Year: 2024

FIRST WEEK OF LENT

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

Greetings beloved family and Happy Wednesday of the First Week of Lent! May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we embark on this journey of the Lenten season🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on February 21, 2024 on EWTN” |

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday, February 21, 2024
Reading 1, Jonah 3:1-10
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 12-13, 18-19
Gospel, Luke 11:29-32

*40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | Day Seven: Heat| Wednesday of the First Week of Lent | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/day-seven-heat/

*40 Days at the foot of the Cross. A Gaze of Love from the Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-at-the-foot-of-the-cross/day-seven-a-lowly-servant-of-the-lord/

A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏

God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen🙏

LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards

Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: MONTH OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD: The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind. Saints who had a special devotion to Christ’s passion include St. Francis of Assisi, who was the first known Saint to receive the stigmata; St. John of the Cross; St. Bridget of Sweden; and St. Catherine of Siena.

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

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

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

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

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

SAINTS OF THE DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Peter Damian, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Patron Saint of those with Sleep Disorders, Against Insomnia, Headache Sufferers). In the Traditional Pre Vatican II calendar, we also celebrate Saint Severianus, Bishop and Martyr and Blessed Brother Didace Pelletier. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for those who are sick, we particularly pray for those suffering from headaches and sleep disorders and we also pray for those who are physically and mentally suffering from stressful life events at these incredibly challenging times.

Saint Peter Damian, you urged others to live with heroic virtue by your own example ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT PETER DAMIAN, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH: St. Peter Damian (1007-1072 A.D.) was a Benedictine monk and a devoted collaborator of Pope St. Gregory VII and, like him, a Benedictine, St. Peter Damian was one of the most glorious lights of the Church in the 11th century. St. Peter Damian was born during 1007 in the Italian city of Ravenna, the youngest of a large and noble yet poor family.  He lost both his father and mother early in life. An older brother took the boy into his household, yet treated him poorly. But another of St. Peter’s brothers, a priest, took steps to provide for his education; and the priest’s own name, Damian, became his younger brother’s surname. St. Peter excelled in school while also taking up forms of asceticism, such as fasting, wearing a hair shirt, and spending long hours in prayer with an emphasis on reciting the Psalms. He offered hospitality to the poor as a means of serving Christ, and eventually resolved to embrace voluntary poverty himself through the Order of Saint Benedict. The monks he chose to join, in the hermitage of Fonte Avellana, lived out their devotion to the Cross of Christ through a rigorous rule of life. They lived mainly on bread and water, prayed all 150 Psalms daily, and practiced many physical mortifications. Peter embraced this way of life somewhat excessively at first, which led to a bout with insomnia. Deeply versed in the Bible and the writings of earlier theologians, St. Peter developed his own theological acumen and became a skilled preacher. The leaders of other monasteries sought his help to build up their monks in holiness, and in 1043 he took up a position of leadership as the prior of Fonte Avellana. Five other hermitages were established under his direction. Serious corruption plagued the Church during St. Peter’s lifetime, including the sale of religious offices and immorality among many of the clergy. Through his writings and involvements in controversies of the day, the prior of Fonte Avellana called on members of the hierarchy and religious orders to live out their commitments and strive for holiness. In 1057, Pope Stephen IX became determined to make St. Peter Damian a bishop, a goal he accomplished only by demanding the monk’s obedience under threat of excommunication. Consecrated as the Bishop of Ostia in November of that year, he also joined the College of Cardinals and wrote a letter encouraging its members to set an example for the whole Church.

With Pope Stephen’s death in 1058, and the election of his successor Nicholas II, Peter’s involvement in Church controversies grew. He supported Pope Nicholas against a rival claimant to the papacy, and went to Milan as the Pope’s representative when a crisis broke out over canonical and moral issues. There, he was forced to confront rioters who rejected papal authority. St. Peter, meanwhile, wished to withdraw from these controversies and return to the contemplative life. But Nicholas’ death in 1061 caused another papal succession crisis, which the cardinal-bishop helped to resolve in favor of Alexander II. That Pope kept the Cardinal Bishop of Ostia occupied with a series of journeys and negotiations for the next six years. In 1067, St. Peter Damian was allowed to resign his episcopate and return to the monastery at Fonte Avellana. Two years later, however, Pope Alexander needed his help to prevent the German King Henry IV from divorcing his wife. Peter lived another two years in the monastery before making a pilgrimage to Monte Cassino, the birthplace of the Benedictine order. In 1072, St. Peter returned to his own birthplace of Ravenna, to reconcile the local church with the Pope. The monk’s last illness came upon him during his return from this final task, and he died after a week at a Benedictine monastery in Faenza during February of that year, 1072. He wrote many works on ascetical theology. Never formally canonized, St. Peter Damian was celebrated as a saint after his death in many of the places associated with his life. On September 27, 1828, due to his academic prowess and prolific theological writings, Pope Leo XII placed his feast on the Universal Calendar and made him a Doctor of the Church and extended the observance of his feast day throughout the Western Church. He’s Patron Saint of those with Sleep Disorders, Against Insomnia, Headache Sufferers.

PRAYER: “St. Peter Damian, you were an insomniac for  a long period of time. You understand how difficult it is to function after a sleepless night, how hard it is to be kind, understanding and loving when you are exhausted, how frustrating it is to be tired and unable to do your best. Please intercede for those who are sick, particularly those suffering from sleep disorders or stressful life events, lift them before the throne of God and ask that if it be God’s will that they be able to rest peacefully at night and no longer suffer with insomnia. If it is not God’s will at this time, I ask for them to have the grace to use any sleepless hours as a time of prayer, offering that sleeplessness for the souls who most need God’s love and mercy. St. Peter Damian, thank you for your prayers”…Amen🙏

Almighty God, help us to follow the teachings and example of St. Peter. Placing Christ above all things, may we be ever active in the service of Your Church and attain the joys of eternal light. Amen🙏

QUOTE: “Do not be depressed. Do not let your weakness make you impatient. Instead, let the serenity of your spirit shine through your face. Let the joy of your mind burst forth.” ~ Saint Peter Damian

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying. We particularly pray for sick children, those who are sick with convulsive disorder, mental illness, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families, for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 11:29-32

“No sign will be given to this generation except the sign of Jonah”

“While still more people gathered in the crowd, Jesus said to them, “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah. Just as Jonah became a sign to the Ninevites, so will the Son of Man be to this generation. At the judgment the queen of the south will rise with the men of this generation and she will condemn them, because she came from the ends of the earth to hear the wisdom of Solomon, and there is something greater than Solomon here. At the judgment the men of Nineveh will arise with this generation and condemn it, because at the preaching of Jonah they repented, and there is something greater than Jonah here.”

In today’s Gospel reading from the Gospel of St. Luke, the same story of Jonah and the people of Nineveh were also presented to us, in the manner how the Lord Jesus used that together with the story of the coming of the Queen of the South or the Queen of Sheba to Jerusalem, in order to highlight how many of the people to whom the Lord had been sent to, were lacking in their faith and trust in God, that they failed to believe in the One Whom God had sent into their midst, despite the obvious signs and all that the Lord Jesus Himself had done, in fulfilling everything that God had promised to His people from the very beginning of time. This was also presented as an irony and comparison, between the attitudes of the people of that time with those in Nineveh and that of the Queen of the South. Jesus addresses His contemporaries as people who fail to appreciate Him; they do not recognize the significance of His person, His presence, someone greater than Jonah, greater even than Solomon. If the people of Nineveh responded to Jonah and if the Queen of the South responded to Solomon, how much more should Jesus’ contemporaries respond to Him. The same Jesus who was present to His contemporaries is present to us as risen Lord. We too can fail to appreciate the Lord who stands among us. Like Jesus’ contemporaries, we can look for signs without recognizing the powerful signs of His presence that are all around us. The greatest sign of the Lord’s presence, a sacred sign or sacrament, is the Eucharist. In the Eucharist the Lord is present to us under the form of bread and wine, saying to us, ‘This is my body… This is my blood’. In coming to the Lord in the Eucharist we are coming to someone greater than Jonah or Solomon. The Lord is present to us in other ways also. We take His presence seriously by responding to His call and following in His way, as the people of Nineveh responded to Jonah’s call,. Having been graced by the Lord’s presence, we are to respond to His presence by living in a graced way.

In our first reading today, from the Book of the prophet Jonah, the Lord sent His servant Jonah to the city and the people of Nineveh, then the great capital of the mighty Assyrian Empire. Contextually and historically, as the Assyrians had conquered numerous nations and peoples, they were a very proud people and nation, and their glory and power unparalleled. Yet, they had also committed great atrocities and sin before God, and the Lord sent Jonah to them to warn them of this and the retribution that they were to face. Immediately upon hearing the news of the revelation of their impending destruction, the king and the whole entire people of Nineveh believed in the Lord and in His words, and they immediately humbled themselves before the Lord, went into mourning and contrition, dressed in sackcloth and regretting all the sins which they had committed before God and men alike. And seeing the actions and the sincerity of the people of Nineveh in believing in Him and in repenting from their sinful ways, God spared Nineveh from destruction.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded to have faith in the Lord and to trust in Him, believing in all that He has done for us and shown us. We must be strong in faith and do not waver amidst the trials and challenges, the many temptations we may be facing in this world. And through what we have heard from the Scripture readings today, both Jonah and Jesus call on us to be open to and attentive to the workings of God’s Spirit in the lives of those whom we might be tempted to dismiss. This call is especially timely in a period of war and conflict in our world. During this season of Lent, let us all make good use of the examples shown to us by the Saints, holy men and women, especially this holy man of God who we celebrate today, St. Peter Damian, in all that he had done for the sake of God’s Church, and also remind ourselves of the need for us to repent and turn away from all of our many sins and wickedness. Let us all be the beacons of hope and strength for one another, doing whatever we can so that by our loving examples and inspirational actions, filled with love and grace of God, we may help many others to come ever closer towards God, and to be redeemed from their sins, like how the people of Nineveh had done in the past, in embracing God with great desire to be forgiven and to be redeemed from their sins. Let us all come towards the Lord with contrite hearts and minds, and seek Him with ever greater commitment from now on, especially as we journey through this blessed time of Lent. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to believe in the Lord and turn towards Him with heart full of love and contrition especially throughout this journey of faith and life, and throughout this Lenten season. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

My crucified Lord, I gaze upon the crucifix and see in Your death the greatest act of love ever known. Give me the grace I need to follow You to the tomb so that Your death will triumph over my sins. Free me, dear Lord, during the Lenten journey so that I will be able to fully share in Your new life of the Resurrection. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Peter Damian; Saint Severianus, Bishop and Martyr and Blessed Brother Didace Pelletier ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this season of Lent, let us be renewed by prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times and may this season of Lent bring us all true salvation in Christ as we remain united in peace, love and faith. Have a blessed, safe, fruitful, and grace-filled Lenten Season ~ Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

FIRST WEEK OF LENT

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

Greetings beloved family and Happy Monday of the First Week of Lent! May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we embark on this journey of the Lenten season🙏

On this Presidents’ Day (USA), we pray for the president of the USA and all the presidents and leaders of the world, past and present. Praying for their safety and well-being, God’s  guidance and protection and may they lead with wisdom and understanding. With special intentions, we pray for the continent of Africa and African leaders, we particularly pray for Nigerian leaders and the people of Nigeria during these very challenging times🙏

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, thank You for our leaders. Right now, we pray for leadership guidance. Let every leader not seek to pursue their own interests, but to look at the interests of others. We pray that You help our leaders to identify the needs of Your people through divine wisdom and understanding. Lord, help them to not be ineffective leaders, but to act for the betterment of Your Kingdom. Amen🙏~ Philippians 2:4

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on February 19, 2024 on EWTN” |

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday, February 19, 2024
Reading 1, Leviticus 19:1-2, 11-18
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15
Gospel, Matthew 25:31-46

40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | Day Five: Barrenness | Monday of the First Week of Lent | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/day-five-barrenness/

40 Days at the foot of the Cross. A Gaze of Love from the Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary | Day Five – Total Surrender | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-at-the-foot-of-the-cross/day-five-total-surrender/

A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏

God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen🙏

LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards

Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: MONTH OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD: The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind. Saints who had a special devotion to Christ’s passion include St. Francis of Assisi, who was the first known Saint to receive the stigmata; St. John of the Cross; St. Bridget of Sweden; and St. Catherine of Siena.

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

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

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

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

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

SAINTS OF THE DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Conrad of Piacenza, Hermit (Patron Saint for the cure of hernias, Cities and Diocese of Noto and Calendasco, Sicily); Saint Barbatus (Patron Saint of Benevento); Saint Gabinus, Martyr and Blessed Alvarez of Cordova. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and these Saints, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, particularly pray for those suffering from hernias, the coronavirus disease, cancers and other terminal diseases, praying for God’s divine healing and intervention. We also pray for persecuted Christians, the conversion of sinners and all who have fallen away from the joy of living in God’s loving presence and grace… Amen🙏

SAINT CONRAD OF PIACENZA, HERMIT: St. Conrad was a Franciscan tertiary and hermit, born into a noble family of Piacenza, Italy, in 1290. St. Conrad married a nobleman’s daughter in his youth. While on a hunting party, he had some brush set afire to flush a quarry; the fire spread and destroyed an entire grain field and a neighboring forest. Unable to put out the flames, Conrad and his men fled to the city, and an innocent peasant was apprehended, tortured, and condemned to death as the perpetrator of the deed. When Conrad saw the doomed man on the way to being executed, he was horrified and publicly confessed his responsibility for the disaster. He and his wife sacrificed their wealth to make restitution. As a result, he had to sell his possessions to pay for the damages.

This event inspired both spouses to enter religious life. Conrad, then twenty-five years old, joined a group of Third Order Franciscan hermits, and his wife entered the Poor Clares. After visiting the holy places in Rome, in quest of more solitude, St. Conrad retired to a hermitage in the Noto Valley near Syracuse, Sicily,  and dwelt for about forty years, he lived a life of prayer and severe penance, spending a great part of his time caring for the sick in a nearby hospital, St. Martin’s Hospital sleeping on the bare ground with a stone for pillow, and with dry bread and raw herbs for food. God rewarded his great virtue by the gift of prophecy and the grace of miracles. He died while praying on his knees in 1351, surrounded by a bright light, in the presence of his confessor, who was unaware for some time of his death because of his position. He was canonized in 1625 by Pope Urban VIII. His cult was approved by Pope Paul III. He’s the Patron Saint for the cure of hernias, Cities and Diocese of Noto and Calendasco, Sicily. Known for his holiness, people sought St. Conrad out for advice and spiritual direction. Through his intercession, we give thanks and pray for all those we turn to for spiritual guidance. 

PRAYER: Almighty God, You attracted Saint Conrad through his zeal for justice to serve You faithfully in the desert. Through his prayers may we live justly and piously, and happily succeed in coming to You. Grant, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that as Thou were pacified by the penance of Blessed Conrad, so we may imitate his example and blot out the stains of our sins by crucifying our flesh. Through Christ our Lord… Amen

Heavenly Father, just as St Conrad of Pieacenza, was chosen to be a messenger of Your love and forgiveness, grant we pray, that by his prayers, we too maybe bearers of Your gracious love.  We pray for the assistance of our holy Mother, during our journey to the eternal glory of the kingdom, help us to become like little children and in that new purity, shine with the Light of our Lord and Saviour.  Through Jesus our Lord, with the Holy Spirit, one God forever… Amen🙏

SAINT BARBATUS OF BENEVENTO, BISHOP: Saint Barbatus  (c. 610 – Feb. 19, 682), also known as Barbas, was a bishop of Benevento from 663 to 682, who persuaded the Lombards, and their prince to convert to Christ. He succeeded Ildebrand in this capacity. He assisted in a church council called by Pope Agatho in Rome in 680 and in 681 attended the Third Council of Constantinople against the  Monothelites. St. Barbatus was born in the village of Vandano, near Cerreto Sannita, then part of the Duchy of Benevento, toward the end of the papacy of Gregory the Great. At that time, Benevento had recently (in 590) been captured by Arian Lombards from the Trinitarian Romans.

According to the ninth century vitae, he received a Christian education, and spent a good deal of time studying the Christian scriptures. He took holy orders as soon as allowed to do so, and was immediately employed by the local bishop as a preacher, a task for which he had considerable talent. Shortly thereafter, he was made the curate of St. Basil’s Church in nearby Morcone, where his preaching was not well received by indifferent parishioners only nominally Christian. He continued his calls for reform but eventually returned to Benevento, where he was welcomed back by those who remembered him from earlier. At the time, the people of Benevento still entertained some idolatrous superstitions, including veneration of a golden viper and a local walnut tree. The local Lombard prince, Romuald I son of the Arian Lombard King Grimoald I, was himself involved in these activities. Barbatus regularly preached against them only to be ignored. Later, he warned the people of the city of the great trials they would soon suffer at the hands of the East Roman Emperor Constans II and his army, who shortly thereafter landed in the area and laid siege to Benevento. The people, in their fear, renounced the practices St. Barbatus had criticized. He then cut down the tree the locals had worshipped, and melted the viper into a chalice for use in the church. St. Barbatus himself was responsible for a practical form of resistance to Constans. In 1903 the foundations of the Temple of Isis were discovered close to the Arch of Trajan in Benevento, and many fragments of fine sculptures in both the Egyptian and the Greco-Roman style belonging to it were found. They had apparently been used as the foundation of a portion of the city wall, reconstructed in 663 under the fear of an attack by Constans, the temple having been destroyed by order of St. Barbatus to provide the necessary material.

The presiding bishop of Benevento, Ildebrand, died during the siege, which ended as St. Barbatus had foretold, with the defeat of Constans. After the withdrawal of the invaders, St. Barbatus was made bishop on March 10, 633 and continued his efforts to eliminate superstition. In 673 Duke Romuald placed the grotto of St. Michael at Gargano under the care of St. Barbatus. In 680, he assisted in a council held by Pope Agatho, and took part in the sixth general council held in Constantinople in 681 regarding the Monothelites. He died shortly after the end of the council, on 19 February 682, at about seventy years of age, almost nineteen of which he had spent in the episcopal chair. St. Barbatus is Patron Saint of the city of Benevento, Cicciano, Castelvenere, Casalattico and Valle dell’Angelo.

Saint Barbatus of Benevento, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT GABINUS, MARTYR: St. Gabinus also known as Gabin, was a member of the imperial Roman nobility, who was ordained in his old age. He was the brother of Saint Caius, the twenty-ninth Pope (283-296) and the father of the beautiful little virgin martyr, Saint Susanna, whose feast is August 11, and who was martyred for her Faith and her purity, because she would not marry the son-in-law of the pagan Emperor Diocletian. Saint Susanna was martyred in 295, and one year later, in 296, her father, Saint Gabinus, shed his blood for the Faith for which his daughter had died.

Though a relative of Emperor Diocletian he suffered martyrdom by beheading for refusing to sacrifice to the pagan gods. He died as a martyr in 296AD. His relics are venerated in Holy Trinity church in Lyon, France, where his feast day is celebrated on 19 February.

PRAYER: God our Father, today we celebrate the Memorial of St. Gabinus, Grant that, following his example, we may serve You with perfect love and rejoice in experiencing Your goodness. Amen🙏

BLESSED ALVAREZ OF CORDOVA: Bl. Alvarez of (Córdoba) Cordova (1350-1430) also known as Albaro of Cordova or Alvaro de Zamora was born to a noble family in Zamora, Spain. He joined the Dominican Order in  1368 and preached throughout Spain. A renowned and well-travelled preacher, well known in Andalusia and Italy. Pilgrim to the Holy Lands. Preached Crusade. Personal confessor, spiritual guide and served at the court of Queen Catherine as political advisor to Queen Catherine. In charge of the education of young King John II. Opposed the Avignon pope Peter de Luna. Reformed many of the practices common at court. He went on pilgrimage to the Holy Land, and upon his return preached the crusades against the Muslims. He founded the famous priory of Scala Caeli (Ladder of Heaven) at Cordova, a Dominican convent of strict observance, and it is said that angels helped provide its building materials. It became a well known center of piety and learning. Bl. Alvarez lived a life of great austerity and spent his days there preaching, teaching, begging alms in the street, even though he could easily obtain what he needed from the royal court and spending his nights in prayer. In the gardens of the house he set up a series of oratories with images of the Holy Lands in Jerusalem and Passion, similar to modern Stations of the Cross.

Numerous miracles and many wonderful stories are attributed to Bl. Alvarez, which include: Angels are reported to have helped built Escalaceli, moving stone and wooden building materials to the site during the night, placing them where workmen could easily get them during the day;  Once when the entire food stocks for the house consisted of a single head of lettuce, he gathered all the brothers at table, gave thanks for the meal, and sent the porter to the door; the porter found a stanger leading a mule loaded with food. After unloading the mule, the stranger and the animal disappeared;  Alvarez once found a beggar dying alone in the street. He wrapped the poor man in his own cloak, and carried him back to Escalaceli. When he arrived at the house and unwrapped the cloak, instead of man, he found a crucifix. It still hangs in Escalaceli; A bell in the chapel with Alvarez’s relics rings by itself just before the death of anyone in the house. Blessed Alvarez was dedicated to Christ’s Passion and helped spread devotion to the Way of the Cross throughout western Europe. He also successfully led a resistance against the anti-pope and brought Spain under allegiance to the true pope in Rome. He died in c.1430 at Escalaceli near Cordova, Spain of natural causes, and buried there. Attempts were made to move Bl. Alvarez’s relics to Cordova, but each try led to violent storms that kept the travellers bottled up until they gave up their task, leave the bones where they are. Beatified on September 22, 1741, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Papal States by Pope Benedict XIV (cultus confirmed)

PRAYER: God of mercy, you endowed Blessed Alvarez with the gifts of penance and divine love. With the help of his prayers and example may we always bear the suffering of Christ in our bodies and your love in our hearts. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen🙏

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth and as we begin the Lenten Season. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying. We particularly pray for sick children, those who are sick with convulsive disorder, mental illness, stroke, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families, for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Monday of the First Week of Lent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 25:31-46

“Whatever you have done to the very least of my brothers, you have done to me”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, he will sit upon his glorious throne, and all the nations will be assembled before him. And he will separate them one from another, as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. He will place the sheep on his right and the goats on his left. Then the king will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father. Inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, a stranger and you welcomed me, naked and you clothed me, ill and you cared for me, in prison and you visited me.’ Then the righteous will answer him and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? When did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? When did we see you ill or in prison, and visit you?’ And the king will say to them in reply, ‘Amen, I say to you, whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me.’ Then he will say to those on his left, ‘Depart from me, you accursed, into the eternal fire prepared for the Devil and his angels. For I was hungry and you gave me no food, I was thirsty and you gave me no drink, a stranger and you gave me no welcome, naked and you gave me no clothing, ill and in prison, and you did not care for me.’ Then they will answer and say, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry or thirsty or a stranger or naked or ill or in prison, and not minister to your needs?’ He will answer them, ‘Amen, I say to you, what you did not do for one of these least ones, you did not do for me.’ And these will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life.”

Today’s Gospel reading gives the account of the Last Judgment as presented by the Lord Jesus to His disciples and all those who have gathered to listen to Him. He told all of them that He Himself, the Son of Man, will come at the end of time, the moment of the Final Judgment of all the living and the dead, when everyone will have to account for everything which they have said, done, and even all those things that they had failed to say, do or act upon when they had been given the good opportunities and means to by the Lord. The Lord Jesus showed how everyone will be separated by whether they have been found worthy of the Lord and His salvation, or whether they have been found lacking and wanting in their faith. The Lord also made it clear that all those who have been deemed worthy are all those who have always lived their lives faithfully, and did whatever they could to reach out to their fellow brethren, particularly those who are less fortunate and blessed than they are, that through their care and love, they have shown themselves to be the epitome of Christian love and truth. Meanwhile, all those who have been found lacking and wanting for their faith are not only those who did what are wicked and evil in the sight of God, but also those who neglect their responsibilities, calling and spurned all the opportunities which God had provided them, as they cared more for themselves and selfishly caring and loving themselves only at the expense of others around them.

The Lord made it very clear too of what will happen to the righteous and to those who have been condemned and are deemed unworthy. The worthy and righteous ones will share together in the glory of God, forever enjoying the fullness of God’s grace and all the joy and happiness they shall receive from the Lord Himself, while those who are wicked and unworthy have condemned themselves by their wickedness and by their lack of genuine faith, to an eternity of suffering and darkness, despair and destruction in Hell. The fates of each of these groups have been made clear to us, and therefore we are given the choice by the Lord on which path we want to follow and end up in. We should not waste and squander these opportunities which God has given us, and while it is not yet too late for us. In the Gospel reading, we are reminded how closely Jesus identifies Himself with the suffering of those in greatest need. The Lord comes to us in and through the suffering, the weakness, the vulnerability and the frailty of our fellow human beings, regardless of their race, creed or color. Jesus assures us that when we are dealing with people in their brokenness we are dealing directly with Him. Jesus is really and truly present to us in and through each other, especially each other’s suffering and pain. The people in the story Jesus told were surprised to discover that it was the risen Lord they had been serving or neglecting in serving and neglecting the needy who crossed their path. We sometimes make a distinction between the sacred and the secular, but the Gospel reading suggests that the secular is the sacred. The ground, on which we stand, day in and day out, is often holy ground, without our realizing it. When we help to carry the burden of another, we are touching and being touched by the Lord. In the brokenness of life, heaven breaks through to earth. Today’s Gospel reading invites us to become more aware of the Lord’s presence in weakness, vulnerability, failure and distress.

In our first reading today, from the Book of Leviticus, God spoke to His people through Moses, as He instructed them all to be faithful and obedient to Him, to follow His Law and commandments, to be truly devoted to His path and be genuinely faithful in all things and not merely paying lip service to Him. They are all called to be righteous and full of virtues in life, not to be selfish and instead be loving and selfless in all of their ways, caring for others who are in need and be committed to be good brothers and sisters in the same Lord. The Lord reminded His people not to be oppressive, manipulative and exploitative to others, to enrich and make oneself feel good on the sufferings of others. That was what we mankind have often done, and many of us have acted in ways that strive to preserve our own selfish needs and wants, ignoring the needs of others, and actually abusing the freedom given to us to cause others to suffer for our own benefits. God was saying that if we are all to be His people and His followers, then this cannot be the path that we are walking on, as His disciples, followers and people are those who are just and loving, lacking in hatred, anger and vengeance.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, as we continue to proceed through this time and season of Lent, each and every one of us are reminded that as Christians, all of us must always strive to do what God has called and commanded us all to do with our lives, in being righteous, just and committed to the path which He has taught and shown us. Otherwise, if we do not do so, then we will end up being held accountable for our lack of faith and real commitment to the path of God, and in the end, we will have to account for all of our actions and commitments to God, or for our failure to do so, if we neglect our responsibilities and calling as Christians, in whichever areas and opportunities that we have been given by God. We are all called to be more faithful to God and to dedicate ourselves to Him and to our fellow men. This season of Lent is the perfect time and opportunity for us to do so, as this is the time and moment for us to deepen our relationship with God, to rid ourselves off the excesses of worldly corruptions and the sins that have weighed us down all these while. We are all called to remember the Lord and our faith in Him, to turn back to Him with contrite hearts and sincere desire to be reconciled with Him. Let us all therefore, through our Lenten observances, continue to draw ever closer to God and His presence. Let us all through our Lenten practices, through our fast and abstinence, resist the temptations of sin and evil, and through our charity and almsgiving, be ever more generous in giving and sharing not only material goods and help to others in need, but even our love, care, time and attention to those who lack them. Let us all no longer be ignorant of our Christian calling and mission, and let us all do whatever we can to reach out to our fellow brothers and sisters around us, especially those who are in need of our help and our love. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to walk ever more faithfully in the Lord’s presence and be more aware of the Lord’s presence in weakness, vulnerability, failure and distress of our fellow brothers and sisters. May God bless us all, now and always, in our every good works and efforts, and help us to become ever closer to Him, especially during this time of Lent. Let us all remind ourselves of our Christian duties and our respective vocations in life, as we all embark through this Lenten journey, journeying with renewed faith in the Lord. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

Most merciful Lord, Your compassion is great and Your judgment is real. Help me to always keep my mind upon that final and glorious day on which You will return in all Your splendor and glory to judge the living and the dead. May I truly heed Your words and prepare for that day by loving You in all people, especially in those most in need. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Conrad of Piacenza; Saint Barbatus; Saint Gabinus and Blessed Alvarez of Cordova ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this season of Lent, let us be renewed by prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times and may this season of Lent bring us all true salvation in Christ as we remain united in peace, love and faith. Have a blessed, safe, fruitful and grace-filled Lenten Season ~ Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

FIRST SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR B)

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

Greetings beloved family and Happy First Sunday of Lent. May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we embark on this journey of the Lenten season🙏

Today is the First Sunday of Lent, the first of the six Sundays of the season of Lent before we enter into the Holy Week, as we all prepare ourselves for the coming of the great mystery of the Passion of the Lord and all of His saving works, and the glorious celebration at Easter. We’re called to make good use of this season of Lent to remind ourselves to be more faithful and committed to God, resisting the temptations of sin.

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on February 18, 2024 on EWTN” |

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings: First Sunday of Lent (Year B), February 18, 2024
Reading 1, Genesis 9:8-15
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 25:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Reading 2, First Peter 3:18-22
Gospel, Mark 1:12-15

*40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | First Sunday in Lent: Hunger | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/first-sunday-in-lent-hunger/

A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏

God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen🙏

LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards

Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: MONTH OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD: The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind. Saints who had a special devotion to Christ’s passion include St. Francis of Assisi, who was the first known Saint to receive the stigmata; St. John of the Cross; St. Bridget of Sweden; and St. Catherine of Siena.

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

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

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

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

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

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, First Sunday of Lent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021824.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 1:12–15

“Jesus was tempted by Satan, and the angels ministered to him”

“The Spirit drove Jesus out into the desert, and He remained in the desert for forty days, tempted by Satan. He was among wild beasts, and the angels ministered to Him. After John had been arrested, Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God: “This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is driven out into the physical wilderness by the Holy Spirit, immediately after His baptism, to a place where He is alone, away from the crowds. He remained there for forty days, which is the length of our Lenten season. In the wilderness He was tempted or put to the test by Satan. The image of ‘wild beasts’ suggests the difficulty of the test and the intensity of the struggle that Jesus experienced. The reference to ‘Satan’ indicates that there was a spiritual dimension to His testing experience. Just before He begins His public ministry, He is somehow obliged by God to enter fully into the wilderness experience. It was Jesus’ relationship with God, His faithfulness to God’s call and mission, that was being put to the test. He was tempted to take a path other than the one His baptism had set Him upon. This testing experience came at the very beginning of His public ministry. He would face a similar testing experience at the end of His public ministry, during the course of His passion, in particular in the Garden of Gethsemane.

The call of Lent is a call to personal renewal. This is the call of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading, ‘Repent and believe in the Gospel’. According to Mark’s Gospel today, Jesus’ call to renewal was the second part of His opening message. The first part of that opening message was, in a sense, more important: ‘The time has come, and the kingdom of God is close at hand’. This is the heart of Jesus’ good news. God’s reign, God’s rule, was close at hand. Jesus announced that God was powerfully present in a life-giving way through Himself. This remains Jesus’ message to us today. The call to renewal is a call to open our lives more fully to this God who is powerfully present through His risen Son. The call of Lent is the call to turn towards God who comes towards us in Christ. This call will often entail turning away from something, turning away from whatever it is that might be preventing us from opening our lives more fully to God’s presence. This turning away is what we mean by repentance. It will mean something different for each of us. In turning more fully towards God and away from what comes between God and ourselves, we will be renewed, we will experience a new Spring time of the Spirit. Real renewal of this kind does not happen in an instant. It takes time – in a sense, it takes a lifetime. Lent is a season that gives us time. It is a long season in the church’s year, seven weeks in all. We are given this time to help us to look at ourselves and to see what areas of our lives need renewal.

In the wilderness, Jesus struggled to remain true to His baptism. Lent is the time when we struggle to remain true to our baptism; it is the time when we make a special effort to get back onto the path that our baptism calls us to take, if we have drifted from it; it is the time when we try to face down what the Gospel reading refers to as the ‘wild beasts’ that work to take us away from the path that the Lord is asking us to take. The Gospel reading declares that in Jesus’ struggle with the wild beasts He had the help of Angels. ‘The Angels looked after Him’. The Angels are the expression of God’s protective, supportive and caring presence. Jesus was not alone in this time of great spiritual testing; God was with Him. Today’s Gospel reading reminds us also that in our own struggle to remain true to our baptism, we are not alone. The Angels will look after us too. Indeed, the letter to the Hebrews states, ‘because Jesus was tested by what He suffered, He is able to help those who are being tested’. The one who was himself tested will help all of us in those times when our own faith is put to the test, when our moral and spiritual values are threatened by forces that do not correspond to God’s purpose for our lives. As we begin our Lenten struggle to renew our response to our baptismal calling, we are being assured that we will not be alone in that struggle. The Lord will be with us as one who has been tested and tempted in every way as we are. We can enter that struggle confident that, in the images of the Gospel reading, the wild beasts will not get the better of the Angels, or in the words of Paul’s letter to the Romans, where sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. If we are prepared to engage in the struggle to be faithful, as Jesus was, the Lord’s grace, the Lord’s presence, will see us through to the end.

Our first reading this Sunday from the Book of Genesis details the aftermath of the Great Flood when God sent a great rain and flood to inundate the whole world, causing the destruction and death of all the people, the descendants of Adam and Eve, except for Noah and his immediate family, who had been spared by God for their faith and obedience to God, while all the others were wicked and filled with all sorts of sins and vices of the world. God ordered Noah to build a great ship, the Ark of Noah, for which he would become very famous for, and everyone and all the living things that were present in that ship were saved by God, Who then as we heard in our first reading, made a Covenant and promise with Noah and his family, that He would never destroy anyone again with a similar Great Flood. Through that narrative of the Great Flood, its destruction of all the unrepentant and wicked sinners in the world, and its aftermath, all of us are first of all reminded as we begin this penitential season and time of Lent, of the need for all of us to be reconciled with God by the forgiveness of our many sins and wicked ways, which have separated us all from the wonderful and generous love of God. For there can be no sin or wickedness, imperfections and corruption present before the Lord our God, Who is all good and perfect. Sin is caused by our disobedience and refusal to obey the Lord’s will, His Law and commandments, and through sin, we have been corrupted and defiled, and hence, we have to be separated from God, and cast out from the bliss of the Gardens of Eden, where everything was once perfect. Sin led mankind to this lack of grace from God, and our separation from the Lord and Master of life, and hence, that was why we had to suffer and experience death, which was the natural and logical consequence of our sins. Disobedience leads to sin and sin then leads to death. We had not meant to suffer such fate, or to endure and experience the bitterness of death, the separation from the Lord, and yet, by our own conscious choice, we have chosen to cast ourselves out of the Holy Presence of God. Yet, God has always desired to call us all back to Him, and He still loved us all despite all the wickedness and sins that we have committed. And this is because what He despises is not us per se, but rather our sins and wickedness, which we have done and committed in His sight. And God is so great and merciful that even the greatest of sinners are still within the reach of His mercy and compassion.

In our second reading today from the Epistle of St. Peter the Apostle to the Church and the faithful, he reminded the faithful using the same example and story of Noah and the Great Ark he built, in obedience to God, in saving himself and his family from the Great Flood of his time. St. Peter showed how our salvation was just like the journey of Noah through the time of the Great Flood, and how he persisted and survived, and how God made a Covenant with him and his family. This is because through the example of the Great Flood, the waters involved in that event was clearly a force of destruction, but also at the same time a force that brought about new life and rejuvenation. The same experience was faced by the Israelites when the Lord brought them out of the land of Egypt through the leadership of Moses, as they walked through the waters of the Red Sea, into their freedom from their slavery. In the same manner therefore, the Lord led us all through His death on the Cross, as He suffered and endured the worst punishments and trials for our sake, showing us the concrete and most enduring form of His love. His compassion and love have been shown unto us in the flesh in Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour. He united us all, our humanity and our existence to Him, through His incarnation in the flesh, and by the waters of baptism, He has brought us all like how Noah led all of his family and the living things in the world into the Great Ark, and like how Moses led the Israelites through the Red Sea to their freedom. The Lord has therefore brought us through death and then to new life, through His most glorious Resurrection, through which He has defeated and conquered death itself, and broke forever the yoke of sin and evil over us. He renewed and made with us all, a perfect and Eternal Covenant, meant for our salvation and everlasting life.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, on this first Sunday in the season of Lent, we are all reminded of the nature and the importance of this time and season of preparation, in which we prepare ourselves for the upcoming commemoration and celebration of the most important events in Holy Week and Easter, which is highlighted in our Scripture readings today, using the story of Noah and the Great Flood as a reminder for us first of all of the fate of sinners who are unrepentant, the dangers of sin, and ultimately, how God’s love and grace can help us to overcome all these dangers, threats and dominion of sin, evil and death. If we put our faith and trust in the Lord, He will help and guide us all into the path of righteousness and freedom from all these. Let us all therefore begin our observances this Lenten season with great commitment and genuine faith, and let us all do our best so that in each and every moments of our lives, particularly during this Lenten season, we may make best use of them to draw ever closer to God, seeking His love and guidance, help and strength so that by His power and guidance we may come ever closer to His forgiveness, mercy and love. Let us all help one another in seeking God’s grace and salvation, and support each other with love and compassion, with generosity in how we share our blessings and excesses with those who have less or none. We are called to be ever more generous, in almsgiving, that is in giving whatever we can spare for all those around us who are less fortunate than us. And almsgiving should not just be limited to material giving, but rather, should also include our time and attention, our love and care in particular for all those who are less fortunate and unloved, all around us. During this time of Lent, each and every one of us are reminded to sharpen the side of our humility and faith, deepening our relationship with God through charity and love, while at the same time rejecting Satan and all of his false promises and lies, and resist the many temptations all around us to commit what is sinful against the Lord. We are all called to be ever more faithful to God and to be good and worthy role models in our faith, inspiring many others to follow in our footsteps as well. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with us always and may He empower us all throughout this Lenten season so that we may continue to serve Him and to walk in His presence, now and always. May God bless us all in our every good works, efforts and endeavours for His greater glory. Amen 🙏

*SAINTS OF THE DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Simeon of Jerusalem, Bishop and Martyr;
Saint Francis Regis Clet, Priest, Lazarist Missionary and Martyr; Saint Tarasius of Constantinople, Bishop; Saint Flavian of Constantinople and Blessed John of Fiesole (Fra Angelico). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and these Saints, we humbly pray for the Church, for persecuted Christians, the conversion of sinners and all who have fallen away from the joy of living in God’s loving presence and grace. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life and Christians all over the world. Amen🙏

SAINT SIMEON OF JERUSALEM, BISHOP & MARTYR: St. Sineon was the son of Cleophas, otherwise called Alpheus, brother to St. Joseph, and of Mary, sister to the Blessed Virgin. He was therefore nephew both to St. Joseph and to the Blessed Virgin, and first cousin to Our Savior Jesus Christ. He is in the Gospel of Matthew, and is one of the brethren of Christ mentioned in Acts who was present at the birth of the Church on the first Pentecost. We cannot doubt but that he was an early follower of Christ, and that he received the Holy Spirit on the day of Pentecost, with the Blessed Virgin and the apostles. He was martyred in early apostolic times. When the Jews massacred St. James the Lesser, his brother Simeon reproached them for their atrocious cruelty. St. James, Bishop of Jerusalem, being put to death in the year 62, twenty-nine years after Our Saviour’s Resurrection, the apostles and disciples met at Jerusalem to appoint him a successor. They unanimously chose St. Simeon, who had probably before assisted his brother in the government of that Church.

In the year 66, in which Sts. Peter and Paul suffered martyrdom at Rome, the civil war began in Judea, by the seditions of the Jews against the Romans. The siege and the destruction of Jerusalem took place during his episcopacy. He accompanied the Christian community to Pella. The Christians in Jerusalem were warned by God of the impending destruction of that city. They therefore departed out of it the same year,—before Vespasian, Nero’s general, and afterwards emperor, entered Judea,—and retired beyond Jordan to a small city called Pella, having St. Simeon at their head. In the aftermath of the destruction of Jerusalem, St. Simeon led the Christians back to the city, they returned thither again, and settled themselves amidst its ruins, till Adrian afterwards entirely razed it. The Church here flourished, performed miracles and multitudes of Jews were converted by the great number of prodigies and miracles wrought in it.

Vespasian and Domitian had commanded all to be put to death who were of the race of David. St. Simeon had escaped their searches; but, under the Emperor Trajan, St. Simeon was eventually arrested, tortured and arraigned before Atticus, the governor, on charges of being a Christian and a relative of Jesus. For at a certain period, all descendants of David were apprehended. After enduring all types of torture, he was affixed to a cross, even as His Savior. Those present marveled how a man of such advanced age (he was 120 years old) could so steadfastly and joyously bear the excruciating pains of crucifixion. He was martyred for the twin crimes of being Jewish and Christian and his death was that of crucifixion. He died on the 18th of February, 106 A.D. He ruled over the Church of Jerusalem for over forty years. St. Simeon is the Patron Saint of Curriers and Sawmen.

PRAYER: “ALMIGHTY GOD, mercifully look upon our infirmities: that whereas we are afflicted by the burden of our sins; the glorious intercession of thy Martyr and Bishop blessed Simeon may be our succor and defense. Through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end”…. Amen🙏

SAINT FRANCIS REGIS CLET, PRIEST, LAZARIST MISSIONARY & MARTYR: St. Francis Regis Clet CM (1748-1820) Martyr, Religious Priest of the Vincentian Order, Lazarist Missionary to China was born Francois Regis Clet on 19 August 1748 in Grenoble and died 18 February 1820 in Wuchang, China, he’s one of the Martyr Saints of China. St. Francis Regis Clet, the tenth of 15 children, was born into a farm family in Grenoble in the southwest corner of France in 1748 and was named for the recently Canonised fellow-Grenoblian, Jesuit St John Francis Regis (Jean Francois Regis).   After completing studies at the Royal College (founded by the Jesuits), he followed his elder brother and sister into vowed religious life.   In Lyons in 1769, he entered the Congregation of the Mission (Vincentians). After Ordination, St. Francis served as professor of moral theology at the Vincentian seminary in Annecy where he was affectionately called “the walking library” because of his encyclopedic knowledge and academic discipline. In 1786, he became Rector of Annecy and two years later, Director of Novices in Paris.

St. Francis Regis petitioned to go to China as a missionary several times but his superiors did not accede to his request until 1791. At the age of 43, he replaced another priest who had to withdraw from the assignment at the last minute. A confrere, in writing about Clet’s assignment to China, noted: “He has everything you could ask for – holiness, learning, health and charm.” After a six month sea journey from France and some transition time in Macao, which included assuming the dress and customs of the Chinese people, the new missioner arrived in Kiang-si in October of 1792 as the only European in the area. St. Francis’ acculturation was hampered by his life-long difficulty with the language. In 1793 he joined two Chinese confreres in Hou-Kouang in the Hopei Province where both of his companions died within his first year, one in prison and one from exhaustion. In that year, St. Francis became superior of an international group of Vincentian missioners scattered over a very large territory, and he himself pastored an area of 270 thousand square miles.   In that leadership capacity, he developed standards so that there would be a uniform approach to ministry (sacramental and catechetical) among the missioners. His own life was simple and austere – he lived like the poor in the country. His great spirit of mortification accommodated the most diverse regimes and it was on foot that he made his long journeys. Gentle and humble, he nevertheless showed great firmness inspired by sound and upright judgement. In 1811, the anti-Christian persecutions in China intensified with the Christians being accused of inciting rebellion against the ruling dynasty. For several years, Clet endured abuse and attacks, which frequently forced him to find refuge in the mountains. In 1819, with a generous reward on their heads, Clet and a Chinese confrere became fugitives. Like Jesus, he was finally betrayed by one of his own, a Catholic schoolmaster whom Clet had challenged for his scandalous behaviour.   Like the missionary St Paul, Clet endured ignominy and forced marches in chains over hundreds of miles.

During the course of his judgement, St.  Francis Régis Clet was treated with the most extreme inhumanity. To one of his judges, the holy confessor allowed himself to say:  “My brother, you judge me now, in a short time my Lord Himself will judge you.” A few months later, the magistrate, who fell out of favour, was executed. On 1 January 1820, Fr Clet was found guilty of deceiving the Chinese people by preaching Christianity and was sentenced to strangulation on a cross.  Pending confirmation of the sentence by the emperor, he wrote: “I prepare for death, often repeating with Saint Paul:  ‘if I live, it is for Jesus Christ and death will be for me a gain’.”   Finally, the emperor Tsiatsïn declared that “the European had deceived and corrupted many people by preaching the Christian religion and that he should be strangled.”  On 18 February Francis Regis Clet was executed. He was 72 years old, twenty-nine of whom spent in the Chinese mission. As in the case of Jesus, Christians took his body and buried it on a hillside where it rested until it was returned to the Vincentian motherhouse in Paris several decades later and is now honoured at St Lazare. St Francis was Beatified on 27 May 1900 by Pope Leo XIII and Canonised on 1 October 2000 by St Pope John Paul II.

SAINT TARASIUS OF CONSTANTINOPLE, BISHOP: St. Tarasius was born at Constantinople in the middle of the eighth century, of a noble family. His mother, Eucratia, brought him up in the practice of the most eminent virtues. By his talents and virtue, he gained the esteem of all, and was raised to the greatest honors of the empire, made first a Consul and afterward first Secretary of State to the Emperor Constantine IV and the Empress Irene, his mother. In the midst of the court and in its highest honors, he led a life like that of a religious. St. Tarasius was chosen, by the unanimous consent of the court, clergy and people to succeed to the Patriarch of Constantinople. Saint Tarasius declared that he could not in conscience accept the government of a see which had been cut off from the Catholic communion — which had occurred through the fault of his predecessor, who afterward recognized his error in approving a group of dissidents — except on condition that a general Council be convoked to settle the dispute concerning holy images, which was dividing the Church at that time. This being agreed to, he was solemnly declared Patriarch, and consecrated soon afterward, on Christmas Day.

The Council was opened on the 1st of August, 786, in the Church of the Apostles at Constantinople; but, being disturbed by the violence of the Iconoclasts, it adjourned, to meet again the following year in the Church of Saint Sophia at Nicea. The Council declared the positive thought of the Church in relation to the matter under debate, which was whether or not holy pictures and images should be allowed a relative honor. Afterward synodal letters were sent to all the churches, and in particular to the Pope, who approved the council. The life of the holy Patriarch Tarasius was a model of perfection for his clergy and people. His table contained barely the necessaries of life; he allowed himself very little time for sleep, rising the first and retiring last in his spiritual family. Reading and prayer-filled all his leisure hours.

After the Emperor repudiated his legitimate wife and, with the collaboration of a servile priest, married a servant whom he had crowned as Empress in her place, he used all his efforts to gain the Patriarch of Constantinople over to his desires. Saint Tarasius resolutely refused to countenance the iniquity, even when imprisoned by the irritated monarch. Soon afterward, the emperor lost his empire and his life, having spurned the reproaches of Saint Tarasius. The holy man gave up his soul to God in peace after governing his church for twenty-two years in great purity of life, on the 25th of February, 806.

PRAYER: God, Light and Shepherd of souls. You established St. Tarasius 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🙏

SAINT  FLAVIAN OF CONSTANTINOPLE: St. Flavian is Known to Eastern Christians as “St. Flavian the Confessor,” the patriarch endured condemnation and severe beatings during a fifth-century dispute about the humanity and divinity of Jesus Christ. Though he died from his injuries, his stand against heresy was later vindicated at the Church’s fourth ecumenical council in 451. St. Flavian is closely associated with Pope St. Leo the Great, who also upheld the truth about Christ’s divine and human natures during the controversy. The Pope’s best-known contribution to the fourth council – a letter known as the “Tome of Leo” – was originally addressed to St. Flavian, though it did not reach the patriarch during his lifetime. He was highly-regarded as a priest during the reign of the Eastern Roman Emperor Theodosius II (which lasted from 408 to 450), and he became Archbishop of Constantinople following the death of Patriarch Saint Proclus in approximately 447. Early in his patriarchate, Flavian angered a state official named Chrysaphius by refusing to offer a bribe to the emperor. The ruler’s wife Eudocia joined the resulting conspiracy which Chrysaphius hatched against Flavian, a plot that would come to fruition in an illegitimate Church council and the patriarch’s death. As head of the Church in Constantinople, Flavian had inherited a theological controversy about the relationship between deity and humanity in the person of Jesus Christ. In an occurrence that was not uncommon for the time, the doctrinal issue became entangled with personal and political rivalries. Flavian’s stand for orthodoxy gave his high-ranking court opponents a chance to act against him by encouraging the proponents of doctrinal error and manipulating the emperor in their favor.

The theological issue had arisen after the Council of Ephesus, which in 431 had confirmed the personal unity of Christ and condemned the error (known as Nestorianism) that said he was a composite being made up of a divine person and a human person. But questions persisted: Were Jesus’ eternal divinity, and his assumed humanity, two distinct and complete natures fully united in one person? Or did the person of Christ have only one hybrid nature, made up in some manner of both humanity and divinity? The Church would eventually confirm that the Lord’s incarnation involved both a divine and a human nature at all times. When God took on a human nature at the incarnation, in the words of Pope St. Leo the Great, “the proper character of both natures was maintained and came together in a single person,” and “each nature kept its proper character without loss.” During Flavian’s patriarchate, however, the doctrine of Christ’s two natures had not been fully and explicitly defined. Thus, controversy came up regarding the doctrine of a monk named Eutyches, who insisted that Christ had only “one nature.” Flavian understood the “monophysite” doctrine as contrary to faith in Christ’s full humanity, and he condemned it at a local council in November of 448. He excommunicated Eutyches, and sent his decision to Pope Leo, who gave his approval in May 449. Chrysaphius, who knew Eutyches personally, proceeded to use the monk as his instrument against the patriarch who had angered him. He convinced the emperor that a Church council should be convened to consider Eutyches’ doctrine again. The resulting council, held in August 449 and led by Dioscorus of Alexandria, was completely illegitimate, and later formally condemned. But it pronounced against Flavian and declared him deposed from the patriarchate. During this same illicit gathering, known to history as the “Robber Council,” a mob of monks beat St. Flavian so aggressively that he died from his injuries three days later. Chrysaphius seemed, for the moment, to have triumphed over the patriarch. But the state official’s ambitions soon collapsed. Chrysaphius fell out of favor with Theodosius II shortly before the emperor’s death in July 450, and he was executed early in the reign of his successor Marcian. St. Flavian, meanwhile, was canonized by the Fourth Ecumenical Council in 451. Its participants gave strong acclamation to the “Tome of Leo” – in which the Pope confirmed St. Flavian’s condemnation of Eutyches and affirmed the truth about Christ’s two natures, both divine and human.

BLESSED JOHN OF FIESOLE (FRA ANGELICO): Bl. John of Fiesole, popularly known as Bl. Fra Angelico, was a Dominican painter in the mid-fifteenth century known for the beauty of his paintings and the holiness of his priestly life. Nicknamed “Angelico” by his brothers, his Dominican consecration and life are worthy of imitation as he preached Jesus Christ by his life, his words, and his paintings. Given the name Guido at Baptism, this saint was born near Vicchio, in the vicinity of Florence, at the end of the 14th century. From his youth he practiced the art of painting. Having entered the Dominican convent in Fiesole, he was given the name Brother Giovanni (Brother John). Often called “Angelic Brother John”, or Fra Angelico (Angelic Friar) because of his holiness. After ordination he held various responsibilities, one of which was that of prior of the convent in Fiesole. Faithful to the promises he made as a Dominican, to preach the Gospel after having contemplated it in prayer, Fra Angelico put his creativity at the disposal of the Lord. With brush and paint in hand, he used his talents to transmit to all people the sublimity and the redemptive strength of the divine mysteries. Between 1425 and 1447, Fra Angelico carried out his activity for the Dominican convents and other ecclesiastical institutes at Fiesole, Florence (most especially at the convent of San Marco), Cortona and Orvieto. He painted some of his highest artistic achievements; The Annunciation, The Adoration of the Magi, and The Crucified Christ, to name a few. The fame of his genius merited him the esteem of the Sovereign Pontiffs Eugenio IV and Nicolas V, who contracted him for the task of frescoing several rooms in the Vatican Palace (1445-49).

Fra Angelico died on February 18, 1455, in the convent of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in Rome and was buried in the adjoining Basilica, where his body was covered by a simple slab on which was carved his portrait. With a personality that was uncomplicated and clear, Brother Giovanni had lived a poor and humble life, refusing honors and positions. The virtue and the profound religious spirit which characterized the life of this artist and Dominican is reflected in his spirituality, his purity, and the luminosity of his art. Even before his official recognition as a blessed of the Church, he had been given by the faithful the title “Beato Angelico.” In a moving ceremony on October 18, 1984, Pope John Paul II, on his knees in front of Fra Angelico’s tomb, proclaimed him solemnly to be the universal patron of all artists. The Incarnation was one of Fra Angelico’s favorite themes, and he painted over 25 variations of it. His painted meditations, so needed at the time of the early Renaissance, are still necessary today. God became man to bring us closer to Himself by way of all things human. He makes all things new by fashioning them into possible vehicles of grace for us, so that by visible realities and concrete concepts, we can arrive at an understanding and a love of higher, invisible realities, all leading to God Himself. Pope Saint John Paul II beatified Bl. Fra Angelico on October 3, 1982, and in 1984 declared him Patron Saint of Catholic artists.

Let us pray:

My penitential Lord, though You were perfect in every way and always enjoyed full communion with Your Father, You allowed Your human nature to experience the hunger of fasting so that You could infuse that penitential act with Your divine grace. Please give me the resolve I need to form a habit of fasting and self-denial so that I will perceive more clearly the hunger I have for You, Your Father, and the Holy Spirit. My temperate and courageous Lord, You confronted all temptation with courage and strength. You fasted throughout the forty days and forty nights so as to teach us how to navigate the ups and downs of life. Please give me the virtues of temperance and courage, and bestow the Holy Spirit upon me so that I may follow You into the desert of my own life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Simeon of Jerusalem,
Saint Francis Regis Clet; Saint Tarasius of Constantinople; Saint Flavian of Constantinople and Blessed John of Fiesole (Fra Angelico) ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this season of Lent, let us be renewed by prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times and may this season of Lent bring us all true salvation in Christ as we remain united in peace, love and faith. Have a blessed, safe, fruitful and grace-filled Sunday and Lenten Season ~ Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

SATURDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

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

Greetings beloved family and Happy Saturday after Ash Wednesday!  May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we embark on this journey of the Lenten season🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on February 17, 2024 on EWTN” |

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

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

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

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

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Saturday, February 17, 2024
Reading 1, Isaiah 58:9-14
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 86:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel, Luke 5:27-32

*40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | Day Four – Dryness| Saturday after Ash Wednesday | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/day-four-dryness/

*40 Days at the foot of the Cross. A Gaze of Love from the Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary | Day Four – Spiritual Friendship | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-at-the-foot-of-the-cross/day-four-spiritual-friendship/

A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏

God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen🙏

LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards

Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection.

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: MONTH OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD: The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind. Saints who had a special devotion to Christ’s passion include St. Francis of Assisi, who was the first known Saint to receive the stigmata; St. John of the Cross; St. Bridget of Sweden; and St. Catherine of Siena.

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

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

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

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

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

SAINTS OF THE DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order: Saints  Bonfilius, Bonajuncta, Manettus, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene, and Alexis (Invoked to aid in the imitation of the charity and patience of Our Lady of Sorrows). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the renewal of our spirit and a burning desire to serve God all the days of our lives.

MEMORIAL OF THE SEVEN HOLY FOUNDERS OF THE SERVITE ORDER (SERVANTS OF MARY): The Seven Holy Founders of the Order of Servites are known as the Servants of Mary. The Seven Holy Founders are Saints Bonfilius, Alexis Falconieri, John Bonagiunta, Benedict dell’Antella, Bartholomew Amidei, Gerard Sostegni, and Ricoverus Uguccione. These seven men were born in Florence, Italy and during the thirteenth century, God called these seven men from the nobility of Florence and they led lives as hermits on Monte Senario. The seven Italian saints founded the Servite order in 1233 when our Lady appeared to the seven men on the feast of the Assumption in 1233, asking them to live a life of seclusion and prayer. They obeyed and lived an austere life for many years. They met and prayed together most fervently. The Blessed Mother appeared to each of them individually and urged them to begin a more perfect life. Disregarding birth and wealth, in sackcloth under shabby and well-worn clothing, they were begging alms from door to door in the streets of Florence, they suddenly heard children’s voices calling to them, “Servants of holy Mary.” Among these children was St. Philip Benizi, then just five months old. Hereafter they were known by this name, first heard from the lips of children. They soon withdrew to a small building in the country so that they might begin to live a more holy life. They had a special devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Servite Order, a community instituted for the special purpose of cultivating the spirit of penance and contemplating the passion of Christ and Mary’s Seven Sorrows. Due to the spirit of humility cherished by the members of the Order, their accomplishments are not too widely known. But in the field of home missions great things are to their credit, and certainly they have benefited millions by arousing devotion to the Mother of Sorrows.

According to 15th–16th-century legends, on April 13, 1240, the hermits received a second vision of Our Mother Mary, she disclosed her wishes that they serve her, wear a black habit, and adopt the Rule of St. Augustine of Hippo; thenceforward they were known as the Servants of St. Mary (or Servites). She held in her hand a black habit, and a nearby angel bore a scroll reading “Servants of Mary.” The Blessed Virgin Mary told them: “You will found a new order, and you will be my witnesses throughout the world. This is your name: Servants of Mary. This is your rule: that of Saint Augustine. And here is your distinctive sign: the black scapular, in memory of my sufferings. They accepted the wisdom of Our Lady, wrote a Rule based on Saint Augustine and the Dominican Constitutions, adopted the black habit of an Augustinian monk, and lived as mendicant friars. They returned to Florence, where they built a church called St. Mary of Cafaggio (later, Santissima Annunziata). Bonfilius was chosen superior, and Ardingus approved their community. This order was approved by the Holy See in 1304. The Servites became one of the five original mendicant religious orders. Their special charism is devotion to the Passion of Jesus and the Seven Sorrows of Mary. Only one of the seven founders lived to see the order formally approved by Rome in 1304. It has since spread throughout the world and remains active to this day. One of the seven, Alexis Falconieri, died on this date in 1310. They are venerated on February 17th because it is said to be the day on which Saint Alexis Falconieri died. All seven were beatified December 1, 1717 by Pope Clement XI  and canonized in 1887 by Pope Leo XIII.

PRAYER: On your feast day, our thoughts and prayers turn to you, the Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order. Help us to find mutual support and assistance in loving God and Mary through a holy alliance with like-minded Christians. Through your intercession and example of group love of God, may our love for Him burn hotter and longer than a single flame”….Amen

Lord, infuse in us the piety of these holy brothers by which they devoutly venerated the Mother of God and led Your people toward You. Amen🙏

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth and as we begin the Lenten Season. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying. We particularly pray for sick children, those who are sick with convulsive disorder, mental illness, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families, for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Saturday after Ash Wednesday | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/021724.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 5:27-32

“I have not come to call righteous to repentance but sinners”

“Jesus saw a tax collector named Levi sitting at the customs post. He said to him, “Follow me.” And leaving everything behind, he got up and followed Him. Then Levi gave a great banquet for Him in his house, and a large crowd of tax collectors and others were at table with them. The Pharisees and their scribes complained to His disciples, saying, “Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus said to them in reply, “Those who are healthy do not need a physician, but the sick do. I have not come to call the righteous to repentance but sinners.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus clearly saw something in Levi the tax collector that many others didn’t. The Pharisees and the scribes categorized him as a ‘sinner’, asking Jesus, ‘Why do you eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners?’ Yet, Jesus was not only prepared to eat and drink with tax collectors and sinners but called one tax collector, Levi, to become part of that small group of twelve he gathered around himself to share in His work in a more focused way. Jesus looked on people with a generous and hopeful spirit. Levi may have left a lot to be desired in terms of his compliance with God’s Law, as it was understood by the experts in the Law at the time. When Jesus looked on Levi, He didn’t simply see what was lacking in him, but, also and more importantly, the person he could become. Yes, he was ‘sick’ but so too were all men and women in different ways, including those who thought of themselves as righteous. Jesus, as the divine physician, could heal what needed healing in others and empower them to become all that God was calling them to be. The Lord looks upon each one of us with the same generous and hopeful spirit. He is more attuned to the person we can become than to the ways we have failed. The Lord also calls on us to look on each other in the same generous, hopeful way that He looks upon us. This Lent we pray for the grace to be as generous in our response to the Lord’s call as Levi was, to walk in His way so as to share in His mission in the world. Let us all remember that the Church is truly a hospital for sinners, and that even the worst of sinners who turn to the Lord and repent sincerely from their sins will be forgiven, and can become the greatest of the saints. Let us all look forward to a life truly worthy of the Lord and journey well through this holy and blessed season of Lent.

In our first reading today, Prophet Isaiah reminded the people of Judah to whom he had been sent to, calling on them to follow the Lord wholeheartedly and reject the sins and the wicked ways that they and their ancestors had done. The prophet relayed the words of the Lord to the people, calling on them to reject sin and evil, to follow once again the path that the Lord has shown them. The Lord wanted all of them to turn back towards Him and to find healing and consolation in Him. The people of Judah and Israel at that time as well as during the time of their ancestors had fallen far away from the path that God has shown them, as they followed the pagan gods and idols, persecuted the prophets and the many messengers that God had sent to them in order to remind them and help them. They had torn down the altars of God and built altars for the pagan gods and idols in their place. And despite all of these, God still loved His people above all else, and despite having been betrayed and abandoned by those same people, God was still willing to welcome them all back to His embrace, provided that they all repented from their sins.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all called to continue this journey of purification of our whole entire beings, as we are called to do in this season of Lent. We are reminded to get rid from ourselves the excesses of worldly temptations and corruptions, seeking the Lord for His forgiveness and mercy, and to grow ever further in our love for Him, dedicating and spending our time and effort to walk in His presence always. Let this season of Lent be a time of renewal and a rediscovery and rejuvenation of our faith, as we come closer to God and His throne of mercy and love. Let us all use this opportunity to spend more time with the Lord and deepen our relationships with Him, through prayer and more genuine efforts to communicate with Him, spending quality time together and doing more to walk faithfully in His path. Let us be more humble and be more committed to the Lord as we go through this season of Lent, and practice our Lenten observances with genuine faith and desire to love the Lord more and purifying ourselves from the many corruptions of sin. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with us all and help us as we journey with faith through this time of preparation and purification, and may He inspire in us the courage and strength to continue living our lives with dedication and commitment at each and every moments of our lives through this season of Lent and always. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

Dear Savior and Divine Physician, I thank You for coming to save and heal.  I thank You for Your burning desire to manifest Your mercy in my life.  Please humble me so that I may be open to Your healing touch and that, through this gift of salvation, I allow You to manifest Your Divine Mercy.  My precious Lord, You call all of your children to follow You without reserve. You call us to be ready and willing to abandon all that this life has to offer so as to obtain so much more. Give me the grace I need to trust You enough to say “Yes” to You today, tomorrow and all days. My life is Yours, dear Lord. Do with me as You will. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, The Seven Holy Founders of the Servite Order: Saints Bonfilius, Bonajuncta, Manettus, Amadeus, Hugh, Sostene, and Alexis ~  Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this season of Lent, let us be renewed by prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times and may this season of Lent bring us all true salvation in Christ as we remain united in peace, love and faith. Have a blessed, safe, fruitful and grace-filled Lenten Season and relaxing weekend ~ Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 15, 2024

Greetings beloved family and Happy Thursday after Ash Wednesday! May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we begin this Lenten Season🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on February 15, 2024 on EWTN” |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 15, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | February 15, 2024 |

*Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 15, 2024 |

Pray “Chaplet of the Divine Mercy from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 15, 2024 |

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

40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | Day Two – The Desert | Thursday after Ash Wednesday | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/day-two-the-desert/

40 Days at the foot of the Cross. A Gaze of Love from the Heart of our Blessed Mother Mary| Day Two – The Strength of the Immaculate Heart | https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-at-the-foot-of-the-cross/day-two-the-strength-of-the-immaculate-heart/

Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday, February 15, 2024
Reading 1, Deuteronomy 30:15-20
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 1:1-2, 3, 4, 6
Gospel, Luke 9:22-25

A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏

God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: MONTH OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD: The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind. Saints who had a special devotion to Christ’s passion include St. Francis of Assisi, who was the first known Saint to receive the stigmata; St. John of the Cross; St. Bridget of Sweden; and St. Catherine of Siena.

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

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

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

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

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

SAINTS OF THE DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Claude de la Colombière, Priest (Patron Saint of Sculptors and Toy markers, Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus) and Saints Faustinus, Priest and Jovita, Deacon, Martyrs (Patron Saint of Brescia). Through the glorious intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and these saints, we humbly pray and ask, our Lord, that you instill in our hearts the burning passion to spread your word to all even at the hour of our death…Amen🙏

SAINT CLAUDE DE LA COLOMBIÈRE, PRIEST: The Jesuit Priest St. Claude de la Colombiere was the first to believe in the mystical revelations of the Sacred Heart given to St. Margaret Mary in Paray le Monial Convent, France. Thanks to his support, St. Margaret Mary’s superior also believed, and propagation of the devotion to the Sacred Heart was started. St. Claude de la Colombiere (1641-1682) was born to a noble family in France in 1641 and entered the Society of Jesus in Lyons, France, and became a Jesuit priest. He gained widespread fame as an orator and educator in Paris. He was known for his solid and serious sermons and his dedication to observing the rule of his order with exactness. He became the rector of a Jesuit house next to the Monastery of the Visitation. He had great devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus and, on a visit to the Visitation convent in Paray-le-Monial, he met St. Margaret Mary Alacoque who was given special revelations from the Jesus of His Sacred Heart and he learned of the vision she had been privileged to receive. St. Claude became St. Margaret Mary’s Spiritual Director and he spent eighteen months at Paray-le-Monial acting as her spiritual director and encouraging her to spread the devotion as she had been commanded by our Lord.

Father Claude himself became a zealous promoter and apostle of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, regarding it as the means of revitalizing the Faith among the people. He continued to promote the devotion when in 1676,  he was sent to England to attend the wife of the future King James II, serving at court as preacher and confessor. He preached to the Duchess of York, and succeeded in converting the Duke of York as well as other Protestants. Because of the intense hostility against Catholics at the time, his efforts earned a death sentence. When anti-Catholic persecutions broke out, Claude was falsely accused of being involved in a ‘papist plot’ and was thrown into prison. While there his health suffered due to mistreatment. During the summer of 1681 Father Claude received a commutation of his death sentence. He was preserved from execution and instead banished from England by royal decree. He returned to his native Paray-le-Monial, France where his fragile health continued to deteriorate until he died a few years later. On February 15, 1682, the first Sunday of Lent, towards evening Claude suffered a severe hemorrhage which ended his life. He died at Paray-le-Monial. The day after his death, St. Margaret Mary received supernatural assurance that he needed no prayers, as he was already in heaven. On the June 16, 1929 Pope Pius XI beatified St. Claude La Colombière, and Pope John Paul II declared him a saint on May 31,1992. The Universal Church celebrates his feast day on February 15. His charism, according to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, was that of bringing souls to God along the gospel way of love and mercy which Christ revealed to us. He’s the Patron Saint of Toy makers; turners; Sculptors and Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Quote: “God is in the midst of us, or rather we are in the midst of him; wherever we are he sees us and touches us: at prayer, at work, at table, at recreation.” ~ St. Claude de la Colombiere

PRAYER:  O Holy Saint Claude, intercede for us to be Great Saints in Heaven and may we imitate Our Lord Jesus Christ here on earth; in order to gain our Heavenly Glory which the Lord promised to those who trust and follow His ways until the end…Amen. Saint Claude, bring us closer to the Heart of Jesus!   

Lord, our God, You spoke to St. Claude in the depths of his heart that he might bear witness to Your boundless love. May his gifts of grace illumine and comfort Your Church. Amen🙏

SAINTS FAUSTINUS, PRIEST AND JOVITA, DEACON, MARTYRS: St. Faustinus, a priest and  St. Jovita, a deacon, were brothers, nobly born, and were zealous professors of the Christian religion, which they preached without fear in their city of Brescia in Lombardy, during the persecution of Adrian. Their remarkable zeal excited the fury of the heathens against them, and procured them a glorious death for their faith. According to the tradition of Brescia, they preached Christianity fearlessly while their bishop lay in hiding. Their zeal excited the fury of the heathens against them, then they were apprehended by a heathen lord called Julian. They were commanded to adore the sun, but replied that they adored the living God who created the sun to give light to the world. The statue before which they were standing was brilliant and surrounded with golden rays. Saint Jovita, looking at it, cried out: Yes, we adore the God reigning in heaven, who created the sun. And you, vain statue, turn black, to the shame of those who adore you! At his word, it turned black. The Emperor commanded that it be cleaned, but the pagan priests had hardly begun to touch it when it fell into ashes.

The two brothers, Saints Faustinus and Jovita were tortured and dragged to Milan, Rome and Naples, and then brought back to Brescia. They were sent to the amphitheater to be devoured by lions, but four of those came out and lay down at their feet. They were left without food in a dark jail cell, but Angels brought them strength and joy for new combats. The flames of a huge fire respected them, and a large number of spectators were converted at the sight. As neither threats nor torments could shake their constancy, the Emperor Hadrian, who happened to be passing through Brescia, commended them to be beheaded. Finally sentenced to decapitation, they knelt down and received the death blow at Brescia in the year 120. The city of Brescia honors them as its chief patrons and possesses their relics, and a very ancient church in that city bears their names.

On April 18 the Roman Martyrology names the martyr St. Calocerus, who was an officer in the Roman army under the Roman emperor Hadrian and was stationed in Brescia in Lombardy, Italy. His life and legend are associated with Saints Faustinus and Jovita, and according to tradition, all three saints were soldiers from Brescia. He figures largely in the legendary history of St. Faustinus and Jovita, whose heroic confession he is said to have witnessed when, as a court official, he accompanied Hadrian to his native city Brescia and was present in the amphitheatre. The constancy of the two confessors and the refusal of the wild beasts to touch them brought about his conversion, and he was baptized by Bishop Apollonius with twelve thousand other citizens. He was tortured and imprisoned in several Italian towns notably in Asti, where he instructed St. Secundus who visited him in gaol. Eventually, he was taken to Albanga in Liguria and beheaded on the seashore. Saints Faustinus and Jovita’s  feast is celebrated on February 15th, the traditional date of their martyrdom. They are the Patron Saint of Brescia.

PRAYER: Almighty ever-living God, who gave Saints Faustinus and Jovita the grace of suffering for Christ, come, in your divine mercy, we pray, to the help of our own weakness, that, as your Saints did not hesitate to die for your sake, we, too, may live bravely in confessing you. 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🙏

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth and as we begin the Lenten Season. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying. We particularly pray for sick children, those who are sick with convulsive disorder, mental illness, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families, for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Thursday after Ash Wednesday | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 9:22-25

“Whoever loses his life for my sake will save it”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “The Son of Man must suffer greatly and be rejected by the elders, the chief priests, and the scribes, and be killed and on the third day be raised.”  Then He said to all, “If anyone wishes to come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will save it. What profit is there for one to gain the whole world yet lose or forfeit himself?”

In today’s Gospel reading, on this second day of Lent, points us ahead to the story of Holy Week. Jesus declares to His disciples that He is ‘destined to suffer grievously, to be rejected by the elders and chief priests and scribes and to be put to death’, and then ‘to be raised on the third day’. In this Gospel of Luke, Jesus speaks these words just before He sets out on His final journey to Jerusalem. This will be a journey to suffering and death on a Roman cross, but, ultimately, it will be a journey to glory, as Jesus passes through death in the hands of His loving Father. In the Gospel reading, Jesus declares that ‘anyone who loses his life for my sake, that person will save it’. Jesus implies that choosing life, for ourselves and for others, often means losing our lives for His sake. It is in dying to ourselves, out of love for the Lord and others, that we find life. This is what it means to choose life. Choosing love, and the life which flows from love, will often mean losing our lives in the sense of dying to ourselves, denying ourselves. Jesus Himself lost His life because He chose love, but in choosing love He found life. God raised Him to new life. Jesus’ teaching and His whole existence shows us that when we chose love, the kind of self-emptying love that Jesus embodied, we will be choosing life. Our choice to love will always be life-giving for ourselves and for others. Choice is not a value in itself. It’s value, or disvalue, is determined by what is chosen, the object of our choice. Jesus wants us to keep choosing love and in so doing to keep choosing life. We are all pro-choice, whether we like it or not, because not to choose is to choose. The important question is ‘What do we chose?’ Each day of Lent we can ask ourselves, ‘What does it mean for me to choose life today?’ ‘What do I need to renounce to follow the Lord more closely along the path to true life?’Jesus assures us in the Gospel reading that in seeking to follow Him every day we are choosing life, we are saving our lives.

In our first reading today, the Lord spoke to His people, the Israelites, through Moses, the leader whom God had appointed and sent to free the Israelites from their enslavement in Egypt, bringing them all out through the power of God as they journeyed towards the Promised Land of Canaan. The Lord placed His Law and commandments to them all, passing them His Law and precepts to be followed and obeyed, that they might remain on the right path in life. The call of Moses is ‘Choose life’. Moses called on the Israelites to ‘love the Lord your God and follow His ways’. To choose life is to choose love, the love of the Lord, and the love of all whom the Lord loves. Moses spoke to the Israelites, in that occasion, just as he was already getting old and having led the Israelites on their forty years of detour and journey in the desert due to the infidelity and the lack of faith that the Israelites had shown. He reminded the whole people of Israel how fortunate they were for having been chosen as God’s own people and how He has favoured them and guided them all the way. God has presented His Law, commandments and ways, and the choice was therefore the people’s, on whether they would want to follow Him or not.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, as we continue to progress through this current Season of Lent that began yesterday on Ash Wednesday, we are called and reminded many times on the need for each and every one of us to resist the temptations of the world and all the allures of worldly comfort, pleasure and ambitions, and all the other things which may prevent us from coming ever closer to God and His grace. The Lord is speaking to us regarding the matter of following God and His commandments and Law and all that He has given and revealed to us through His Church. All of us as Christians are called to follow the Lord wholeheartedly, to devote ourselves, our lives and actions to adhere to His path. And as we begin this season of Lent, all of us are called to renew this commitment we have in the Lord, to purify our hearts, minds, bodies and souls, our whole entire beings, in following God from now on with greater fervour and dedication. All of us are called to make that conscious choice to stand with the Lord, willing and ready to carry our crosses in life, devoting our effort, time and attention to serve the Lord by being exemplary as Christians in life. We are all called to follow the path that God has shown us and definitively reject sin and all of Satan’s many temptations and efforts to turn us away from God. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace in our respective journeys of faith. May He continue to watch over us and grant us the strength to persevere through the challenges and trials of our faith and life, and help us that we may draw ever closer to Him and His salvation, from now on and always, that we may help and inspire one another to become ever closer to God and be better Christians, through this wonderful time and season of Lent. May all of us continue to grow ever deeper in our conviction and desire to live our lives most worthily as Christians from now on, and may God bless us all in everything that we say and do, in all of our dealings and interactions each day, and bless our Lenten observances and practices in all occasions. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My loving Lord, I thank You for Your unwavering commitment to sacrifice Yourself for us all. I thank You for this unfathomable depth of true love. Give me the grace I need, dear Lord, to turn away from all forms of selfish love so as to imitate and participate in Your most perfect sacrificial love. I do love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You and others with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Mother Mary, Saint Claude de la Colombière and Saints Faustinus and Jovita  ~  Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this season of Lent, let us be renewed by prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times and may this season of Lent bring us all true salvation in Christ as we remain united in peace, love and faith. Have a blessed, safe, fruitful and grace-filled Lenten Season ~ Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

ASH WEDNESDAY (YEAR B)

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 14, 2024

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” ~ John 15:13 

Greetings, beloved family. Happy Ash Wednesday and Happy St. Valentine’s Day! Thanking God for His love and the gift of this day and praying for God’s grace and mercy on us all as we embark on our Lenten journey today. Let us draw closer to God and be renewed by prayer, fasting, penance and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love, and unity in our families and our world that is torn apart by war, terrorism, and countless other acts of violence against human life. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times. Wishing us all a reflective and spiritually enriching Ash Wednesday and a most blessed, holy, safe, and grace-filled Lenten Season ~ Amen🙏 Love always ❤️

Watch “Holy Mass on Ash Wednesday with Pope Francis” | Live from the Vatican | February 14, 2024 |

Message of the Holy Father Pope Francis for Lent | February 14, 2024 | https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/messages/lent/documents/20231203-messaggio-quaresima2024.html

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on February 14, 2024 on EWTN” |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 14, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary From Lourdes, France” | February 14, 2024 |

Pray “Ash Wednesday Holy Rosary | February 14, 2024 |

Pray “Chaplet of the Divine Mercy from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 14, 2024 |

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

40 Days in the Desert. A Lenten journey with our Lord | Ash Wednesday | Day One – Journeying with our Lord |
https://mycatholic.life/books/40-days-in-the-desert-a-lenten-journey-with-our-lord/day-one-journeying-with-our-lord/

Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday, February 14, 2024
Reading 1, Joel 2:12-18
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 5-6, 12-13, 14, 17
Reading 2, Second Corinthians 5:20-6:2
Gospel, Matthew 6:1-6, 16-18

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: MONTH OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD: The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind. Saints who had a special devotion to Christ’s passion include St. Francis of Assisi, who was the first known Saint to receive the stigmata; St. John of the Cross; St. Bridget of Sweden; and St. Catherine of Siena.

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

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

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

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

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

ASH WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2024

Three Pillars of Lent: Almsgiving, Prayer and Fasting!

“Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends” ~ John 15:13

This year, Ash Wednesday falls on Valentine’s day. Ash Wednesday marks the beginning of the Holy Season of Lent, also known as Quadragesima, a time of preparation and reflection as we prepare ourselves well for the upcoming celebrations of Holy Week and Easter, the most important moments in our whole entire liturgical year. This is the time we contemplate our relationship with God and identify the areas in our spiritual life that need work. Season of Lent is 40 days of prayer, fasting, penance and almsgiving in preparation for the celebration of the Passion, Death and Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ.

At the beginning of Lent, on Ash Wednesday, ashes are blessed during Mass, after the homily. The blessed ashes are then “imposed” on the faithful as a sign of conversion, penance, fasting and human mortality. The ashes are blessed at least during the first Mass of the day, but they may also be imposed during all the Masses of the day, after the homily, and even outside the time of Mass to meet the needs of the faithful. Priests or deacons normally impart this sacramental, but instituted acolytes, other extraordinary ministers or designated lay people may be delegated to impart ashes, if the bishop judges that this is necessary. The ashes are made from the palms used at the previous Passion Sunday ceremonies.

The ashes received on the head today is a sign of repentance and humility. It reminds us of our dependence on God and our call to turn away from sin. The act of putting on ashes symbolizes fragility and mortality, and the need to be redeemed by the mercy of God. It is a symbolic representation of our desire to be forgiven from our sins, and as a sign of our repentance and regret from all the things that we have disobeyed the Lord for, and which therefore brought us into the path of sin and evil, out of which we are seeking the Lord for His help and grace, so that, He may free us from the shackles of our sins and evils. Far from being a merely external act, the Church has retained the use of ashes to symbolize that attitude of internal penance to which all the baptized are called during Lent.

For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the laws regarding abstinence and fasting are as follows: Abstinence from eating meat is to be observed on Ash Wednesday and all Fridays during Lent, including Good Friday. Since Jesus sacrificed His flesh for us on Good Friday, we refrain from eating flesh meat in His honor on Fridays. Abstaining from eating meat is also a form of penance– admitting to any wrongdoings and sins while turning back to belief in God. Abstinence applies to all persons 14 years of age and older. Fasting on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday applies to all Catholics who have completed their eighteenth year to the beginning of their sixtieth year. A person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together don’t equal that regular-sized meal. Fasting should be done out of love for God and of neighbor.

Lent is a Season of Reflection, Renewal and Preparation. As we begin our Lenten journey – the 40 days of preparation for Easter, we are called to make sacrifices and acknowledge our need for a Savior. The sacrifices we practice and the ashes we receive allow us to be a witness to others and a witness to Christ’s sacrifice. However, we are called not simply to choose a sacrifice, practice it for 40 days, and then go back to life as usual. We are called to truly deepen our relationship with Christ. Lent is traditionally a time of penance, when we try to die to ourselves in some way so as to live more fully to the Lord and to others. The traditional practices of Lent put before us the essentials for growth into the image of God’s Son. There are all in the service of love, a greater love of God (prayer), a more generous love of neighbour (almsgiving), and a truer love of ourselves (fasting). We recommit ourselves on Ash Wednesday to build our lives on those three loves, so that we may more fully become all that God is calling us to be.

In his message for Lent 2024, Pope Francis invites the faithful to “pause” for prayer and to assist our brothers and sisters in need, in order to change our own lives and the lives of our communities. He says, “It is time to act, and in Lent, to act also means to pause. To pause in prayer, in order to receive the word of God, to pause like the Samaritan in the presence of a wounded brother or sister. Love of God and love of neighbour are one love. Not to have other gods is to pause in the presence of God beside the flesh of our neighbour. For this reason, prayer, almsgiving and fasting are not three unrelated acts, but a single movement of openness and self-emptying, in which we cast out the idols that weigh us down, the attachments that imprison us. Then the atrophied and isolated heart will revive. Slow down, then, and pause! The contemplative dimension of life that Lent helps us to rediscover will release new energies. In the presence of God, we become brothers and sisters, more sensitive to one another: in place of threats and enemies, we discover companions and fellow travelers. This is God’s dream, the promised land to which we journey once we have left our slavery behind.”

During this season of Lent, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this Ash Wednesday, as we embark on our Lenten journey, we humbly pray for the poor and the needy, for persecuted Christians, for an end to religious and political unrest, for justice and peace, love and unity in our world that is torn apart by war, terrorism, and countless other acts of violence against human life. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Ash Wednesday | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

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

“Your Father who sees all that is done in secret will reward 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 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, our Lord Jesus was teaching His disciples and the people listening to Him regarding the matter of the practice of fasting. He taught them
about the right way how each and every one of them ought to be fasting, that is by doing so not because they wanted to be seen or witnessed, praised or honoured by others in doing that. In essence, the Lord reminded them and hence all of us as well, that our practice of fasting and abstinence which we always do today on Ash Wednesday and Good Friday, abstinence itself which we practice on Fridays throughout the year, and other Lenten practices, like almsgiving and other devotions, should always be centred on God. Jesus’ comments on almsgiving, prayer and fasting, have been described as the three pillars of Lent. They are practices that are deeply rooted in the Jewish tradition. Jesus affirms their value in today’s Gospel reading, but He warns against engaging in these practices in a way that draws attention to ourselves. What seems like something virtuous can be very self-serving in reality. The three practices of almsgiving, prayer and fasting that Jesus speaks about in the Gospel reading are three traditional ways of responding to God’s love for us in Christ, three ways of journeying towards God who has journeyed towards us. They are three ways of responding to that call of God at the beginning of the first reading, ‘Come back to me with all your heart’. These three Lenten practices are closely interlinked. Fasting is in the service of prayer and almsgiving. We die to ourselves so as to live more fully towards God and our fellow human being.

In our first reading of Lent, from the prophet Joel, captures the primary message of Lent, ‘Come back to me with all your heart… turn to the Lord your God again, for He is all tenderness and compassion, slow to anger, rich in graciousness’. The call to come back, to turn, to the Lord is at the heart of Lent. It is a call to turn towards the one who is always turned towards us in tenderness and compassion. Coming back or turning suggests a change of direction. The word that is translated ‘repent’ in English means to have a change of mind or heart. We often think of repentance as a feeling of sorrow for any wrong we have done or good we have failed to do. However, repentance is a more positive movement. It is a turning towards the Lord, which will often mean a turning away from other directions we could take. That turning, that change of direction, that change of mind or heart, is supremely life affirming because the one who is turned towards us and who calls out to us to turn towards Him more fully is the one who is the source of our joy. 

In today’s second reading, Saint Paul reminds us that the God from whom we have turned away has sought us out and continues to seek us out in the person of His Son Jesus. ‘For our sake, God make the sinless one into sin, so that in him we might become the goodness of God’. What a powerful statement that is! God sent his Son to become like us so that we might become like him. God in his Son journeyed towards our sinful condition so that we might journey towards God’s goodness. The ashes that we wear on this day tell the world that we are sinners. Yet, those ashes we received are in the shape of a cross, which proclaims that we believe in a God whose love is stronger than our sin. As Paul declares in his letter to the Romans, ‘God demonstrates His love for us, in that while we still were sinners, Christ died for us’.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures as we enter into this Season of Lent today, being marked with the blessed ashes as a sign of our repentance, let us more importantly mark our hearts with the genuine sign of repentance and with the strong desire to seek God’s love and mercy, His compassion and forgiveness. The ashes should not be merely just an external symbol or formality, and it should not be the source of pride and ego, thinking that we are better or more righteous than others. Rather, it should remind us all of our sinfulness, and our weakness in our faith life, so that we may come to seek the Lord, to seek His loving compassion and mercy, that He may lead us all out of the darkness and into His light once again. All of us are called to spend more time with God, to be more faithful and committed to Him, and the practices that the Church has called us to do this Lent, which includes the fast and abstinence, as well as greater love and charity, generosity and almsgiving, all these should be done because we have the desire to love God more, to come closer to Him and be reconciled with Him. We are reminded that Lent is a time to reflect on how we might take up these three practices of almsgiving, prayer and fasting, so as to grow more fully into our baptismal calling. We take ashes on this Ash Wednesday as a sign of our desire, our commitment, to grow in our response to the Lord’s calling by means of these three great Lenten pillars. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and mercy and may He bless our Lenten journey and experience starting today, so that we may strive to be ever better Christians, not just in name, but also in words and deeds, in all things. Let us be more loving and charitable this Lent, and also resist the temptations to sin, in various forms and ways, by our faithful practice of fasting and abstinence, done right with the right focus and intent, not for ourselves but for the greater glory of God. May the Lord continue to bless us and empower us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always, and may He bless our Lenten journey to come, that we will make best use of it. Amen🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Valentine, Priest and Martyr (Patron Saint of Love, Young People, Happy Marriages, Greetings, Affianced couples, against fainting, beekeepers, happy marriages, love, plague, epilepsy, Lesvos) and Saints Cyril, Monk and Methodius, Bishop (brothers who spread Christianity throughout Eastern Europe).

SAINT VALENTINE, PRIEST AND MARTYR: St. Valentine was a Roman priest, born in c. 226 Terni, Italia, Roman Empire and lived in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The feast of St. Valentine of February 14 was first established in 496 by Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among all those “… whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God.” St. Valentine, together with St. Marius and his family, assisted the martyrs who suffered during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century. According to legend, he ministered to Christians who were persecuted and imprisoned for their faith, and died a martyr. In addition to his other edicts against helping Christians, one account has it that Emperor Claudius II banned all marriages and engagements in Rome, he issued a decree forbidding marriage, believing this was the reason Roman men were unwilling to serve in the army. In order to increase troops for his army, he forbade young men to marry, believing that single men made better soldiers than married men. St. Valentine defied this decree and urged young lovers to come to him in secret so that he could join them in the sacrament of matrimony. Eventually he was discovered by the Emperor, who promptly had St. Valentine arrested and brought before him. Because he was so impressed with the young priest, Emperor Claudius attempted to convert St. Valentine to Roman paganism rather than execute him. However, St. Valentine held steadfast and in turn attempted to convert Emperor Claudius to Christianity, at which point the Emperor condemned him to death. While in prison, Valentine was tended by the jailer, Asterius, and his blind daughter. St. Valentine miraculously restored sight to his jailer’s blind daughter, causing the jailer and his entire extended household, forty-six people in total, to immediately convert to Christianity. Upon hearing this, Emperor Claudius ordered St. Valentine’s execution. Asterius’ daughter was very kind to Valentine and brought him food and messages. They developed a friendship. 

The night before his execution, St. Valentine wrote a farewell message to the jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and signed it affectionately “From Your Valentine,” a phrase that lives on even to today. He was executed on February 14th,  269 AD (aged 42–43) in Rome, Roman Empire. The Martyrology says, “At Rome, on the Flaminian Way, the heavenly birthday of the blessed martyr Valentine, a priest. After performing many miraculous cures and giving much wise counsel he was beaten and beheaded under Claudius Caesar.” The church in which he is buried existed already in the fourth century and was the first sanctuary Roman pilgrims visited upon entering the Eternal City. Valentine has become the universal symbol of friendship and affection shared each anniversary of the priest’s execution — St. Valentine’s Day. Valentine has also become the patron of engaged couples. The custom of sending valentines on this day is the revival of an ancient pagan practice, which consisted in boys drawing the names of girls in honor of their goodness, Februata Juno, on February 15. To abolish this practice names of Saints were substituted on billets drawn upon this day. He’s pictured with birds because birds start pairing in February around his feast day. He’s the Patron Saint of: Affianced couples; betrothed couples; engaged couples; happy marriages; love; lovers; youths; epilepsy; greeting card manufacturers; greetings; plague; travelers; young people; against fainting; bee keepers.

“Three things will last forever: Faith, Hope and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13

PRAYER: “O St. Valentine, lover of Christ and of the Church, we ask your intercession that we may learn how to love God above all things, and to selflessly love one another. O glorious St. Valentine, pray for us, that we too may have the steadfast faith of the martyrs.”

“God of power and mercy, through Your help St. Valentine has overcome the tortures of his passion. Help us who celebrate his triumph to remain victorious over the wiles of our enemies.” … Amen🙏

SAINTS CYRIL, MONK AND METHODIUS, BISHOP: The two brothers, Sts. Cyril (originally Constantine) and Methodius,  Apostles of the Slavs, were born into a noble family in Thessalonika, a district in northeastern Greece. Constantine was the younger, born in about 827, and his brother Methodius in about 815. Born into a prestigious senatorial family, both Sts. Cyril and Methodius renounced their wealth and status, they chose instead to become priests. Constantine undertook a mission to the Arabs, and then became a professor of philosophy at the imperial school in Constantinople and librarian at the cathedral of Santa Sophia. Methodius became governor of a district that had been settled by Slavs. Both brothers then retired to monastic life. In about 861, the Eastern Emperor Michael III sent them to work with the Khazars northeast of the Black Sea in the Dnieper-Volga region of what was later Russia. They learned the Khazar language and made many converts, and discovered what were believed to be relics of Clement, an early Bishop of Rome. In about 863, Prince Rastislav, the ruler of Great Moravia (an area including much of what was later Czechoslovakia), asked the emperor for missionaries, specifying that he wanted someone who would teach his people in their own language. The emperor and the Patriarch Photius sent Methodius and his brother Constantine, who translated the Liturgy and much of the Scriptures into Slavonic and perfected a Slavonic alphabet which is now known as the “Cyrillic” alphabet and devised a kind of writing, called glagolitic, which even to the present day is used in the liturgical services of some Eastern rites. The two labored in Moravia for four years until 867, achieving greater success than the German missionaries who had labored among the people for some time with little success. Through great effort and in spite of tremendous difficulties they converted the Slavonic nations. In 867,  the Saintly brothers were summoned to Rome to render an account of their mission, they were met by Pope Hadrian II (867-872) and the whole papal court. They gave a report of their labors but encountered opposition on the part of jealous clergy who took offense, it was said, because of their liturgical innovations. St. Cyril and Methodius explained their methods and the Pope warmly approved of their methods, from the Pope himself received episcopal consecration (868). Constantine entered a monastery there, taking the name Cyril. However, he died only a few weeks thereafter, on February 14, 869 at Rome, only forty-two years old, and was buried in St. Peter’s; later his body was transferred to San Clemente, where his remains still rest. His funeral resembled a triumphal procession.

After St. Cyril’s death, St. Methodius was left to continue the apostolate alone. St. Methodius was consecrated Bishop by Pope Hadrian II and sent him back. St. Methodius returned to Moravia and did the apostolate and labored as a missionary with success in Moravia, Slovakia, Bohemia, Hungarians, Bulgarians, Dalmatians, and the inhabitants of Carinthia and the neighboring countries. Falling again under suspicion, he returned to Rome and defended the use of the Slavonic language in the liturgy. In order to further St. Methodius’ work in Moravia, Pope Adrian II, bestowed upon him the dignity of archbishop. He was appointed archbishop of a new archdiocese in the territory, independent from the German church. Unfortunately this had the effect of angering his German critics, who had him deposed and imprisoned for a period of three years. Pope Adrian’s successor, John VIII, managed to have St. Methodius freed and had him reinstated as archbishop, after which he expanded his work to incorporate the region of modern day Poland. He converted the duke of Bohemia and his wife, spread the light of faith in Bohemia and Poland, is said to have gone to Moscow (after the erection of the See of Lemberg), and to have established the diocese of Kiev. The new pope, Pope John VIII continued to support Methodius’ use of the Slavic languages in worship and his translations of the Bible, despite continuing controversy with some elements of the German church. Eventually, with the assistance of several Greek priests, he translated the whole Bible into the language that is known today as Church Slavonic. St. Methodius chose his successor from among the native Moravian Slavs whom he had evangelized, and he died on April 6, 885 in Velehrad, the old capitol of Moravia, worn out by his heroic labors and long struggles with enemies that never ceased to antagonized him. He was buried in the Church of St. Mary at Velehrad, the services being conducted in Greek, Slavonic, and Latin. Sts. Cyril and Methodius’ missionary work among the Slavs laid the essential foundation for the later Christianization of Ukraine and Russia in 988, when the Russian Prince Vladimir accepted Baptism. They are Patron Saint of: Slavic Peoples; Bohemia; Bulgaria; Bosnia; Croatia; Czech Republic; Czechoslovakia; ecumenism; Europe; Moravia; Russia; unity of the Eastern and Western Churches; Yugoslavia; ecumenism;  Republic of Macedonia; Transnistria;  Archdiocese of Ljubljana; Slovak Eparchy of Toronto; Eparchy of Košice and against storms.

PRAYER: Merciful God, You have enlightened the Slavonic nations by the teaching of the brothers Cyril and Methodius. Help us to assimilate the teachings of Your doctrine and perfect us as a people united in the true Faith and its expansion. Amen🙏
 
PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth and as we begin the Lenten Season. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying. We particularly pray for sick children, those who are sick with convulsive disorder, mental illness, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during these challenging times. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families, for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ Amen. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. Please let us continue to pray for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

My Divine Lord, You freely chose to enter the desert for a time of prayer, fasting, and temptation. Your willing embrace of this moment in Your life is also an invitation to me to journey with You. As I begin this Lent, I firmly resolve to follow You into the desert. I resolve to endure a time of sacrifice, penance, and prayer. May I accompany You on Your journey to understand what You understood, endure what You endured, face what You faced, and overcome all that You overcame. Though I approach these forty days with a certain reluctance, please give me the courage to do what is necessary to make this a truly fruitful Lent. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Valentine and Saints Cyril and Methodius ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this new year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all as during this Ordinary Time. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled Lenten Season and lovely Valentine’s Day and week. May God keep us all safe and well ~ Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 13, 2024

FEAST OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS AND SHROVE TUESDAY

ASH WEDNESDAY: February 14, 2024 (The Lenten Season begins tomorrow)

Greetings beloved family. Happy Shrove Tuesday, the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time!

May God grant us His grace and mercy as we prepare to begin the Lenten Season, a period of fasting and penance, tomorrow, Ash Wednesday, February 14, 2024.🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on February 13, 2024 on EWTN” |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 13, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary From Lourdes, France” | February 13, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 13, 2024 |

Pray “Chaplet of the Divine Mercy from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | February 13, 2024 |

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, February 13, 2024
Reading 1, James 1:12-18
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 94:12-13, 14-15, 18-19
Gospel, Mark 8:14-21

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY: MONTH OF THE PASSION OF OUR LORD: The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Passion of Our Lord in anticipation of the liturgical season of Lent. In this month, we begin to meditate on the mystery of Jesus’ sufferings which culminated in his death on the Cross for the redemption of mankind. Saints who had a special devotion to Christ’s passion include St. Francis of Assisi, who was the first known Saint to receive the stigmata; St. John of the Cross; St. Bridget of Sweden; and St. Catherine of Siena.

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

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

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

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

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

SAINTS OF THE DAY: Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus and Shrove Tuesday. We also celebrate the Memorial of St. Catherine de Ricci (Patron Saint of the sick, gravely ill ) and Blessed Jordan of Saxony, Priest (Patron Saint of Vocations to the Dominican Order, Faculty of Engineering University of Santo Tomas Manila, Philippines). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and these Saints, we humbly pray for vocation to the priesthood and religious life and we pray for the sick and dying, we particularly pray for those who are suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God grant them His divine healing and intervention. Amen🙏

FEAST OF THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS AND SHROVE TUESDAY: Shrove Tuesday (the day prior to Ash Wednesday) is the traditional feast day of the Holy Face of Jesus. Venerable Pope Pius XII granted that the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus be observed on Shrove Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday, he fulfilled the desire of Our Lord that His sorrowful Holy Face be contemplated in reparation for our sins. Veneration of the Holy Face of Jesus has its beginning during Christ’s Passion, making it one of the oldest devotions in the Christian tradition. St. Veronica, as a sign of her love and compassion, offered Our Savior a veil to wipe the blood and sweat from his face as he carried his cross on the way to his crucifixion. In reward for her charity and compassion, Jesus left an impression of his Holy Face upon the veil. In the 19th Century Jesus expressed His wishes to Sister Mary of St Peter (1816 – 1848), a Carmelite Nun in Tours, France, that there be an actual Devotion to his Holy Face. Our Lord wanted this in reparation for blasphemies against Him and His Holy Name as well, as for the profanation of Sunday (when people engage unnecessarily in commerce and other such labours and chores on Sunday, a day meant for rest and reflection on God). In August, 1843, He dictated to her the well-known Golden Arrow Prayer and gave her Promises for those who would honour His Holy Face. Soon afterwards, Venerable Leo Dupont, known as the “Holy Man of Tours” helped to publicise this Devotion, through a number of miraculous cures attributed to an image of our Lord’s Holy Face, in his possession. In 1885, Pope Leo XIII gave Ecclesiastical approval of the Devotion to the Holy Face and established an Archconfraternity for it. The first Holy Medal of the Holy Face was given to Ven Pope Pius XII, who approved the Devotion and the Medal. In 1958 he formally declared the Feast of the Holy Face of Jesus as Shrove Tuesday for all Catholics.

TUESDAY DEVOTION TO THE HOLY FACE: The Lord also requested that His Holy Face be honoured each Tuesday and especially on Shrove Tuesday, before Ash Wednesday, which marks the start of Lent. Requesting this Devotion, Jesus appeared covered with blood and very sadly said to Blessed Pierina: “Do you see how I suffer? Yet, very few understand Me. Those who say they love Me are very ungrateful! I have given My Heart as the sensible object of My great love to men and I give My Face as the sensible object of My sorrow for all the sins of men. I wish that it be venerated by a special Feast on Tuesday, the day before Ash Wednesday. I wish that the Feast be preceded by a Novena in which the faithful make reparation with Me, joining together and sharing in My sorrow.”

As part of the preparations for Lent, it is appropriate to celebrate the Feast of the Holy Face by spending some time before the Blessed Sacrament and reciting the prayers of reparation. In addition, the repetition of this Devotion each Tuesday in Lent may be a means of drawing closer to Our Lord during this time of more intense prayer and conversion.

THE EIGHT PROMISES OF JESUS:

1. All those who honour My Face in a spirit of reparation, will by so doing, perform the office of the pious Veronica. According to the care they take in making reparation to My Face, disfigured by blasphemers, so will I take care of their souls which have been disfigured by sin. My Face is the seal of the Divinity, which has the virtue of reproducing in souls the image of God.
2. Those who by words, prayers or writing, defend My cause in this Work of Reparation I will defend before My Father and will give them My Kingdom.
3. By offering My Face to My Eternal Father, nothing will be refused and the conversion of many sinners will be obtained.
4. By My Holy Face, they will work wonders, appease the anger of God and draw down mercy on sinners.
5. As in a kingdom they can procure all that is desired, with a coin stamped with the King’s effigy, so, in the Kingdom of Heaven, they will obtain all they desire, with the precious coin of My Holy Face.
6. Those who, on earth, contemplate the wounds of My Face shall, in Heaven, behold it radiant with glory.
7. They will receive in their souls, a bright and constant irradiation of My Divinity, that by their likeness to My Face, they shall shine with particular splendour in Heaven. 8. I will defend them, I will preserve them and I assure them of Final Perseverance.

PRAYER TO THE HOLY FACE OF JESUS
By: St. Therese of Lisieux: O Jesus, who in Thy bitter Passion didst become “the most abject of men, a man of sorrows”, I venerate Thy Sacred Face whereon there once did shine the beauty and sweetness of the Godhead; but now it has become for me as if it were the face of a leper! Nevertheless, under those disfigured features, I recognize Thy infinite Love and I am consumed with the desire to love Thee and make Thee loved by all men. The tears which well up abundantly in Thy sacred eyes appear to me as so many precious pearls that I love to gather up, in order to purchase the souls of poor sinners by means of their infinite value. O Jesus, whose adorable Face ravishes my heart, I implore Thee to fix deep within me Thy divine image and to set me on fire with Thy Love, that I may be found worthy to come to the contemplation of Thy glorious Face in Heaven. Amen🙏

SAINT CATHERINE DE RICCI, VIRGIN: St. Catherine (1522-1590) was born at Florence, Italy in 1522, to a respectable merchant family. The Ricci are an ancient family in Tuscany. She was given the name Alexandrina at her baptism, but she took the name of Catherine at her religious profession. Having lost her mother in her infancy, at a young age she took the Blessed Virgin Mary as her mother. Her father placed her in the Convent of Monticelli, near the gates of Florence, where her aunt, Louisa de Ricci, was a nun when she was between the age of six and seven. To her, this place was a paradise, but after some years her father took her home. As a child, she spoke to her guardian angel, prayed the rosary, and did penances. Attracted to the religious life, and with the consent of her father, she received the religious veil in the convent of Dominicanesses at Prat, in Tuscany in the year 1535 at fourteen years of age. For two years she suffered inexpressible pains under a complication of violent distempers, which remedies only seemed to increase. These sufferings she sanctified by the interior disposition with which she bore them, and which she nourished by assiduous meditation on the passion of Christ. The victory over herself, and purgation of her affections was completed by a perfect spirit of prayer; for by the union of her soul with God, and the establishment of the absolute reign of his love in her heart, she was dead to and disengaged from all earthly things.

Most wonderful were the raptures of St. Catherine in meditating on the passion of Christ, she developed into a great mystic and could bilocate, with an intense devotion to the Passion of Christ, which was her daily exercise, but to which she totally devoted herself every week for many years. Catherine would go into ecstasy from noon every Thursday through 4:00 p.m. on Friday, experiencing in a mystical manner the sufferings of Christ during his Passion. She was also given the spiritual gift of the stigmata at 20; Christ’s wounds would appear on her body through the course of the ecstasy. She experienced the “Ecstasy of the Passion” for 12 years. After enduring much humiliation for years on account of these sufferings, she was eventually accepted as a holy woman and later became prioress. The saint was chosen, when very young, first as mistress of the novices, then sub-prioress, and, in the twenty-fifth year of her age, was appointed as perpetual prioress. Her advice was widely sought on many spiritual and practical matters. Despite being cloistered, she kept up a loving correspondence with many relatives, friends, and her spiritual children. The reputation of her extraordinary sanctity and prudence drew her many visits from a great number of bishops, princes, and cardinals. Among those in her correspondence were three future popes, the Cardinals Cervini, Alexander of Medicis, and Aldobrandini, who all three were afterwards raised to St. Peter’s chair, under the names of Pope Marcellus II, Pope Clement VIII, and Pope Leo XI. She is said to have received a ring from the Lord as a sign of her espousal to him; to her, it appeared as gold set with a diamond; everyone else saw a red lozenge and a circlet around her finger.

One of the miracles that was documented for her canonization was her appearance many hundreds of miles away from where she was physically located. This involved appearing in a vision St Philip Neri, a resident of Rome, with whom she had maintained a long-term correspondence. Neri, who was otherwise very reluctant to discuss miraculous events, confirmed the event. After a long illness she passed from this mortal life to everlasting bliss and possession of the object of all her desires on the feast of the Purification of our Lady, on the 2nd of February, in 1589, the sixty-seventh year of her age. The ceremony of her beatification was performed by Clement XII in 1732, and that of her canonization by Benedict XIV in 1746. She’s the Patron Saint of the sick, gravely ill, Prato, Italy.

PRAYER: Almighty God, you brought our sister Catherine to holiness through her contemplation of you Son’s passion. As we remember the dying and rising of your Son, help us to become courageous preachers and teachers of these mysteries. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, you Son, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever”…Amen🙏

BLESSED JORDAN OF SAXONY, PRIEST: Blessed Jordan (C. 1190-1237) was a Dominican Priest and one of the first leaders of the Dominican Order. Bl. Jordan was a Saxon named Gordanus, or Giordanus, a German of noble descent. Referred to in Latin as Jordanis, also known as de Alamania. He received a pious upbringing, and was noted for his charity to the poor from an early age. Educated in Germany, he received a Bachelor of Divinity in Paris and Masters’ degree in theology at the University of Paris by 1219, when he met St. Dominic. The next year he joined the Dominican Order of Preachers in 1220 under Saint Dominic himself, and became Prior Provincial of the Order in Lombardy in 1221. When Dominic died, Blessed Jordan succeeded Dominic and was elected as the second Master General of the Order in 1222. Under his administration, the Order spread throughout Germany and into Denmark and Switzerland.

Blessed Jordan used his talents for preaching. By his powerful preaching, he also brought in new recruits—e.g., St. Albert the Great. During one of his sermons, grace from the Holy Spirit called Saint Albert the Great into the Order. He is the author of Libellus de principiis Ordinis Praedicatorum (“Booklet on the beginnings of the Order of Preachers”), a Latin text which is both the earliest biography of Saint Dominic and the first narrative history of the Order’s foundation. The life of St. Dominic that he wrote is very valuable source of information about the Saint. Blessed Jordan is particularly remembered for his ability to turn a phrase. For example, when he was asked what was the best way to pray, he replied: “The way in which you can pray most fervently.” Bl. Jorden helped Blessed Diana d’Andalo found the monastery of Saint Agnes. In 1237, Blessed Jordan went on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land with two of the Brothers. Their ship was wrecked by a storm off the coast of Syria, and all on board perished. His cult was approved in 1825 by Pope Leo XII. He’s the Patron Saint of Vocations to the Dominican Order, Faculty of Engineering University of Santo Tomas Manila, Philippines.

PRAYER: O God, You endowed Blessed Jordan with wonderful zeal to save souls and power to propagate religious life. Through his merits and prayers, enable us to live always in this same spirit and so attain the glory reserved for us in heaven. Amen🙏

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the Lord grant us His grace as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. Every life is a gift. We continue to pray for all those who are sick and dying, especially sick children, those who are mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. Please let us continue to pray for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 8:14-21

“Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod”

“The disciples had forgotten to bring bread, and they had only one loaf with them in the boat. Jesus enjoined them, “Watch out, guard against the leaven of the Pharisees and the leaven of Herod.” They concluded among themselves that it was because they had no bread. When he became aware of this He said to them, “Why do you conclude that it is because you have no bread? Do you not yet understand or comprehend? Are your hearts hardened? Do you have eyes and not see, ears and not hear? And do you not remember, when I broke the five loaves for the five thousand, how many wicker baskets full of fragments you picked up?” They answered Him, “Twelve.” “When I broke the seven loaves for the four thousand, how many full baskets of fragments did you pick up?” They answered him, “Seven.” He said to them, “Do you still not understand?”

In today’s Gospel reading, our Lord Jesus spoke to His disciples regarding the matter of the Pharisees and the way that they had constantly opposed His works and their lack of faith, their doubts and refusal to believe in His truth, which He mentioned as the ‘yeast or leaven of the Pharisees’. He also mentioned the ‘yeast or leaven of Herod’ as a reminder to all of them that they should also not allow worldly matters and desires, all the comforts and pleasures present all around us from leading us down the path of ruin and evil. This was because the Pharisees were those who thought themselves as superior and better than others around them simply because they were better educated and had better knowledge of the Law and the Prophets. Meanwhile, Herod and his court were corrupt and worldly, filled with vices and sins of the world, as they enjoyed the pleasures of the world and the flesh. In that culture, the ‘yeast’ or ‘leaven’ of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod that Jesus spoke about in the Gospel was often used as a symbol of evil and with reference to how the evil of a few can infect a large group. Jesus seems very frustrated with His disciples. They misunderstand what Jesus says to them about the yeast of the Pharisees and the yeast of Herod, thinking that Jesus is referring to the fact that they have forgotten to bring bread. In reality, Jesus was trying to warn them against the evil intentions of the Pharisees and of Herod. Jesus addresses His disciples as people without perception. It is likely that Jesus can be just as frustrated with us at times. Like the first disciples we too can demonstrate a lack of perception, a failure to hear what Jesus is really saying to us, a failure to see what Jesus is trying to show us. We need to keep coming before the Lord in the awareness that we do not see as He wants us to see or hear as He wants us to hear. Our eyes and our ears need opening, and, perhaps, the times when we think we see and hear well are the very times when we are most blind and deaf. We need the humility, the poverty of spirit, which keeps us praying, ‘Lord, that I may see’, ‘Lord, that I may hear’. The ‘yeast of Herod’ is a reminder for all of us not to allow the vices of worldly pleasures, the corruption of the sins of the flesh to mislead and corrupt us down the wrong path in life. We have to resist those temptations to sin and remain virtuous, good and worthy of God all the time, remembering all the good things and the love that God has lavished on us.

In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. James, the Apostle St. James the Greater exhorted the faithful people of God that all of them must always hold fast and firmly to their faith in the Lord, knowing that it is in Him alone that there is certainty and assurance of true happiness, joy and salvation, and of the other things that the world cannot provide. If we allow ourselves to be swayed by those temptations and distractions, then we may end up walking down the path of sin, and getting further and further away from the Lord and His salvation, which is something that we should not be doing. That is why St. James reminded us all that we should always do our best so that we may continue to draw ever closer to God and His salvation.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded that as long as we have faith in the Lord and as long as we continue to hold on to the faith which we have in our loving God and Saviour, then we can be strong amidst the many challenges and obstacles in our path, as we continue living our lives as Christians with faith and commitment to God. We should not allow worldly distractions and temptations to distract and mislead us down the wrong path, and we must always remain strong in God, and in all the things that He has taught and shown us to do. We should always strive to be righteous and just, virtuous and full of grace from the Lord, in everything that we say and do, and in how we interact with our brothers and sisters around us. Let us all therefore renew our commitment to the Lord, in doing what God has called us to do, to be faithful once again to Him and to follow Him in the path which He has shown us. Let us all turn away from the temptations of sin, resisting all those things that may bring us down towards this path of wickedness and evil, and help one another that we may always remain strong and firm in our faith and in our conviction and desire to live our lives wholeheartedly in the Lord. Let us all do our best so that our every moments and our every actions, words and deeds will truly be filled with righteousness and virtues, and with all that the Lord has shown and taught us to do, that we may show good examples of our Christian faith and beliefs to others. May the Lord be with us all, and may He empower each and every one of us so that we may grow ever stronger in faith and persevere amidst the challenges and temptations, obstacles and trials facing us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace to be exemplary in our way of life, in our actions, words and deeds so that we may inspire others to follow in our footsteps and be faithful to God as well. May God bless our every efforts, our works, actions and endeavours, and be with us always, through our lives, at all times, helping us to resist the many temptations of sin and worldly glory. In all things, and at all opportunities, may we always glorify Him, now and forevermore. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My glorious Lord, I thank You for being the Lord of all Truth. Help me to daily turn my eyes and ears to that Truth so that I will be able to see the evil leaven all around me. Give me wisdom and the gift of discernment, dear Lord, so that I will be able to immerse myself into the mysteries of Your holy life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Catherine de Ricci and Blessed Jordan of Saxony ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all as during this Ordinary Time. Have a blessed, safe, fruitful and grace-filled Lenten week. May God keep us all safe and well ~ Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖