Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time!
FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 13, 2025
OPENING OF THE HOLY DOORS | JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025 [Details and links below]
Today, we all begin the time of the Ordinary Season, the first of the two Ordinary Times of this current liturgical year, which will continue on towards the beginning of the Season of Lent. Ordinary Time in the church’s liturgical year refers to those other times in the church’s year which are distinguished from the special seasons for one reason or another, the seasons of Lent, of Easter, of Advent and of Christmas. This Ordinary time and season is by no means ‘ordinary’ lest we misunderstood the meaning of this period and time. The word Ordinary here comes from the word ‘Ordinal’ which means numbered, from the fact that the Sundays of this season are numbered in sequence. That is why this period of time after the time of Christmas and before the beginning of the Lenten season, it is our obligations and calling to do what is right and appropriate for as God’s holy and beloved people, as His disciples and followers, to whom God had entrusted His Church and His missions in our world today. All of us should be active in embracing the many opportunities that God has granted to us, the chances we have been given so that we may touch the lives of others in a good way. We pray for God’s grace and mercy upon us through this Ordinary Time, and may the Lord grant us the grace to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Amen🙏
On this Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and all the Saints, we humbly pray and thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, our Savior Jesus Christ! For the safety and well-being of all our children and school children as they return to school this new year after the Christmas holiday. We pray for God’s guidance and protection upon them. We continue to pray for peace all around the world, particularly in the Middle East, Ukraine-Russia and other parts of the world. We pray for an end to the wars and conflicts, and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. For the gentle repose of the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯
“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their abors for their good deeds go with them.” ~ Rev 14:13
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🙏
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | January 13, 2025 |
Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |
Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | January 13, 2025 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| January 13, 2025 |
Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |
Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |
Today’s Bible Readings: Monday, January 13, 2025
Reading 1, Hebrews 1:1-6
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 97:1-2, 6-7, 9
Gospel, Mark 1:14-20
SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT HILARY OF POITIERS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH; SAINT VERONICA OF MILAN, VIRGIN AND SAINT KENTIGERN, BISHOP – FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 13TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Saint Veronica of Milan, Virgin and St. Kentigern, Bishop.
SAINT HILARY OF POITIERS, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH: St. Hilary’s name comes from the Latin word for happy or cheerful. Gallo-Roman doctor of the church who as bishop of Poitiers was a champion of orthodoxy against Arianism and was the first Latin writer to introduce Greek doctrine to Western Christendom. He was sometimes referred to as the “Hammer of the Arians” (Malleus Arianorum) and the “Athanasius of the West.”
St. Hilary was born at Poitiers, France, of one of the most noble families of Gaul. He was brought up as a pagan. His own philosophic inquiries and the reading of the Bible led him to the knowledge of the true Faith and the reception of the Sacrament of Baptism. He then regulated his life according to the rules of the Faith he had embraced, and, though a layman, zealously endeavored to confirm others in true Christianity. His wife, to whom he had been married before his conversion and by whom he had a daughter named Abra, was still living when Hilary was chosen Bishop of Poitiers, about the year 353. His daughter, Abraham was a nun and saint who became known for her charity. According to the practice which then existed, married men were sometimes promoted to the episcopacy, but as St. Jerome clearly testifies, they ever after lived un continence. The Arian heresy principally occupied the Saint’s pen, and he became one of the most strenuous defenders of the Divinity of Jesus Christ. At the Council of Seleucia, in 360, he bravely defended the decrees of Nicaea, and then retired to Constantinople. St. Hilary died at Pointieres in the year 367 or 368. He was the mildest of men, full of condescension and affability to all, but against Emperor Constantius, who showed himself an enemy of the Church, he used the severest language. He’s Patron Saint Against snakes; snake bites, lawyers, sick people, backward children.
PRAYER: Grant, we beg You, Almighty God, that we may both readily understand and truly profess the Dignity of Your Son, which St. Hilary, Your Bishop, constantly proclaimed. Amen🙏
SAINT VERONICA OF MILAN, VIRGIN: Saint Veronica of Milan (1445-1497) was an Italian nun in the Augustinian Order. She was reputed to have received frequent visions of the Virgin Mary, and her local cultus was confirmed by Pope Leo X in 1517.
St. Veronica was born in a small village near Milan. Her parents were very poor but they were hard working and very pious. Because she was so poor, she never had the chance to learn how to read or write. But she learned from her devout parents how to pray. She prayed always and worked hard to help them.St. Veronica wanted to become a nun, but she was very worried because she could not read or write. She used to rise at night to try to teach herself. One day Our Lady appeared to her and told her not to worry, because all she had to know were three things. The first was to be pure in intention, which meant to do all her duties only to please God. The second was to mind her own business and to hate grumbling and criticism. The third was to forget her own troubles in thinking of the sufferings of Jesus every day. Our Blessed Mother’s holy advice made Veronica very happy and she tried to practice it. After preparing herself for three years, Veronica was admitted into the convent of St. Martha of Milan. She was assigned to duty of begging for the daily food. Every moment of her life she tried to obey her superior, because she knew that if she obeyed her superior, she obeyed God. St. Veronica died a saint at the age of fifty-two on January 13, 1497, on the day she had foretold, after a six months’ illness, in the thirtieth year of her religious profession. She was beatified on1517 by Pope Leo X (cultus confirmed) and on 1672 by Pope Clement X (devotion extended universally)
“Let us, too, follow Our Lady’s advice; that is, let us do everything for the love of Jesus, never complain, and remember each day that Jesus suffered and died for us.”
Saint Veronica of Milan, Virgin ~ Pray for us 🙏
SAINT KENTIGERN, BISHOP: St. Kentigern of Glasgow (518-614) Founder and Archbishop of Glasgow, Missionary, Miracle-worker, known as “Saint Mungo” (“dear one” or “darling”), also known as Cantigernus or Cyndeyrn Garthwys) was the apostle of the Scottish Kingdom of Strathclyde in the late sixth century and the Founder and Patron Saint of the city of Glasgow.
Saint Kentigern was born in c 518 at Culross, Fife, Scotland. Saint Kentigern’s mother was a British princess named Thenaw (or Thaney or Theneva). When it was discovered that she was pregnant of an unknown man, she was hurled from a cliff and, when discovered alive at the foot of the cliff, was set adrift in a boat on the Firth of Forth. She reached Culross, was given shelter by St. Serf, and gave birth to a child to whom Serf gave the name Mungo. Raised by the saint, he became a hermit at Glasgow and was so renowned for his holiness that he was consecrated bishop of Strathclyde about 540. Driven to flight because of the feuds among the neighboring chieftains, he went to Wales, met St. David at Menevia, and founded a monastery at Llanelwy. About 553, Kentigern returned to Scotland, settled at Hoddam, and then returned to Glasgow, where he spent his last days. He died on January 13, 603 in Glasgow, Scotland of natural causes. He is considered the first bishop of Scotland and with Thenaw is joint patron of Glasgow. Patron: Glasgow, Scotland; salmon, those accused of infidelity; against bullies.
Saint Kentigern of Glasgow, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today, Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel Reading ~ Mark 1:14-20
“Repent, and believe in the Gospel”
“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.” As he passed by the Sea of Galilee, he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea; they were fishermen. Jesus said to them, “Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men.” Then they left their nets and followed him. He walked along a little farther and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John. They too were in a boat mending their nets. Then he called them. So they left their father Zebedee in the boat along with the hired men and followed Him.”
Today’s Gospel reading from the Gospel of Mark gives an account of the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. According to the Gospel, Jesus began His public ministry just after John the Baptist had been arrested. The arrest of John the Baptist by Herod Antipas must have been a great blow to John’s followers and to all who looked up to John and recognized him as God’s special prophet. Yet, just at this moment of loss, Jesus, who had been baptized by John, began His ministry. One ministry, that of John, concluded, and another ministry, that of Jesus, began. There are two elements to the way Jesus begins His public ministry in today’s Gospel reading. There is an announcement and a call or summons. Jesus’ announcement is referred to by the Gospel of Mark as ‘the Good News from God’. It is the news that ‘the kingdom of God is close at hand’. God is close at hand, God’s just and loving rule is present in Jesus. That remains the Gospel for us today. God is not remote but is close at hand through Jesus, now our risen Lord. God’s drawing near to us is to be welcomed as good news, because God draws near to bring us life, to deliver us from all that diminishes and damages us. Every day we live in the presence of this good news. Following on His announcement of good news, Jesus issues a summons, a call, which is both general and particular. The general call is ‘repent and believe the Good News’. We are being called, all of us, to entrust ourselves to this good news, to turn towards the God who is drawing near to us, which will often mean turning away from what blocks us from God, what we call sin. The particular call is addressed to four fishermen, Peter, Andrew, James and John, ‘Follow me and I will make you into fishers of people’. In other words, share with me in announcing my good news to others. This particular call is also addressed to each one of us. All of us in our own way are called to be heralds of the good news that God has drawn near to us. Our whole way of being is to proclaim God’s life giving love for all in practical and concrete ways. That is at the heart of what it means to be a follower of Jesus.
In the Gospel, the meeting that Peter, Andrew, James and John had with Jesus was such a good news event, because the reign of God, the power of God, was present to them in the person of Jesus. That power of God present in Jesus to Peter, Andrew, James and John was the power of love, a love that called on them to repent, to turn towards God, a love that promised forgiveness, healing, acceptance, a love that gave them a mission in life. The kind of meeting that Peter, Andrew, James and John had with Jesus is offered to each one of us. Jesus is not just a figure of history who belongs to the past. He is a living Lord, present in his church and in the world today. He is constantly calling us to meet with him as Peter, Andrew, James and John met with him, and each of these meetings proclaims good news for us. He meets with us and speaks to us through the Sacraments, in particular the Eucharist, through the Scriptures, from deep within our own hearts, through other people, through nature. Each time the Lord meets with us we will first hear the good news of God’s unconditional love for us. We will also hear the call to mission, the call to be good news for others, to be the Lord’s body in the world, His feet, His hands, His mouth, His eyes, His ears.
In our first reading today from the Epistle to the Hebrews, the author of this Epistle spoke about the coming of the salvation of God which has been fulfilled and completely revealed through His Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, the One Who had been sent into this world to be the Redeemer of all mankind, restoring all of us back to the state of grace, and the author also revealed to us that this Saviour was truly the Son of God, Who has been incarnate into the flesh, assuming our humanity, human nature and existence, becoming the Son of Man, appearing in our midst to lead us all into salvation in God. As suggested, the words of the author of this Epistle are directed to the Jewish people, to whom the Lord was first sent to, to fulfil everything which the Lord has promised to all of His people throughout history. The author spoke of the One Whom the Jewish people has encountered, Jesus Christ Himself, Who has come, showing the great Wisdom of God in His various words and teachings among them with authority, and the power which God has exercised through Him, in His various miracles and wonders. Therefore, the author of this Epistle to the Hebrews proclaimed to the Jewish community, both to strengthen the faith of those who have believed in Christ, and also to convince and persuade those who have not yet believed in Him, that the Lord Jesus Christ, was indeed the Holy One Whom God had sent into this world to lead everyone into salvation and eternal life. It is also a reminder for all of us Who it is that we have served, and the One through Whom our salvation has come from, what we have celebrated earlier on in Christmas, and which we now need to proclaim courageously in our world today.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today as we begin the season of the Ordinary Time in the liturgical year, it is our obligations and calling to do what is right and appropriate as God’s holy and beloved people, as His disciples and followers, to whom God had entrusted His Church and His missions in our world today. All of us should be active in embracing the many opportunities that God has granted to us, the chances we have been given so that we may touch the lives of others in a good way. Let us all therefore follow in the footsteps of of the Holy men and women and the Saints, particularly the Saints we celebrate today, Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, great man and servant of God, Saint Veronica of Milan, Virgin and St. Kentigern, Bishop and many other great holy Saints of God, all of whom had devoted themselves, their time and effort to proclaim the truth and Good News of God to others around them, like the Apostles before them. And all of us as Christians are entrusted with the same mission to evangelise and to spread the Good News of God to more and more people all around the world. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the good Lord be with us always and continue to guide us and strengthen us, so that in everything we say and do, we will always be ever faithful to Him, and we will always strive to glorify Him in each and every moments by our lives. May He continue to empower us all in our efforts and good works for His greater glory, and may all of us continue to inspire everyone around us in faith. Amen 🙏🏽
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS: The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. After the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph and told him that the Child’s name should be called Jesus, meaning “God Saves.” According to Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth a male child was to be circumcised, receive his name, and become a full member of God’s covenant people. According to the old Roman liturgical calendar, the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus was celebrated on January 1st, eight days after Christmas, the same day that He was given His sacred name. Currently we celebrate the Solemnity of the Mother of God on January 1st and honor the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd. For Catholics, Jesus’ sacred name is the object of a special devotion symbolized by the monogram “IHS,” (sometimes called a Christogram), which is the first three letters of the Greek spelling of His name.
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12538
THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY – FOR THE RIGHT TO EDUCATION: Let us pray for migrants, refugees, and those affected by war, that their right to an education, which is necessary to build a better world, might always be respected.
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025
PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
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/
PRAYER INTENTIONS: Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints, on this feast day, we humbly pray and thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! And as we begin the Ordinary Time, may the Lord grant us the grace to serve Him in spirit and in truth. We pray for peace, love and unity in our marriages, our families and our world today, as we face these incredibly challenging times. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the sick and dying, especially sick children, those who are sick with the coronavirus, mental illness, stroke, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for an end to the coronavirus pandemic. We pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed and for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world… Amen🙏
Let us pray:
My precious Jesus, I thank You for all You have spoken and revealed to us through Your public ministry. Strengthen me during this new liturgical season of Ordinary Time to devote myself to the reading of Your holy Word, so that all that You have taught us becomes an ordinary part of my daily life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Hilary of Poitiers, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Saint Veronica of Milan, Virgin and St. Kentigern, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines:
DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
SIR G.L.I OPIEPE’S HEALTH AND EDUCATION FOUNDATION | https://gliopiepehe.org
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
OPENING OF THE HOLY DOORS SCHEDULES | JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025
Pope Francis opens the Holy Door Ushering in the Jubilee of Hope | ‘Hope is Alive’ | Vatican News | December 24, 2024 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/25/pope-francis-opens-the-holy-door-ushering-in-the-jubilee-of-hope-hope-is-alive-vatican-news-december-24-2024/
THE JUBILEE PRAYER
Link to the prayer of the Jubilee of Hope 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/08/the-jubilee-prayer/
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. Journey mercies for all those traveling during this Christmas season and new year. Wishing all of us a most blessed, safe, healthy, prosperous and grace-filled New Year and week! Amen🙏
Blessings and love always, Philomena💖