WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 17, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR; SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN, VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH AND THE STIGMATA OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI | SEPTEMBER 17TH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Robert Bellarmine, Saint Hildegard of Bingen, and the Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-17th/)
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | September 17, 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-193/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
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, Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time.
We joyfully welcome the gift of this month, September and thank God for the gift of life! 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/
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/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time | September 17, 2025
Reading 1: 1 Timothy 3:14–16
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 111:1–2, 3–4, 5–6
Gospel: Luke 7:31–35
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 7:31–35
“We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep; But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
“Jesus said to the crowds: “To what shall I compare the people of this generation? What are they like? They are like children who sit in the marketplace and call to one another, ‘We played the flute for you, but you did not dance. We sang a dirge, but you did not weep.’ For John the Baptist came neither eating food nor drinking wine, and you said, ‘He is possessed by a demon.’ The Son of Man came eating and drinking and you said, ‘Look, he is a glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners.’ But wisdom is vindicated by all her children.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus gives us an image of children in the market square talking and behaving as children. They are playing children’s games, imagining themselves to be playing the pipes at a celebration of some kind, like a wedding, and to be singing dirges, as at a funeral. Yet, some of the children’s friends simply don’t want to play either wedding or funeral games; they refused to be moved either by the imaginary playing of pipes or the singing of dirges. When Jesus saw this, he was reminded of how the people of His generation refused to be moved either by the somewhat sombre ministry of John the Baptist or His own much more joyful ministry. They labelled John as ‘possessed’ and Jesus as a ‘glutton and a drunkard, a friend of tax collectors and sinners’. Many of Jesus’ contemporaries took offence at both John the Baptist and Jesus and resented their ministries. It is interesting that Jesus identifies His ministry with the children pretending to play the pipes. We don’t often think of Jesus as a piper calling on people to dance to His tune. Perhaps we could image the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of the risen Jesus, playing a tune deep within us, calling out to us to move in harmony with that tune, to live lives that give expression to the tune the Spirit is playing deep in our hearts. That tune of the Spirit is a love song, the song of God’s deep love for us, revealed in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. Our lives are to reflect that love song of the Spirit being played deep within us.
Today’s Gospel reveals the resistance of the human heart to God’s message, regardless of how it comes. John the Baptist preached with austerity and sacrifice, and people dismissed him as “possessed.” Jesus came with joy, mercy, and openness, and they accused Him of being a glutton and a friend of sinners. The lesson is clear: when hearts are closed, no approach, no style, and no messenger is ever enough. We often judge others not by the truth they proclaim but by how it challenges our comfort. Yet Christ reminds us that true wisdom is revealed in the fruits of a life lived for God. The works of John and Jesus both bore witness to God’s saving plan, even if they were rejected by many. In this Gospel, the Lord calls us to humility of heart to be open to His Word no matter how it comes to us. God can speak through the prophet’s sternness or the Savior’s gentleness, through Scripture, the Church, or even through the people around us. The real question is whether we are listening. Wisdom is not about clever arguments or appearances; it is proven in action, in the fruit of faith, repentance, love, and holiness.
In our first reading, Paul reminds Timothy of the great mystery of faith: Christ, manifested in the flesh, vindicated in the Spirit, proclaimed among nations, believed in the world, and taken up in glory. This is the foundation of our faith, the very mystery that sustains the Church. As the “pillar and foundation of truth,” the Church safeguards and proclaims this mystery so that the world may come to believe. For us, this means that our lives must reflect the same truth our actions, words, and choices must point to Christ who lives in us.
The Responsorial Psalm leads us into praise: “How great are the works of the Lord!” (Psalm 111). The psalmist reminds us that God’s justice, mercy, and covenant love endure forever. Even when people reject His prophets or His Son, God continues to act with majesty and grace. He feeds His people, reveals His power, and remains faithful to His promises. When we reflect on our own lives, we too can echo these words, God’s works have been marvelous in our story, even in times of trial.
As we reflect and meditate on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are invited to ask ourselves: Am I quick to criticize or dismiss God’s messengers because they do not fit my expectations? Do I allow the Lord to speak to me in unexpected ways, even through people I might overlook? Do my words and actions bear the fruits of wisdom, proving my faith not just in speech but in love, mercy, and humility? Do I live in gratitude, recognizing and proclaiming the greatness of the Lord’s works in my life? May we, unlike the people of Jesus’ time, not close our hearts to God’s call. Instead, let us be children of wisdom, allowing Christ to shape us so that our lives testify to His truth and mercy. Let our hearts remain open to the many ways God visits us each day, so that our response may be faith, gratitude, and joyful witness. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to remain steadfast in faith and continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, open my heart to Your Word in every form it comes. Free me from pride and hardness of heart that makes me resist Your call. Teach me to rejoice in Your works and to recognize the wisdom of Your ways. May my life bear the fruits of true faith, and may I walk each day in humility, love, and gratitude. Amen. 🙏🏾
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR; SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN, VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH AND THE STIGMATA OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISII ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 17TH: Today, the Church honors three powerful witnesses of faith: Saint Robert Bellarmine, Bishop and Doctor of the Church (Patron of catechists and canon lawyers); Saint Hildegard of Bingen, Virgin and Doctor of the Church (Patron of musicians, writers, and natural scientists); and the Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi (Patron of animals, ecology, and merchants). Their lives remind us of the wisdom of God shining through His Saints, the richness of mystical union with Christ, and the enduring call to holiness in every generation. Through their intercession, and with the help of our Blessed Mother Mary, we lift up prayers today for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from mental and physical illness, cancer, and other terminal diseases. We remember the poor, the widowed, and the needy; we pray for peace and unity in our marriages, families, and in our world. We entrust to God our Holy Father, bishops, priests, religious, and all Christians, asking for strength, perseverance, and renewal of faith. May the souls in Purgatory and all the faithful departed rest in peace. Amen. 🙏🏾
Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | September 17th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Robert Bellarmine, Saint Hildegard of Bingen, and the Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-17th/)
SAINT ROBERT BELLARMINE, BISHOP AND DOCTOR (1542–1621): Born in Tuscany, Italy, St. Robert Bellarmine was a Jesuit priest, cardinal, and one of the Church’s greatest theologians. The third of ten children from a devout noble family, he joined the Society of Jesus in 1560 and went on to become a brilliant professor of theology at Louvain. Known for his clarity and defense of the Catholic faith, he wrote extensively against heresies of his time and produced a catechism that spread across the world. In Rome, he served as rector of the Roman College, Provincial of Naples, and eventually as a cardinal. As Archbishop of Capua, he became a model shepherd, faithfully applying the reforms of the Council of Trent. Though considered a candidate for the papacy, Robert preferred humility and service.
He defended the freedom of the Church against political interference, counseled popes, guided saints like Aloysius Gonzaga, and gently intervened in the Galileo controversy. His writings on theology, spirituality, and Church-State relations remain influential. His book The Art of Dying Well reminds us that the greatest preparation for death is to live faithfully each day. He died on September 17, 1621, and was canonized in 1930. A year later, Pope Pius XI declared him a Doctor of the Church. He is the patron saint of catechists, canon lawyers, and the Archdiocese of Cincinnati.
PRAYER: O God, You filled St. Robert with wisdom and holiness to defend the faith of Your Church. Through his intercession, grant that we may rejoice always in the integrity of that faith and live it with courage and charity. Amen. 🙏🏾
SAINT HILDEGARD OF BINGEN, VIRGIN AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH (1098–1179): St. Hildegard, often called the “Sibyl of the Rhine,” was a Benedictine abbess, mystic, theologian, composer, scientist, and visionary. From the age of three she experienced mystical visions, which she humbly kept hidden until God commanded her, at forty-two, to record them. These visions became her great work Scivias (“Know the Ways of the Lord”), later followed by writings on theology, medicine, music, and natural science.
As abbess, she guided her community with wisdom, founded a new monastery at Rupertsberg, and became a sought-after spiritual authority throughout Europe. She corresponded with popes, emperors, bishops, and kings, offering counsel with prophetic boldness. Her music and liturgical compositions still inspire the Church today. Despite opposition in her later years, Hildegard remained steadfast in truth and compassion. She died in 1179 at the age of eighty-one. Though long venerated as a saint, she was officially canonized and proclaimed a Doctor of the Church by Pope Benedict XVI in 2012, becoming one of only four women to hold this title. She is remembered as a woman ahead of her time, a beacon of wisdom, and a model of harmony between faith, creation, and human life.
PRAYER: Saint Hildegard, prophetess and servant of God, intercede for us, that we may live in harmony with creation, listen attentively to God’s voice, and boldly proclaim His truth with joy. Amen. 🙏🏽
THE STIGMATA OF SAINT FRANCIS OF ASSISI (1224): Two years before his death, while fasting on Mount La Verna in honor of St. Michael the Archangel, St. Francis of Assisi was caught up in deep contemplation of Christ’s Passion. In a vision, he beheld a seraph with the image of the Crucified Lord, and as the vision faded, he found the wounds of Christ imprinted upon his body the first known instance of the sacred stigmata in the Church.
These wounds, which Francis bore in humility and silence, were a profound sign of his total conformity to Christ crucified. They revealed that true holiness is union with Jesus in both love and suffering. From that time forward, the stigmata has been seen in the lives of other saints, always pointing back to the mystery of the Cross and God’s transforming love. The Church commemorates the Feast of the Stigmata of St. Francis on September 17, reminding us that to follow Christ is to share in His Passion, and that through the Cross we come to resurrection and eternal life.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, who imprinted upon the flesh of St. Francis the marks of Your own Passion, kindle in our hearts a burning love for You. May we carry our crosses with patience and be transformed by Your mercy, bringing forth fruits of holiness. Amen.
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Robert Bellarmine, Saint Hildegard of Bingen, and the Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi ~ 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: Heavenly Father, through the wisdom of Your Word and the witness of Your saints, we bring before You the needs of the world and of our hearts. We pray for the sick, the dying, and all who suffer from mental, physical, or terminal illnesses, that they may find healing, strength, and peace in You. We lift up families struggling with division, asking for reconciliation, unity, and love. We remember the poor, the widowed, and the marginalized, that they may experience Your providence and care through the compassion of others. We entrust to You our Holy Father, bishops, priests, and all religious, that they may be filled with zeal, wisdom, and perseverance in their ministry. We also pray for all Christians to stand firm in the truth, guided by the light of the Gospel, and for the faithful departed, especially the souls in Purgatory, that they may rest eternally in Your presence.
LET US PRAY:
Lord, Your soul was perfectly ordered, always responding to the will of the Father with perfection. You were firm when love demanded it, courageous in the face of hardship, merciful to the repentant sinner, and joyful at the conversion of all. Please help me to always be attentive to the promptings of Your grace and to always respond to You in the way I am called. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord God, You reveal Your wisdom in the teachings of Christ and in the lives of Your saints. Strengthen us to live with courage, humility, and love, following the path of truth that leads to eternal life. Through the intercession of Saint Robert Bellarmine, Saint Hildegard of Bingen, and Saint Francis of Assisi, may we remain steadfast in faith and grow in holiness. Grant us the grace to bear witness to Your love in our daily lives, and may Your peace reign in our hearts, our families, and our world. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Robert Bellarmine, Saint Hildegard of Bingen, and the Stigmata of Saint Francis of Assisi ~ 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, Wednesday 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