FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
FEAST AND SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 11, 2025
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES |
https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/11/feast-of-our-lady-of-lourdes/
33RD WORLD DAY OF THE SICK |
https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/11/message-of-his-holiness-pope-francis-for-the-33rd-world-day-of-the-sick-on-the-feast-of-our-lady-of-lourdes-february-11-2025/
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ABIGAIL, RELIGIOUS AND BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW OF OLMEDO, PRIEST
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/11/catholic-daily-mass-daily-tv-mass-february-11-2025/
Message of His Holiness Pope Francis for the 33rd World Day of the Sick, on the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes | February 11, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/11/message-of-his-holiness-pope-francis-for-the-33rd-world-day-of-the-sick-on-the-feast-of-our-lady-of-lourdes-february-11-2025/
DAILY SAINTS AND REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Today, we celebrate the FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES. We also celebrate the 33rd World day of the sick this Jubilee year of Hope, 2025. Our Lady of Lourdes is the Patron Saint of Illness and Healing, sick people, protection from diseases, Lourdes, France. February 11 was proclaimed World Day of the Sick by Pope John Paul II. Therefore, it would be appropriate to celebrate the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick on this day during a Mass or Liturgy of the Word. (The Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick is only to be given to “those of the faithful whose health is seriously impaired by sickness or old age,” Roman Ritual. This Sacrament must not be given indiscriminately to all who take part in Masses for the sick.)”
As we celebrate the World Day of the Sick in this Jubilee year of Hope, we are all invited to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. We reflect on the hope that strengthens us in times of sickness. According to Pope Francis in his encouraging message taken from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5); indeed, it strengthens us in times of trial. He goes on to say, ‘God does not abandon us and often amazes us by granting us a strength that we never expected and would never have found on our own’.”
On this feast of Our Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Lourdes, may she intercede for us sinners, who are sickened by sin, and who are suffering the consequences of our infidelity and weakness. We humbly pray for her to guide us in our path to seek the healing from the hands of her Son, Jesus Christ, Our Lord and Saviour. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and look kindly upon us and show us His mercy, love and compassion, now and always. ‘May the Lord touch our ears to receive His word, and our mouth to proclaim His faith, to the praise and glory of God the Father’ Amen 🙏🏽
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, we humbly pray for our personal intentions, for our physical and spiritual healing, for the safety and well-being of our families and our loved ones, for healing of the sick and dying, with special intentions for those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases, the elderly and those suffering from physical and mental illness. For peace in our divided and conflicted world, for protection from diseases and harm ~ Amen 🙏🏽
May our Blessed Mother Mary continue to intercede for us all as we continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children, family, youths, children and persecuted Christians all over the world. We pray for God’s Divine healing and intervention. Amen🙏🏽 Our Lady of Lourdes, who brings healing and hope to your children all over the world and Saint Abigail, Religious and Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo, Priest ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
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 good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽
Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us 🙏🏽
Saint Bernadette, Pray for us 🙏🏽
NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES | Novena – February 2-10 |Feastday: February 11th | Novena Prayer | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/
Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries | Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/holy-rosary-for-peace-with-pope-francis/
Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/daily-reflections-and-prayer-links/
THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY – FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE | Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025 (See also http://www.popesprayerusa.net/.)
We continue to pray for the intentions of our Holy Father. We pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits… Amen 🙏🏽
On this special feast day, Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes, and World Day of the Sick, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to pray for the repose of the gentle souls of the recent plane crashes and 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 PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/
FEAST AND SAINTS OF THE DAY | FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES | MEMORIAL OF SAINT ABIGAIL, RELIGIOUS AND BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW OF OLMEDO, PRIEST – FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 11TH: Today, we celebrate the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. We also celebrate the World day of the sick. Our Lady of Lourdes is the Patron Saint of Illness and Healing, sick people, protection from diseases, Lourdes, France, Quezon City, Tagaytay City, Barangay Granada of Bacolod, Daegu, South Korea, Tennessee, Diocese of Lancaster. Our Lady of Lourdes, who brings healing and hope to your children in France and throughout the world and Saint Abigail, Religious and Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo, Priest ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
33RD WORLD DAY OF THE SICK | FEBRUARY 11, 2025
“Hope does not disappoint” ~ Romans 5:5
Today, we celebrate the 33rd World Day of the Sick which was established by Pope John Paul II, and is celebrated each year on February 11th, the Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It is an opportunity to devote special attention to the sick and to those who provide them with assistance and care, both in health care institutions and within families and communities. As we celebrate the World Day of the Sick in this Jubilee year of Hope, we are all invited to be ‘Pilgrims of Hope’. We reflect on the hope that strengthens us in times of sickness. According to Pope Francis in his encouraging message taken from St Paul’s letter to the Romans, he reflects on this year’s theme, “Hope does not disappoint” (Romans 5:5); indeed, it strengthens us in times of trial. He goes on to say, ‘God does not abandon us and often amazes us by granting us a strength that we never expected and would never have found on our own’.”
Catholics and all Christians are being urged to reflect during this year’s World Day of the Sick on the “grace-filled encounters” which can emerge at times of adversity. Pope Francis goes on to say in his message, “How can we be strong, for example, when our bodies are prey to severe, debilitating illnesses that require costly treatment that we may not be able to afford?”, .“How can we show strength when, in addition to our own sufferings, we see those of our loved ones who support us yet feel powerless to help us? “In these situations, we sense our need for a strength greater than our own. We realise that we need God’s help, His grace, His Providence, and the strength that is the gift of His Spirit.” According to Pope Francis, God remains close to those who are suffering in three particular ways: through encounter, gift and sharing
Pope Francis emphasized how suffering can become “an occasion for a transformative encounter” with God. The pontiff pointed that these ways are profound paths of providential companionship during times of trial. He also addressed all those “who are ill or who care for the suffering,” telling them: “Your journey together is a sign for everyone: ‘a hymn to human dignity, a song of hope.’” The 88-year-old Pope wrote from personal experience, having faced several health challenges in recent years, including knee problems requiring a wheelchair, respiratory infections, and, most recently, a fall resulting in a forearm contusion. “In times of illness, we sense our human frailty on the physical, psychological, and spiritual levels,” the Pope wrote. “Yet we also experience the closeness and compassion of God, who, in Jesus, shared in our human suffering.” Pope Francis emphasized that God’s first way of being close is through presence, noting that suffering “becomes an occasion for a transformative encounter, the discovery of a solid rock to which we can hold fast amid the tempests of life.”
Addressing the second aspect, gift, Pope Francis cited Venerable Madeleine Delbrêl, emphasizing that hope comes primarily from the Lord as “a gift to be received and cultivated.”. In his message, the Pope explained that the third dimension of divine closeness manifests through sharing, particularly in health care settings where mutual enrichment often occurs between patients, medical staff, and family members. “How often, when we care for those in need, do we discover love! We realise that we are ‘angels’ of hope and messengers of God for one another … whether patients, physicians, nurses, family members, friends, priests, men and women religious, no matter where we are, whether in the family or in clinics, nursing homes, hospitals or medical centres. “We need to learn how to appreciate the beauty and significance of these grace-filled encounters. “We need to learn how to cherish the gentle smile of a nurse, the gratitude and trust of a patient, the caring face of a doctor or volunteer, or the anxious and expectant look of a spouse, a child, a grandchild or a dear friend. “All these are rays of light to be treasured.” The Pope’s message highlights the importance of the healing ministry, especially in the ‘dark night of adversity’ which we all face at different times of our lives. The legacy of our ministry and the people who have contributed continues to guide us to the most difficult of spaces, where we are called to serve, accompany, and provide care, hope and comfort to those who we serve at the most darkest times of their adversities.
The pope concluded his message with a special word of gratitude to health care workers and those who care for the sick, calling their shared journey “a hymn to human dignity, a song of hope.”
He entrusted all who are ill to the intercession of Mary, Health of the Sick, and asked for prayers for himself.
The World Day of the Sick is traditionally celebrated on Feb. 11, the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes.
PRAYER
Heal Your People, Hear Our Prayer (World Day of the Sick February 11, 2025)
“Lord, hear my prayer; let my cry come to you. Do not hide your face from me in the day of my distress. Turn your ear to me; when I call, answer me quickly.” Psalm 102:2-3
Illness reveals our human vulnerabilities, which is exactly where God meets us. Let us pray for God’s healing presence in all the world’s ailments:
For the sick and those impacted by illness of mind, body, or spirit, For those bound by injustice, or who live in fear.
God of wholeness and hope, heal your people.
For the imprisoned and those who care for them, For migrants and refugees escaping violence and those who welcome them, For the elderly, and anyone who feels forgotten by society,
God of wholeness and hope, heal your people.
For safe spaces of healing in all corners of creation: facilities, homes, churches, and everywhere in between, For those who offer and those who receive compassionate care therein,
God of wholeness and hope, heal your people. Amen 🙏🏽
FEAST OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES: On February 11, 1858, the Blessed Virgin Mary appeared to 14-year-old French Peasant girl, Bernadette Soubirous in the hollow rock of Massabielle in southern France. That year Bernadette would report a total of 18 apparitions of a woman she described as “lovelier than I have ever seen.” On March 25, when Bernadette asked the Beautiful Lady her name, she replied: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” The woman in the vision revealed herself as the “Immaculate Conception,” in confirmation of this dogma of the Catholic faith which was infallibly defined by the Holy Father just four years prior. The Marian apparitions began Feb. 11, 1858, ended July 16 that year and received the local bishop’s approval after a four-year inquiry. Coming soon after the 1854 dogmatic definition of her Immaculate Conception, the Virgin Mary’s appearances at Lourdes turned the town into a popular travel destination. Our Lady told Bernadette to drink from an unseen fountain at the grotto, when Bernadette scratched at the ground, a stream of pure spring water surged forth. This stream demonstrated healing properties, and it continues to draw pilgrims to the grotto from around the globe. Thousands of people say their medical conditions have been cured through pilgrimage, prayer and the water flowing from the spring to which Bernadette was directed by the Blessed Virgin. Experts have verified 69 cases of miraculous healing at Lourdes since 1862. St. Bernadette also has her own liturgical memorial, which occurs on February 18th in France and Canada and April 16th elsewhere. Born in January 1844, the future visionary was the first child of her parents Francois and Louise, who both worked in a mill run by Francois. Their family life was loving but difficult. Many of Bernadette’s siblings died in childhood, and she developed asthma. Economic hardship and an injury suffered by her father cost them the mill in 1854. Years of poverty followed, during which Bernadette often had to live apart from her parents and work rather than attending school. In January 1858 she returned to her family, whose members were living in a cramped single room. Strongly committed to her faith, Bernadette made an effort to learn the Church’s teachings despite her lack of formal education.
On Feb. 11, 1858, Bernadette went to gather firewood with her sister and a friend. As she approached a grotto near a river, she saw a light coming from a spot near a rosebush. The light surrounded a woman who wore a white dress and held a rosary. Seeing the lady in white make the sign of the Cross, Bernadette knelt, took out her own rosary, and began to pray. When she finished praying, the woman motioned for her to approach. But she remained still, and the vision disappeared. Her companions had seen nothing. Bernadette described the lady in white to them, demanding they tell no one. But the secret came out later that day. The next Sunday, Bernadette returned to the grotto, where she saw the woman again. The identity of the apparition, however, would remain unknown for several weeks. Some adults accompanied Bernadette on her third trip, on Feb. 18, though they did not see the vision she received. The woman in white asked the girl to return for two weeks. “She told me also,” Bernadette later wrote, “that she did not promise to make me happy in this world, but in the next.” A group of family members and others went with her to the cave the next day, but only the young peasant girl saw the woman and heard her words. Over the next few days, the number of people in attendance at the cave swelled to more than 100. A parish priest, Father Peyramale, became concerned – as did the police. On Feb. 24, 250 people saw Bernadette break into tears, but only she heard the woman’s message: “Penance! Penance! Penance! Pray to God for sinners. Go, kiss the ground for the conversion of sinners.” A larger crowd was there on Feb. 25 – but they were shocked to see Bernadette drinking from a muddy stream and eating weeds. The apparition had told her to drink the water, and the weed-eating was a penitential act. Onlookers, meanwhile, saw only the girl’s unusual behavior, and popular fascination turned to ridicule and suspicion. On Feb. 27, Bernadette made a joyful discovery: the spring from which she drank was not muddy now, but clear. As the crowds continued to gather, this change was noticed, and a woman with a paralyzed arm came to the water hoping to be healed. Four years later, her case would be recognized as the first miraculous healing at Lourdes. Public interest continued, and Bernadette heard a recurring message from the vision: “Go, tell the priests to bring people here in procession and have a chapel built here.”
While others were quick to conclude that Bernadette was seeing the Virgin Mary, the visionary herself did not claim to know the woman’s identity. As she conveyed the repeated message to Fr. Peyramale, the priest grew frustrated and told Bernadette to ask the woman her name. But when she did so, the woman smiled and remained silent. Her identity remained a mystery after the initial two-week period. Three weeks later, on the Feast of the Annunciation, Bernadette visited the cave again. When she saw the lady, she kept asking to know her identity. Finally, the woman folded her hands, looked up and said: “I am the Immaculate Conception.” The seer, devout but uneducated, did not know what these words meant. She related them to Fr. Peyramale, who was stunned and informed his bishop. Bernadette saw the Blessed Virgin Mary two more times in 1858: on the Wednesday after Easter, and on the feast of Our Lady of Mount Carmel. The publicity given these miraculous events on the one hand and the seeming sincerity and innocence of the girl on the other made it necessary for the bishop of Tarbes to institute a judicial inquiry. In 1862, four years later bishop of Tarbes declared the apparitions to be supernatural and and worthy of belief and permitted the public veneration of the Immaculate Conception in the grotto. Soon a chapel was erected. St. Bernadette left Lourdes in 1866 to join a religious order in central France, where she died after several years of illness in 1879. By the time of her death, a basilica had been built upon the rock of the Massabielle at the apparition site in response to Our Lady’s request, and in 1876 it was consecrated as the “Church of the Rosary”, under the leadership of Fr. Peyramale. Since that time countless pilgrims come every year to Lourdes to fulfill promises or to beg graces. Due to the multitudes of medically documented miraculous healings, the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes in France is one of the most visited pilgrimage sites in the world. Our Lady of Lourdes is the Patron Saint of Illness and Healing, sick people, protection from diseases, Lourdes, France, Quezon City, Tagaytay City, Barangay Granada of Bacolod, Daegu, South Korea, Tennessee, Diocese of Lancaster.
PRAYER: “Grant us, O merciful God, protection in our weakness, that we, who keep the Memorial of the Immaculate Mother of God, may with the help of her intercession, rise up from our iniquities. 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🙏
SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ABIGAIL, RELIGIOUS AND BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW OF OLMEDO, PRIEST: Today, we also celebrate the Memorial of Saint Abigail, Religious (Patron Saint of honeybees, beekeepers health, and fertility) and Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo, Priest. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Abigail and all the Saints, we pray for the safety and well-being of all labourers and all those seeking for the fruit of the womb.
Saint Abigail, Religious and Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo, Priest ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
SAINT ABIGAIL, RELIGIOUS: Saint Abigail (5th-6th C.) was a Medieval Irish saint, also known as St. Gobnait (Irish for Abigail which means brings joy) or Deborah (meaning honeybee). She was was born around the 6th century in County Clare, Ireland. According to tradition, Abigail’s family was always feuding. This caused her to run away from home to settle on Inis Oirr in the Aran Islands. After some time, an angel appeared to Abigail and told her this was not her place of resurrection. She was to head inland to find the place she would spend the rest of her life. The angel told Abigail this place would be marked with the presence of nine white deer. Abigail set off in search for the deer throughout the southern coastal counties. Her journey is now marked by churches and holy wells which are dedicated to her along the way. She finally found the herd of deer in Ballyvourney, County Cork, now known as St. Gobnet’s Wood.
St. Abigail would spend the rest of her earthly life dedicated to pastoral service and Christian charitable work. Her brother, St. Abban is believed to have joined her to help set the foundation for a convent, placing St. Abigail as its abbess, or mother superior of the community of women religious. St. Abigail also went on to spend much of her time caring for the sick. She had a special relationship with bees and would care for the sick with honey and natural medicines. According to early Celtic folklore and religious symbolism, the soul departs from the body in the form of a bee or butterfly. So, it is not surprising that, given her deep Christian faith and belief in the Resurrection, St. Abigail also became a beekeeper. It is said that she developed a powerful relationship with the bees and would use their honey to treat illnesses and heal wounds. She became known for her miracles in rousting bees from their hives and using them to chase off evil. Some pious legend even claim that the bees transformed into soldiers, with their hives becoming helmets. St. Abigail is also credited with saving Ballyvourney from the plague. Abigail ministered to the people until her “soul left her body” which in Irish legend is represented by a flying bee. She remained settled in Ballyvourney until her death where she was then buried “to await her resurrection.” St. Abigail is the Patron Saint of honeybees, beekeepers health, and fertility. She is often featured surrounded by bees or carrying a honeycomb. Her feast day is celebrated on February 11.
PRAYER: Heavenly Patron, in whose name I glory, pray ever to God for me: strengthen me in my faith; establish me in virtue; guard me in the conflict; that I may vanquish the foe malign and attain to glory everlasting. Amen. St. Abigail, Pray for Us 🙏
BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW OF OLMEDO, PRIEST: Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo (1485-1524) was a Spanish Mercedarian priest, and the first priest to arrive on Mexican soil in 1516 at the age of 31. He was chaplain for the expedition of Spanish Conquistador Fernando Cortés, who began the Spanish colonization of the Americas and the downfall of the Aztec empire. Bartholomew was well-liked by the native people. He taught them the Christian faith and exhorted them to end their practice of human sacrifice. He also defended them against injustice and restrained Cortés from acting out in violence against them. Bartholomew taught the native Mexicans devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title of Our Lady of Mercy, which they embraced. Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo baptized more than 2500 people before he died in Mexico in 1524 at the age of 39. He was buried in Santiago de Tlatelolco. His feast day is February 11.
Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo, Priest ~ Pray for us 🙏
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | February 11, 2025
Reading 1, Genesis 1:20-2:4
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 8:4-5, 6-7, 8-9
Gospel, Mark 7:1-13
Alternative reading (Mass of Our Lady of Lourdes)
Reading 1, Isaiah 66 : 10-14c
Responsorial Psalm, Judith 13 : 18bcde, 19
Gospel, John 2 : 1-11
Gospel Reading ~ Mark 7:1-13
“You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition”
“When the Pharisees with some scribes who had come from Jerusalem gathered around Jesus, they observed that some of his disciples ate their meals with unclean, that is, unwashed, hands. (For the Pharisees and, in fact, all Jews, do not eat without carefully washing their hands, keeping the tradition of the elders. And on coming from the marketplace they do not eat without purifying themselves. And there are many other things that they have traditionally observed, the purification of cups and jugs and kettles and beds.) So the Pharisees and scribes questioned him, “Why do your disciples not follow the tradition of the elders but instead eat a meal with unclean hands?” He responded, “Well did Isaiah prophesy about you hypocrites, as it is written: This people honors me with their lips, but their hearts are far from me; in vain do they worship me, teaching as doctrines human precepts.
You disregard God’s commandment but cling to human tradition.” He went on to say, “How well you have set aside the commandment of God in order to uphold your tradition! For Moses said, Honor your father and your mother, and Whoever curses father or mother shall die. Yet you say, ‘If someone says to father or mother, “Any support you might have had from me is qorban”’ (meaning, dedicated to God), you allow him to do nothing more for his father or mother. You nullify the word of God in favor of your tradition that you have handed on. And you do many such things.”
In today’s Gospel reading, the disciples of Jesus are criticized for not respecting the tradition of the elders. Jesus defends His disciples by declaring that what is more important than human religious tradition is the commandment of God or the word of God. He says, ‘you put aside the commandment of God to cling to human tradition’. He is saying that they are not getting their priorities right. Jesus seems to be saying that God can never be fully contained within any religious tradition no matter how revered. We need religious traditions to help us to give expression to our relationship with God, our faith. However, there comes at time when traditional ways of expressing our faith are in need of reform or renewal. Within the Roman Catholic Church the second Vatican Council was a moment when the church looked critically at its various religious traditions with a view to discerning which of them gave expression to God’s word, God’s commandment, and which did not. There are times in our lives as individuals and in the lives of our communities that we need to recover what is truly important. We can all lose sight of what really matters and give ourselves over to what is of much lesser value. This is true in the area of our faith as well as in every other area of life. Just as Jesus accused the religious leaders of His day of giving more importance to various human religious traditions than to the word of God. ‘You make God’s word null and void for the sake of your tradition which you have handed down’. By ‘God’s word’ Jesus meant what we would call today the Jewish Scriptures or the Old Testament. For us Christians, God’s word also includes the Gospels, the letters of Paul and the other documents that make up the New Testament. As Christians, we too are prone to making God’s word null and void for the sake of our tradition. We can give greater importance to traditions that have emerged in the history of the church and have been handed down than to the word of God in the Scriptures. As people of faith, we can get very worked up about various church traditions, giving them an authority that they do not deserve. This was the failing of the Pharisees and scribes in today’s Gospel reading. We all need to keep returning to the word of God, because it is the light generated by that word which allows us to see everything else, including our religious traditions, in proper perspective. Today’s readings remind us that God is always greater than anything the human religious spirit can create. God is always beyond us and we are always seekers in God’s regard. As Christians we believe that Jesus has revealed the face of God in a unique way and that the God whom we are seeking has sought us out in the person of Jesus, His Son.
Our first reading today from the Book of Genesis is the continuation of the account of the Creation of the world as initiated in yesterday’s first reading. Today, we heard the second half of this story of Creation, culminating in how God created us all mankind as the pinnacle of His Creation, creating us in His own image and likeness. It was a reminder for all of us how everything that exists around us, and including our own existence in this world, are all due to the works of the Lord, and without Him, we are nothing and we would not even have existed at all. And God created all of us in His likeness and image as ultimately, He sees us all as His own children, His adopted sons and daughters, and He intended for all of us to be the ones to enjoy everything that He has created, and to forever be in His grace and loving Presence. However, as we all know it well, we have not been faithful and obedient to God. Instead, we chose to rebel against Him and follow the advice of the devil instead, listening to his lies and allowing his falsehoods to lead us into the wrong path, taking up the forbidden fruits of the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and hence, in our desire to become like God, we ended up falling into this world of suffering and death. But God, in His most wonderful and patient love for each one of us did not give up on us. Instead, He continued to reach out to us and provided us with the help necessary for us to find our way back to Him, and He opened His arms, welcoming us back with His mercy and kindness, desiring to be reconciled and reunited with us. And that was why He sent unto us all His own Begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, the Divine Word of God Incarnate. It was through His Word that God has created this world and Universe, and the same Word of God, the Divine Logos has become incarnate in the flesh, becoming one of the Creation through the assumption of the flesh and our human existence, but without shedding His infinite and timeless existence from the beginning, co-Eternal and consubstantial with God the Father and the Holy Spirit. Through this act of supreme love, God has made Himself tangible and approachable to all of us, to show us all His sincere desire in loving us all and in wanting to guide us and help us to return to the path of virtue and grace, so that more and more may come to be saved and be spared the fate of eternal damnation.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, on this special Feast of Our Lady of Lourdes and World Day of the Sick, all of us are reminded that God is our Lord and Master, and we have to keep in mind that we should not allow all sorts of worldly matters, desires and distractions to lead us away from the true path towards God and His grace. We must always put our faith and trust in God, and resist the many temptations present around us that may try to lead us astray down the wrong path, and we must also resist the pull of our pride, ego, ambition and desire in this life, and instead, strive to be humble and to be willing to listen to the Lord calling upon us and allow Him to patiently lead us down the path of righteousness and grace. We must always remember that God desires our salvation, and He has done everything He could to rescue us all and to bring us ever closer to Him. On this special Feast day, this devotion to Our Lady of Lourdes is yet another reminder for us of the greatness of God’s love for us, that He even also sent His mother to us, to help us all and to guide us all to Him. After all, it is the Lord Himself Who has entrusted His mother to us to be our own loving Mother from His Cross as He was hanging there at the moment of His Passion. Through His mother, the Lord wants us all to realise our shortcomings and flaws, our faults and weaknesses, and by coming towards Him through His mother, the Lord hopes that all of us may be healed by our faith and trust in Him, and also be inspired by the good examples and the faith which Mary herself has shown in her life. Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes is a great role model and example for us all to follow, and we should do our best to follow her examples in our own life and actions. We are also called to emulate the lives and examples of the Holy men and women, and Saints of God, particularly the those who we celebrate today, Saint Abigail, Religious and Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo, Priest. Therefore today let us all remind ourselves of God’s great and most generous love for us, all the things that He has done for our sake. Let us not take His love for granted and let us continue to thank Him for all that He has lovingly provided for us, and for the help He has shown us through His Blessed Mother, Our Lady of Lourdes, who is also our Mother. May the Lord also have mercy on the sick and those who are suffering from various diseases and ailments, and let us all continue to pray for them all, so that God may continue to journey with them all and show them all His mercy and compassion. Holy Mary, Mother of God, Our Lady of Lourdes, pray for all of us sinners, your sons and daughters, so that we may come to realise the depth of our sinfulness and evils, and that we may come to repent and turn away from those wickedness, and find our way to your beloved Son, Our Lord and Saviour. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the good Lord in His great love and compassion for all of us continue to love us and bless us in each and every moments of our lives, and may He guide us in our journey of faith and life, and be with us always, now and forevermore. Amen 🙏🏽
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ’s public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family. The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother’s arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice.
The Saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are:
St. Blaise and St. Ansgar (February 3); St. Agatha (February 5); St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8); St. Scholastica (February 10); Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11); Sts. Cyril and Methodius (February 14); Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites (February 17); St. Peter Damian (February 21); Chair of St. Peter (February 22) and St. Polycarp (February 23). The Optional Memorial of Polycarp (February 23), is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.
From Feast to Fast: We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday, falls on March 5, 2025, marking the beginning of the Lenten season and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son. 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12539
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 good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Every life is a gift. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints, we humbly pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, for an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾
Let us pray:
My divine Lord, You and You alone are worthy of all worship, adoration and praise. You and You alone deserve the worship I offer You from the depths of my heart. Help me and Your entire Church to always interiorize our exterior acts of worship so as to give You the glory that is due Your holy name. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Our Lady of Lourdes; Saint Abigail and Blessed Bartholomew of Olmedo ~ 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, grace-filled and fruitful week. May God keep us all safe and well ~ Amen 🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖