SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT (YEAR C)
SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 16, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT HERIBERT (HERBERT) OF COLOGNE, BISHOP AND SAINT ABRAHAM OF EDESSA, PRIEST| Daily Saints and Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Sunday, Second Week of Lent.
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/2025/03/16/catholic-daily-mass-daily-tv-mass-march-16-2025/
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/
SECOND SUNDAY OF LENT | LENTEN MEDITATION & REFLECTION | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/16/second-sunday-of-lent/
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, during this time of his hospitalization after a prolonged respiratory crisis. We thank God as his health continues to improve and 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🙏🏽
LENT: | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/03/lent/
STATIONS OF THE CROSS | A JOURNEY WITH CHRIST | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/03/stations-of-the-cross/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
Today, as we continue our Lenten journey, we reflect on the Transfiguration of Jesus, a moment of divine revelation that strengthens us for the road ahead. On the mountain, Jesus’ glory is unveiled, reminding us that the path to resurrection passes through the Cross. The Father’s voice commands, “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.”
Lent is a time to listen to Christ’s call to repentance, to deeper faith, and to transformation. Like the disciples, we may long for spiritual comfort, but Jesus calls us to walk with Him, even when the journey is difficult. Through prayer, fasting, and charity, we open ourselves to His grace, allowing Him to shape us into true disciples.
Heavenly Father, as we journey through Lent, help us to listen to Your Son and follow Him with trust. May His light guide us through our struggles and prepare us for the glory of Easter. Amen.
Wishing us all a grace-filled and spiritually uplifting Lenten journey. 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 celebrate the Memorial of Saint Heribert of Cologne, Bishop (a holy shepherd devoted to prayer and service, known for his miraculous intercession for rain, and patron against drought) and Saint Abraham of Edessa, Priest (a hermit and evangelist who renounced worldly comforts to bring sinners back to God through prayer and penance).
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and these holy Saints, we humbly pray for bishops and priests, that they may be faithful shepherds of God’s people. We ask for the grace to trust in Divine Providence, to persevere in prayer, and to seek holiness in our daily lives. May we, like Saint Abraham, have the courage to turn away from sin and lead others to Christ, and may we, like Saint Heribert, be instruments of God’s blessings to those in need.
Saint Heribert of Cologne and Saint Abraham of Edessa ~ 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. 🙏🏽
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Sunday of the Second Week of Lent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Sunday of the Second Week of Lent, March 16, 2025
Reading 1, Genesis 15:5-12, 17-18
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 27:1, 7-8, 8-9, 13-14
Reading 2, Philippians 3:17-4:1
Gospel, Luke 9:28b-36
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 9:28b-36
“While He was praying His face changed in appearance and His clothing became dazzling white”
“Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up the mountain to pray. While He was praying His face changed in appearance and His clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with Him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from Him, Peter said to Jesus, ‘Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.’ But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, ‘This is my chosen Son; listen to him.’ After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus takes Peter and John and James up a mountain to pray. He went up the mountain to seek God in prayer, and in prayer He was transfigured. The Transfiguration of Jesus is a moment of divine revelation where Christ’s glory is revealed to Peter, James, and John. As Jesus prays, His face shines, and His clothes become dazzling white. Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets, appear and converse with Him about His coming passion in Jerusalem. This moment is not only a revelation of Jesus’ divinity but also a foreshadowing of His resurrection. Jesus was very aware that He was facing down a long road to Jerusalem where rejection and death awaited Him, where everything would be taken away from Him. He had just told His disciples as much in Caesarea Philippi. Now He goes up the mountain to seek the face of the Lord to be strengthened for the road ahead. His relationship with His Father was one thing that could not be taken from Him. Here was the greatest value of His life that would endure when all else failed. In prayerful communion with God, he was transfigured; He experienced Himself as He would be, beyond the rejection, suffering, and death that awaited Him in Jerusalem. This was a wonderful moment not only for Jesus Himself but for those who went up the mountain with Him. ‘Master, it is wonderful for us to be here’, said Peter who was overwhelmed by the experience, wishes to stay on the mountain by building tents, failing to grasp the deeper meaning of this event. The voice of the Father commands, “This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.” This reminds us that Jesus is the fulfillment of God’s promise and the one to whom we must listen. Some of us may be fortunate enough in the course of our lives to have known such moments when God seemed very near to us, when we felt fully alive in God’s presence, fully loved with a love greater than any human love. Such moments are little glimpses of that final transfiguration that awaits us all; they assure us that when we have to let go of everything, God remains, and in God we will find all again, transformed and renewed.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading, Jesus knew times in His life when He felt deeply happy and at peace and other times when life was a real struggle. In last Sunday’s Gospel reading Jesus struggled with Satan in the wilderness. While today’s Gospel reading puts before us a very different moment in Jesus’ life. In the wilderness Jesus was alone with only Satan for company. Here on the mount of transfiguration, He is with His three closest disciples, Peter, James and John. Not only has He His three closest disciples for company, two of the great Jewish prophets appear to Him and speak to Him, Moses and Elijah. Even more significantly, Jesus heard His heavenly Father address Him as ‘my Son, the Chosen One’. If in the wilderness, Jesus was being put to a great test, here on the mountain He is being given great consolation. Jesus needed this moment of assurance, because he was about to set out on the most difficult journey of His life, the journey to Jerusalem. According to the Gospel of Luke a few verses after this scene, ‘When the days drew near for Him to be taken up, He set His face to go to Jerusalem’. In our Gospel reading, Moses and Elijah were speaking to Jesus about His departure which He was about to accomplish in Jerusalem, His death. Jesus had gone up the mountain to pray, and it was while He was at prayer that Moses and Elijah appeared to Him, and the voice of the Father was heard to speak. This time of prayer on the mountain was for Jesus a time of great consolation, of great reassurance. It was an experience which strengthened Him for the journey that He was about to face into.
Lent is a time when, in a sense, the whole church is called to go up the mountain to pray, as Jesus did. It is a season when we are called to nurture, through prayer, the most important relationship in our lives, our relationship with the Lord who is our light and our help. Our prayer can take many different forms; none of us prays in the same way all of the time. Today’s Gospel reading of the transfiguration, however, draws attention to one particular form of prayer, the prayer of listening. When Peter, James and John were on the mountain with Jesus, the voice of God spoke to Him and said, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him’. The three disciples were being called to the prayer of listening. Jesus was just about to head for Jerusalem with His disciples. In the course of that journey, Luke’s Gospel presents Jesus as having a great deal to say to His disciples. Along the way He gave them a lot of teaching and instruction. Before they headed out on this journey, the disciples were being called to listen to Jesus. As we begin our Lenten journey, we too hear the voice from the cloud say to us, ‘This is my Son, my Chosen, listen to him’. Lent is a journey of listening to the word of the Lord. As Jesus was praying on the mountain, he was transfigured. As we prayerfully listen to the Lord’s word, we too will be transfigured; we will be transformed more fully into the image and likeness of God’s Son. Paul reminds us in today’s second reading our ultimate destiny is that our earthly bodies will be transfigured into copies of the Lord’s glorious body. In giving ourselves over to the prayerful listening of the Lord’s word, that process of transfiguration can begin here and now. The Transfiguration calls us to open our hearts to Christ’s glory, especially during Lent, as we journey toward His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Just as the disciples had to descend from the mountain and continue their journey with Christ, we too must take the grace we receive in prayer and use it to strengthen our daily lives. Lent is a time of transformation, a time to let Christ’s light shine through us. Are we truly listening to Him? Are we allowing His presence to change us?
Our first reading this Sunday, from the Book of Genesis highlights the very moment when God established His Covenant with Abram, a man whom He had called from the land of Ur of the Chaldeans in Mesopotamia. Abram had obeyed the Lord and responded to His call with commitment, following the Lord’s call to the land that He had led him into, the land of Canaan, the Promised Land that God promised to be given to the descendants of Abram. Abram brought his wife, Sarai and his personal assets and servants, travelling long distance from his homeland, leaving behind the life that he knew, and embarked on the journey to the land of Canaan. Through this great obedience and other virtues that Abram had shown, the Lord chose him to be the one with whom He would make His Covenant, renewing the Covenant that He had made with us mankind from the beginning. God therefore promised to Abram through this solemn Covenant, that He would be his God and the God of his descendants, which would be as numerous as the stars in the sky and the sand grains on the shores, essentially uncountable. And this is remarkable considering that at the time that God made this Covenant with Abram, he was still a relatively old man with no child or anyone that can bear his legacy, and he himself said that his servant would be the one to inherit his riches and property. But God reassured Abram that He would give unto him a son, son born of him and his wife, Sarai. And as a sign of his commitment to this new Covenant and the new life that Abram and his wife, Sarai, had been called into, they both changed their name, which symbolically highlighted this moment of conversion and change, becoming known as Abraham and Sarah respectively. Eventually Abraham would indeed become the father of many nations, both by blood and by faith, as all of us Christians do call Abraham our father in faith.
Reflecting on our first reading from Genesis, we see the covenant between God and Abraham. God asks Abraham to trust in His promise, showing him the stars as a symbol of the countless descendants he will have. Though Abraham struggles to understand, he places his faith in God, and it is credited to him as righteousness. The smoking fire pot and flaming torch passing between the animal sacrifices signify God’s presence and His unwavering faithfulness. This passage reminds us that God is always faithful to His promises, even when we struggle to see how His plan will unfold. Like Abraham, we are called to trust in God, especially in times of uncertainty. Lent invites us to deepen our faith and surrender to His divine will.
Our Responsorial Psalm today, Psalm 27 expresses confidence in God’s guidance and protection: “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?” It reminds us that even in trials, we are never alone. God’s presence is our refuge and strength. During this Lenten season, we are called to seek the Lord with all our hearts, trusting that He will lead us into His light.
Our second reading today is from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful people of God in the region of Philippi in modern day Greece. In that Epistle, the Apostle spoke of the nature of our Christian citizenship in Heaven, a reminder for all of us that as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people, all of us, regardless which country, origin or background that we have, ultimately, all of us belong to the Lord and we all share this common inheritance from God, the promise of the eternal life and true happiness in Heaven, to be forever in the presence of our loving God and Creator. And linking to what we have heard in our first reading today regarding the Covenant of God and Abraham, all of us have Abraham as our father in faith, and therefore, we also share in this great and Eternal Covenant that God has established and renewed with us all. We are all reminded by St. Paul the Apostle that no matter what struggles and hardships each and every one of us may encounter in our respective lives, each one of us should continue to be faithful in the Lord and put our faith and trust in Him. We must not let ourselves to be easily swayed by the many temptations, pressures, coercions and all the things that we may encounter in our path which may lead us astray, tempting us to abandon our journey towards God and His salvation. At that time, during the moment when St. Paul wrote this Epistle, Christians have begun to spread around the Roman Empire and other surrounding regions, as missionaries worked hard to proclaim the Good News of God to more and more people. However, they also faced a lot of opposition and persecution from their enemies and from those who were suspicious of the Christian teachings and faith.
Reflecting on our second reading, while St. Paul, in his letter to the Philippians, reminds us that our true citizenship is in heaven, he warns against focusing on earthly desires and instead calls us to set our hearts on Christ. Paul assures us that Jesus will transform our lowly bodies to be like His glorified body, giving us hope in the resurrection. Today’s reading challenges us to reflect: Are we living as citizens of heaven, or are we distracted by worldly concerns? Lent is a time to renew our commitment to Christ, detaching ourselves from the things that pull us away from Him. As we continue our Lenten journey, let us strive to be transformed by God’s grace. Just as Jesus revealed His glory to His disciples, He desires to reveal Himself to us. Let us listen to Him, trust in His promises, and allow His love to shape our lives. May we walk in faith, keeping our eyes fixed on the glory of Christ, who leads us to eternal life. Heavenly Father, in the Transfiguration of Your Son, You revealed His divine glory and called us to listen to Him. Open my heart to His words, that I may be transformed by Your grace. Help me to trust in Your promises, as Abraham did, and to seek the light of Christ in my daily life. May this Lenten season be a time of true renewal, drawing me closer to You. Amen 🙏🏽
As we reflect on the words of the Lord in the Sacred Scriptures today this Second Sunday in the season of Lent, all of us are reminded to continue embarking on the journey of faith through our lives towards the Lord our God, our Saviour and Hope. We are reminded of the Covenant which God has made with each and every one of us, beginning with Abraham, our father in faith, to whom God had willingly established the Covenant that He had constantly renewed and then expanded to cover all of us, the children and descendants of Adam, that we all may partake in His glorious inheritance and to receive the grace and blessings that He has assured to all those who are faithful to His Covenant, His Law and commandments. We.are called to emulate the Holy men and women, and the Saints, particularly those who we celebrate today, Saint Heribert of Cologne and Saint Abraham of Edessa. Therefore, as we continue to progress through this time and season of Lent, we are called to commit ourselves to the Lord anew and follow Him wholeheartedly, as we have been called to do, to be like Abraham and our forefathers who have trusted in God and be part of the Covenant that He had made with us all. And like Jesus our Lord and Saviour Himself, Who as Son, obeyed His Father’s will perfectly, and as we heard, despite the glory of His appearance and Transfiguration on Mount Tabor, chose to descend down the mountain to go forth to His Passion in Jerusalem. Through His obedience and willing sacrifice, He showed us all the perfect love of God by which all of us have received the fulfilment of the promise of God’s salvation, and opened for us the path towards full reconciliation with our loving Father. This Sunday let us all therefore strive to continue our Lenten journey with great faith and commitment, doing our very best so that we may come closer to God and be ever stronger in our relationship with Him, and be fully committed to His path, so that we can truly be faithful to the New and Eternal Covenant that He has made and sealed with us by the loving sacrifice of His Son, Our Lord and Saviour on the Cross. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the good Lord be with us always, and bless our Lenten journey, now and forevermore. Amen 🙏🏽
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT HERIBERT (HERBERT) OF COLOGNE, BISHOP AND SAINT ABRAHAM OF EDESSA, PRIEST: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 16TH: Today, we honor the Memorial of Saint Heribert of Cologne, Bishop, a devoted shepherd of the Church known for his deep prayer life, acts of charity, and miraculous intercessions for rain during times of drought. He faithfully served as Archbishop of Cologne and worked for peace and reconciliation, strengthening the faith of his people. He is the Patron Saint invoked against drought and for rain. We also commemorate Saint Abraham of Edessa, Priest, a holy hermit who lived a life of extreme asceticism, dedicating himself entirely to prayer and penance. Despite his desire for solitude, he was called to preach and lead a town away from sin, tirelessly working for their conversion. His life is a testament to perseverance, self-sacrifice, and the power of prayer.
Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary and these holy Saints, we humbly offer prayers for all who suffer from drought and natural disasters, for bishops and leaders of the Church, for those who work for reconciliation, and for those called to the difficult mission of conversion and evangelization. We pray for priests, hermits, and those who dedicate themselves to prayer and penance. May their examples inspire us to trust in God’s providence, embrace sacrifice, and labor for the salvation of souls.
O God, who raised up Saint Heribert to shepherd Your people with wisdom and compassion, and who strengthened Saint Abraham to lead souls to repentance, grant that through their intercession, we may remain faithful in prayer, generous in service, and steadfast in faith. May we always trust in Your divine providence and be instruments of Your peace. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Saint Heribert of Cologne and Saint Abraham of Edessa, pray for us! 🙏
Saint(s) of the Day | March 16th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
SAINT HERIBERT (HERBERT) OF COLOGNE, BISHOP: St. Heribert (c 970–1021) was a German Roman Catholic prelate who served as the Archbishop of Cologne from 998 until his death. He also served as the Chancellor for the Emperor Otto III from 994 and collaborated with Saint Henry II Obl. SB (973-1074) with whom relations were strained though were strengthened over time. St. Heribert was born at Worms in Germany about 970 and he was the son of Hugo, count of Worms. He was educated in the school of Worms Cathedral and at the Benedictine Gorze Abbey in Lorraine, France. He wanted to enter the Benedictine Order there, but his father recalled him to Worms and obtained a canonry for him. He returned to Worms Cathedral to be provost and was ordained a priest in 994. As a young priest, St. Heribert became a trusted counselor of the youthful Emperor Otto III, chancellor of the diocese, and finally Archbishop of Cologne in 998.
In that same year, S. Heribert accompanied the Emperor to Rome and Emperor Otto III appointed him chancellor for Italy and four years later also for Germany, a position which he held and assisted Emperor Otto III in his last moments before his death on January 23, 1002. In the ensuing skirmishing for the post of Emperor, St. Heribert at first was opposed to St. Henry II through a mutual misunderstanding. But in time the two Saints, Archbishop and Emperor, were publicly reconciled and labored together for the good of the people. St. Heribert was practically a model of what a Bishop should be. He was a peaceful man but a firm disciplinarian; a holy man but one who knew the value of money and saw to it that his was always divided among the poor. St. Heribert built the monastery of Deutz, on the Rhine and performed miracles, including ending a drought. He was a man of prayer, and in a time of drought it was in answer to his prayers that a torrential rain fell, saving the harvest and delivering the people from famine. He died on March 16, 1021 at Cologne, Germany of natural causes and was buried in the monastery at Deutz, which he founded with the help of Otto III. St. Heribert seems to have led an exemplary life of piety and devotion to the poor and was already honored as a saint during his lifetime and his Canonization was confirmed in about 1074 by St Pope Gregory VII. He’s the Patron Saint invoked against drought, for rain and of Deutz, Germany.
PRAYER: God, Light and Shepherd of souls, You established St. Heribert as Bishop in Your Church to feed Your flock by his word and form it by his example. Help us through his intercession to keep the Faith he taught by his word. Amen🙏
SAINT ABRAHAM OF EDESSA, PRIEST: St. Abraham of Edessa (300-360 A.D.), also known as Abraham of Kidunaia, was a rich nobleman from Mesopotamia. He was born to a wealthy family during the third century about 300 A.D. After receiving an excellent education, St. Abraham was encouraged to get married. He married according to his parents’ wishes, despite his desire to give himself totally to God. But after the wedding ceremony, he told his bride his desire to remain a virgin and dedicate his life to God. His bride accepted this resolution and Abraham retired to a hermitage near Edessa, a city near Mesopotamia. His family searched for him for seventeen days, and were still more astonished when they found him. Why are you surprised? he asked them. Admire instead the favor God has granted me, the grace to bear the yoke of His service, which He has wanted to impose on me without regard to my unworthiness. He walled up his cell door, leaving only a small window open for the food which would be brought to him from that time on. Ten years after he retreated from the world, his parents died and left a great amount of wealth to St. Abraham. As soon as he was aware of this, he asked a friend to distribute the sum to charitable causes. Through actions like this and his deep prayer life, St. Abraham became known throughout the region as a holy man and many came to him for guidance.
Since many were seeking him out for advice and consolation, his reputation even came to the ears of the Bishop of Edessa. When Edessa became poisoned with sin and idolatry, St. Abraham was ordained a priest by the Bishop of Edessa, overruling his humility. Soon after his ordination, he was sent to preach reform to an idolatrous city which had hitherto been deaf to every messenger. St. Abraham was greatly distressed by this, but obeyed the wishes of the bishop. When St. Abraham arrived in Edessa, none of the residents would listen to his words. He was insulted, beaten, and three times banished, but he returned each time with fresh zeal. For three years he pleaded with God for those souls, and eventually in the end through constant prayer he prevailed. Every citizen was converted and came to him for Baptism. After providing for their spiritual needs he went back to his cell, more than ever convinced of the power of prayer, he stayed in his hermitage to continue his life of solitary prayer for the rest of his life. In that cell, then, for fifty years, he would continue to sing God’s praises and implore mercy for himself and for all men. Saint Ephrem wrote of him that a day did not pass without his shedding tears; but that despite his constant and severe penance, he always maintained an agreeable disposition and a healthy and vigorous body. He never reproved anyone with sharpness, but all he said was seasoned with the salt of charity and gentleness.
His brother on dying left an only daughter, Mary, to Saint Abraham’s care. He placed his young niece in a cell near his own and set her up to live as a religious and he devoted himself to training her in perfection. After twenty years of innocence she grew lax and succumbed to the seduction of a rogue hermit. She was so ashamed of her sin that she despaired of God’s mercy and fled to a distant city to became a prostitute. For two years, St. Abraham and his friend St Ephrem prayed earnestly for his niece, Mary. Eventually, discovering her location, St. Abraham left his cell and went in disguise to seek the lost sheep. He came to her disguised as a suitor. When they were alone he revealed his identity to her, and, pleading with her throughout the night, prevailed upon her to return with him to her life of prayer and penance. She came back to her cell, which Abraham relocated directly behind his own for her protection and he had the joy of bringing her back to the desert a true penitent. She received the gift of miracles, and her countenance after death shone as the sun. She became St. Mary of Edessa. Saint Abraham died five years before her, in about 360 A.D. after a life of faithful service to God. All of Edessa came for his last blessing and to secure his relics.
PRAYER: We ask the intercession of St. Abraham for the grace to smash the moral idols of the Revolution, internally in our souls and externally in society, with the same courage and straightforwardness. Amen🙏🏽
May the lives of St. Heribert and St. Abraham inspire us to deepen our faith, trust in God’s providence, and extend His love to those in need. 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 reflect on Christ’s Transfiguration, we pray for the grace to listen to Him and be transformed by His presence. May this Lenten journey deepen our faith, strengthen our trust in God’s promises, and renew our commitment to live as citizens of heaven. We also pray for those struggling with doubt and uncertainty, that they may find hope in God’s faithfulness. Joining Pope Francis in his March prayer intention, we pray for families in crisis, that they may experience healing through forgiveness and a renewed appreciation for one another. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. Amen 🙏🏽
LET US PRAY:
My Transfigured Lord, the glory that shone forth from Your divine face in radiance must have been beyond human description. Your true glory in Heaven is something that I hope to one day behold. Please instill in me a desire to more fully understand Your glory and to work tirelessly to be an instrument of that glory to all I meet.
Heavenly Father, You revealed the glory of Your Son to His disciples and called them to listen to Him. Open my heart to His words, that I may be transformed by Your grace. Help me to trust in You as Abraham did, to seek Your light as the Psalmist proclaimed, and to set my heart on heaven as St. Paul teaches. Strengthen me to walk this Lenten path with faith and perseverance, that I may be renewed in Your love. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Heribert of Cologne, and Saint Abraham of Edessa ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
May this Lenten season bring us deeper conversion, unwavering trust, and a heart open to God’s transforming love. Wishing us all a safe, blessed and grace-filled Sunday and week. Amen. 🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖