as the Albertines or the Gray Brothers. They worked primarily with the homeless, depending completely on alms while serving the needy regardless of age, religion, or politics. Then, in 1891, he founded a community of Albertine sisters, known as the Gray Sisters. The Albertines organized food and shelter for the poor and homeless of any age or religion. Albert preached on the great crisis that results from a refusal to see and aid the suffering individuals in society. In 1949, Pope John Paul II, who was at the time Father Karol Wojtyla, wrote a well-received play about Albert called Our God’s Brother. Pope John Paul II later said that he found great spiritual support for his own vocation in the life of St. Albert, whom he saw as an example of leaving behind a world of art, literature, and theater to make a radical choice for the priesthood. Brother Albert died on Christmas Day, 1916. Pope John Paul II beatified Albert in 1983, and canonized him six years later on November 12, 1989. He’s the Patron Saint of  Painters, Servants of the Poor, Sisters Servants of the Poor, Franciscan tertiaries, Soldiers. The Church celebrates St. Albert’s feast day on June 17.

Saint Albert Chmielowski, Priest ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT AVITUS, BISHOP: St. Avitus was bishop and confessor, whose faith, labors and admirable learning protected France against the ravages of the Arian heresy. St. Avitus was the child of a poor family of Orleans, France. From his youth he desired to consecrate himself to God, and he received the monastic habit at the abbey of Micy or Saint-Maximin in the diocese of Orleans, at that time still very small. Its first Superior, Saint Maximin, remarked the young monk’s virtue when he observed that he deprived himself of a great portion of his food each day in order to nourish the poor. After serving as steward for the monastery, Saint Avitus decided to leave in secret to go and live in solitude in a deserted place. Saint Maximin recognized in this flight a secret design of God and made no attempt to have him return. But when the holy Abbot died, Saint Avitus was chosen to succeed him by the unanimous consent of the religious. He was brought back despite his protestations of unworthiness, and was obliged to receive the episcopal consecration and his investiture from the bishop of Orleans.

He labored at his new duties with great assiduity, but saw with sorrow that the religious were becoming lax. He again thought of flight, considering himself the cause of the difficulties, and did indeed find a solitude in the diocese of Chartres, far from all village life, where he lived several years on fruits growing wild in the forest. One day a poor mute herdsman lost a pig in the forest, and when a severe storm broke out, lost his way until he saw a light in the distance. When he approached, he found himself facing the Saint. The latter not only lit his torch again for him and showed him the way to go, but made the sign of the cross on his mouth and restored to him the use of speech, which he had not had for long years. When this miracle was divulged, the hermit became known everywhere in the region, and the desert was soon transformed, as it were, into a city. The monastery which Saint Avitus built there and governed later bore his name. He left it from time to time to go to the city of Orleans for his works of mercy; his prayers cured many sick and handicapped persons. When he failed to persuade the cruel king Clodomir to liberate Saint Sigismond, king of Burgundy, with his wife and children whom he had captured and held prisoner and was intending to put to death, Saint Avitus told him that if he committed that crime, he himself would perish miserably in the first battle he would undertake. This indeed is what occurred. Saint Avitus one day resurrected one of his brethren who had died during his absence; all the monks saw the dead religious rise from his coffin and begin to sing with the others the infinite mercies of Our Lord. Saint Lubin or Leobin, bishop of Chartres, assured his people in a sermon that he had learned of this fact from the very monk who had been resurrected. Three famous religious, one of them the same Saint Leobin, who at that time was a simple monk, attended our Saint at his blessed death, which happened about the year 530. His body was carried to the church of Saint George in Orleans and interred there with great pomp. Afterwards king Childebert built a magnificent temple over this tomb, out of gratitude for the prayers of Saint Avitus.

Saint Avitus, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT EMILY DE VIALAR, RELIGIOUS: St. Emily de Vialar (1797–1856) was born in Gaillac, France in 1797 to the physician of Louis XVIII, an aristocratic family in the years following the French Revolution. Because the Catholic faith was under severe persecution, she was baptized in secret by her parents and her religious instruction was given at home. She was a devout child who displayed an aptitude for prayer, and she shunned the luxuries of her state in life. After the death of her mother, her father arranged to find her a suitable husband when she reached 15 years of age. Emily, who desired to lead the religious life in service to the poor, resisted her father’s attempts and endured his anger at her refusal. She desired also to repair the harm caused by the Revolution by catechizing the local children. She cared for the children and sick of the town, trying to repair the harm done by the French Revolution, while also caring for her widowed father. Emily remained a virgin and privately consecrated herself to God while living in her father’s home.

When she was 21 she met a priest who helped her set up an out-patient service for the sick in her own home, which heightened her tense relationship with her father. When her grandfather died, Emily inherited a large fortune which allowed her independence in the service of God. She bought a large home in her town and began a religious order in service to the sick and poor, and to the education of children, which quickly flourished. In 1835, St. Emily and 26 women took religious vows, calling themselves the sisters of St. Joseph “of the Apparition.” (referring to The angel Gabriels’ telling St. Joseph to flee to Egypt). By the time Emily died in 1856, in about 40 years her order, called the Sisters of St. Joseph of the Apparition, established 40 houses throughout the world, in Europe, Africa, and Asia. Four years after her death her body was found incorrupt. She’s the Patron Saint of Single women. Saint Emily de Vialar’s feast day is June 17th.

Saint Emily de Vialar, Religious ~ Pray for us🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 5:38-42

“But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “You have heard that it was said, An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth. But I say to you, offer no resistance to one who is evil. When someone strikes you on your right cheek, turn the other one to him as well. If anyone wants to go to law with you over your tunic, hand him your cloak as well. Should anyone press you into service for one mile, go with him for two miles. Give to the one who asks of you, and do not turn your back on one who wants to borrow.”

In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord told His disciples about what is expected for them all as His followers and disciples, how each and every one of them should not oppose evil with evil, quoting the examples from the old Jewish customs and laws, which prescribed equivalent consequence and punishment as a just consequence and result of an evil action committed by a person, summarised as ‘eye for an eye’ and ‘tooth for a tooth’. If we understand the reason why such harsh laws and practices were included in the old Jewish laws and customs, that was because of the stubbornness of the people of Israel, who often disobeyed the Lord and allowed themselves to be tempted by worldly desires into sin. That was not what the Lord actually wanted from His people, but those laws and rules were put in place initially because it was meant as a deterrence for them to keep away from all sorts of wickedness and evils, from doing what the Lord had told them not to do. What He wants to tell them and expects them to do is that He wants all of them to be just, holy, good and loving just as He has been doing, and He wants to show them, lead them and teach them to do what is right, and not to allow the evils and temptations of this world to mislead them down the wrong path which may lead to eternal damnation and total separation from Him.

Our Lord Jesus calls on His disciples not to repay evil with evil, but to respond to evil with goodness. St Paul says something similar in his letter to the Romans, ‘Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good’. The worst instinct in human nature is to respond to human goodness in an evil way; the crucifixion of Jesus was an example of that instinct. The best instinct of human nature is to overcome evil with good. This in fact could be termed the divine instinct, God’s instinct. It was the way of Jesus. He overcame the evil that was done to Him with good. In the very moment when He was being violently rejected He revealed His love most fully. He lived and died to overcome evil with good. It is not easy to remain good in the face of evil, to remain loving in the face of hostility, to be faithful in the face of unfaithfulness, to be peacemakers in the face of violence done to us. We cannot live in this way drawing on our own strength and resources alone. We need God’s strength, God’s resources, God’s Spirit, because such a way of life is the fruit of God’s Spirit at work within us. Today, we are reminded that as Christians, as God’s followers and holy people, all of us are called to be loving, compassionate and forgiving, and to do whatever we can for the good of others, to go the ‘extra mile’ in loving and caring for one another if necessary. This is what Christian charity and love is all about, and what we are all reminded of, so that each and every one of us strive to resist the temptations of this world, the temptations of sin and evil, and at the same time also strive to do whatever is good, holy, worthy and just, so that by our every actions, words and deeds, all of us will be truly good and worthy of the Lord our God.

Our first reading today from the first Book of Kings of Israel and Judah details the story of the wickedness of king Ahab of Israel. King Ahab treated the man named Naboth, who owned a vineyard at the land which Ahab desired for himself, king Ahab, spurred on by his own wife, queen Jezebel, plotted against Naboth and managed to seize his property after having made false accusations against the man, and this led to Naboth being condemned to death for something that he was innocent and blameless for, and such was the wickedness of mankind, as exemplified by the actions of Ahab and Jezebel. This is why God sent Elijah to Ahab, warning and reminding him of the wickedness of his actions, through which he had led the people ever deeper into the path of evil and sin. God does not want any one of us to be lost to Him through the darkness and wickedness of this world, through the many temptations present all around us. We must always be vigilant and be ready to resist all the things which may result in us losing sight and focus on the Lord’s path, and end up giving in to the temptations of our pride, ego and desires as Ahab had experienced. He allowed his ego and desires to give in to the temptations and thus, leading him to carry out the wicked deed as he had done to Naboth. St. Paul in our first reading today, calls on us ‘not to neglect the grace of God you have received’. God is always gracing us and if we rely on His grace we will be able to keep giving expression to that divine instinct of overcoming evil with good.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded what each and every one of us must do as Christians, as those who believe in the Lord and belong to Him. All of us have been shown both the actions of the wicked people in the first reading today, and then we have also been told of the actions and way of life which the Lord had called us all as Christians to do in our own lives. If our lives are not in accordance to the path which the Lord has shown us, then how can we call ourselves as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people. All of us are therefore reminded today to recall our Christian calling and missions in life. Each and every one of us have to contribute to the good efforts and works of the Church of God, which the Lord had entrusted to all of us, in the evangelisation of the whole world, of all the people whom we have been sent to, so that by our exemplary way of life, actions, words and deeds, we may inspire more and more of the people around us to follow our examples and to have faith in the Lord as well. Unless we ourselves have done as the Lord had told us to, and live our lives sincerely in the manner that all of us as Christians had been expected to live, then we cannot truly call ourselves as Christians, and we cannot inspire others to follow our path. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord continue to strengthen us all in our ways, and may He empower us all in our every efforts, in our every contributions and deeds, so that by our every actions in life, we may continue to glorify the Lord and that we may always proclaim Him, His truth and love all throughout our whole lives, now and always, in our every words, actions and deeds, in how we interact with one another, with our fellow brothers and sisters. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. 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. 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 generous Lord, You offer Your mercy in superabundance. You not only forgive when we repent, You also restore us to far greater heights of holiness than we could ever deserve. Give me the grace I need, dear Lord, to offer this same level of mercy and love to those who have sinned against me. I forgive all who have hurt me. Please help me to also love them with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Harvey; Saint Albert Chmielowski; Saint Avitus and Saint Emily de Vialar  ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of the Holy Spirit  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 💖

ELEVENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 16, 2024

Greetings beloved family. Happy Sunday of the Eleventh Week in Ordinary Time and Happy Father’s Day to all fathers, fathers-to-be, spiritual fathers and father-figures. Praying for their safety and well-being and wishing them God’s abundant grace and blessings on this special day and always. Amen 🙏

On this special feast day, we continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of our children and children all over the world. We pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, that they be sanctified in their ministry to God’s people. We pray for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world suffering from political and religious unrest. May God protect us all and keep united in peace, love and faith… Amen 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube | June 16, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 16, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” |June 16, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 16, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | June 16, 2024 |

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings, Sunday, June 16, 2024
Reading 1, Ezekiel 17:22-24
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 92:2-3, 13-14, 15-16
Reading 2, Second Corinthians 5:6-10
Gospel, Mark 4:26-34

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Eleventh Sunday in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 4:26–34

“It is the smallest of all seeds, and becomes the largest of plants”

“Jesus said to the crowds: “This is how it is with the kingdom of God; it is as if a man were to scatter seed on the land and would sleep and rise night and day and through it all the seed would sprout and grow, he knows not how. Of its own accord the land yields fruit, first the blade, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear. And when the grain is ripe, he wields the sickle at once, for the harvest has come.” He said, “To what shall we compare the kingdom of God, or what parable can we use for it? It is like a mustard seed that, when it is sown in the ground, is the smallest of all the seeds on the earth. But once it is sown, it springs up and becomes the largest of plants and puts forth large branches, so that the birds of the sky can dwell in its shade.” With many such parables he spoke the word to them as they were able to understand it. Without parables he did not speak to them, but to his own disciples he explained everything in private.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks a parable which acknowledges the mystery that is at the heart of the most everyday experiences of life. A farmer scatters seed on the good soil of Galilee. Having done the sowing, all he can do is to go about his other business, while the seed takes over and does its own work, producing first the shoot, then the ear, then the full grain in the ear, until the crop is ready for harvest. In the parable it is said of the farmer that ‘he does not know’ how all this happens. Between his actions of sowing the seed and harvesting the crop, a great deal of activity goes on, which is invisible to him and which he does not fully understand. There is a great deal in our world which we do not fully understand, in spite of the great expertise that has developed over the centuries on all aspects of our universe. Jesus begins the parable with the statement, ‘This is what the kingdom of God is like’. Jesus seems to be saying that if the farmer does not know the ways of the humble seed, how can any of us fully know the ways of God? If natural growth is mysterious, how much more mysterious must be the growth of God’s kingdom? With this parable of the seed growing secretly, Jesus appears to be saying that the kingdom of God can be growing among us in ways that we do not fully understand, just as the seed the farmer sows in the ground grows towards harvest in ways he does not understand. There is a reassuring, hopeful message here for all of us who may be tempted to discouragement by the slow progress that the ways of God appear to be making in the world. The spreading of God’s reign is ultimately God’s work and that work is always under way, even when we do not see it or understand it. We have a part to play in the coming of God’s way of doing things among us, just as the farmer has a role to play in the coming of the final harvest. However, that first parable in the gospel reading warns us against overestimating our role. St Paul expresses this perspective well in his first letter to the Corinthians, ‘Neither the one who plants, nor the one who waters is anything, but only God who gives the growth’.

The second of the two parables that Jesus speaks in today’s Gospel reading reminds us that God can be at work in situations and in places that seem very unpromising to us. There is a stark contrast between the tiny mustard seed, ‘the smallest of all the seeds on earth’, and the large shrub whose branches become homes for the birds of the air. Insignificant beginnings can lead to a wonderful result. Jesus says that the kingdom of God is like that; it often finds expression initially in what is small and seemingly insignificant. We can feel at times that our own faith is insignificant, as small as a mustard seed. The parable assures us that the Lord is working in and through such faith. Our hope can appear to diminish to the size of a mustard seed. The parable assures us that such hope is enough for the Lord to work with. Our various worthwhile endeavours can appear to bearing very insignificant results. The parable assures us that the Lord will see to it that the final harvest from those endeavours will be abundant. Sometimes we have to learn to be content with the small seeds that we can sow, trusting that they can bear fruit in ways that will surprise us. The kingdom of God is something very humble and modest in its origins. We need to learn to appreciate little things and small gestures. We may not feel called to be heroes or martyrs every day, but we are called to put a little dignity into each corner of our little world. There are little seeds of the kingdom that all of us can sow, a friendly gesture towards someone in trouble, a welcoming smile for someone who is alone, a hug or a sign of closeness for someone who is in despair, a little ray of joy for a heart full of distress. God’s reign comes in power through the seemingly insignificant actions of each of us.

In our first reading today from the Book of the prophet Ezekiel, our Lord spoke to His people, the Israelites and their remnants, which was at that time in exile in Babylon and in other places, that He would renew His people, just as they had fallen from grace and been cast down into defeat and exile from their homeland. The Lord used the allusion to a cedar tree to show how the Lord would renew the cedar tree, that a new sapling would regrow and be reestablished on the mountain of Israel, which firstly showed us all how God would not abandon His people even as He chastised and punished them because of their sins and wickedness. God after all still loved all of His beloved people who were all like His children. And like a loving and caring Father, He wants all of His children to grow up well and in the right way. This is why He chastised and disciplined them when they disobeyed and refused to follow Him and His ways. The Lord does not want any one of them to be lost to Him forever, which could indeed happen through our disobedience and wickedness, all of which led into sin, and sin brings us all into the dominion of death and eternal damnation, condemned and separated forever from God, from His love and grace. That was why, while mankind disobeyed Him from the very beginning of time, God did not obliterate and destroy them all. He gave them chances and opportunities, again and again for them to return to Him and to find their way once again towards Him. Many had been lost along the way, but not few had been saved from the precipice of destruction, and brought into salvation in God.

In our second reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in Corinth, the Apostle reminded all the faithful people of God that they must all live in faith, in the spirit and not in the way of the flesh. St. Paul often exhorted the faithful to be vigilant and to guard themselves against all those things of the flesh which may cause us mankind to fall into temptation and hence into disobedience against God. Throughout history, many people have fallen into these various temptations, failing to resist all the things that led them to follow the whim of their desires and greed, all the things that kept them from finding the path towards the Lord. When mankind prioritised themselves and forgot about God, His path and His teachings, that is when we are likely to fall into sin and destruction. That was why the Lord reminded us all through His Apostle St. Paul that as Christians, we are all God’s beloved and holy people, and as is therefore expected from us, we should strive to live each and every moments of our lives worthily of the Lord, by cultivating our faith within us, allowing our faith to continue to grow and flourish throughout time, so that we may truly bear rich fruits and wonderful things and deeds in each and every moments of our lives. This is why we believe that our faith must always be supported and made alive and vibrant, living and true through our actions, by showing it in our love for God first and foremost, and then in our love for one another, for our fellow neighbours, brothers and sisters just as the Lord Himself had taught us. Without these genuine and real actions, then our faith is no better than those of hypocrites and unbelievers. Those were the faults of many among our predecessors, as they made empty gestures and meaningless faith, while on the other hand, they committed grievous sins and wicked deeds against God and their fellow brothers and sisters alike. That is why we are cautioned that we should not walk down this same path which had led so many of our predecessors towards their downfall and destruction. We should always strive to inspire each other that even in the smallest and simplest things we say and do, we will always strive to embody our Christian faith in all things. This is how we can then make our faith truly alive, and how we can bring real impact and great fruits of our dedication, the fruits of love and hope, the fruits of goodness and virtues in our community of the faithful and in our world today.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are called to live faithfully in the Lord and to commit ourselves to the path which the Lord has shown to us so that we may truly bear rich fruits of our Christian faith. Each and every one of us are reminded that as Christians, our lives cannot be idle and devoid of virtues and good deeds, for if we do not live our lives as Christians should live, then we may end up scandalising our faith and our Christian way of life, as well as besmirching the Holy Name of God. We Christians are known by our fruits, the fruits of our Christian faith, that is our actions and lives that are truly in accordance with God and His ways, as we live out our lives faithfully each day in His Presence. Those who profess to be Christians and yet act in a different manner are truly deficient and dead in faith. Let us all therefore realise that each one of us are cooperators of the truth and love of God, each and every one of us are the labourers in the vineyard of the Lord, and we have been called to our respective vocations and ministries, to proclaim the Lord through all of our words and deeds, and to be the shining beacons of God’s truth and Good News. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may all of us continue to grow ever stronger in our faith in the Lord, and may the Lord continue to help, guide and support us in our journey throughout life, to do His will and to glorify His Name, now and always. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN FRANCIS REGIS, PRIEST AND SAINT BENNO OF MEISSEN, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 16TH Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint John Francis Regis, Priest and Saint Benno of Meissen, Bishop. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for all fathers, fathers-to-be, and father-figures. Praying for their safety and well-being. We pray for the poor and the needy. We also pray for the sick, particularly those who are sick and dying, those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. And we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, with special intention for all Priests on this feast day, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏

SAINT JOHN FRANCIS REGIS, PRIEST: St. John Francis Regis (1597–1640) known as the great “father of the poor,” was a 17th-century French Jesuit evangelist and preacher known for his zealous missionary efforts and his care for the poor and marginalized. In less than 10 years of ministry, this saintly Frenchman succeeded, with God’s help, in leading back to Christ an immense crowd of men, women and children of all ages and walks of life. St. John Francis Regis was born in Font-Couverte, France in 1597, the son of a wealthy French merchant and his noble wife. As a boy he was sensitive, devout, and eager to please his parents and teachers. St. John studied at Beziers, educated by the Jesuits from the age of 14, and was accepted into the Society of Jesus in 1615 at the age of 18. As he followed the traditional Jesuit path of teaching and extensive studies, St. John also became known as a skilled catechist. He also studied at Cahors and Toulouse. He was eager to enter the priesthood, and was ordained a Priest and offered his first Mass in 1631. St. John spent much of the rest of that year caring for victims of a plague outbreak in the city of Toulouse. He grew into a skilled preacher and catechist, and received an assignment to evangelize the French provinces that had fallen to the Protestants know as the Huguenots – as well as country’s lapsed Catholics and others in need of evangelization. He devoted his life to this mission with remarkable success. He was very successful, winning countless souls to Christ.

The rest of St. John’s life was spent preaching and establishing charitable institutions, confraternities, and missions in southern France. St. John Francis Regis was not only a profound preacher, but the founder of orphanages and improver of prison conditions. His missionary work spanned both a large geographical distance and a broad social spectrum. In over 50 districts of France, he preached the Gospel to children, the poor, prisoners, and others forgotten or neglected by society. He was gifted with a marvelous talent for missions, he not only labored for the conversion of the Huguenots, but assisted the needy, and aided in the rescue of wayward women, established a lace factory as a form of skilled labor for repentant prostitutes. This was his best-known work which involved helping women escape prostitution. He raised controversy when he established hostels for converted prostitutes to remain chaste and work for their sustenance in the lace-making and embroidery trades. He is also remembered for stationing a granary to feed the poor, which at times was miraculously replenished.

St. John’s labors reaped a harvest of conversions. However, his boldness – perceived as arrogance in some cases – led to a conflict with certain other priests, a period of tension with the local bishop, and even threats of violence from those whose vices he condemned. Against these obstacles, the priest persevered, sustained by fervent prayer and severe asceticism. His missionary work involved difficult winter journeys, and a witness at his beatification testified to St John’s habit of preaching outdoors all day, then hearing confessions throughout the night. St. John Francis Regis died at age 43, in late December of 1640 suffering from exhaustion. Though suffering from a lung ailment, he insisted on preaching a parish mission and hearing confessions. A penitent found him unconscious in the confessional, though he revived long enough to receive the last rites before dying. He performed many miracles. Hailed as a confessor of the faith and a model for Jesuit missionaries, St. John Francis Regis was beatified in 1716 and canonized in 1737. Although June 16 was established as his feast day, there are differing local and particular customs, including the Jesuits’ celebration of his feast on July 2. St. John Francis Regis is the Patron Saint of embroiderers, social workers, lacemakers, medical social workers, and illegitimate children.

PRAYER: O God, whose priest, Saint John Francis Regis, a friend of the poor, the sick, and the wayward, eagerly desired to evangelize the peoples of North America; grant, we ask, that we who serve You in his place may be filled with his same spirit of zeal…Amen”🙏

SAINT BENNO OF MEISSEN, BISHOP: St. Benno of Meissen (1010-1106) labored to convert the Slavs, established numerous religious edifices, and is said to have founded the cathedral of Meissen. Saint Benno lived during a difficult political time and managed—despite threat, imprisonment and punishment—to remain true to the teachings of the Church and his role as priest and bishop, servant of his people. At a time when the Church is criticised and attacked from both the inside and outside, we look to saints like St Benno as inspiration. His witness provides example to each of us, inspiring fidelity to our Holy Father and to the Magisterium, in all things and truth, even when these are the “hard decisions” to make. St. Benno was born in 1010 at Hildesheim, Germany, he was the son of Count Frederick of Bultenburg. He was educated under his relative, Bishop St. Bernward, and became a canon of the collegiate church of Goslar, Hanover. St. Benno served as chaplain to Emperor Henry IV and then was made Bishop of Meissen, in Saxony in 1066. He was a diligent pastor of his flock, watched over the clergy, carried out the visitations to be made, gave generously to the poor, lived an exemplary ascetic life, and restored public singing of the Divine Office. The Emperor of Germany at that time, Henry IV, was a boy of sixteen, and he was a very different kind of person from St. Henry II, who had always tried to rule the State for the good of religion and the Church. Henry IV, on the other hand, intended to try to make the Church obey the State, and one of his plans was to make the German bishops entirely dependent on him. He, and not the Pope, gave to each newly made bishop the crosier and the ring which showed his ‘marriage’ to the Church. But it happened that at that time there was one of the greatest of the Popes, St. Gregory VII, who was equally determined that the Emperor should do nothing of the kind; and this led to the long struggle stated in history books. It was called the Investiture Contest,' and went on for many years all over Europe to decide whether the Pope, as Head of the Church, or the ruler of the State shouldinvest’ bishops with the symbols of their holy office.

The Saint backed the Saxon nobles in their revolt against Henry and was imprisoned for a year. He also backed Pope Gregory and was deposed from his Bishopric in 1085 by the German prelates who supported the emperor. But he was reinstated in 1085 by anti-Pope Guibert, whom he supported. In 1097, Benno cast his lot once more with the true Pope Urban II, and spent his years as a missionary. The reason St. Benno is important among the saints of Germany is that, unlike some of the German bishops, he stood out against the Emperor, and because not even imprisonment could make him say that Henry was right. We do not know very much about his life, apart from the warfare and struggles of the time. But there is one story which has become famous. When the Pope had said that the Emperor, because he would not obey the Church, was not to be allowed to receive Holy Communion Henry hoped that the German bishops would take no notice of this `excommunication.’ He rode with his followers to Meissen and demanded entry to the Cathedral. St. Benno realized that there was nothing he could do to keep him out unless he shut the Cathedral to everyone, so he ordered everything to be fastened up from the inside and then the great door locked on the outside. When this had been done, in front of all the people, he threw the key far out into the river Elbe. Henry knew that if he gave his soldiers orders to break down the door he would have everyone against him, so he rode away, vowing vengeance on the Bishop. When he had gone the question was how the Cathedral could be opened again. St. Benno, after much prayer, told a fisherman to throw his net into the river as near as he could to where the key had fallen, and, so the story says, among the fish that were caught that day was one which had the key hanging on to one of its fins. So, among the paintings of the saints which you can see today, you can always recognize St. Benno, because he is holding a fish and a key. He lived to be a very old man (some say that he was nearly a hundred when he died), and at the end of his life he followed the example of so many of the German saints and went to preach to the barbarians on the outskirts of the country who were still heathen. He died about 1106 and was canonized in 1523. This caused Martin Luther to issue a strongly critical polemic: Against the New Idol and the Old Devil about To Be Set Up at Meissen. St. Benno was buried in his Cathedral at Meissen, but when, at the time of the German Reformation, four hundred years later, in about 1575, the countryside left the Catholic Church, Meissen became wholly Protestant his body was removed, for safety and transfered to Munich, and from that time St. Benno has been considered the Principal Patron Saint of that city Munich.

PRAYER: God, Light and Shepherd of souls, You established St. Benno as Bishop in Your Church to feed Your flock by his word and form it by his example. Help us through his intercession to keep the faith he taught by his word and follow the way he showed by his example. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE: The month of June is set apart for devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. “From among all the proofs of the infinite goodness of our Savior none stands out more prominently than the fact that, as the love of the faithful grew cold, He, Divine Love Itself, gave Himself to us to be honored by a very special devotion and that the rich treasury of the Church was thrown wide open in the interests of that devotion.” These words of Pope Pius XI refer to the Sacred Heart Devotion, which in its present form dates from the revelations given to Saint Margaret Mary Alacoque in 1673-75.

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE – FOR MIGRANTS FLEEING THEIR HOMES: We pray that migrants fleeing from war or hunger, forced to undertake journeys full of danger and violence, find welcome and new opportunities in the countries that receive them.

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 beķķen in vain. Now, Lord, come to our ajnid! 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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

Glorious Word of God, You choose to speak to Your people in varied ways. To some, You speak through parables and figures of speech. To others, You speak more directly and intimately, revealing the depths of Your Heart. Please speak to me in the ways that will deepen my faith so that I can continue my journey into the many mysteries You wish to reveal. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Most Blessed Mother Mary and Saint John Francis Regis and Saint Benno of Meissen ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of the Holy Spirit  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 Sunday and week 🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖