TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 14, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT CALLISTUS I, POPE, AND MARTYR | OCTOBER 14TH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-october-14th/)
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | October 14, 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-october-14-2025/
GENERAL PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS | PRAYERS FOR PEACE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/general-prayers-and-intentions/
OCTOBER IS MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY | THE HOLY ROSARY: WHAT IS THE HOLY ROSARY AND WHY DO WE PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/21/the-holy-rosary-what-is-the-holy-rosary-and-why-do-we-pray-the-holy-rosary/
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/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family.
Today, Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time, we joyfully thank God for the gift of life and for leading us into the month of October. May this month bring us God’s blessings, peace, and joy in abundance. We pray for eternal repose of our loved ones who recently passed. May this month bring peace to troubled hearts, direction to the lost, comfort to the grieving, and strength to the weary. In all things, may His will be done and His name be glorified. Amen🙏🏽
Lord Almighty, we lift our hearts in gratitude for Your unfailing love, protection, and mercy that carried us through the past month. We entrust every day into Your hands, asking for Your blessings, guidance, and peace in our lives and families. May October be for us a season of renewed faith, deeper hope, and overflowing joy. We pray especially for all families, for children, parents, and teachers, that they may be strengthened and protected. Bless those who will celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, new opportunities, and milestones this month, and comfort those who enter October with heavy hearts or struggles. Lord, go before us, walk beside us, and remain with us always, now and forever. Amen🙏🏽
Today, we humbly pray for the poor, abandoned, 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 charitable organizations, asking God’s blessing upon their mission and we lift our prayers for peace, love, justice and unity in our families, marriages and our world. May God protect us all and keep us safe and united in peace, love and faith. Amen 🙏🏽
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary on this special Feast day, we lift our prayers for the protection, safety and well-being of missionaries, pilots, and all travelers. 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 🙏🏾
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 October. 🙏🏽
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🙏🏽
“Precious in the sight of the LORD is the death of His Saints.” ~ Psalm 116:15
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 October | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/list-of-all-novenas-october/
COMMON CATHOLIC PRAYERS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/common-catholic-prayers/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time | October 14, 2025
Reading 1: Romans 1:16–25
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 19:2–3, 4–5
Gospel: Luke 11:37–41
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 11:37–41
Give alms and behold, everything will be clean for you”
“After Jesus had spoken, a Pharisee invited him to dine at his home. He entered and reclined at table to eat. The Pharisee was amazed to see that he did not observe the prescribed washing before the meal. The Lord said to him, “Oh you Pharisees! Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil. You fools! Did not the maker of the outside also make the inside? But as to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.”
In today’s Gospel reading, after Jesus finishes speaking, a Pharisee invites Him to dine at his home. Observing that Jesus does not perform the ritual hand washing before the meal, in accordance with the tradition that the Pharisees lived by and tried to get others to live by, the Pharisee is astonished. Jesus responds by exposing the deeper issue: “Although you cleanse the outside of the cup and the dish, inside you are filled with plunder and evil.” While the Pharisees concern themselves with outward cleanliness and ritual observance, they neglect the purification of the heart. Jesus accuses them of focusing too much on what is not essential while at the same time neglecting what is more important in the Jewish tradition, such as giving alms to the needy. Jesus’s words pierce beyond the surface, calling for interior conversion rather than mere external conformity. Jesus reminds them that the God who made the body also made the soul, and true holiness begins from within. He concludes with a profound command: “As to what is within, give alms, and behold, everything will be clean for you.” Generosity, compassion, and sincerity of heart are the truest forms of purity.
We can all get too preoccupied with the non-essentials, even in the area of religion and faith. We may have to step back every so often and ask, ‘Would this matter which is so important to me be of the same importance to the Lord?’ Jesus keeps sending us back to the essentials. On one occasion, He said, ‘Seek first the kingdom of God’. We are to seek the values of the kingdom above all else. In the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of almsgiving, the service of those in greater need than ourselves, as one example of such values. We can be anxious and distracted about many things and forget the one thing that is needed. Today, we ask the Lord to keep us focused on what matters.
This Gospel challenges us to examine our own lives. Like the Pharisees, we can sometimes become overly focused on outward appearances, maintaining a religious image, following customs, or doing good deeds for recognition while neglecting the deeper renewal of our hearts. Jesus invites us to an authentic faith that springs from within, where love, mercy, and justice flow naturally from a sincere relationship with God. To give alms from the heart means more than financial charity; it is the self-giving of one’s life in love. When our hearts are pure, our actions will reflect that purity.
In the First Reading, Saint Paul boldly declares, “I am not ashamed of the Gospel.” His confidence flows from the conviction that the Gospel is “the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes.” St. Paul contrasts the righteousness of faith with the foolishness of those who reject the truth of God for idolatry exchanging “the glory of the immortal God” for images and false pursuits. His message is timeless, when people turn away from the Creator to worship created things, their hearts grow darkened, and they lose sight of the truth. The moral decline Paul describes is not just a description of ancient times but a reflection of every generation that elevates worldly desires over divine truth.
The Responsorial Psalm beautifully complements this, proclaiming, “The heavens declare the glory of God.” Creation itself testifies to God’s majesty, the beauty of the skies, the rhythm of the seasons, and the harmony of life all reveal His eternal power and divinity. Yet even though God’s glory is evident in all He has made, many fail to recognize it, choosing instead to glorify themselves. The psalm invites us to listen anew to the silent yet resounding voice of creation, which constantly proclaims the Creator’s goodness.
As we meditate and reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are called to examine both our faith and our hearts. Do we live as people unashamed of the Gospel, letting its truth transform us from within? Do we recognize God’s hand in the beauty of creation and give Him the glory due His name? And do we strive for inner purity, a heart cleansed not merely by ritual, but by love, humility, and mercy? God does not look merely at the outward actions but at the intentions that inspire them. To live a clean life before Him is to align both our hearts and deeds in sincerity and compassion. Let us, therefore, open our hearts to His grace, allowing Him to cleanse not just the surface of our lives but the depths of our souls. May our faith be genuine, our charity sincere, and our lives radiant with the purity of those who live for God’s glory. 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. 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, You see beyond our appearances and into the depths of our hearts. Cleanse us from pride, hypocrisy, and self-righteousness. Teach us to live not for outward display but for the love of God and neighbor. May we, like Saint Paul, never be ashamed of Your Gospel, but live boldly as witnesses of Your truth. Purify our hearts, that our words and deeds may reflect Your mercy. And may all creation, through our lives, continue to proclaim the glory of Your name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT CALLISTUS I, POPE AND MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 14TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr, the sixteenth successor of Saint Peter and a model of mercy, reconciliation, and courage in the early Church. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and this holy Pope and Martyr, we lift our hearts in prayer for the Church and the world. We pray for peace, unity, and forgiveness within our families, communities, and nations. We pray for the poor, the needy, and the most vulnerable among us; for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancer or terminal illness; and for all who endure physical or mental affliction. We remember widows, widowers, and cemetery workers under Saint Callistus’s patronage. We pray also for the souls in Purgatory and for the repose of all the faithful departed. May the Lord bless our Holy Father, the bishops, priests, and all who serve the Church, that they may shepherd God’s people with wisdom and compassion. May He grant us hearts of mercy like Saint Callistus, who reflected the boundless love of Christ in forgiving sinners and defending the faith. Amen. 🙏🏾
Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | October 14th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-october-14th/)
SAINT CALLISTUS I, POPE AND MARTYR (D. 222): Saint Callistus I was a Roman by birth and a Christian slave in the second century. Entrusted with his master’s finances, he established a bank that served many Christians; however, when it failed, he was imprisoned and later condemned to forced labor in the Sardinian mines. Through divine providence, Callistus was released and eventually returned to Rome, where Pope Zephyrinus ordained him a deacon and placed him in charge of the Church’s cemetery along the Appian Way. This became the Catacombs of Saint Callistus, the resting place of many early martyrs. Upon the death of Pope Zephyrinus in 217, Callistus was elected Pope, becoming the sixteenth successor of Saint Peter. His papacy was marked by compassion and controversy, for he boldly taught that even the gravest sins could be forgiven through sincere repentance—a teaching that reflected Christ’s mercy but angered rigorists like Tertullian and Hippolytus. Callistus upheld the Church’s authority to absolve all sins, defending the truth that no sin is beyond God’s mercy when there is true contrition. He also regulated the discipline of the Sacrament of Penance, decreed that ordinations should occur during the Ember Weeks, and instituted the fasting on Ember Days.
Despite opposition, Pope Callistus remained steadfast in faith, promoting unity and pastoral care. He defended the Church against the heresies of Modalism and Adoptionism, affirming the mystery of the Holy Trinity and the divinity of Christ. His leadership inspired renewal in the Church, and his compassion for sinners became a model for future generations. Under Emperor Alexander Severus, Pope Callistus was arrested and martyred—beaten, starved, and finally thrown into a well, where he gave his life for the faith around 222 A.D. His relics were later translated to Santa Maria in Trastevere, a basilica he founded. Saint Callistus is honored as the first pope after Saint Peter to die a martyr, and he remains the Patron Saint of cemetery workers and a witness to the mercy that triumphs over judgment.
PRAYER: Lord God, You raised up Saint Callistus to shepherd Your Church with mercy and truth. Through his intercession, grant that we may always trust in the power of Your forgiveness and reflect Your compassion in our lives. Strengthen the hearts of all who lead and serve the Church, and make us witnesses of Your boundless mercy to the world. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr ~ 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 OCTOBER: For collaboration between different religious traditions. Let us pray that believers in different religious traditions might work together to defend and promote peace, justice, and human fraternity.
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER | MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: October is dedicated to the Most Holy Rosary, a powerful prayer that draws us into the heart of the Gospel through the eyes of Mary. The Rosary is more than repetition. It is a meditation on the life, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ, united with the loving presence of His Blessed Mother. As Pope St. John Paul II reminded us, the Rosary is “a compendium of the Gospel,” helping us to contemplate Christ’s face with Mary.
The twenty mysteries of the Rosary, Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, and Luminous, invite us to journey with Christ from His Incarnation to His Passion and His triumph over death. Each mystery opens us to God’s saving love, strengthens our faith, and leads us to imitate the virtues of Jesus and Mary in our daily lives. This month, the Church invites us to renew our devotion to the Rosary by praying it daily, whether alone, in families, or in community. Through it, we find peace in times of trial, strength against temptation, and deeper trust in God’s providence. Mary, Queen of the Holy Rosary, intercedes for us and leads us always to her Son.
“O Mary, our Blessed Mother and Queen of the Most Holy Rosary, teach us to pray with a pure heart and a steadfast spirit. As we meditate on the mysteries of Christ, help us to grow in faith, hope, and love. Intercede for us before your Son, that our families, our Church, and our world may be filled with peace and the light of the Gospel. Amen.” 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
THE HOLY ROSARY: WHAT IS THE HOLY ROSARY AND WHY DO WE PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/11/21/the-holy-rosary-what-is-the-holy-rosary-and-why-do-we-pray-the-holy-rosary/
PRAYER INTENTIONS: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the light of Your Word that reveals the truth and calls us to sincerity of heart. As Jesus teaches us to cleanse not only the outside but the inside of our hearts, may we be purified from hypocrisy, selfishness, and pride. Through the intercession of Saint Callistus I, Pope and Martyr, grant us the courage to uphold mercy, justice, and compassion even when misunderstood. We pray for the Church, that all her ministers may proclaim the Gospel with boldness and humility, never ashamed of the truth of Christ as Saint Paul proclaimed. We pray for the conversion of sinners, for those enslaved by false idols and worldly attachments, that they may return to the worship of the living God. We remember the poor, the sick, and those who suffer injustice, especially the persecuted for their faith. May God’s mercy bring healing to the wounded, peace to divided hearts, and strength to all who labor for righteousness. Amen. 🙏🏾
LET US PRAY:
My fervent Lord, You spoke words of love in many ways. At times You were gentle and at times You were firm. Please give me the grace and humility I need to be open to Your firm rebukes of love. Help me to sincerely see the ways in which I need to change my life so that Your grace will transform my interior life, flowing over into my actions. I love You, dear Lord. Help me to love You more. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen🙏🏽
O God, who raised up Pope Saint Callistus I to defend the power of Your mercy and to guide Your Church with pastoral wisdom, grant that, through his intercession, we may grow in purity of heart and fidelity to Your Gospel. Cleanse us from every sin that darkens the soul, and make our hearts temples of Your love. Strengthen us to live by faith, to serve with compassion, and to bear witness to Your truth in all we do. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son, who lives and reigns with You in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen. 🙏🏾
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed, Saint Callistus ~ 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. As we begin this new month of October, we lift our hearts in gratitude for the blessings of the past and entrust the days ahead into God’s loving hands. May this month be filled with hope, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ walks with us always. Alleluia! Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled, and fruitful Tuesday and week, and a fulfilling month of October. 🙏🏽
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