FIRST WEEK OF LENT
SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 13, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINTS RODERICK, PRIEST, AND SOLOMON, MARTYRS AND SAINT EUPHRASIA OF CONSTANTINOPLE, VIRGIN| Daily Saints and Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
TWELFTH ANNIVERSARY OF THE PONTIFICATE OF POPE FRANCIS, VICAR OF CHRIST AND SUPREME PONTIFF: | (Prayer link below)
Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Thursday, First Week of Lent.
Today, March 13, 2025, marks the 12th anniversary of Pope Francis’s election as the 266th Pope. Let us all commemorate with prayers for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, as he celebrates the twelfth anniversary since his election as Pope at the Papal Conclave on March 13, 2013, that God will always bless him and guide him in his ministry as our shepherd. We pray for his continued health and well-being, as he continues his stay at Rome’s Gemelli hospital.
Happy 12th anniversary, Pope Francis! We continue to pray with you and for you and wishing you a speedy recovery and God’s Divine healing and intervention. Amen 🙏🏽
May God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of our Lenten journey 🙏🏽
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/13/catholic-daily-mass-daily-tv-mass-march-13-2025/
NOVENA TO SAINT JOSEPH: Begins March 10–18, 2025 (in preparation for the Solemnity of Saint Joseph on March 19, 2025) | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/11/novena-to-saint-joseph/
DAY 8: LENTEN PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/13/day-8-lenten-prayers-and-reflections/
Today, as we continue our Lenten journey, we are reminded of Jesus’ words in the Gospel: “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.” This invitation encourages us to deepen our relationship with God through persistent prayer, trusting that He hears and responds to our needs.
During this season, we are called to open our hearts to God’s mercy, turning away from sin and striving for holiness through prayer, fasting, and acts of charity. Our sacrifices and prayers are not merely external observances but opportunities for transformation, drawing us closer to Christ and shaping us into true disciples of His love.
May we grow in love, humility, and trust, embracing this journey with hearts open to His will. Let us pray for peace, healing, and reconciliation in our world, trusting in God’s providence. May this Lenten season bring us renewal, deeper faith, and a spirit of true repentance. Wishing us all a grace-filled and spiritually uplifting Lenten journey. Amen. 🙏🏽
LENT: | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/03/lent/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
WORLD PRAYERS FOR POPE FRANCIS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/26/world-prayers-for-pope-francis/
PRAYER FOR POPE FRANCIS: May we all unite as one voice to lift up the Vicar of Christ in prayer today as his health continues to improve after a prolonged respiratory crisis. We continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis’ speedy recovery and God’s Divine healing and intervention.
Almighty God, we thank you for the loving service of Pope Francis and the hope he has inspired in so many in Your great mercy. Have mercy on him in his illness now, we pray, and guide the medical staff in his care. Grant him peace and healing. Through Christ our Lord. Amen🙏🏽
PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTER: We join our Holy Father, Pope Francis to pray for the people of Bahía Blanca, in Argentina, affected by the recent floods the area is suffering. We specifically pray for those who have lost their lives due to this natural disaster and their families and all those who are missing and displaced from their homes. May the good Lord grant them all peace and comfort during this challenging time.
On this special feast day, as we continue our Lenten journey, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the sick and dying and all those who mourn the loss of their loved ones and celebrate their memorial anniversary today. We pray for our loved ones who have recently died, for the victims of the recent flood in Argentina and we continue to pray for the repose of their gentle souls 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🙏
THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS’ MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH – For families in crisis: Let us pray that broken families might discover the cure for their wounds through forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s gifts, even in their differences. (https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
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/
DAILY SAINTS AND REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Today, we commemorate the Memorial of Saints Roderick, Priest, and Solomon, Martyrs, as well as Saint Euphrasia of Constantinople, Virgin. Saint Roderick was a devoted priest in 9th-century Spain during the Moorish rule. He had two brothers one a Muslim and the other indifferent to faith. Attempting to reconcile them during a dispute, Roderick was severely beaten and falsely accused of renouncing Islam. Remaining steadfast in his Christian faith, he was imprisoned and later martyred alongside Saint Solomon in Córdoba on March 13, 857.
Saint Euphrasia, born in 380 in Constantinople, was the daughter of a noble family related to Emperor Theodosius I. After her father’s death, she and her mother moved to Egypt, near a monastery of 130 nuns. Embracing a life of humility, charity, and penance, Euphrasia declined marriage arranged by the emperor, choosing instead to dedicate herself wholly to God. She was known for her acts of humility and charity, living a life of devotion until her death around 410.
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and these holy Saints, we humbly pray for steadfastness in faith, courage in the face of adversity, and hearts wholly devoted to God’s will. We lift up those who suffer persecution for their beliefs, that they may find strength and hope in the examples of Saints Roderick and Solomon. We also pray for those discerning their vocations, that they may be inspired by Saint Euphrasia’s dedication and purity. May the Lord’s grace fortify the Church, guide its leaders, and bring solace to the oppressed.
Saints Roderick, Solomon, and Euphrasia of Constantinople, pray for us. 🙏🏽
We thank God for His mercy and the gift of faith. May this Lenten season lead us to deeper conversion, greater love, and unwavering trust in His divine will. ~ Amen. 🙏🏽
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/
A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏🏽
God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen 🙏🏽
LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards
Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection. 🙏🏽
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINTS RODERICK, PRIEST, AND SOLOMON, MARTYRS AND SAINT EUPHRASIA OF CONSTANTINOPLE, VIRGIN: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 13TH: Today, we honor the Memorial of Saints Roderick, Priest, and Solomon, Martyrs (faithful witnesses who endured persecution and martyrdom for their steadfast love of Christ), and Saint Euphrasia of Constantinople, Virgin (a devoted servant of God who embraced asceticism and a life of humility and prayer).
Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary and these holy Saints, we offer prayers for all who suffer persecution for their faith, for those unjustly accused or imprisoned, and for those striving to live a life of holiness amidst trials. May the witness of these saints inspire us to remain faithful to Christ, bear our sufferings with courage, and trust in God’s divine providence.
“O God of all the nations, the One God who is and was and always will be, in your providence you willed that your Church be united to the suffering of your Son. Look with mercy on your servants who are persecuted for their faith in you. Grant them perseverance and courage to be worthy imitators of Christ. Bring your wisdom upon leaders of nations to work for peace among all peoples. May your Spirit open conversion for those who contradict your will, that we may live in harmony. Give us the grace to be united in truth and freedom, and to always seek your will in our lives. Through Christ our Lord”… Amen 🙏🏽
Saints Roderick and Solomon ~ Pray for us.
Saint Euphrasia ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
Saint(s) of the Day | March 13th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
SAINTS RODERICK, PRIEST, AND SOLOMON, MARTYRS: Sts. Roderick and Solomon were Martyrs of Spain who died on March 13, 857 AD. St. Roderick, also called Rodriquez, Rudericus and Rodrigo, was a Mozarab Catholic priest from Córdoba in Cabra, Andalusia, a region that had been part of the kingdom of the Visigoths of Spain. Living in 9th century Spain at the time of the Moorish dominion and persecution. He was venerated as one of the Martyrs of Córdoba. He had two brothers—one had become a Muslim and the other was irreligious, had practically abandoned the Catholic Faith. St. Roderick became the victim of family and fraternal disagreements and violence. The Muslim brother reproached the third brother for his “obstinacy” in remaining a Christian. St. Roderick tried to make peace between the two but without success.
One day, while trying to break up a violent quarrel between the two, they turned on St. Roderick and he was beaten senseless by both of his brothers until he became unconscious. His Muslim brother then carried him in a cart through the streets, publicly proclaiming that St. Roderick had renounced Christ and converted to Islam and wished to die a Muslim. St. Roderick, too ill to speak out, suffered in silence, but as soon as he got well he escaped from his brother’s hands. His brother sought out St. Roderick and had him brought before the kadi or judge on the charge of having returned to the Christian Faith after embracing Islam. St. Roderick protested fiercely, declaring that he had never himself denied the Faith, he proclaimed that he had always been a Christian, when St. Roderick maintained his loyalty to the Catholic religion, he was accused of apostasy from Islam under Sharia law. The judge refused to believe him and relegated him to one of the worst dungeons in the city of Cordova. While he was denounced by the Muslim brother and imprisoned for falling away from the Islamic faith, in prison he met and befriended Salomon (Solomon) another Christian charged with the same offense. The two dedicated followers of Christ encouraged one another during the lengthy imprisonment, which had been designed to shake their constancy. Seeing that his original stratagem did not work, the judge had them set apart for a time; but when this also failed to achieve the desired retractions, the reluctant judge, then sentenced him to death, at the insistence of that Muslim brother. This was fratricide, more than persecution, not a question of the unusal form of persecution in this case. At the time, the region saw Muslims, Christians and Jews co-exist quite peacefully. Eventually, the judge condemned both of them to be beheaded, in 857 at Córdoba.
St. Eulogius (who was eventually martyred during that same persecution: see March 11) witnessed their bodies lying near a river, and saw the soldiers throwing the stones reddened by the Saints’ blood into the river to make sure that the Christians could not make relics of them. Thrown into the Guadalquivir river, the bodies were recovered by the Christians, who buried Roderick in the Basilica of San Genesio, near Cordova and Solomon, in the nearby Church of Saints Cosmas and Damian. St. Roderick’s Convent and Hospital in Cabra, established in the 16th century, bears his name.
PRAYER: Almighty, ever-living God, You enabled Sts. Roderick and Solomon to fight to the death for justice. Through their intercession enable us to bear all adversity and with all our strength hasten to You Who alone are life. Amen🙏
SAINT EUPHRASIA OF CONSTANTINOPLE, VIRGIN: Saint Euphrasia also known as Eupraxia (380 – March 13, 410) was a Constantinopolitan nun who was venerated after her death as a saint for her piety and example of charity. St. Euphrasia was born in 380 at Constantinople, Eastern Roman Empire (now Istanbul, Turkey). St. Euphrasia was a daughter of noble and pious parents, honored by the pious Emperor Theodosius and the Empress of that city. She was the only daughter of Antigonus—a nobleman of the court of Emperor Theodosius I, to whom he was related—and of Euphrasia, his wife. When Antigonus died, his widow and young daughter withdrew together to Egypt, near a monastery of one hundred and thirty nuns. This was less than a century since St. Anthony had established his first monastery, but monasticism in that time had spread with incredible speed. At the age of seven, the little girl, St. Euphrasia begged that she might be permitted to take vows and become a nun and serve God in this monastery, the pious mother wept for joy. When her mother presented the child to the abbess, St. Euphrasia took up an image of Christ and kissed it, saying, “By vow I consecrate myself to Christ.” Her mother replied, “Lord Jesus Christ, receive this child under your special protection. You alone doth she love and seek: to you doth she recommend herself.”
When St. Euphrasia’s mother left her in the hands of the abbess, she went out of the monastery weeping. She continued her life of prayer and mortification, and a few years later, when this good mother fell sick, she slept in peace. Soon after, on hearing of St. Euphrasia’s mother death, the Emperor Theodosius I sent for St. Euphrasia, as he considered himself her protector, and already during her childhood had arranged for her to be married to a young senator of Constantinople, when she would reach a suitable age. St. Euphrasia responded with a letter to the Emperor declining the offer to marry; instead, she requested that her estate be sold and divided among the poor, and that all her slaves be manumitted. The emperor did as she requested shortly before his death in 395. Saint Euphrasia was known for and a perfect pattern of humility, meekness, and charity. If she found herself assaulted by any temptation, she immediately sought the advice of the abbess, who often on such occasions assigned to her some humbling and painful penitential labor, which she would execute to perfection. Once she moved a pile of great rocks from one place to another, continuing for thirty days with wonderful simplicity, until the devil, vanquished by her humble obedience, left her in peace. She became powerful over the demons, and delivered many possessed persons. She cured a child who was paralyzed, deaf and dumb, making the sign of the cross over him and saying, May He who created you, heal you! She delivered a woman from possession by the devil. Moreover, before she died, the abbess of St. Euphrasia’s monastery reported having had a vision of St. Euphrasia transported to God’s throne, surrounded by angels. St. Euphrasia was favored with other miracles also and said to perform miracles before and after her death. St. Euphrasia died on March 13, 410 at the age of 30 in The Thebaid, Egypt. After her death, she was venerated as a saint.
PRAYER: Hear us, O God, our Saviour: that as we rejoice in the feast of blessed Euphrasia, Thy Virgin: so we may be taught by its devotion towards Thee. Through Jesus Christ, Thy Son who lives and reigns with Thee in they unity of the Holy Ghost God world without end…Amen🙏
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Thursday of the First Week of Lent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday of the First Week of Lent, March 13, 2025
Reading 1: Esther C:12, 14-16, 23-25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 138:1-2ab, 2cde-3, 7c-8
Gospel: Matthew 7:7-12
Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 7:7-12
“Everyone who asks, receives”
“Jesus said to His disciples: “Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened. Which one of you would hand his son a stone when he asked for a loaf of bread, or a snake when he asked for a fish? If you then, who are wicked, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your heavenly Father give good things to those who ask him. “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you. This is the law and the prophets.”
In today’s Gospel reading, which is taken from the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus encourages us to ask, to search, to knock on the door. Earlier in the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus had indicated what we are to ask for, what we are to search for. He does that above all in the prayer which He gave to His disciples, the Lord’s Prayer. We are to seek for the coming of God’s kingdom, the doing of God’s will. We are to ask for our daily bread, for forgiveness for our sins, for the strength to remain faithful when temptation comes, when we are faced with evil. Elsewhere in the Sermon Jesus says, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God and His righteousness’. God’s righteousness is that way of life which corresponds to His will for us. As well as calling on us to keep on searching, to keep on asking, Jesus also tells us what we are to search for, what we are to ask for. More than anything else, we are to search for, to hunger and thirst for, what God wants, for a way of life that is in keeping with what God wants. If we keep searching for that, if we keep asking for it, today’s Gospel reading assures us that our search will not be in vain. Even if our prayer of petition is not answered in the way we had hoped at the time, nonetheless, like Jesus in the Garden, our lives will be touched by God’s presence and we will be the stronger for our prayer. Saint Paul had that experience too. He suffered from what he called a ‘thorn in the flesh’ and three times, he said, he appealed to the Lord to be rid of it, but his prayer was not heard. He was left with his thorn in the flesh. Yet, the Lord did respond to his prayer, even though not in the way St. Paul was looking for. The Lord said to Paul in response to his prayer, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness’. St. Paul’s experience teaches us to trust that our prayer of petition is never wasted; the Lord will respond to us, even if not in the way we wanted or hoped for. We have to keep on asking, searching, knocking, trusting that in doing so we are giving the Lord space to work in our lives. Our prayer of petition opens us up to God’s generous presence, even in those times when our prayers do not seem to be answered. Good things from God will always come to us when we pray, because in prayer we allow ourselves to be touched by God’s grace.
Reflecting on today’s Gospel, Jesus encourages us to trust in the goodness of God. He invites us to approach the Father with confidence, knowing that He hears and answers our prayers. The imagery Jesus uses—of a parent providing for a child reminds us that God’s love surpasses even the best human love. If earthly parents can give good things to their children, how much more will our perfect and loving Father provide for us? Today’s Gospel calls us to persistent prayer. Jesus tells us to ask, seek, and knock—not just once, but continuously. God does not always answer in the way we expect, but He always responds with what is best for us. His timing is perfect, even when we do not understand. Prayer is not about changing God’s will but aligning our hearts with His. Furthermore, Jesus presents the Golden Rule: “Do to others whatever you would have them do to you.” This simple yet profound teaching sums up the Law and the Prophets. True faith is not just about receiving from God but also about how we treat others. If we expect mercy, kindness, and generosity, we must extend the same to those around us. Today, let us ask ourselves: Do we trust that God hears our prayers and responds with love? Are we persistent in prayer, even when answers seem delayed? How can we better live out the Golden Rule in our daily interactions?
Our first reading today, from the Book of Esther, gives an account of the moment when Queen Esther of Persia prayed to the Lord, asking for His help and guidance. For the context, at that time, the people of Israel living in Persia and in other territories of the Persian Empire were facing a lot of difficulties and challenges as they encountered opposition from their enemies, such as in particular one Haman, the Agagite, who was an Amalekite, a sworn enemy of the Israelites. Haman managed to manipulate the Persian King and the laws to favour him and to attempt the elimination of the entire race of the Israelites by framing them for rebellion and disobedience. Therefore, Esther, the Queen of Persia, who was an Israelite herself, prepared herself to face the King and his court, in the attempt to seek mercy and liberation for her people. What Esther sought to do was very risky and dangerous for her, as she was not allowed or supposed to come to the presence of the King without being invited or asked to do so. Her predecessor, the former Queen Vashti of Persia was deposed and exiled precisely because she disobeyed the King’s command and rule, albeit in the exact opposite, as she refused to come to the King’s presence when he asked her to do so. Esther was her people’s last hope, as without her intercession and effort, the Israelites would surely have been destroyed and eliminated by their enemies, as per the designs of Haman mentioned earlier. And Esther turned her hope to the Lord, as she herself has no one else to turn to, and entrusted herself completely in His hands, believing that God alone can make things work and that He would provide for His people in their hour and time of need. Esther pleaded before the Lord, asking Him to show mercy and kindness to His beloved people, that He would protect and guide them all just as He had once done during the time of the Exodus and then in the subsequent many occasions when He has intervened and shown His providence to His people, the Israelites, despite their disobedience and sins. It is a reminder for us all that we must always have faith and trust in the Lord, believing that He has the power to save us from our predicaments and troubles. We should not abandon Him in search of other sources of fulfilment, satisfaction and providence in our lives, but reaffirm our commitment to Him instead, desiring to love Him wholeheartedly in each and every moments of our lives.
Reflecting on our first reading, Queen Esther’s prayer is a beautiful example of deep trust in God. In the face of great danger, she turns to the Lord, acknowledging that she has no help but Him. She humbles herself, fasting and praying for divine intervention. Her plea is heartfelt and desperate: “Help me, who am alone and have no one but you, O Lord, my God.” Esther’s faith reminds us that God is our refuge in times of trouble. Just as He delivered Esther and her people, He continues to answer the cries of His children. Her prayer reflects the truth of today’s Gospel God listens to those who seek Him with sincerity. This Lenten season is an opportunity for us to deepen our trust in God, just as Esther did. When we feel overwhelmed, let us remember that we are never alone. We are called to place our fears and burdens in God’s hands, knowing that He will provide and protect. Heavenly Father, I come before You with a trusting heart. Help me to be persistent in prayer, believing that You hear me and know what is best for me. Like Queen Esther, let me turn to You in moments of fear, and like Jesus, let me treat others with kindness and love. Strengthen my faith and guide me in Your ways. Amen 🙏🏽
As we reflect on the words of the Lord in the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded as ever again on the generous and great love which God has shown us, His beloved people and children, in His care and concern for us, and how He has always extended His kindness to us despite all of us having constantly and frequently disobeyed Him and His commandments. God has always been patient in reaching out to us and calling on us to return to Him with contrite heart and with the genuine desire to be forgiven from our many sins and faults. We must not take for granted all the love that God has shown us, and we must always be ready to seek Him wholeheartedly and commit to Him our whole lives, as expected of us as Christians. May the Lord continue to guide us through this journey of life, and may He help us to persevere through the many challenges present all around us so that we may truly be rooted in Him, and not be easily swayed by the many temptations present around us. We are called to emulate the Holy men and women, and all the Saints, particularly, those we celebrate today, Saint Roderick and Solomon and Saint Euphrasia of Constantinople. May our loving Father continue to provide us all what we need, and help us to endure the various challenges that we may have to encounter in life, so that by His help and guidance, His strength and blessings, we may always walk ever more faithfully in His holy Presence, and strive to be good role models and examples for everyone around us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and bless us all in each and every one of our good endeavours, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MARCH | MONTH OF ST. JOSEPH: The month of March is dedicated to St. Joseph, the foster father of Jesus Christ. “His was the title of father of the Son of God, because he was the Spouse of Mary, ever Virgin. He was our Lord’s father, because Jesus ever yielded to him the obedience of a son. He was our Lord’s father, because to him were entrusted, and by him were faithfully fulfilled, the duties of a father, in protecting Him, giving Him a home, sustaining and rearing Him, and providing Him with a trade”. “This patronage must be invoked as ever necessary for the Church, not only as a defense against all dangers, but also, and indeed primarily, as an impetus for her renewed commitment to evangelization in the world and to re-evangelization,” wrote St. John Paul II in Redemptoris Custos (Guardian of the Redeemer). St. John Paul II further said, “Because St. Joseph is the protector of the Church, he is the guardian of the Eucharist and the Christian family. Therefore, we must turn to St. Joseph today to ward off attacks upon the real presence of Christ in the Eucharist and upon the family. We must plead with St. Joseph to guard the Eucharistic Lord and the Christian family during this time of peril.”
As the weeks of Lent progress let us not be tired of doing our good works and penance, but continue with the enthusiasm of the catechumens on their way to Easter and Baptism. May our Lenten observance be a joyful journey and not a forced march. 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we continue our Lenten journey on this Thursday of the First Week of Lent, we reflect on today’s Gospel message from Matthew 7:7-12, where Jesus encourages us to “ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you.” With this assurance, we approach our Heavenly Father with confidence, bringing forth our prayers and petitions. We pray for the grace to deepen our trust in God’s providence, believing that He hears and answers our prayers according to His divine wisdom. May we cultivate a persistent and sincere prayer life, always seeking to align our wills with His. In unity with Pope Francis’ prayer intention for this month, we lift up all families experiencing crises. May they find healing through the power of forgiveness, rediscovering each other’s unique gifts and strengths, even amidst differences. Let the Holy Spirit guide them towards reconciliation and renewed love. We remember those who feel isolated or abandoned, especially the sick, the elderly, and the marginalized. May they experience the comforting presence of the Lord and find support within their communities. As we reflect on Queen Esther’s profound trust in God during her time of trial, may we too approach the Lord with humility and faith, knowing that He is our refuge and strength in times of need. 🙏🏽
LET US PRAY:
Dear Lord of infinite wisdom and knowledge, help me to always place my trust in Your goodness and care for me. Help me to daily turn to You in my need and to trust that You will answer my prayer according to Your perfect will. I place my life into Your hands, dear Lord. Do with me as you wish. Jesus, I trust in You. 🙏🏽
Heavenly Father, we come before You with hearts full of trust and hope. Grant us the grace to seek You earnestly in prayer, to forgive as You forgive, and to love as You love. Strengthen all families in crisis, bringing healing and unity where there is division. May our Lenten sacrifices draw us closer to You, transforming our hearts to reflect Your mercy and compassion. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Jesus, we trust in You. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Roderick and Solomon and Saint Euphrasia of Constantinople ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
May this day be filled with God’s grace and peace. Wishing us all a safe, blessed, and fruitful day. Amen. 🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖