THIRD WEEK OF LENT

SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 27, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT RUPERT OF SALZBURG, BISHOP AND SAINT JOHN OF EGYPT, HERMIT | Lives of the Saints | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day/

DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Daily Saints, Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Scripture Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/reflections/

Greetings, and blessings, beloved family, and Happy Thursday, Third Week of Lent!

We thank God for His mercy and the gift of faith. May God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of our Lenten journey and may this Lenten season lead us to deeper conversion, greater love, and unwavering trust in His divine will. Wishing us all a love-filled and spiritually enriching Lenten journey. Amen🙏🏽

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/2025/03/27/catholic-daily-mass-23/

DAY 20: LENTEN PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/27/day-20-lenten-prayers-and-reflections/

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/

WORLD PRAYERS FOR POPE FRANCIS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/26/world-prayers-for-pope-francis/

PRAYER FOR POPE FRANCIS

“Loving God, we thank you for the unwavering faith and leadership of Pope Francis. As he recovers from his hospitalization, we humbly ask for your healing touch upon his body, your peace upon his mind, and your comfort for his spirit. Grant him strength, renewed energy, and a continued ability to serve your flock with compassion and wisdom. We entrust him to your loving care, and we pray that he may soon be restored to good health, if it be your will. 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, particularly Saint Joseph, Patron of the dying, 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 the gentle 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 labors 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/

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 SAINT RUPERT OF SALZBURG, BISHOP, AND SAINT JOHN OF EGYPT, HERMIT: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 27TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Rupert of Salzburg, Bishop, known as the “Apostle to the Bavarians” and the first Bishop of Salzburg (Patron Saint of the Austrian state of Salzburg, Austria, and salt miners), and Saint John of Egypt, Hermit, a renowned ascetic and spiritual guide. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and these Holy Saints, we humbly pray for the conversion of sinners, for all missionaries who labor to spread the Gospel, and for those called to a life of deep prayer and solitude. We pray for God’s grace upon them and for their safety and protection. Amen 🙏🏽

Saint Rupert of Salzburg and Saint John of Egypt ~ Pray for us!🙏🏽

Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | March 27th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

(Direct link to detailed history of the lives of the Saints | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day/ )

SAINT RUPERT OF SALZBURG, BISHOP: “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature.” (Mark 16:15). Saint Rupert (c. 660–710) was a Frankish nobleman who chose the path of faith and missionary service. He became the Bishop of Worms and later responded to the call to evangelize the people of Bavaria and Austria, bringing Christianity to the region and strengthening the foundations of the Church. He is honored as the first Bishop of Salzburg and the founder of St. Peter’s Monastery.

Despite facing rejection and persecution from pagans in Worms, he remained steadfast in his mission. His efforts to restore and spread the true faith in Bavaria were met with great success, leading to many conversions and the construction of churches and monasteries. His influence extended beyond spiritual matters he also contributed to the economic development of the region, particularly in the salt mining industry, which significantly shaped Salzburg’s identity.

Rupert’s legacy endures in the Salzburg Cathedral, named in his honor, and in the faith of the people he evangelized. He passed away on March 27, 718, after preaching and celebrating Mass, leaving behind a Church strengthened by his zeal and holiness.

PRAYER: Lord, You called Saint Rupert to spread Your Gospel and establish Your Church in new lands. Through his intercession, grant us the courage to witness our faith boldly and labor for the salvation of souls. May we, like him, persevere in the face of challenges, trusting in Your divine plan. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT JOHN OF EGYPT, HERMIT: “But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen.” (Matthew 6:6) Saint John of Egypt (c. 305–394) was a hermit and ascetic, renowned for his deep spiritual wisdom and miraculous gifts. He dedicated his life entirely to prayer and solitude, living in a sealed cell on a cliffside, where he spent five days in silence and two days giving counsel to visitors.

After undergoing years of strict spiritual training under a wise elder, John withdrew into complete solitude. He walled himself into his cell, communicating only through a small window, from which he taught, prophesied, and performed miracles. His fame spread throughout the Christian world, drawing people from all walks of life, including Emperor Theodosius, who sought his advice.

Despite his extreme penances, he remained humble and kind, using his God-given gifts to heal, encourage, and strengthen the faith of those who sought him. His spiritual insight and holiness inspired many, including Saint Augustine and Saint Jerome.

Foreseeing his own death, Saint John spent his final three days in prayer, sealing himself completely from the outside world. When his followers finally entered his cell, they found him kneeling in prayer, having passed peacefully into eternal rest. His life stands as a testament to the power of prayer, self-denial, and complete trust in God.

PRAYER: O God, You called Saint John of Egypt to a life of solitude and deep communion with You. Through his intercession, strengthen our prayer lives and help us seek You above all else. May we learn from his humility and surrender ourselves completely to Your will. Amen. 🙏🏽

May the lives of these Holy Saints inspire us to boldly proclaim the Gospel, deepen our prayer life, and seek God’s will with unwavering faith. 🙏🏽

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Thursday of the Third Week of Lent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Third Week of Lent | Thursday, March 27, 2025
*Reading 1: Jeremiah 7:23-28
*Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 95:1-2, 6-7, 8-9
*Gospel: Luke 11:14-23

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 11:14-23

“Whoever is not with me is against me”

“Jesus was driving out a demon that was mute, and when the demon had gone out, the mute man spoke and the crowds were amazed. Some of them said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, He drives out demons.” Others, to test Him, asked Him for a sign from heaven. But He knew their thoughts and said to them, “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand? For you say that it is by Beelzebul that I drive out demons. If I, then, drive out demons by Beelzebul, by whom do your own people drive them out? Therefore they will be your judges. But if it is by the finger of God that I drive out demons, then the Kingdom of God has come upon you. When a strong man fully armed guards his palace, his possessions are safe. But when one stronger than he attacks and overcomes him, he takes away the armor on which he relied and distributes the spoils. Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus had been healing the sick. Some of the people were amazed at what Jesus was doing, seeing it for what it was, a sign of God’s presence. However, there were others who saw what Jesus was doing as the work of Satan rather than the work of God. ‘It is through Beelzebul, the prince of devils, that he casts out devils’. Some of these people completely misunderstand the healing work of Jesus, when declaring that He heals by means of Satan’s power. Instead of acknowledging that God was powerfully at work in the life of Jesus, they declared that Satan was at work in His life. It is hard to conceive of a greater misunderstanding of Jesus than that. They were calling good evil. In response to their grave misjudgement, Jesus declared that His healing work was done through the finger of God. God was at work in Jesus and some of His own contemporaries could not see it. We can all be blind to the finger of God, to the working of God among us. We are graced in some way by God and we hardly notice it. The Lord blesses us and rather than recognize the blessing and giving thanks for it we focus on what we do not have or what is wrong in our lives. We need to keep on praying for the gift to see as Jesus sees, which is the opposite of how people in today’s Gospel reading saw. Jesus saw the working of God in creation, in the sower, the vineyard, the flowers of the field and birds of the air. He saw God’s presence in those whom many people had written off. Jesus teaches us to see with generous and hopeful eyes. When we see in this way, then, in the words of Paul, we will be inspired to give thanks in all circumstances.

Reflecting on today’s Gospel, while the crowd marvels at Jesus casting out a demon, restoring speech to a mute man, some accuse Him of driving out demons by the power of Beelzebul. Jesus responds by exposing the contradiction in their claim a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. He affirms that if He casts out demons by the power of God, then the Kingdom of God is among them. He warns that neutrality in spiritual matters is not an option: “Whoever is not with me is against me, and whoever does not gather with me scatters.” Jesus challenges us to examine where we stand in our faith. Do we fully trust in His power, or do we, like the skeptical crowd, allow doubt to cloud our hearts? Many times, we see God’s work but hesitate to acknowledge it because it does not align with our expectations. Yet Christ reminds us that to follow Him requires a firm decision—there is no middle ground. Lent calls us to renew our commitment to Christ, casting aside any spiritual complacency that keeps us from fully embracing His presence in our lives.

In our first reading today, from the Book of the prophet Jeremiah, the Lord spoke to Jeremiah and indirectly to the people of God living in the then kingdom of Judah, where Jeremiah had been sent to minister to the people, that they had committed grievous sins and wicked deeds in the sight of God and men alike, and despite all the reminders, help and guidance that the Lord had given them, they had not done what the Lord has taught and shown them to do, and instead, they continued to disobey Him and refused to follow Him. They even also persecuted and made it difficult for God’s prophets and messengers to work in their midst, as they continued to persist in their rebellious attitudes and actions. Jeremiah himself faced a lot of hardships, trials and persecutions during his time in ministering to the people of Judah, as they persecuted him and preferred to believe in the false prophets and messengers instead of in him and the message of the Lord that he has brought into their midst. He was labelled as a fear-monger and as traitor to the nation, having spoken of the disasters and the troubles that would befall both Jerusalem and Judah, all because of the sins and wickedness of the people of God there. He had to endure ridicule and rejection, and at one point, he was even almost killed, only managing to escape such fate because he still had those who sympathised with him and helped him to escape the predicament he was in. The people of Judah not only refused to follow and disobeyed Jeremiah, but they have also persecuted the Lord’s prophets and messengers, refusing to listen to them and making their lives and works very difficult, much as what Jeremiah himself endured during his time working and ministering to the people of God in Judah. Jeremy complains to God that nobody is listening to the message that God gave him to speak, ‘They have not listened to me, have not paid attention… Here is a nation that will not listen to the voice of the Lord its God’. Listening to the Lord is always at the core of our relationship with Him. In the words of today’s responsorial psalm, ‘O that, today, you would listen to His voice’.

Reflecting on our first reading, the prophet Jeremiah delivers God’s sorrowful message about Israel’s disobedience. Despite generations of prophets calling them back to faithfulness, they hardened their hearts and refused to listen. This passage is a warning for us. Do we truly hear God’s voice, or do we resist His call? God’s commandments are not meant to burden us but to lead us to life. If we choose to ignore His voice, we risk becoming spiritually deaf, just like the Israelites. Lent is a time to ask ourselves if we are truly walking in His ways or merely going through the motions of faith.

Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, the psalmist urges us: “If today you hear His voice, harden not your hearts.” God continuously speaks to us, but do we respond? This psalm reminds us that faith is an active choice—we must not only hear His words but allow them to transform us. Our hardened hearts can prevent us from recognizing His love and guidance. Lent invites us to soften our hearts, to turn back to God with trust, and to embrace His mercy with open hands.

Lord Jesus, open my heart to hear Your voice and recognize Your presence in my life. Remove any doubt, fear, or hardness that keeps me from following You completely. May I always choose to walk in Your ways and trust in Your power. Amen 🙏🏽

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all called to listen to the Lord. When it comes to our relationship with the Lord, seeing is as important as listening. The Lord is always engaging with us, communicating with us, in different ways. He speaks to us and He shows Himself to us in a whole variety of ways. We constantly need a listening ear and a seeing eye in the Lord’s regard. We need ears and eyes that is open to the many ways the Lord communicates with us. We might pray for such open eyes and ears this season of Lent. Let us all be inspired by the good examples of the Saints, Holy men and women, especially St. Perpetua and St. Felicity, whose feast we celebrate today, in remaining faithful to God and in doing what is right and just according to God’s Law and commandments. We should not allow the temptations and the wickedness of the world to dissuade and mislead us away from the right path of the Lord, and we must do our best, particularly given this appropriate time and season of Lent, to repent from our sinful past actions, our mistakes and faults, and embrace once again God’s love and kindness, His grace and compassion. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace to remain faithful and entrust ourselves wholeheartedly to God and be an instrument of the finger of God in the way we relate to others. May the good Lord be with us throughout this journey of faith and repentance this Lenten season, and may He help and guide us 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: Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Rupert of Salzburg, and Saint John of Egypt, we humbly lift our hearts in prayer. May God strengthen all missionaries and evangelists as they labor to spread the Gospel, guiding their words and actions to bring souls closer to Christ. We pray for those struggling with doubt, that they may encounter the light of faith and experience a true conversion of heart. May we be faithful witnesses of Christ in our daily lives, living with courage and conviction. We ask for strength and perseverance for those called to a life of solitude and prayer, that they may be filled with spiritual wisdom and remain steadfast in their vocation. For all who are burdened by trials, may they find refuge in God’s love and the support of a faith-filled community. We also offer our personal intentions and remember all those who have asked for our prayers, trusting in God’s divine mercy and providence. 🙏🏽

LET US PRAY

My glorious King of all, You are all-powerful and have full authority over all things. Please come and exercise Your authority upon my life. Come and establish Your Kingdom. I pray that my heart be always open to You and to the direction you give. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

Heavenly Father, You called Saint Rupert to bring the light of faith to the people of Bavaria and Austria, and You led Saint John of Egypt into the solitude of the desert to seek You in prayer. Through their intercession, grant us the grace to follow Your call in our own lives, whether in mission or contemplation. Strengthen all those who labor for the Gospel, and grant peace and guidance to those who seek You with sincere hearts. May our faith deepen, our love grow, and our lives bear witness to Your truth. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Rupert of Salzburg and Saint John of Egypt ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

May this Lenten season deepen our trust in God’s providence and open our hearts to His transforming grace. Wishing us all a blessed and grace-filled Thursday of the Third Week of Lent. Amen. 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

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