THIRD WEEK OF LENT

SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 29, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT CONON OF NASO, ABBOT; SAINT STEPHEN HARDING, ABBOT AND SAINT GONTRAN, KING AND CONFESSOR | 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 Saturday, 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/2025/03/29/catholic-daily-mass-25/

DAY 22: LENTEN PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/29/day-22-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 JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA; SAINT LUDOLPH, BISHOP OF RATZEBURG, MARTYR; SAINT BERTHOLD OF MOUNT CARMEL, PRIEST; AND SAINT JONAS AND BARACHISIUS AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS – FEAST DAY: MARCH 29TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Joseph of Arimathea, the noble disciple who courageously buried the body of Jesus with reverence and love (Patron Saint of funeral directors and undertakers); Saint Ludolph, Bishop of Ratzeburg, a faithful shepherd who suffered martyrdom for defending the Church’s freedom (Patron Saint of Ratzeburg); Saint Berthold of Mount Carmel, a founder of the Carmelite Order, who embraced a life of prayer and solitude in the Holy Land (Patron Saint of Carmelites); and Saints Jonas and Barachisius and their Companions, who were martyred for their unwavering faith in Persia.

Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and these Holy Saints, we humbly pray for the courage to stand firm in our faith, for all those suffering persecution for Christ, and for the grace to be true witnesses of the Gospel. May we, like these saints, live with unwavering trust in God’s providence and mercy. Amen. 🙏🏽

Saint Joseph of Arimathea, Saint Ludolph, Saint Berthold, and Saints Jonas and Barachisius ~ Pray for us! 🙏🏽

Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | March 29th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

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

SAINT JOSEPH OF ARIMATHEA: “Joseph of Arimathea, a distinguished member of the council, who was himself waiting for the kingdom of God, came and courageously went to Pilate and asked for the body of Jesus.” (Mark 15:43) Saint Joseph of Arimathea was a secret disciple of Jesus, described in the Gospels as a wealthy and influential man who belonged to the Jewish council. Despite the risks, he boldly requested Pilate for Jesus’ body after the Crucifixion, providing a new tomb for His burial. His act of devotion fulfilled the prophecy of Isaiah, which foretold that the Messiah would be buried in a rich man’s tomb.

Joseph’s actions reveal a deep love for Christ—one that was not deterred by fear or societal status. Tradition holds that he later traveled to Britain, where he preached the Gospel. Some legends associate him with the founding of Christianity in Glastonbury.

PRAYER: Lord, grant us the courage of Saint Joseph of Arimathea, that we may boldly profess our faith and show love for You in our actions. May we never fear human judgment but remain steadfast in our devotion to Christ. Amen. 🙏🏽

Saint Joseph of Arimathea ~ Pray for us! 🙏🏽

SAINT LUDOLPH, BISHOP OF RATZEBURG, MARTYR: “Blessed are those who are persecuted for righteousness’ sake, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.” (Matthew 5:10) Saint Ludolph (c. 1200–1250) was the Bishop of Ratzeburg in Germany and a devoted leader who stood firm against oppression. When Duke Albert of Saxony sought to impose his will on the Church, Ludolph fearlessly opposed him, defending the Church’s independence. This led to his imprisonment, where he endured cruel treatment until his death.

Even in suffering, Ludolph remained faithful, forgiving his persecutors and offering his suffering for the glory of God. He exemplifies the strength of faith and the willingness to suffer for Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, strengthen us with the same courage You gave to Saint Ludolph, that we may defend the truth, endure trials with patience, and remain faithful to Your will. Amen. 🙏🏽

Saint Ludolph ~ Pray for us! 🙏🏽

SAINT BERTHOLD OF MOUNT CARMEL, PRIEST: “The Lord is my portion; I promise to keep Your words.” (Psalm 119:57) Saint Berthold (c. 12th century) was a French priest who traveled to the Holy Land and was inspired to establish a community of hermits on Mount Carmel. This small group later became the Carmelite Order, devoted to a life of prayer, solitude, and contemplation.

Under his leadership, the hermits followed a strict rule of life, seeking to imitate the prophet Elijah, who had encountered God on Mount Carmel. Saint Berthold’s vision and spiritual discipline laid the foundation for one of the greatest monastic traditions in the Church.

PRAYER: Lord, through the intercession of Saint Berthold, draw us into a deeper life of prayer and contemplation. May we seek You in silence and solitude, finding strength in Your presence. Amen. 🙏🏽

Saint Berthold of Mount Carmel ~ Pray for us! 🙏🏽

SAINTS JONAS AND BARACHISIUS AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS: “Be faithful unto death, and I will give you the crown of life.” (Revelation 2:10) Saints Jonas and Barachisius were Christian brothers who suffered martyrdom during the persecution of King Shapur II of Persia in the 4th century. They were arrested and tortured for their faith, yet they refused to deny Christ. They encouraged fellow Christians to remain steadfast, even as they faced brutal deaths.

These holy martyrs remind us of the price of discipleship and the reward of eternal life promised to those who remain faithful to Christ.

PRAYER: Lord, through the example of Saints Jonas and Barachisius, strengthen all who suffer for Your name. Give us the grace to bear witness to the Gospel with unwavering faith. Amen. 🙏🏽

Saints Jonas, Barachisius, and Companions ~ Pray for us! 🙏🏽

The lives of Saint Joseph of Arimathea, Saint Ludolph, Saint Berthold, and Saints Jonas and Barachisius teach us the virtues of courage, sacrifice, and unwavering faith in God. May their examples inspire us in our Lenten journey to seek holiness, stand firm in the truth, and serve God with all our hearts.

May their prayers strengthen us on our path to holiness. Amen. 🙏🏽

Saint Joseph of Arimathea, Saint Ludolph, Saint Berthold, and Saints Jonas and Barachisius ~ Pray for us! 🙏🏽

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Third Week of Lent | Saturday, March 29, 2025
Reading 1, Hosea 6:1-6
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 51:3-4, 18-19, 20-21
Gospel, Luke 18:9-14

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 18:9-14

“O God, be merciful to me, a sinner”

“The tax collector went home justified, not the Pharisee”

“Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity – greedy, dishonest, adulterous – or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the parable relates to prayer. ‘Two men went up to the Temple to pray’. Both men did pray. One man prayed a prayer of thanksgiving and the other a prayer of petition. We all pray in petition and thanksgiving at different moments in our lives. The Pharisee prayed a prayer of thanksgiving, ‘I thank you, God, that…’. The tax-collector prayed a prayer of petition, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner’. Yet, only one prayer was acceptable to God. Only one person ‘went home at rights with God’. The difference between the two men who prayed was what was in their heart when they prayed. The prayer of the Pharisee revealed a heart that looked down in judgement on a fellow worshipper. He thought of himself as morally better than the tax collector. The prayer of the tax collector revealed a heart that was humble and contrite before God. He knew that he had nothing to offer God and everything to receive from God, especially mercy. The journey to the Temple was an act of love for God, for both men. However, the heart of the Pharisee revealed a lack of love for the worshipper who stood close to him in the Temple. He considered him less acceptable to God than himself. The Pharisee was right to regard the tax collector a sinner, but he failed to recognize that he too was a sinner. Both men went up to the Temple in need of God’s mercy, but only one of them recognized that reality. We all stand before the Lord as sinners. We all come before Him in our poverty. No one of us can get into the business of deciding who is less, or more, of a sinner than me. That is best left to God. All we can do is open ourselves to the Lord in our poverty and allow Him to enrich us in His love, in other words, to pray the prayer of the tax collector.

Reflecting on today’s Gospel, Jesus’ parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector offers a powerful lesson on humility and God’s mercy. The Pharisee, blinded by pride, boasts of his religious observances, comparing himself to others rather than looking inward at his own need for grace. In contrast, the tax collector, aware of his sinfulness, approaches God with humility, acknowledging his unworthiness and pleading for mercy. Jesus declares that it is the humble man who goes home justified. This parable challenges us to examine the state of our hearts. Do we, like the Pharisee, rely on our good works to justify ourselves before God? Or do we approach Him with sincere humility, recognizing our need for His mercy? True righteousness is not found in external observances but in a heart transformed by God’s grace. As we journey through Lent, we are called to cultivate a spirit of humility, seeking God’s forgiveness and allowing His mercy to shape our lives.

In our first reading today, prophet Hosea reminds the people of God to turn away from their sins and to embrace once again God’s love and grace, to change their ways for the better and reject their old ways of sin and disobedience. The Lord has always been kind and patient with us, and He has always provided for us in our time of need. He calls us all to return to Him so that we may find our way and be saved through Him. Yet it was often our pride, ego and hubris, our inability to resist the temptations to sin which became great obstacles in our journey back towards the Lord. In the first reading, the people bring sacrifices and holocausts to God in the Temple, but in response God, speaking through the prophet Hosea, says, ‘what I want is love, not sacrifice; knowledge of God, not holocausts’. God desired not our empty love and lack of true faith, but desiring that we all have a genuine conversion of heart, and a wholehearted commitment and dedication to His path, remembering His Law and commandments, His teachings and truth. God wants the love of us His people, a love that finds expression in the love of others.

Reflecting on today’s first reading, the prophet Hosea reminds us of God’s desire for true devotion rather than mere religious rituals. He calls His people to return to Him, promising healing, restoration, and revival. God does not delight in sacrifices that are devoid of love; rather, He longs for hearts that genuinely seek Him. In our spiritual lives, it is easy to fall into the habit of performing religious duties without true love for God. But Hosea’s words challenge us to go deeper—to seek an authentic relationship with the Lord rather than relying on empty rituals. This Lent, may we focus on deepening our knowledge of God, offering Him not just outward acts of piety but hearts filled with love and devotion.

Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, the psalm echoes the message of Hosea, emphasizing that what pleases God most is a humble and contrite heart. True worship is not about external sacrifices alone but about an interior transformation where we recognize our sins and trust in God’s mercy. Are we quick to judge others while failing to recognize our own weaknesses? Do we seek God with genuine humility, or do we try to justify ourselves by our religious practices? How can we cultivate a deeper spirit of repentance and trust in God’s mercy this Lent? As we continue our Lenten journey, let us strive for a heart that truly seeks the Lord, not relying on outward displays of righteousness but on the grace of God. Let us humble ourselves before Him, knowing that in our weakness, His mercy lifts us up.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, in both readings today, there is a contrast between what God wants and what people bring Him. The parable reminds us that when we come before the Lord in prayer, there is to be no room for comparing ourselves favorably with others, or looking down on others. Rather, we come before the Lord in prayer always aware of our own spiritual poverty and need, entrusting ourselves to the Lord as one who, in the words of today’s first reading, can ‘bring us back to life’. Let us all therefore be inspired by the good examples set by the Saints, and strive to follow the good examples and inspiration shown to us by the Saints and Holy men and women, particularly the Saints we celebrate today, who have dedicated themselves and their whole life to serve the Lord and the people around them, that we may also live our lives with great faith in God, and ever always filled with generous love for one another. In this time and season of Lent, let us all continue to live our lives with ever stronger desire to follow the Lord our God, to commit ourselves to Him and to do His will. Let us all continue to do what we can so that our whole lives may continue to be good examples for everyone around us. During this season of Lent, all of us are called to deepen our relationship with God and be more attuned with ourselves and we are all called to live our lives with greater fidelity to God, and to humble ourselves more before Him, as sinners all coming to seek His mercy and forgiveness, depending on His ever generous love and compassion. Let us all turn away from sin and from all evil, and let us resist the temptations surrounding us so that we may be truly worthy of God in all the things we act, say and do. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with us through our Lenten journey, and may He help us that we may draw ever closer to Him and find righteousness through following His path, and be fully reconciled with Him. May God bless us all and have mercy on us, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽

Heavenly Father, teach us the way of humility. May we never fall into the trap of self-righteousness but instead recognize our constant need for Your mercy. Like the tax collector, may we approach You with a contrite heart, trusting in Your boundless love and grace. Transform us, O Lord, so that our lives may reflect Your goodness and compassion. Through Christ our Lord. 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 INTENTION: Lord God, in Your divine wisdom, You raised up holy men and women who bore witness to Christ through faith, courage, and sacrifice. As we honor Saint Joseph of Arimathea, Saint Ludolph of Ratzeburg, Saint Berthold of Mount Carmel, and Saints Jonas, Barachisius, and their companions, we ask for the grace to imitate their unwavering trust in You. May we, like them, have the strength to stand firm in truth, defend our faith, and act with charity even in difficult times.

We especially pray for all who are persecuted for their faith, that they may find strength in Your presence and remain steadfast in their love for You. We lift up those burdened by fear, doubt, or suffering, that they may experience Your healing and peace. Through the intercession of these holy saints, may we grow in holiness and be courageous witnesses of the Gospel in our daily lives. Amen. 🙏🏽

LET US PRAY

My merciful Lord, I thank You for loving me with a perfect love. I thank You for Your incredible depth of mercy. Help me to see all of my sin and to turn to You with honesty and humility so that I can be freed of these burdens and become justified in Your sight. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

Heavenly Father, You called Saint Joseph of Arimathea to care for the body of Christ with reverence and devotion. Teach us to honor and cherish the presence of Christ in our lives, especially in the Eucharist and in our brothers and sisters. Grant us the courage of Saint Ludolph, who remained faithful to Your truth despite persecution. Strengthen us with the perseverance of Saint Berthold, who sought You in prayer and solitude. Inspire us with the fearless witness of Saints Jonas, Barachisius, and their companions, who gave their lives for the sake of Your Kingdom.

Through their intercession, bless our hearts with a deeper love for You, a steadfast faith in times of trial, and a generous spirit to serve those in need. May we always stand firm in truth, trust in Your divine providence, and one day share in the eternal joy of Heaven. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save us Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint Joseph of Arimathea, Saint Ludolph, Saint Berthold, and Saints Jonas and Barachisius ~ 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 Saturday of the Third Week of Lent and relaxing weekend! Amen. 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

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