FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time!
Today marks the beginning of the week of prayer for Christian Unity, which is celebrated around the world from January 18th – 25th. As we begin this year’s week of prayer for Christian Unity, we join our brothers and sisters in Christ around the world in praying for peace, love, justice and unity in our divided and conflicted world so we can better build God’s Kingdom here on earth. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, look down with pity upon us and keep us all united in peace, love and faith, so that we may all be truly one in Christ…Amen🙏
Theme for 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)
We continue our novena for life prayer, we pray for the protection of human life. We particularly pray for the safety and well-being of the unborn and all children. May the good Lord protect the life of every human person, from conception to natural death. Amen 🙏🏽
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🙏
SAINT(S ) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 18, 2025
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2025: Beginning today, Saturday, January 18, 2024 and ends Saturday, January 25, 2025 [Reflections and Prayer links below]
9 DAYS FOR LIFE: 9 Days for Life is a novena for the protection of human life. January 16-24, 2025 [Prayer and Novena link below]
OPENING OF THE HOLY DOORS | JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025 [Details and links below]
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | January 18, 2025” |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | January 18, 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 18, 2025 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| January 18, 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: Saturday, January 18, 2025
Reading 1, Hebrews 4:12-16
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:8, 9, 10, 15
Gospel, Mark 2:13-17
9 DAYS FOR LIFE: PRAY TO PROTECT HUMAN LIFE
9 Days for Life Novena Prayer Link | January 16-24, 2025 | USCCB | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/17/9-days-for-life-novena-usccb/
9 Days for Life is a novena for the protection of human life. Each day’s intention is accompanied by a short reflection and suggested actions to help build a culture of life. Praying for the safety and well-being of the unborn and all children 🙏🏽
“Thus says the LORD who made you, who formed you from the womb and will help you: Fear not, O Jacob my servant, and thou, Jeshurun, whom I have chosen.” ~ Isaiah 44:2
PRAYER FOR THE UNBORN: Lord, Creator of Life, You have blessed us with the privilege of bringing new life into the world. Open our hearts and minds to recognize Your special gift of children and Your great love for each of us created in Your image and likeness. Through love, You sent your Son Jesus to redeem us, and through love, He entered our world as an unborn child in the womb of Mary, His mother. We now turn to Mary for her prayers and intercession as we struggle to protect innocent unborn children from decisions that seek to destroy them. Following Mary’s example as mother and disciple, let us proclaim the truth of our faith, assist those in crisis, and protect those most vulnerable, unwanted, and unloved. May the good Lord protect the life of every human person, from conception to natural death. Amen 🙏🏽
WEEK OF PRAYER FOR CHRISTIAN UNITY 2025: January 18-25, 2025
Theme for 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity: “Do you believe this?” (John 11:26)
The Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is an ecumenical Christian observance in the Christian calendar that is celebrated internationally. The purpose of this prayer gathering annually is to fulfill the prayer of Jesus, “that they may be one” (John 17:21).
Traditionally, the week of prayer is celebrated between 18-25 January, annually. For the year 2025, the theme is “Do you believe this?” This theme was inspired by Jesus’s dialogue with Martha in the Gospel of John (John 11:26). The entire passage chosen for reflection is John 11:17-27, where Jesus arrives in Bethany and raises Lazarus from the dead. An encounter between Jesus and Martha, at the end of which Martha confesses faith in Jesus as the Messiah and Son of God.
The theme for 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity was proposed by the ecumenical monastic community of Bose in Italy, in cooperation with the international team appointed by the Catholic Church’s Dicastery for Promoting Christian Unity and the Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches, at meetings in Bose, Italy in late September 2023.
The year 2025 marks the 1,700th anniversary of the Council of Nicaea, the first Ecumenical Council of Christian churches, called by Emperor Constantine I. The Council took place in Nicaea, a place just outside Constantinople (now Istanbul), from May to July of 325. This was just 12 years after a meeting between the co-emperors Constantine and Licinius in February 313 in Milan, at which they agreed to grant legal status to Christianity. The so-called “Edict of Milan,” actually a letter from Licinius to governors of provinces in the Eastern Empire, granted Christians and all persons within the empire freedom from religious persecution. Having then just emerged from a type of “underground” status of nearly 300 years, the diversity of language, culture and hierarchical organization created situations of theological divisions within the Church. There was an urgent need for one unified voice for the sake of orthodox doctrine, especially about the nature of Jesus’s relationship to the Father within the being of the Triune God. There was also a need to establish a common date for Easter and a way to reconcile Christians who had lapsed under the period of persecution. A major result of the Council was the creation of the first Nicene Creed. Tradition has it that there were 318 bishops present, mostly from Eastern churches, and that all but two signed the Creed.
Considering divergences of interpretation on the “settled” date of Easter agreed at the Council, followed by separate dates again for centuries, it is of special significance that in 2025, all Christians have the same date for Easter: April 20.
As the whole Church of today considers the commemoration of a gathering that signified a belief in “one, holy, catholic and apostolic church,” may we all be more and more drawn into the mystery of unity. May we confess our resistance to that unity, embrace our diversity and remember exactly what we believe together and share with the world: that Jesus is the Christ and the Son of God, who raises all with him to eternal life in a kingdom that will never end. The observance of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity is a powerful spiritual start to 2025 and everything that will be celebrated by Christians during this year.
All Christian Churches and communities worldwide are invited to use the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity 2025 resources to pray together for the unity among churches throughout the year.
Material for each day of the Week of Prayer. The texts provided for personal or communal prayer for each of the eight days include two scripture readings and a psalm. The biblical texts for each day highlight in turn key statements of the Nicene Creed.
Day 1: The fatherhood and care of God who rules the universe
Day 2: Creation as God’s work
Day 3: The Incarnation of the Son
Day 4: The Paschal Mystery: Passion, Death and Resurrection of Jesus
Day 5: The Holy Spirit, the giver of life and joy
Day 6: The Church: Community of believers
Day 7: Baptism into the Death and Resurrection of the Lord
Day 8: Waiting for the Kingdom and the life to come
Reflections and Prayer Links for 2025 Week of Prayer for Christian Unity:
Reflections and Prayers for the Eight Days: A Journey through the Nicene Creed | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/18/2025-week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity/
Resources for the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity, and throughout the year | 2025 EN WPCU.pdf| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/18/week-of-prayer-for-christian-unity-2025-january-18-25-2025/
DAY 1: “THE FATHERHOOD AND CARE OF GOD WHO RULES THE UNIVERSE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/18/day-1/
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 children all over the world. 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🙏
PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS OF WILDFIRES AND DISASTERS: We continue to pray for the victims of the current wildfires in the United States (Los Angeles, California) and victims of natural disasters across the world. We especially pray for those that have lost their lives and their families.
“Most Merciful God, Be “our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress” (Psalm 46:1). You created us and sustain us by Your almighty power. Your mercy knows no bounds. At this time of great suffering, we entrust all victims of the wildfires to You. Comfort them, fill them with Your grace, and provide for their needs. We entrust all who have died to Your merciful Heart. Cleanse them of their sins and welcome them into Your heavenly Kingdom. Give wisdom and prudence to those managing this disaster. Give courage and resolve to those on the front lines. Keep them safe and successful in their efforts. Command the winds and the flames to obey You, Lord, as You once calmed the stormy seas. Pour the water of Your grace upon these destructive fires. Stay them with Your powerful hand. Angels of God, come to the aid of those most in need of God’s mercy. Protect them, guide them, and reveal to them God’s holy will. St. Florian, patron of firefighters, pray for those bravely battling the flames. St. Michael the Archangel, defend them in their peril. Saints in Heaven, we beseech your prayer. Intercede for those most in need. From this tragedy and chaos, bring hope and peace. Turn sorrow into compassion. Turn confusion into faith. Turn despair into divine hope. We place all our trust in You, Most Merciful God, knowing that You will bring forth new life and healing from the ashes of this trial. May Your name be glorified now and forever. Amen” 🙏🏽
SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT PRISCA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR; SAINTS VOLUSIAN, BISHOP AND DEICOLUS, ABBOT AND SAINT MARGARET OF HUNGARY, RELIGIOUS – FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 18TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Prisca, Virgin and Martyr; Saints Volusian, Bishop and Deicolus, Abbot and Saint Margaret of Hungary, Religious.
SAINT PRISCA, VIRGIN, AND MARTYR: St. Prisca, who is also known as Priscilla, was a child martyr of the early Roman Church. The Roman Martyrology reads: “In the City of Rome, the holy Virgin and Martyr Prisca; after many tortures, she gained the Crown of Martyrdom under Emperor Claudius II (about 270).”
Born to Imperial Roman Christian parents of a noble family, Prisca was raised during the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius. While Claudius did not persecute Christians with the same fervor as other Roman emperors, Christians still did not practice their faith openly. In fact, Prisca’s parents went to great lengths to conceal their faith, and thus, they were not suspected of being Christians. Prisca, however, did not feel the need to take precautions. The young girl openly professed her dedication to Christ, and eventually, she was reported to the emperor. Claudius had her arrested and commanded her to make a sacrifice to Apollo, the pagan god of the sun. According to the legend, Prisca refused and was tortured for disobeying. Then, suddenly, a bright, yellow light shone about her, and she appeared to be a little star. Claudius ordered that Prisca be taken away to prison in the hopes that she would abandon Christ. When all efforts to change her mind were unsuccessful, she was taken to an amphitheatre and thrown in with a lion. As the crowd watched, Prisca stood fearless. According to legend, the lion walked toward the barefoot girl and then gently licked her feet. Disgusted by his thwarted efforts to dissuade Prisca, Claudius had her beheaded. Seventh-century accounts of the grave sites of Roman martyrs refer to the discovery of an epitaph of a Roman Christian named Priscilla in a large catacomb and identifies her place of interment on the Via Salaria as the Catacomb of Priscilla.
PRAYER: Let us pray for the single-hearted devotion and courage of Saint Prisca towards our faith that we too may live and die for Christ and share her crown of glory… Amen🙏
SAINTS VOLUSIAN, BISHOP, AND DEICOLUS, ABBOT: According to tradition, SAINT VOLUSIAN was of senatorial rank He served as Bishop of Tours from 488 to 496. What little information exists about concerns the last years of his life. As a result of his rank, he was continually involved with the politics of his day and finally he was driven from episcopate by the Goths who believed that Bishop was planning to form an alliance with the Franks against them. St. Volusian made good his escape from Tours and traveled to Spain where he went into exile. He died about the year 498. According to some historians, St. Volusian was fallowed into Spain by the Goths, who captured him and cut off his head. This possible martyrdom was probably the basis for his canonization as a Saint.
SAINT DEICOLUS, also known as St. Desle, left his native land of Ireland in the company of St. Columban, and both men settled at Luxeuil. He established the Abbey of Lure, where he remained for the rest of his life as a hermit. Despite his hardships, his contentment was always evident. When St. Columban once asked him, “Deicolus, why are you always smiling?” this saintly soul simply replied: “Because no one can take God from me.” He died about 625.
PRAYER: Lord, may the intercession of Sts. Volusian and Deicolus comment us to You, so that by their patronage we may obtain what we do not deserve by any merits of ours. Amen🙏
SAINT MARGARET OF HUNGARY, RELIGIOUS: St. Margaret of Hungary (1242–1271) was the daughter of King Bela IV of Hungary, a granddaughter of the Byzantine emperor and niece of the famed St. Elizabeth of Hungary. She was the eighth daughter of ten children to the Ruler of Croatia. Her royal parents made a vow to God that if Hungary was saved from the Mongol invasion they would dedicate Margaret to religion. God heard their prayer and the country was saved. The king and queen then entrusted four-year-old Margaret to be raised and educated in a Dominican convent. At the age of ten Margaret was transferred to the Convent of the Blessed Virgin founded by her parents, built on an island her parents named after her. She spent the rest of her life there, dedicating herself to prayer and severe penances. She opposed her father’s attempts to arrange her political marriage with the King of Bohemia, even though her suitor obtained a dispensation from the pope to release her from her religious vows so that she could enter into matrimony. Margaret made her solemn vows as a Dominican nun at the age of eighteen. Although a beautiful princess, she took the most menial tasks in the convent and dedicated her life to serving the poor and sick. She was considered a saint during her life and after her death. Many miracles, especially the curing of illnesses, were attributed to her intercession. St. Margaret died at the age of 28 on January 18, 1271. Honored as a powerful intercessor and miracle worker, she was Beatified on July 28, 1789 by Pope Pius VI and Canonized on November 19, 1943 by Pope Pius XII.
PRAYER: God, who called your handmaid blessed Margaret of Hungary to seek you before all else, grant that, serving you, through her example and intercession, with a pure and humble heart, we may come at last to your eternal glory. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen🙏
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today, Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Gospel Reading ~ Mark 2:13-17
“I did not come to call the righteous but sinners”
“Jesus went out along the sea. All the crowd came to him and he taught them. As he passed by, he saw Levi, son of Alphaeus, sitting at the customs post. Jesus said to him, “Follow me.” And he got up and followed Jesus. While he was at table in his house, many tax collectors and sinners sat with Jesus and his disciples; for there were many who followed him. Some scribes who were Pharisees saw that Jesus was eating with sinners and tax collectors and said to his disciples, “Why does he eat with tax collectors and sinners?” Jesus heard this and said to them, “Those who are well do not need a physician, but the sick do. I did not come to call the righteous but sinners.”
Today’s Gospel reading according to Mark gives an account of the call of Levi, the tax collector. In Matthew’s Gospel, he is given the name Matthew not Levi. Levi or Matthew would have seemed an unlikely enough candidate to be a disciple of Jesus. Tax collectors or toll collectors were considered to be very mercenary, with good reasons. In the Gospel reading, the religious experts, the scribes and the Pharisees ask the question, ‘Why does Jesus eat with tax collectors and sinners?’ As far as they were concerned, to eat with tax collectors and sinners was to risk being contaminated by them. They would have argued that it was better to keep yourself separate from such people in order to preserve your moral health. However, Jesus did not share this concern. Rather than the sin of others infecting Him, He knew that His goodness, God’s goodness in Him, would transform them. In the Gospels, Jesus speaks of Himself in a variety of images, in today’s Gospel reading, He speaks of Himself as a doctor whose primary interest is the sick, rather than the healthy. He spoke of Himself in this way in response to the criticism of the religious experts of His day who took a dim view of Jesus frequenting the company of those who did not live according to God’s Law, such as tax collectors. They were scandalized by His custom of sharing table with such people, entering into communion with ‘sinners’. The Gospel reading says that there were many tax collectors and sinners among Jesus’ followers. The more religious people of Jesus’ day avoided those they regarded as sinners, for fear they would be contaminated by people they considered to be outside God’s favour. Jesus revealed a different side to God. He revealed God as wanting to enter into communion with us, regardless of how others see us or, even, how we see ourselves. Jesus did not wait for people to be virtuous to befriend them. The Lord does not turn away from us because we are not all we could be. He keeps entering into communion with us, in all our weakness, frailty, sinfulness, so that he can empower us to live more fully as God’s sons and daughters. Like the doctor who deals with the sick to make them better, the Lord keeps dealing with us to help us to become more fully the person God desires us to be. That is why, in the words of today’s first reading, we can be ‘confident in approaching the throne of grace’, knowing that ‘we shall have mercy from Him and find grace when we are in need of help’. The Gospel reading reminds us that the Lord is happy to be in our company, even when we have fallen short of what some people expect of us, even when we are far from being all that God is calling us to be. Our failings and weaknesses do not drive the Lord away or drag Him down, rather His presence to us in our failings and weaknesses lifts us up. We always come before the Lord in our brokenness and He never drives us away. His table is always set for us and there is always a place for us there, regardless of where we are at in life. The Lord is never diminished by our failings; rather, we are always ennobled by His holiness. That is why the Lord does not separate Himself from us, even when we might be tempted to separate ourselves from Him, because of what we have done or failed to do. The Lord is always ready to sit with us, to share table with us, to enter into communion with us, in order that in our weakness we might draw from His strength and in our many failings we might draw from His goodness and love.
Our first reading today is the continuation of the Epistle to the Hebrews, the author of this Epistle spoke about the power of the Word of God which had been made flesh, incarnate in our midst, and Whose power has penetrated through our every beings, our bodies, hearts and minds, revealing unto us the truth about the Lord, His love and great desire to save us all from certain destruction and eternal damnation. He has given is all this way of salvation through His Son, the Incarnate Word of God, in the person of Jesus Christ, Who has become one like us, assuming our human nature and existence, and yet without the taint and corruption of sin. By that, as mentioned by the author of the Epistle, He has become our one True and Eternal High Priest, offering on our behalf the sacrifice worthy of redeeming us from our sins. This is what we are constantly being reminded of, the love of God that has been manifested in His Son, and this Son, our High Priest has willingly embraced our human existence, having gone through all the temptations, challenges and difficulties, all the trials that He had to face throughout His life, ministry, and ultimately His Passion and death on the Cross. He did not hesitate to go through all of these ultimately because of His ever enduring and present love for each one of us. He has obeyed so perfectly that by His total obedience and love for His heavenly Father, He, as the New Man, might become for all of us the perfect role model and inspiration to follow, in becoming the perfect Man, the perfect Lamb to be offered for us, and the perfect High Priest to offer this generous and most selfless offering for the sake of our redemption. Essentially, through Christ, we have received the assurance of forgiveness from our sins and the path to eternal life and true happiness with Him, because He is truly God Himself in the raiment of our human nature, and by His power and the grace that He has freely offered us, He has the power to forgive us from our many sins, calling on each and every one of us to come to Him and to embrace His rich forgiveness and grace, reminding us that there is no sinner without a future, as long as we trust in the Lord and believe in His compassion and rich mercy, and cooperate with Him in His desire to reunite us all with Him, leading to us all being freed from the bondage of sin, walking down the path of repentance and turning away from the darkness, walking towards the light and salvation in God.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded of what it truly means for us to be Christians, in following God and doing God’s will, and we are all reminded that through the great love, kindness and grace that God has given to each one of us, we have received this great promise and assurance of salvation and eternal life, all because of our Lord having come into this world in the Person of His Son, Jesus Christ, our Lord and Saviour, through Whom God made that Bridge connecting all of us back to Him, renewing and making a new and eternal Covenant with all of us through His perfect and most selfless sacrifice on the Cross. And we should realise just how fortunate all of us are, having received this great love and grace from God. We are called to emulate the Holy men and women and the Saints, particularly the Saints we celebrate today, Saint Prisca, Virgin and Martyr; Saints Volusian, Bishop and Deicolus, Abbot and Saint Margaret of Hungary, Religious. We are called to follow in the ways of the Lord, believing in Him, His words, and His authority and works, anf seek for His grace and mercy, just like those tax collectors, who were supposedly wicked and great sinners, were all flocking to come and seek the Lord, wanting to listen to Him and to atone for their mistakes and faults. And this is what the Lord desires from us, that willingness from each one of us to come and seek Him, His forgiveness and mercy so that we may all receive from Him pardon and healing for all of our sins, and be redeemed and reunited with Him, worthy to enter into the eternal kingdom prepared for all of us.
Brothers and sisters in Christ, let us all therefore remind ourselves and one another of God’s great love and mercy, striving to follow the example of Levi and the tax collectors, fully realising that we are all sinners, wicked and unworthy of God’s forgiveness and grace. And yet, the Lord has generously provided us all with the means to come back towards Him and to embrace His love and mercy. Let us all not take this great love, grace and mercy for granted, and commit ourselves henceforth from now on to walk ever more faithfully in God’s Holy Presence, and love Him with ever more dedication, now and always. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and continue to guide and bless us, and may He bless our every good efforts, works and endeavours, so that through all of them, we may continue to do His will and be ever more committed to this path of righteousness and justice which He has led us through, following the examples that He Himself had set, and those of the Holy Saints and other great men and women, our holy predecessors, all for His greater glory. 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 2025: 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 heart diseases, strokes, mental illness, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. 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, fill my heart with charity toward those who need You the most but seem incapable of overcoming the sin in their lives that keep them from You. May my unwavering commitment to them be an act of charity that gives them the hope they need to surrender their life to You. Use me, dear Lord. My life is in Your hands. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Our Lady of Pontmain (Our Lady of Hope) and Saint Anthony of Egypt, Abbot ~ Pray for us🙏
Let us pray:
My dear Lord, thank You for calling us all to follow You without hesitation. Thank You for the joy of being Your disciple. Give me the grace to always know Your will for my life and help me to respond to You with total abandonment and trust. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Prisca, Saints Volusian and Deicolus and Saint Margaret of Hungary ~ 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 relaxing weekend! Amen🙏
Blessings and love always, Philomena💖