Watch “Mass heald in Italy after the death of Pope Francis | Live from Rome | April 21, 2025 |
A Mass held at St. John Lateran’s Basilica in Rome after Pope Francis died at age 88.
Month: April 2025
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Catholic Daily Mass
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on the Octave of Easter | April 21, 2025 on EWTN” |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | April 21, 2025 |
Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | April 21, 2025 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” |
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“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His faithful servants” ~ Psalm 116:15
With profound sadness and total submission to the will of Almighty God, we mourn the passing of our beloved Pope Francis, who departed this life on Easter Monday, April 21, 2025, at the age of 88. His death occurred at 7:35 AM CEST at his residence in the Vatican’s Domus Sanctae Marthae, as announced by Cardinal Kevin Farrell, Camerlengo of the Apostolic Chamber.
A Shepherd of Humility and Reform
Born Jorge Mario Bergoglio in Buenos Aires, Argentina, Pope Francis made history as the first Latin American and Jesuit pope, ascending to the papacy on March 13, 2013, following the resignation of Pope Benedict XVI . His tenure was marked by a commitment to humility, inclusivity, and social justice. He chose to reside in the modest Casa Santa Marta rather than the Apostolic Palace, reflecting his dedication to simplicity.
Pope Francis was a vocal advocate for the marginalized, addressing issues such as migration, climate change, economic inequality. He also called for the abolition of the death penalty and condemned the treatment of Indigenous students in Canadian residential schools, labeling it as genocide. Despite facing criticism over his handling of clerical sex abuse scandals, he implemented significant reforms to address episcopal accountability.
Global Mourning and Tributes
The news of Pope Francis’s passing elicited an outpouring of grief and tributes from around the world. World leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron and Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, honored his legacy of compassion and spiritual bravery. In Italy, Serie A football matches were postponed in his honor, with clubs like AS Roma and Lazio paying heartfelt tributes to his impact on the sports community.
A Legacy Rooted in Faith
Pope Francis’s papacy was characterized by a deep work ethic, a focus on compassion, and efforts to modernize the Catholic Church. He maintained traditional stances on certain issues while empowering women in church decision-making and advocating for the poor and oppressed. His leadership bridged faith and social justice, navigating internal church tensions with grace and humility.
A Reflection on Psalm 116:15
The verse, “Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His saints,” underscores the value God places on the lives and deaths of His faithful servants. The term “precious” conveys high worth and significance, indicating that God is not indifferent to the passing of His saints. Pope Francis’s life and death exemplify this truth, as his unwavering commitment to God’s work continues to inspire the faithful worldwide.
“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 Holy Father, Pope Francis, Your faithful servant. In this life, you embraced him with your tender love; deliver him now from every evil, and bid him eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome him 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 🙏🏽
Final Prayer
Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon him. May his gentle soul, and the souls of all the faithful departed, through the mercy of God, rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen.
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SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ APRIL 21ST
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ANSELM OF CANTERBURY, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH AND SAINT CONRAD OF PARZHAM ~ FEAST DAY: As we continue to rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, today on this Good Shepherd Sunday (Vocations Sunday), we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Anselm of Canterbury, Bishop and Doctor of the Church and Saint Conrad of Parzham, who was known to be diligent at his work, sparing in words, bountiful to the poor, and eager to help strangers. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this Good Shepherd Sunday as we pray for Vocations, we humbly pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners and for Christians all over the world. We also pray for the poor and the needy and abandoned children, especially during these incredibly challenging times.
“The Mother of God is our mother. May the good mother ask and beg for us, may she request and obtain what is good for us”.~ St. Anselm
SAINT ANSELM OF CANTERBURY, BISHOP AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH: He is generally considered to be the founder of the philosophical school of Scholasticism, for his attempt to analyze and illumine the truths of faith through the aid of reason. He was a major figure in the intellectual life of the Middle Ages, and a major political and ecclesiastical force as well. St. Anselm (1033–1109) was born into a noble family in Piedmont in the Lombardy region of Italy in about the year 1033.The example of his pious mother led him to great faith, and he sought to enter the monastery at age 15. However, the abbot refused him due to Anselm’s stern father. After his mother’s death Anselm left home and settled in Normandy to study under the direction of a famed monk named Lanfranc. Upon the death of his father, Anselm became a Benedictine monk at the age of 27. Due to his brilliance, Anselm became a teacher at the abbey’s school and prior of the monastery. He was made Prior in 1063 and Abbot in 1078. He went on to become the most learned theologian, philosopher, and mystic of his generation, the greatest since St. Augustine of Hippo. Anselm’s fame led to his appointment as Archbishop of Canterbury in England on 1093, succeeding his old master, Lanfranc in thisoffice, as Archbishop of Canterbury. He went on to correct abuses against the Church at the hand of the English kings. His resistance to the unjust measures of King William Rufus drew upon him the anger of that monarch. In1097-98, he made a voyage to Rome, and spend some time in a monastery of Calabria, where he composed a work on the Incarnation. In the same year he assisted at the Council of Bari, and by his prayers prevented the Pope from excommunicating the King of England.
During his travels the Saint composed several of his metaphysical works, and did not return to his See until after the death of King William Rufus in 1100. Differences with the new King caused him to undertake a second journey to Rome in 1103, and Pascal II upheld the authority of the Archbishop as his predecessor, Urban II, had done. Twice he was banished from the island while appealing to Rome for assistance, and twice he returned to Canterbury to carry on his duties until his death. He returned to England in 1106 and died in 1109. St. Anselm was characterized by his spirit of recollection, which he preserved even in the most distracting occupations and by the metaphysical bent of his mind. His written works have deeply influenced Catholic Philosophy and Theology. In this field he is best known for his “Ontological Argument” for the existence of God. He was also a strenuous defender of the rights of the Church against the usurpation of kings. His abilities as an extraordinary theologian, negotiator, and statesman greatly supported the cause of the Church. As archbishop he continued his monastic lifestyle and intellectual pursuits. He is famous for his devotion to our Blessed Mother, whose Feast of the Immaculate Conception he was the first to establish in the West. He composed several philosophical and theological treatises, as well as a series of beautiful prayers and meditations, which led him to be proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Clement XI in 1720. His feast day is celebrated on April 21st.
PRAYER: We ask your intercession, Saint Anselm, to help our faith to understand its object. You did not leave man’s sense of wonder unchallenged but sought to organize human thought to meet the challenge of God. Help all thinkers to be open to finding as much as searching. Amen🙏🏽
Almighty God, who didst raise up thy servant Anselm to teach the Church of his day to understand its faith in thine eternal Being, perfect justice, and saving mercy: Provide thy Church in every age with devout and learned scholars and teachers, that we may be able to give a reason for the hope that is in us; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee and the Holy Spirit, one God, forever and ever~Amen🙏🏽
SAINT CONRAD OF PARZHAM: St. Conrad of Parzham, (1818-1894), was a German Franciscan mystic and lay brother. He served for over 40 years in the post of porter or doorkeeper of the Capuchin friary of the shrine of Our Lady of Altötting, through which work he gained a widespread reputation for his wisdom and holiness, he was known for his Marian devotions. St. Conrad had the gift of prophecy and of reading people’s hearts. St. Conrad of Parzham was born Carl Birndorfer in Parzham, Bavaria, Germany, on December 22, 1818 and was baptized with the name of John, the son of Bartholomäus Birndorfer and Gertrude Niedermayer, and was born on the family farm in Parzham, now a part of the town of Bad Griesbach, then in the Kingdom of Bavaria, now part of Germany. Baptized Johann Evangelist, he was the second youngest of 12 children, five of whom died in infancy. At the age of six, he started elementary school in nearby Weng. Young John’s devotion was noticeable especially when he prayed in church, the distant location of which was no hindrance to his visiting it frequently even in inclement weather. He had a great devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and each day fervently recited the rosary. On feast days he frequently made a journey to some remote shrine of the Blessed Mother. During such pilgrimages, always made on foot, he was engaged in prayer, and when he returned in the evening, he was usually still fasting. John spent his early years on the family farm. His mother died when he was 14; his father two years later. After attending a parish mission in 1838, he decided to enter the religious life. The following year, at the age of 31, and after distributing his inheritance, he was admitted as a lay brother among the Capuchin Franciscan friars.
Immediately after his profession in 1842 he was sent to the Friary of St. Ann, in the city of Altötting. The friary served the Shrine of Our Lady of Altötting, the national shrine of Bavaria to the Blessed Mother. St. Conrad was given the task of assisting the porter at this shrine. In March 1851, he had to leave Altötting to go to Burghausen to care for a dying priest. The following September, he entered the novitiate at Laufen, where he was given the name Conrad in honor of Conrad of Piacenza. He then returned to Altötting as porter. Because it was a large and busy city, the duty of the friary porter was a very difficult one. St. Conrad was known to be diligent at his work, sparing in words, bountiful to the poor, eager and ready to receive and help strangers. Brother Conrad fulfilled the task of porter for more than 40 years, assisting the inhabitants of the town in their needs of body and soul. St. Conrad loved silence in a special way. His spare moments during the day were spent in a nook near the door where it was possible for him to see and adore the Blessed Sacrament. During the night he would deprive himself of several hours of sleep to devote the time to prayer either in the oratory of the friars or in the church. It was generally believed that he never took any rest, but continually occupied himself in work and exercises of devotion.On April 21,1894, St. Conrad died in the friary where he had served for 41 years. During his lifetime, St. Conrad was reputed to have been able to read the hearts of those he met, and he was attributed with the gift of prophecy. His heroic virtues and the miracles he performed won for him the distinction to be ranked among the Blessed by Pope Pius XI in 1930. Four years later, the same pope, approving additional miracles which had been performed, solemnly inscribed his name in the list of saints. He was canonized in 1934. He is the Patron Saint of the Mid-America Province of Capuchin Friars, Catholic Student Association, doorkeepers, Passau, Germany, diocese of (since 1984). His feast day is celebrated on April 21st.
PRAYER: Lord God, our Father, in You is our hope and our life. You have made us and be belong to You. Give us Your grace and Your help to constantly render to You, our love and gratitude and to suffer for that great love, by which You sent your only Son to save us. St Conrad, pray for us that we may grow in holiness and soon meet you in heaven… Amen. Saint Conrad of Parzham ~ Pray for us🙏🏽
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SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ APRIL 20
MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP, SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT AND SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS ~ FEAST DAY: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Marcellinus, Bishop; Saint Beuno, Abbot and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, Religious. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for those who are sick, we particularly pray for sick children and those who are terminally ill. May God grant them His divine healing and intervention. We also pray for sick animals.
SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP: St. Marcellinus of Gaul also known as Marcellin was the first bishop of Embrun from 354 AD. He was born in Africa of a noble family, a native of Africa Proconsularis and became a priest. He journeyed to Gaul with two other bishops of North Africa, Vincent and and Domninus and preached the Gospel with great success in the vicinity of the Alps. Then he fixed his residence at Embrun, where he built an oratory, in which he spent his nights in prayer after consecrating the day to the works of the ministry. St. Marcellinus, went to Rome with Vincent and Domnin, to attend a synod in 313 to judge the Donatists movement.
The Saint’s example and discourses converted a great number of the idolaters among whom he lived. When the whole city had been converted to Christianity, St. Eusebius of Vercelli consecrated his oratory at his request. St. Marcellinus himself received episcopal consecration, and worked with all his power for the spread of the Kingdom of God. He commissioned Vincent and Domninus to preach in several places that he could not visit in person. Saint Marcellinus was noted for his piety. By his pious example as well as by his earnest words, he converted many of the heathens among whom he lived. Heaven confirmed his apostolic labors with miracles. He died at Embrun in 374.
PRAYER: God, Light and Shepherd of souls, You established St. Marcellinus 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 and follow the way he showed by his example. Amen🙏
SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT: St. Beuno, also known as Bono, was a 7th-century Welsh abbot, confessor, and saint. Baring-Gould gives St Beuno’s date of death as April 21, 640, making that date his traditional feastday. However, celebrated on April 20th (Catholic). He was born 545 AD,at Berriew, United Kingdom to his Parents, Saint Bugi.Saint Beuno, founded and served as abbot in Clynnog Fawr (Carnarvonshire), North Wales. He was Uncle, spiritual teacher, and guardian of Saint Winifred. Late in life he received a series of visions. Legend says that when Winfred was beheaded by a jilted suitor, Beuno placed the severed head back on the body and Winifred lived. St. Beuno died on April 21, 640 AD, Clynnog-fawr, United Kingdom. People still sit sick children on the great stone slab of his tomb in hopes of their healing. He’s Patron Saint of sick children, diseased cattle and sick animals.
Saint Beuno, Abbot ~ Pray for us🙏
SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS: St Agnes of Montepulciano was known as a miracle worker during her lifetime, renowned for her diligence in prayer and her extraordinary charity. Although born of a wealthy family in Gracchiano, Italy, she believed that charity is the only way to acquire the virtue of humility: there is no humility without charity; the one nourishes the other. St. Agnes of Montepulciano (1268–1317) was born into a noble family in Tuscany. Her birth was announced with strange lights surrounding her dwelling, considered a sign that she was a favored child. At nine years of age she requested to enter the local Franciscan monastery in Montepulciano. Although doing so at her young age was against Church law, she obtained special permission from the pope. She became a model nun, reached a high degree of contemplative prayer, and executed her duties so well that she was chosen to help found and lead a new monastery in Proceno when she was just 15 years old, again with special permission at her young age. She lived there for 20 years and became known as a great mystic and visionary while cultivating a special devotion to the Blessed Sacrament. She became locally famous for her miracles as well as for her austerities. She lived on bread and water, slept on the ground, and used a stone for a pillow. Eventually, Agnes returned to Montepulciano. By request she founded and led an even larger monastery, this time receiving a vision that it should be a convent of Dominican nuns dedicated to the Virgin Mary. Through her prayers she cured the sick, multiplied food, and raised to life a child who had drowned. Her feast day is April 20.
Quote of Saint Catherine of Siena (writing to a nun of Montepulciano about Saint Agnes): “A heart and sense that are full of this world and of self-love cannot be filled with Christ crucified and cannot taste true and sweet prayer. Understanding this, the sweet Agnes, stripped herself of herself and put on Christ crucified. She did this not only for herself, but for us as well. Her example obliges you to follow it steadfastly.”
Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, Religious ~ Pray for us🙏
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EASTER SUNDAY | HOLY MASS OF THE DAY | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN
Watch “EASTER SUNDAY | HOLY MASS OF THE DAY AND “URBI ET ORBI” BLESSING’ | PRESIDED OVER BY CARDINAL ANGELO COMASTRI | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | APRIL 20, 2025″ |
Easter Sunday Mass is held at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, featuring the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” message with Pope Francis’s appearance. We continue to pray for stable health and complete recovery of Pope Francis and for God’s Divine healing and intervention. Amen 🙏🏽
On this special day of Easter celebration, we thank God Almighty for the gift of life and the special gift of His only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praying for God’s grace, love, peace, and blessings upon us all as we celebrate the resurrection of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. ” Matthew 28:6
Easter Sunday is the greatest feast of the Christian calendar—the day we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. After the silence and sorrow of Holy Saturday, the tomb is found empty, and the light of the Risen Christ dawns upon the world. “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6). This solemnity marks the definitive victory of life over death, grace over sin, and hope over despair. The Resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:14), confirming Jesus as the Son of God and opening the gates of eternal life to all who believe in Him. Easter Sunday is the culmination of the Paschal Triduum and the beginning of the Easter season—a 50-day celebration of joy, new life, and the power of God’s redeeming love. The liturgy is filled with alleluias, white vestments, and the glory of the Risen Lord. As we rejoice today, we are called not only to celebrate but to live as people of the Resurrection—renewed in baptismal grace, strengthened in faith, and sent forth to proclaim Christ’s triumph to the world.
This Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 proclaimed by Pope Francis invites us to reflect on the Gospel message of hope so that we can become people of hope in our world today. Easter is the great feast of hope. It is because of Easter that we are a hopeful people. There are many reasons for despair and discouragement in our world today. The problems of the world, our countries, our church, our own lives, can easily leave us disheartened. Yet the great message of that first Easter Sunday is that God is always working to bring new life out of great loss and death, God turned the awful tragedy of the killing of His own Son to the good of all humanity. In raising His Son from the dead, God was raising us all into a new hope. In raising His Son, God released a power for good into the world, a power of life, which gives us hope. We call this power the Holy Spirit. It is this Spirit of the risen Lord that makes us a hopeful people. As Saint Paul says in his letter to the Romans, ‘Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us’.
PRAYER: Risen Lord, You have conquered sin and death and filled the world with hope and joy. As I celebrate Your Resurrection, awaken in me a new heart, a living faith, and a burning love. May I live this day and every day in the light of Your victory. Alleluia! Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.🙏🏽
Alleluia! He is Risen! Let us rejoice and be glad for the Lord is risen! May God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this Easter season and always 🙏🏽
EASTER SUNDAY | MASS OF THE DAY | HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS READ BY CARDINAL ANGELO COMASTRI | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | APRIL 20, 2025 | https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250420-omelia-pasqua.html
[Direct link to the full article: EASTER SUNDAY | APRIL 20, 2025| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/easter-sunday-of-the-resurrection-of-the-lord/ ]
DAILY REFLECTIONS WITH PHILOMENA | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
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EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD
Easter is the feast of feasts, the greatest celebration of the liturgical year—the unalloyed joy and gladness of all Christians. This Sunday marks the glorious triumph of Jesus Christ over sin and death. After forty days of Lenten observance and six Sundays of preparation, the Church now rejoices in the Risen Lord. The tomb is empty. Christ is Risen—He is Risen indeed!
On this sacred day, we celebrate the Resurrection of our loving Savior, who has conquered the grave and opened the gates of Heaven to all who believe in Him. The Paschal Mystery reaches its fulfillment as the Crucified Christ is gloriously raised, confirming the promise of eternal life and victory over death. This is the cornerstone of our faith: that Jesus suffered, died, and rose again for our salvation (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:14–20).
Through the Resurrection, Christians not only rejoice in Christ’s victory but also anticipate the resurrection of their own glorified bodies at His Second Coming. We proclaim with unwavering faith that sin and death no longer have the final word. The ancient Christian greeting, “He is Risen!” and the joyous response, “He is Risen indeed!” resound throughout the world today.
“Haec dies quam fecit Dominus”: This is the day which the Lord has made; let us be glad and rejoice in it. Give praise to the Lord, for He is good, for His mercy endures forever. Alleluia. As the Church sings the victorious hymn of the Exsultet during the Easter Vigil, we join in exalting our mighty King: “Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her… Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of His glory.”
Every Sunday is a celebration of this day. Each year, the Easters of our earthly pilgrimage lead us closer to the eternal Easter, when Christ will come again in glory to bring us home.
Quote:
“Be glad, let earth be glad, as glory floods her, ablaze with light from her eternal King… Rejoice, let Mother Church also rejoice, arrayed with the lightning of His glory, let this holy building shake with joy, filled with the mighty voices of the peoples.”Let us live as Easter people: redeemed, renewed, and rejoicing in the presence of our risen Savior.
Easter Meditation: Rejoicing in the Risen Christ
Halleluia! All glory, praise, and honor to You, Most Glorious Lord Jesus!
You have risen from the grave, You have conquered sin and death, You have opened the gates to Heaven!
Halleluia! All praise and honor to You, Most Glorious Lord Jesus!My Lord, hope is restored, and joy and excitement are instilled in many hearts as You quietly, gently, and gloriously rise from the dead and bring forth new life for this fallen world. Sweet Jesus, give me the eyes of faith that I may see and believe in Your Resurrection. Help me to know the effects of Your triumph in my life. As I come to know You, my resurrected Lord, help me to entrust to You all that I am and all that I hope to be. Help me to trust in the abundant Mercy that flows from Your resurrected soul.
Dear Lord, help me to enter deeply into the mystery of Easter during this eight-day celebration of the Octave of Easter. I pray that every day of this Octave will be a day of deepening trust and union with You in the glory of Your Resurrection.
Lord of Mercy, as our Church prepares for the glorious celebration of Mercy, poured out in a special way on the eighth day of this Octave on Divine Mercy Sunday, help me to open my heart more deeply than ever before to the abundance of grace and mercy You wish to bestow. Pour forth Your Mercy into my life and into the lives of all Your children. I offer You my family, friends, community, and the entire world. I pray for the faithful, the sinner, the lost and confused, the clergy, our Holy Father, and all of Your precious children. May we all anticipate, with eager hope, the abundance of grace You wish to dispense.
My Resurrected Jesus of Mercy, I trust in You. Jesus, I trust in You. Jesus, I trust in You!
Halleluia! All glory, praise and honor to You, Most Glorious Lord Jesus!
You have risen from the grave, You have conquered sin and death, You have opened the gates to Heaven!
Halleluia! All praise and honor to You, Most Glorious Lord Jesus!PRAYER: My resurrected Lord, my hope is in You! Alleluia—you are alive, and You have conquered all sin, all death, and all evil. You bring new life to all who turn to You. My Jesus, I turn to You and abandon myself to Your death so that I may rise with You in Your Resurrection.
Breathe into me this gift of new life and allow me to begin anew. The glory to which You have called me is beyond what I can imagine, but I trust in Your promise. Fill me with the fire of faith, the joy of the Resurrection, and the desire to follow You more closely each day.
May I live as a child of the Resurrection and a witness to Your enduring love.
Jesus, I trust in You.
Amen. 🙏EASTER SUNDAY OF THE RESURRECTION OF THE LORD | APRIL 20, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/easter-sunday-of-the-resurrection-of-the-lord/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
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HAPPY EASTER SUNDAY
Greetings and blessings, beloved family, and Happy Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection! We thank God for the gift of His only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praying for God’s grace, love, peace, and blessings upon us all as we celebrate the resurrection of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. ” Matthew 28:6
Alleluia! He is Risen! Let us rejoice and be glad for the Lord is risen! HAPPY EASTER! 🙏🏽
I pray and wish you all a blessed, safe, grace-filled, and joyous Easter celebration!
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖
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Catholic Daily Mass
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on the Fourth Week of Lent | April 20, 2025 on EWTN” |
Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | April 20, 2025 |
Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | April 20, 2025 |
Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” |
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MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP, SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT AND SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS
EASTER SUNDAY – SOLEMNITY OF THE RESURRECTION OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST (YEAR C)
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ APRIL 20, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP, SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT AND SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
Watch “EASTER SUNDAY | HOLY MASS OF THE DAY AND “URBI ET ORBI” BLESSING’ | PRESIDED OVER BY CARDINAL ANGELO COMASTRI | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | APRIL 20, 2025″ | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/easter-sunday-holy-mass-of-the-day-live-from-the-vatican/
Easter Sunday Mass is held at St. Peter’s Square in the Vatican, featuring the traditional “Urbi et Orbi” message with Pope Francis’s appearance. We continue to pray for stable health and complete recovery of Pope Francis and for God’s Divine healing and intervention. 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/2025/04/20/catholic-daily-mass-47/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Easter Sunday of the Lord’s Resurrection!
On this special day of Easter celebration, we thank God Almighty for the gift of life and the special gift of His only begotten Son, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ! Praying for God’s grace, love, peace, and blessings upon us all as we celebrate the resurrection of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ.
“He is not here; He has risen, just as He said. Come and see the place where He lay. ” Matthew 28:6
Easter Sunday is the greatest feast of the Christian calendar—the day we celebrate the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead. After the silence and sorrow of Holy Saturday, the tomb is found empty, and the light of the Risen Christ dawns upon the world. “He is not here; He has risen, just as He said” (Matthew 28:6). This solemnity marks the definitive victory of life over death, grace over sin, and hope over despair. The Resurrection is the cornerstone of our faith (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:14), confirming Jesus as the Son of God and opening the gates of eternal life to all who believe in Him. Easter Sunday is the culmination of the Paschal Triduum and the beginning of the Easter season—a 50-day celebration of joy, new life, and the power of God’s redeeming love. The liturgy is filled with alleluias, white vestments, and the glory of the Risen Lord. As we rejoice today, we are called not only to celebrate but to live as people of the Resurrection—renewed in baptismal grace, strengthened in faith, and sent forth to proclaim Christ’s triumph to the world.
This Jubilee Year of Hope 2025 proclaimed by Pope Francis invites us to reflect on the Gospel message of hope so that we can become people of hope in our world today. Easter is the great feast of hope. It is because of Easter that we are a hopeful people. There are many reasons for despair and discouragement in our world today. The problems of the world, our countries, our church, our own lives, can easily leave us disheartened. Yet the great message of that first Easter Sunday is that God is always working to bring new life out of great loss and death, God turned the awful tragedy of the killing of His own Son to the good of all humanity. In raising His Son from the dead, God was raising us all into a new hope. In raising His Son, God released a power for good into the world, a power of life, which gives us hope. We call this power the Holy Spirit. It is this Spirit of the risen Lord that makes us a hopeful people. As Saint Paul says in his letter to the Romans, ‘Hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us’.
PRAYER: Risen Lord, You have conquered sin and death and filled the world with hope and joy. As I celebrate Your Resurrection, awaken in me a new heart, a living faith, and a burning love. May I live this day and every day in the light of Your victory. Alleluia! Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.🙏🏽
Alleluia! He is Risen! Let us rejoice and be glad for the Lord is risen! May God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this Easter season and always 🙏🏽
[Direct link to the full article: EASTER SUNDAY | APRIL 20, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/easter-sunday-of-the-resurrection-of-the-lord/ ]
DAILY REFLECTIONS WITH PHILOMENA | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA: Novena in preparation for DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. Good Friday is the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena. Novena begins, Friday, April 18, 2025, to Saturday, April 26, 2025, leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday on April 27, 2025 | DAY 3: Link ~ https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/17/divine-mercy-novena/
Daily Saints and Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Today, as we celebrate Easter, we the Church joyfully commemorates three holy witnesses of the faith: Saint Marcellinus (patron of Embrun, missionaries, and bishops), the first Bishop of Embrun, a missionary bishop from Africa who sowed the seeds of Christianity in Gaul; Saint Beuno (patron of sick children and sick animals), a Welsh abbot and miracle worker remembered for his compassion toward the sick and his role in the life of Saint Winifred; and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano (patron of those with illnesses and the poor), a mystic and Dominican prioress known for her charity, deep Eucharistic devotion, and miraculous gifts. Through their intercession and under the maternal mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we lift our hearts in prayer today for those who are ill—especially children, the terminally ill, and even animals who suffer. May God, in His mercy, bring comfort, healing, and peace. Amen. 🙏🏽
Daily Saints, Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Scripture Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/reflections/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
Watch “HOLY MASS ON THE JUBILEE OF THE SICK AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS | Presided by H.E. Most Rev. Rino Fisichella | Live from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican | April 6, 2025” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/06/holy-mass-on-the-jubilee-of-the-sick-and-healthcare-workers/
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”🙏🏽
Honoring a Legacy of Service: The 10th Memorial Anniversary of Late Noble (Sir) Gabriel Louis Ihieje Opiepe (KSJI) | https://gliopiepehe.org/2025/04/12/honoring-a-legacy-of-service-the-10th-memorial-anniversary-of-late-noble-sir-gabriel-louis-ihieje-opiepe-ksji/
On this special feast day, as we celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, particularly Saint Joseph, Patron of the sick and 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, especially those victims of the recent mass shooting in Florida. 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 APRIL: For the use of the new technologies ~ Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.
PRAYER OF THE MONTH ~ POPE FRANCIS: Lord, Good Father, as I look at the world and see men and women working in it and beautifying it, a great “Thank You!” springs from my heart. The action of Your Spirit among us encourages us to grow in the progress of science and technology in the service of human dignity for integral and inclusive human development. Because we know You desire the good of all, from the heart of Your Church, Your Son calls us to ensure that technology does not replace “person-to-person” contact, that the virtual does not replace the real, and that social networks do not replace social settings. Help us develop the ability to live wisely, to think deeply, to love generously, without losing heart, promoting scientific and technological growth that increasingly aligns with human development in responsibility, values, and awareness.
Amen 🙏🏽(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/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
*Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, the Resurrection of the Lord | Easter Sunday, Year C | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: The Resurrection of the Lord | Sunday, April 20, 2025
Reading 1: Acts 10:34a, 37–43
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 118:1–2, 16–17, 22–23
Reading 2: Colossians 3:1–4 (or 1 Corinthians 5:6b–8)
Gospel: John 20:1–9Gospel Reading ~ John 20:1–9
“He had to rise from the dead”
“On the first day of the week, Mary of Magdala came to the tomb early in the morning, while it was still dark, and saw the stone removed from the tomb. So she ran and went to Simon Peter and to the other disciple whom Jesus loved, and told them, “They have taken the Lord from the tomb, and we don’t know where they put him.” So Peter and the other disciple went out and came to the tomb. They both ran, but the other disciple ran faster than Peter and arrived at the tomb first; he bent down and saw the burial cloths there, but did not go in. When Simon Peter arrived after him, he went into the tomb and saw the burial cloths there, and the cloth that had covered his head, not with the burial cloths but rolled up in a separate place. Then the other disciple also went in, the one who had arrived at the tomb first, and he saw and believed. For they did not yet understand the Scripture that he had to rise from the dead.”
In today’s Gospel reading, when Mary Magdalene approached the tomb of Jesus on that first Easter morning, she was preoccupied with death. Jesus, whose healing love she had experienced, had been cruelly put to death by the Romans in his prime. She had stood by the cross and watched Him die. Now she was approaching the tomb to complete the rituals associated with death, by anointing Jesus’ body with oils and perfumes. To her amazement she discovered the tomb was empty. This discovery only added to her darkness of spirit, her grief. Not only had Jesus been put to death, but His body had been stolen. It was only when the risen Jesus appeared to her and called her by name that she understood why the tomb was empty. The tomb was empty because Jesus had been raised from the dead and was now alive. Filled with new joy, new hope, new energy, she went to the disciples and excitedly declared, ‘I have seen the Lord’. Jesus who was crucified has been raised by the Father and has been given the name ‘Lord’ which is above all names. Easter declares that the one we worship is a living Lord. The good news of Easter is that the tomb of death has been transformed by God into the womb of new life. This took everyone by surprise. The Gospel reading suggests that even Peter did not immediately understand the true meaning of the empty tomb. It is only of the beloved disciple that the evangelist says: ‘he saw and believed’. He alone understood why the tomb was empty; he alone saw that life had triumphed over death. Even before the risen Lord appeared to him, he understood that Jesus was risen. There will always be some who seen more deeply than others. The feast of Easter is the feast of life. In a culture where death can be so dominant, we need to savour this feast of life. At Easter we renew our faith in a living God who brings new life out of death. If the death of Jesus reveals a God of love, the resurrection of Jesus reveals a God of life. We know from our own experience that genuine human love is always life-giving, and divine love is profoundly life-giving. At Easter we celebrate not only what the God of life has done for Jesus, but what God can do for us all. Because of Easter, we can face our own personal death with hope. Easter teaches us that the journey to the tomb is not ultimately a journey to death but, rather, as Mary Magdalene discovered, a journey to a wonderful and surprising new life. In the face of death, we too, like her, will discover that ‘no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the human heart conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him’.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading, the dawn of Easter reveals not only an empty tomb but the fullness of our hope. The Gospel begins in darkness—literally and spiritually. Mary Magdalene, still mourning, approaches the tomb expecting death and decay, but instead finds that the stone has been rolled away. What begins as confusion and concern unfolds into the most profound revelation: Christ is risen. The disciple whom Jesus loved, upon seeing the burial cloths, “saw and believed.” Faith blossoms in that sacred emptiness. The resurrection of Jesus is not only a historical event; it is a divine proclamation that death does not have the final word. This passage reminds us that the Resurrection is not just something we celebrate—it’s something we live. The empty tomb is not a sign of absence but of divine presence that now fills all creation. Jesus did not simply rise for His own sake but to lift all of us into new life with Him. Easter invites us to enter the tombs of our despair, fear, and sin, and emerge with faith, hope, and love renewed. This Easter Sunday, like Mary and the disciples, we are called to run—not away in fear, but toward the promise of life, to encounter the Risen Lord who calls each of us by name.
If Easter enables us to face our own death with hope, it also encourages us to look at all our other experiences of death with new eyes. There is a sense in which we have to deal with death throughout our lives, long before the moment of our own personal death arrives. Whenever someone close to us dies, some part of us dies with them. The experience of aging is itself a kind of dying, a letting go of our physical energy, perhaps even of our mental capacities. At any stage in life we can find ourselves dealing with very significant losses, such as the loss of a relationship that has been very significant for us, the loss of a job, the loss of our good name. In such losses, Easter, the feast of life, can speak powerfully to us. Because the Lord is risen, we do not face these losses alone. With St. Paul, we can say, ‘I can do all things through Him who strengthens me’. The risen Lord can work powerfully in all our experiences of loss and weakness. All those to whom the risen Lord appeared were sent out as messengers of Easter hope and joy, as agents of new life. Easter, the feast of life, sends all of us forth to create a culture of life. We are faithful to that Easter calling whenever we help others to make new beginnings, whenever we help those who are struggling to live life to the full, whenever we are present to people in ways that enable their gifts to come alive and be placed at the service of others. Easter reminds us of our calling to be agents of God’s life-giving work in our world. This is our baptismal calling. Easter is a day to renew our response to our baptismal calling.
In our first reading taken from the Acts of the Apostles, we heard of the great testimony of faith from St. Peter the Apostle, the Lord’s chief disciple who spoke courageously and full of the Holy Spirit after he and the other disciples had received the gift of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost, fifty days after the Lord Jesus had risen from the dead. He spoke bravely and courageously on behalf of the Lord because he himself had seen and witnessed everything that happened, and as recorded in the Scriptures, he and many others had seen the Risen Lord Himself in the flesh, in the glory of His Resurrected Body, which has transcended death. Initially, he and the other disciples were afraid because of the intense pressures, intimidations and efforts by the Jewish elders and chief priests who sought to keep the news about the Resurrection from spreading, even to the point of spreading false stories about how the disciples had stolen the Lord’s Body from His tomb.
But there St. Peter stood courageously before the many people assembled in Jerusalem for the Festival of the Pentecost, proclaiming all the good things that the Lord had done and accomplished through the same One Whom the people had persecuted and crucified just weeks earlier, and Who had died and yet rose again gloriously from the dead despite the lies and the falsehoods that the Temple authorities and the members of the Sanhedrin attempted against the Lord. He proclaimed the salvation which the Lord had won for all of us, the people beloved by God because of His triumphant Resurrection from the dead. And because they themselves have all experienced it, St. Peter and the other Apostles and disciples, all the witnesses of the Resurrection that our Gospel passage today had presented to us and all the great deeds that the Lord had done would not remain silent, and they proclaimed them all in great joy.
Reflecting on the first reading, Peter’s powerful proclamation in the house of Cornelius captures the heart of the Easter message: Jesus, who went about doing good and healing, was crucified, but God raised Him on the third day. He appeared to witnesses and commissioned them to spread this good news. Today, we stand in that apostolic tradition, bearing witness to the Resurrection not only by word but by the way we live. The forgiveness of sins through His name is not a theory—it’s a truth we carry into every relationship, every hardship, and every moment that cries out for redemption.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad.” This psalm is a joyful anthem of triumph. The stone rejected by the builders has become the cornerstone—Jesus, once crucified, is now exalted. His mercy endures forever, and His victory is our hope. The words of the psalm echo throughout Easter Sunday, reminding us that every new day, especially this one, is a gift crafted by God to be embraced with joy and gratitude.
In our second reading this Easter Sunday from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Colossians, he exhorted all of them to seek what is holy and worthy, and not in earthly and worldly things. He challenged the faithful people of God to live in the manner that they have been called and expected to do as Christians, as those whom God had called and chosen to be His own beloved and holy people. Therefore, this is the same reminder to all of us that we should always be truly be active and committed in each and every moments of our lives, in carrying out our every actions, words and deeds in the manner that the Lord had taught us all through His Church. We should not merely be faithful in the manner of formality only, but we must be like the Apostles, who courageously and faithfully defended their faith in the Risen Lord.
Reflecting on the second reading,
“If then you were raised with Christ, seek what is above.” St. Paul shifts our gaze upward, calling us to live as people already resurrected in Christ. Easter is not only about what happened to Jesus but about what must now happen in us. We are urged to think of what is above—not to escape the world but to transform it. Our identity is now hidden in Christ, and with His rising, we too are promised glory. The Resurrection compels a new way of thinking, loving, and being. Do I live each day as someone who has been raised with Christ? What tombs in my life need to be emptied by the power of the Resurrection? How can I grow in faith like the beloved disciple who believed even when he did not fully understand? Where am I being called to bear witness to the Risen Lord today with joy, courage, and truth? Christ is Risen! Alleluia! Let this Easter be more than a feast—it must be our mission. Go forth in the power of the Resurrection. Love boldly. Forgive generously. Rejoice deeply. And never forget: the tomb is empty so that your life may be full. Let this be the day the Lord has made, and may you never stop rejoicing in it.As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scripture this Easter Sunday, it highlights to us all the things which the Lord had done to overcome sin and death, and reunite us all with our most loving God and Father, our Creator and Master. Christ our Risen Lord has endured the worst of sufferings and challenges, trials and pains, by Him embracing willingly our many sins and their punishments upon Himself, by making Himself the Paschal Lamb, the Lamb of God to be slain for the New and Eternal Passover and Covenant that God wanted to establish with us all. The sacrifice and offering of our Risen Lord has been accepted in His perfect obedience, as the one and only worthy offering that is good enough to redeem and heal us all from our afflictions and corruptions by sin, as our Eternal High Priest, offering His own Most Precious Body and Blood for our salvation. This Easter season and beyond, we are also reminded that as Christians, as Pope St. John Paul II once famously said, that we are all Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. This means that all of us are called to live a truly holy and worthy lives, lives that are truly active, committed to God and missionary, full of compassion for one another and righteousness, justice and virtues in all of our actions throughout life. We must have the right disposition and attitude in life in order for us to be able to follow the Lord worthily in our lives. And just as the Israelites still continue their journey after crossing the sea out of Egypt, which is a symbolism and prefigurement of our baptism, therefore, baptism is not the end of our journey towards God, but rather, marks the new beginning in this journey we have towards God. As we renew our baptismal promises, we are reminded of this commitment that we have in following God and obeying His commandments. Essentially, we are called to proclaim the Lord and His Resurrection, His Good News and salvation to the world. But in order to do this, we must first live our lives worthily as good and faithful Christians, and this is something that many of us have difficulty doing because we face so many obstacles, temptations and challenges in our daily lives. And this is why as we enter into this joyful Easter season, we have to renew our commitment and dedication to the Lord, in doing our best to live our lives worthily and to commit ourselves to a truly holy and blessed existence in God, in all of our actions, words and deeds, and in how we interact with others around us. We cannot be hypocrites who claim to believe in the Lord and yet act in the manner that is contrary to our faith and beliefs in God. That is why as we all enter into this joyous season of Easter, celebrating the Lord’s glorious Resurrection, let us all strive to commit ourselves to be ever more faithful and sincere in following our Risen Lord in everything that we say and do. Let the transformations and conversions that we have experienced during the Lenten season continue to bear their fruits through this time of Easter and beyond. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace all of us be faithful and ever more courageous witnesses of Our Lord and His Resurrection, being good role models and inspirations to our fellow brothers and sisters, helping ever more people to come closer to God and His salvation. May our Risen Lord continue to bless us all and give us His light of Hope, and strengthen us in our resolve to follow Him wholeheartedly, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽
Risen Lord Jesus, today we rejoice in the victory of Your Resurrection. You have conquered sin and death and opened the gates of eternal life. Help us to believe even in the darkness, to hope even when the stone has not yet rolled away. Let us live as Easter people, bearing witness to Your light in every place we go. Fill our hearts with the joy of Your presence and make us instruments of Your peace. Amen 🙏🏽
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP; SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT; AND SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS – FEAST DAY: APRIL 20TH: Today, the Church joyfully commemorates three holy witnesses of the faith: Saint Marcellinus (patron of Embrun, missionaries, and bishops), the first Bishop of Embrun, a missionary bishop from Africa who sowed the seeds of Christianity in Gaul; Saint Beuno (patron of sick children and sick animals), a Welsh abbot and miracle worker remembered for his compassion toward the sick and his role in the life of Saint Winifred; and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano (patron of those with illnesses and the poor), a mystic and Dominican prioress known for her charity, deep Eucharistic devotion, and miraculous gifts. Through their intercession and under the maternal mantle of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we lift our hearts in prayer today for those who are ill—especially children, the terminally ill, and even animals who suffer. May God, in His mercy, bring comfort, healing, and peace. Amen. 🙏🏽
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | April 20th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Joseph Saint Marcellinus, Saint Beuno, Saint Agnes of Montepulciano https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day/)
SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP: Saint Marcellinus of Embrun, also known as Marcellin, was born into a noble family in Roman Africa. Ordained a priest, he joined two other African bishops—Vincent and Domninus—on a mission to Gaul (modern-day France) in the 4th century to evangelize the Alpine regions. These courageous missionaries preached the Gospel in the face of pagan resistance and cultural barriers, relying on the power of the Word and the witness of holy living.
Marcellinus settled in Embrun, where he built an oratory, spending nights in prayer and days in ministry. He journeyed to Rome to participate in the Synod of 313, which addressed the Donatist heresy, a testament to his deep commitment to the unity and truth of the Church. Eventually, he was consecrated bishop and led the Church in Embrun with pastoral care, sending his companions to evangelize other cities. His life was marked by miracles and deep sanctity, drawing pagans to Christ by example and word. He died in 374 AD, leaving behind a vibrant Christian community.
PRAYER: O God, who made Saint Marcellinus a fearless shepherd and zealous missionary, grant that through his prayers we may boldly proclaim Christ and live with unwavering faith. May we, like him, be tireless in our love for the Church and in service to Your people. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT: Saint Beuno (c. 545–640), born in Berriew, Wales, was a 7th-century abbot, confessor, and miracle worker. A member of a noble family and the son of Saint Bugi, Beuno was educated in the monastic tradition and eventually founded a monastery at Clynnog Fawr in North Wales. He is perhaps best known for being the spiritual mentor and uncle of Saint Winifred, whom he miraculously restored to life after a brutal attack.
Beuno’s life was steeped in asceticism, prayer, and healing ministry. Even after death, his tomb became a place of pilgrimage, especially for sick children and animals. To this day, people seek his intercession for healing, particularly for children with severe illnesses. He is venerated as the patron of sick children, diseased cattle, and animals suffering from illness—reminding us of God’s care for all creation, great and small.
PRAYER: Loving Father, You raised up Saint Beuno to be a channel of Your healing grace and pastoral love. May his intercession bring comfort to the sick, especially children and the voiceless creatures You have made. Heal us in body, mind, and spirit, and deepen our trust in Your mercy. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS: Born into a noble family in Tuscany in 1268, Saint Agnes of Montepulciano was marked for sanctity from infancy—her birth heralded by mysterious lights. At just nine years old, she received special papal permission to enter a monastery. Despite her youth, she became a model of discipline, prayer, and leadership. At age 15, she was entrusted with founding a new convent, and later, she returned to Montepulciano to establish a Dominican monastery devoted to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Agnes lived a life of radical poverty and intense mysticism. She sustained herself on bread and water, slept on the ground, and used a stone for a pillow. Her miracles included multiplying loaves, healing the sick, and even raising a child from the dead. Above all, her love for the Eucharist and Christ Crucified defined her path to holiness.
Saint Catherine of Siena once wrote of her:
“The sweet Agnes stripped herself of herself and put on Christ crucified… Her example obliges you to follow it steadfastly.”Agnes died in 1317 at the age of 49. Her body was found to be incorrupt years later and she is remembered as a shining light of contemplative prayer and charity in action.
PRAYER: O God of holiness and mercy, You adorned Saint Agnes of Montepulciano with heavenly gifts and made her a beacon of prayer and compassion. May her example of humility, purity, and charity inspire us to love You above all things. Through her prayers, may we grow in devotion and courage. Amen 🙏🏽
Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Marcellinus, Saint Beuno, and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, we pray for healing for the sick, comfort for the dying, and protection for all creatures suffering in body or spirit. May these saints, who radiated Christ in their lives, lead us closer to the heart of Jesus through their example and prayers. Amen 🙏🏽
Saint Marcellinus, Saint Beuno, Saint Agnes of Montepulciano ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF APRIL | MONTH OF HOLY EUCHARIST: April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to His Church. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity offering Himself as the Bread of Life. This month invites us to deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist, especially as we approach Holy Week and Easter, celebrating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper when He said, “Take and eat; this is My Body… Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the Covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). In receiving the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and His Church. It is the source of our strength and the culmination of our salvation, as Christ Himself said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” As we journey through Lent, we are called to renew our reverence for the Eucharist. During Holy Week, we remember that Christ instituted this sacrament on Holy Thursday, offering us a way to remain in union with Him. Let us take this opportunity to attend Mass regularly, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and reflect on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
In this season of penance and reflection, may our devotion to the Eucharist strengthen our commitment to living as true disciples of Christ, leading us to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection.
O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! Lord Jesus, You have given Yourself to us in the Eucharist. May we receive You with reverence and love, and let Your grace transform us this Lenten season and always. Amen 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Marcellinus, Saint Beuno, and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, we lift up our hearts in prayer. We pray for the Church, that her ministers may be filled with zeal and holiness as they proclaim the Gospel like Saint Marcellinus. We remember all missionaries and evangelists, that their efforts may bring souls into the light of Christ. We pray especially for sick children, the terminally ill, and those suffering in silence. May they experience God’s healing touch through the intercession of Saint Beuno, patron of sick children and animals. We pray for those discerning religious life, especially young women, that they may find in Saint Agnes a model of purity, humility, and deep Eucharistic love. We also entrust to God those battling spiritual doubts and darkness, that like the Apostles in today’s readings, they may come to believe and proclaim with confidence that “It is I. Do not be afraid” (John 6:20). 🙏🏽
LET US PRAY
Most holy angels of God, please come to me, speak to me and reveal to me the most glorious message of the Resurrection of Christ. Lord, I pray that my heart be freed of all fear and that my mind be opened to all that You wish to reveal to me. I do believe in the glory of Your Resurrection; help me to believe with all my heart and to proclaim that truth to others. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord God, You are the fountain of holiness and the author of all life. On this day, we give thanks for the witness of Your holy servants—Saint Marcellinus, who shepherded his people with prayer and perseverance; Saint Beuno, whose miracles and compassion brought healing and hope; and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, whose youthful faith and mystical love for the Eucharist remind us of the beauty of a life wholly given to You. Strengthen us, Lord, to walk the path of holiness with courage and simplicity. When we face trials, sickness, or fear, let us remember that You are near, speaking peace into our storms. Help us to serve others with charity, to pray with faith, and to act with boldness in Your name. May the example of the saints stir our hearts to greater trust, and may their prayers draw us ever closer to Your Sacred Heart. Through Christ our Lord. Amen 🙏🏽
Save Us Savior of the world. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Joseph Saint Marcellinus, Saint Beuno, Saint Agnes of Montepulciano ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
Thanking God for the gift of this day and the special gift of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ and praying for us all during this Easter season. May our most loving Saviour, as we come to share ever more deeply in the mysteries of His Passion, His suffering, death and Resurrection… Amen. Praying for us all on Easter Sunday as we celebrate the resurrection of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled, joyous Easter celebration!
HAPPY EASTER! 🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖
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