SATURDAY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 13, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BISHOP, AND DOCTOR AND SAINT MAURILIUS, BISHOP OF ANGERS | SEPTEMBER 13TH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Maurilius | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-13th/)
MEET THE NEW SAINTS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/canonization-of-carlo-acutis-pier-giorgio-frassati/
SAINT CARLO ACUTIS (1991–2006): a teenager from Milan, passionate about computer science, he used new media to spread the faith and love for the Eucharist. Beatified in 2020, he is a model of digital evangelization. | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saint-carlo-acutis/
PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI (1901–1925): a young man from Turin, sportsman and mountain enthusiast, he stood out for his charity towards the poor and his joyful witness to the Gospel. Beatified in 1990, he is the patron of young people and students. | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saint-pier-giorgio-frassati/
NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS: REMINDER – The 2025 Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows is scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 6, and end on September 14 in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15th. Novena Link | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/novena-to-our-lady-of-sorrows/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | September 13, 2025 | “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/catholic-daily-mass-189/
JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025: JUBILEE PRAYER | Link to the prayer of the Jubilee of Hope 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/08/the-jubilee-prayer/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family!
Today, Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time. We joyfully welcome the gift of this month, September! Lord Almighty, we thank You for granting us the grace to see this new beginning, and we entrust every day of this month into Your loving hands. May September be a season of renewal, hope, and abundant blessings for us and our families. We continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of children all over the world, especially those beginning the new school year. Bless those who will celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, new opportunities, and milestones this month, and be near to those who carry heavy burdens in their hearts.
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary on this special Feast Day, we ask for healing for the sick and dying, especially those who are suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases, strength for the weary, peace in troubled homes, and provision for all in need. Guide our steps in righteousness, protect us from harm, and fill our hearts with faith, joy, and gratitude. May this month draw us closer to Your will, and may every day be a testimony of Your goodness and mercy in our lives. We begin this month with trust in Your unfailing love, Lord, and we surrender all that lies ahead into Your hands. Amen 🙏🏾
On this feast day, through the intercession of the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for the poor and those in need, for all those who are marginalized in our society. For those who are imprisoned, especially those who are unjustly imprisoned. We pray for those who fight for truth, peace, justice, love, and unity in our families and our world. May God protect us all and keep us safe and united in peace, love and faith. Amen 🙏🏽
We continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, that they be sanctified in their ministry to God’s people. We pray for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world suffering from political and religious unrest.
Through the intercession of St. Joseph, we pray for all fathers, mothers, workers, and all those who labor in this world. May the Lord bless the work of their hands, and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Ordinary Time. Wishing us all and our loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and grace-filled month of September. 🙏🏽
We remember in prayer all who began this journey of life with us but are no longer here. We pray for the gentle repose of the souls of our loved ones who recently passed away, and we continue to pray for the souls in Purgatory; lost souls. For the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” ~ Matthew 5:4
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🙏🏽
Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯
LIST OF ALL NOVENAS | Month of September | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/list-of-all-novenas-september/
COMMON CATHOLIC PRAYERS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/common-catholic-prayers/
PRAYER FOR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/prayer-for-the-beginning-of-a-new-school-year/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Saturday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor of the Church | September 13, 2025
Reading 1: 1 Timothy 1:15–17
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 113:1b–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7
Gospel: Luke 6:43–49
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 6:43–49
“Why do you call me, “Lord, Lord,” but do not do what I command?”
“Jesus said to His disciples: “A good tree does not bear rotten fruit, nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit. For every tree is known by its own fruit. For people do not pick figs from thornbushes, nor do they gather grapes from brambles. A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil; for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks. “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ but not do what I command? I will show you what someone is like who comes to me, listens to my words, and acts on them. That one is like a man building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well built. But the one who listens and does not act is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river burst against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus makes reference to three activities that will characterize His followers. Firstly, there is speaking and when that speaking is addressed to Jesus it becomes prayer, such as the very short prayer that Jesus refers to at the beginning of the Gospel reading, ‘Lord, Lord’. Then there is listening and in the context of our relationship with the Lord that listening often takes the form of listening to the words of Jesus. Then, finally, there is action, which Jesus identifies as doing what he says. Whereas all three are important, Jesus declares in the Gospel reading that our prayerful speaking to the Lord and our prayerful listening to the Lord must flow over into a doing what the Lord wants, a living as He calls us to live. Otherwise, for all our speaking and listening, our lives will be built on sand rather than on rock. Our prayerful engagement with the Lord, whether it is the vocal prayer of publicly acknowledging Jesus as Lord or the silent prayer of listening to His word is with a view to our being shaped by the Lord so that we live as He desires us to, so that He can live out His life in us. When our speaking, listening and doing are all of a piece, then we are fully integrated. This will always be a work in progress in all our regards. What matters is that we keep faithful to the journey, encouraged by what Saint Paul refers to in one of his letters as the Lord’s ‘inexhaustible patience’.
In our Gospel, the image of trees and their fruit that Jesus uses is to teach us that our words and actions are an outpouring of the heart. If our hearts are filled with love, mercy, and truth, then our lives will naturally produce good fruit. If, however, our hearts are clouded by pride, anger, or selfishness, the fruit will reflect that as well. Jesus reminds us that authentic discipleship is not just about saying “Lord, Lord,” but about building our lives firmly on His Word like a house with a solid foundation on rock that withstands storms. A faith without action collapses under trials, but a faith rooted in obedience to Christ remains unshaken.
In the first reading today, St. Paul speaks of himself as ‘the greatest’ of sinners. He is thinking back on his time as a persecutor of the church. Yet, he doesn’t dwell on the past. What he dwells on is the ‘mercy that was shown to’ him and what he refers to as Christ’s ‘inexhaustible patience for all’. It was St. Paul’s deep conviction of the Lord’s mercy and inexhaustible patience, revealed above all in the Lord’s death and resurrection, that was the firm foundation of Paul’s life and mission. This was the core of the Gospel he preached and lived by. This was the good news he wished to share with Jews and pagans alike. We all need a firm foundation on which to build our lives, that gives strength and direction to our lives. Just as in the Gospel reading Jesus uses the image of a foundation for a house, a good foundation of rock and a poor foundation of sand. He is really speaking about a foundation for our lives. He offers himself as the firmest foundation for human lives, declaring that those who listen to his words and act on them are like the house that is built on rock. Jesus is suggesting that if we get the foundation of our lives right, then we will be able to withstand the inevitable storms that life throws up. According to the Jewish Scriptures, the people of Israel often spoke of God as their rock and their refuge. God as rock has become flesh in Jesus. He is our rock and our stronghold. If we keep turning to Him, keep deepening our relationship with Him by listening to His word and living it, then our lives will be secure in good times and in bad, and we ourselves will be a refuge and strength for others. St. Paul’s testimony in the first reading reinforces the truth of our faith built on solid foundation. Once the foremost of sinners, he received God’s mercy and was transformed into an example of Christ’s patience and saving love. His story reveals that the fruit we bear is not by our own strength but through God’s grace working in us. St. Paul glorifies the “King of ages” for taking his broken past and turning it into a witness of divine mercy. This is the same invitation extended to us: to allow God’s mercy to change us so that our lives bear fruit for His Kingdom.
The Responsorial Psalm calls us to praise the Lord at all times, proclaiming that He raises up the lowly and lifts the poor from the dust. It is a reminder that God sees the humble heart and delights in raising it high. When our hearts rest in Him, our lips and lives become instruments of praise.
Reflecting on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are invited to reflect deeply: What kind of fruit is my life producing? Are my words and actions rooted in love, or do they reveal pride and selfishness? Am I building my life on Christ as the sure foundation, or on passing comforts that cannot endure? Like St. Paul, do I recognize God’s mercy in my story and let it overflow into gratitude and service? To walk faithfully with the Lord means continually allowing Him to renew our hearts so that, from their fullness, His goodness is made visible in the world. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace as we remain steadfast in faith and continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽
Heavenly Father, source of mercy and truth, we thank You for the gift of Your Son, who came into the world to save sinners and to make our lives bearers of good fruit. Like Saint Paul, we confess our weakness and ask for Your transforming grace, that the fullness of our hearts may overflow with words and actions rooted in love. Teach us to build our lives on the solid foundation of Christ, so that when storms arise, our faith may remain firm. Lift us, Lord, from our blindness, pride, and selfishness, and raise us up like the lowly ones You exalt. May our lips praise You without ceasing, and may our lives proclaim Your glory, through Christ our Lord. Amen 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BISHOP, AND DOCTOR AND SAINT MAURILIUS, BISHOP OF ANGERS ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 13TH: Today, the Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint John Chrysostom, Bishop and Doctor (Patron of preachers, speakers, and Constantinople), and Saint Maurilius, Bishop of Angers (Patron of gardeners, fishermen, and the Diocese of Angers). On this day, we entrust ourselves to the intercession of these holy shepherds of the Church. Through their prayers, we lift intentions for the sick and the dying, especially those suffering from cancer, mental illness, and terminal diseases, for the poor and the needy, and for the souls in Purgatory and all the faithful departed. We pray for peace, love, and unity in our families and communities, for persecuted Christians throughout the world, for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life, and for the sanctification of the clergy. May Saints John Chrysostom and Maurilius intercede for us, that we may remain steadfast in truth, charity, and holiness. 🙏🏽
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | September 13th |https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Maurilius | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-13th/)
SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM, BISHOP AND DOCTOR (347–407): Known as the “Golden-Mouthed” preacher, St. John Chrysostom was one of the greatest orators and teachers in the history of the Church. Born in Antioch around 347 A.D., he received a fine education and studied rhetoric under Libanius, the most renowned orator of his time. Drawn by the example of Bishop Meletius and a deep love for Scripture, John embraced an ascetic life and dedicated himself to prayer, study, and preaching. Ordained a priest in 386, he soon gained fame for his eloquent and practical homilies, which drew vast crowds in Antioch. In 398, he was appointed Archbishop of Constantinople, where he courageously preached against corruption, immorality, and abuses of power, often clashing with the Empress Eudoxia and other authorities. His fearless defense of truth led to multiple exiles, during which he continued to write and encourage the faithful through letters. Despite harsh suffering, he remained steadfast in faith, dying in exile in 407 with the words, “Glory to God for all things.” His writings, including homilies and commentaries, remain treasures of the Church. Proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 451, St. John Chrysostom is honored as the patron of preachers, orators, and Constantinople.
PRAYER: O God, You filled Saint John Chrysostom with zeal for Your Word and courage to proclaim truth in the face of opposition. Grant that we may learn from his wisdom and imitate his perseverance, so that our lives may bear witness to Your eternal glory. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINT MAURILIUS, BISHOP OF ANGERS (c. 336–426): Born in Milan, Maurilius was first influenced by the great saints of his time—St. Ambrose of Milan and St. Martin of Tours. Ordained a priest by St. Martin, he was later chosen as Bishop of Angers, where he played a key role in the spread of Christianity in Gaul. Known for his holiness, zeal, and miraculous works, he converted many pagans, healed the sick, and cast out demons. His episcopate was marked by fervent prayer, missionary preaching, and deep pastoral care. Tradition recounts that a dove descended upon him during his consecration as bishop, symbolizing the Holy Spirit’s presence in his ministry. He died in 426 after a long life of service, and miracles were reported at his funeral, including the healing of the blind and paralyzed. Venerated as the patron saint of Angers, he is invoked by fishermen and gardeners.
PRAYER: Almighty God, You raised up Saint Maurilius as a zealous shepherd and a witness of Your mercy. Through his intercession, grant us the grace to serve You faithfully, to work for the salvation of souls, and to live with charity and courage. Amen. 🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Maurilius ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾
GENERAL PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/general-prayers-and-intentions/
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/
THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER: For our relationship with all of creation. Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER | MONTH OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS: September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, inviting us to unite our hearts with Mary in her profound sharing of Christ’s Passion. As Simeon foretold, “a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35), and throughout her life Mary endured deep sorrows that culminated at Calvary. In her silent strength and unwavering faith, she became the compassionate Mother of all Christians, offering her suffering with Christ for the salvation of the world.
This month, the Church calls us to meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary: Simeon’s prophecy, the Flight into Egypt, the loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple, meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary, standing at the foot of the Cross, receiving His lifeless Body, and placing Him in the tomb. By reflecting on these sorrows, we learn patience in trials, compassion for the suffering, and a deeper love for Jesus who suffered for us.
Prayers such as the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows, the Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows help us to walk with Mary in her suffering and to discover hope and consolation in her maternal heart.
“Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, teach us to stand with you at the Cross, sharing in Christ’s love and redemptive sacrifice.”
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us. Amen 🙏🏾
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: On this memorial of Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Maurilius, we turn to God with humble and grateful hearts. Inspired by Saint Paul’s testimony of mercy in today’s first reading, we pray for all sinners, that they may encounter Christ’s transforming grace and find new life in Him. Remembering the Gospel’s call to build our lives on the solid rock of Christ, we pray for families and communities struggling with division, poverty, or persecution, that they may be strengthened in faith and stand firm in hope. We lift up priests, preachers, and teachers of the faith, asking that, through the intercession of Saint John Chrysostom, they may proclaim God’s Word with clarity, courage, and love. Through the example of Saint Maurilius, we pray for all who work with the land and sea, that their labors may be blessed and their needs provided for. We entrust to the Lord the sick, the poor, the dying, the souls in Purgatory, and all who long for peace, unity, and holiness.
LET US PRAY:
My glorious Lord, Your life bore fruit of infinite value. You continually chose to fulfill the will of the Father in Heaven, and, as a result, You lived every virtue to perfection. Help me to regularly pause in life so as to examine the direction in which I am going. May I learn from my errors and rejoice in those moments that were most fruitful for Your Kingdom. I love You, Lord. Help me to bear the greatest fruit for Your glory. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Heavenly Father, You are our rock and refuge, the sure foundation of our lives. Grant us the humility to recognize our weaknesses, the faith to cling to Your mercy, and the wisdom to live by Your Word. May the intercession of Saints John Chrysostom and Maurilius strengthen us to walk in truth, to persevere in charity, and to reflect the light of Christ in all we do. Make us, like the wise builder in today’s Gospel, steadfast in faith and firm in hope, so that when trials arise, we may stand secure in Your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Maurilius~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽
Thanking God for the precious gift of this new day, and during this gentle rhythm of Ordinary Time, may our hearts remain open to the quiet working of the Holy Spirit who continues to guide, renew, and strengthen us each day. May this new month be filled with blessings, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ walks with us always. Alleluia! Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and relaxing Saturday and a fulfilling month of September🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | Global Missions Now Awards | https://youtu.be/gB31nuOFx0A?si=mSoZs-wiByhGs
North Texas Catholic Magazine | Dr. Philomena Ikowe – Life on Purpose (pages 44-45) | https://www.flipsnack.com/A9DFE877C6F/north-texas-catholic-magazine-mar-apr-issue-2025/full-view.html