FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-EIGHTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 17, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR | OCTOBER 17TH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Ignatius of Antioch | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-october-17th/)
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | October 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-october-17-2025/
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, Friday 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, Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr | Friday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time | October 17, 2025
Reading 1: Romans 4:1–8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 32:1b–2, 5, 11
Gospel: Luke 12:1–7
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 12:1–7
“Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
“At that time: So many people were crowding together that they were trampling one another underfoot. Jesus began to speak, first to His disciples, “Beware of the leaven–that is, the hypocrisy–of the Pharisees. “There is nothing concealed that will not be revealed, nor secret that will not be known. Therefore whatever you have said in the darkness will be heard in the light, and what you have whispered behind closed doors will be proclaimed on the housetops. I tell you, my friends, do not be afraid of those who kill the body but after that can do no more. I shall show you whom to fear. Be afraid of the one who after killing has the power to cast into Gehenna; yes, I tell you, be afraid of that one. Are not five sparrows sold for two small coins? Yet not one of them has escaped the notice of God. Even the hairs of your head have all been counted. Do not be afraid. You are worth more than many sparrows.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus warns His disciples against hypocrisy, the kind of false religion that masks pride under the appearance of piety. “Beware of the leaven of the Pharisees,” He says, reminding us that hypocrisy, like leaven, quietly spreads and corrupts everything it touches. True faith must be transparent, authentic, and rooted in truth. Nothing is hidden from God; He knows our hearts and sees our motives. Sooner or later, every secret will be revealed, and every hidden intention will be brought into the light. Jesus calls for integrity of life, the match between what is on the outside and what is on the inside. We are all aware of how easy it can be to project an image which is not really true to the reality of our lives. We can be one person in sight of others and another person out of sight of others. We are called to live our lives in the sight of God, responding to what God would want. We do not always live in the sight of others, but we always live in the sight of God. Jesus calls His followers to live in integrity, not out of fear of exposure, but out of love for the God who sees and values us completely.
In our Gospel today, Jesus draws a contrast between two different kinds of fear, one being a misplaced fear and the other a reasonable fear. Jesus speaks words of deep reassurance: “Do not be afraid.” His followers are not to fear those who can only kill the body, their opponents who seek their bodily harm. However, they are to have a salutary fear of God because it is not just our bodily wellbeing that lies in God’s hands but our ultimate wellbeing, our salvation. Jesus immediately places alongside this salutary fear of God the need for a profound trust in God. While He warns us to have a reverent fear of God, the One who holds our eternal destiny, He immediately comforts us with the reminder of divine providence. God’s care extends even to the smallest creatures; if He watches over and pay attention to details of His non-human creation, the tiniest bird of all, the sparrow, how much more does He care for us, His children, He is attentive to the details of our lives. As Jesus says, ‘every hair on your head has been counted’. The Lord knows the number of hairs on our heads — a poetic image of His intimate knowledge and personal love. To fear God rightly is not to cower in terror but to live in awe and trust before His holiness, confident that our lives rest securely in His hands. Jesus invites us to trust in God’s loving provision for us.
In our world today, there has been a breakdown in trust at all kinds of levels in society and in the Church. The betrayal of trust has made us all less trustworthy. Yet, in reality, we cannot live our lives without some level of trust in others. In today’s Gospel, Jesus declares that God is always worthy of our trust. Jesus entrusted Himself into the hands of His loving Father both in life and in death; this gave Him a wonderful freedom. He invites us to have the same trust in God our loving Father as He had. He cares for us, and wants us to live in ways that are life-giving for ourselves and others, whether we are in public view or not. We pray today that we would be true to what God wants for us.
In the First Reading, St. Paul reflects on Abraham’s faith, showing that righteousness comes not from works but from trust in God. Abraham believed, and “it was credited to him as righteousness.” Faith is not an achievement but a humble acceptance of God’s mercy. Paul contrasts the works of self-righteousness with the gift of grace, a reminder that salvation is not earned but received through belief in the God who justifies sinners. Like Abraham, we are invited to trust not in our performance but in God’s promise.
The Responsorial Psalm beautifully echoes this message: “I turn to You, Lord, in time of trouble, and You fill me with the joy of salvation.” The psalmist rejoices in forgiveness in the happiness of one whose guilt is taken away. It reminds us that the greatest blessing in life is not wealth or success but being reconciled to God. Those who confess their sins find peace; those who cling to pride carry unnecessary burdens.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, let us ask ourselves: Do I live with integrity before God, or do I sometimes wear masks to gain the approval of others? When faced with fear, do I trust in God’s providence or give in to anxiety? How often do I remember that my worth is not measured by my achievements, but by God’s love for me? Do I allow the “leaven” of hypocrisy, pride, or self-righteousness to influence my heart, or am I striving to live with sincerity and humility? Like Abraham, can I truly believe that God’s grace not my own efforts makes me righteous? Today’s readings invite us to live in faith, sincerity, and holy confidence. We are called to reject hypocrisy and to walk in the truth of God’s mercy. Fear of human judgment should never silence our witness or distort our integrity. The Lord who knows and loves us will vindicate every hidden act of faith and courage.
As we honor Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr, we see in him a model of fearless faith. On his way to martyrdom, he wrote letters urging Christians to remain steadfast, to love unity, and to live as true disciples of Christ. He embraced suffering not with dread but with joy, saying, “Let me be the wheat of God, ground by the teeth of wild beasts, that I may become the pure bread of Christ.” His witness challenges us to trust God more deeply to live without fear, knowing that not even death can separate us from His love. 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 the depths of my heart and love me still. Purify my intentions and free me from every form of hypocrisy and fear. Teach me to walk in truth, to speak with honesty, and to trust fully in Your providence. When I am tempted to seek human approval, remind me that I am known and cherished by You. Strengthen my faith like Abraham’s, that I may live not by works alone but by confident trust in Your mercy. Through the intercession of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, give me courage to live and die for You with unwavering love. Amen.🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 17TH: Today, the Church commemorates Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr, a disciple of Saint John the Apostle, a successor of Saint Peter in the See of Antioch, and a fearless witness to Christ’s truth and love. Through his intercession, and under the maternal protection of our Blessed Mother Mary, we lift our hearts in prayer for peace and unity in the world, for healing of the sick and the suffering, and for strength among the persecuted. May God console widows and widowers, bless families and marriages with love and fidelity, and provide for the poor, the needy, and the forgotten. We pray also for the repose of the souls in Purgatory and all the faithful departed, that they may rest in the light of God’s eternal presence. We remember our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, together with bishops, priests, religious, and all who serve the Church, asking the Lord to renew His Church in holiness and missionary zeal. Amen. 🙏🏾
Saint of the Day with Daily Reflections | October 17th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Ignatius of Antioch | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-october-17th/)
SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP AND MARTYR (c. 35–107 AD): Patron of the Church in the Eastern Mediterranean, North Africa, and those suffering from throat diseases. Saint Ignatius of Antioch — also called Theophorus (“God-bearer”) — was one of the great Fathers of the Apostolic Age. Born in Syria, he was converted to Christianity and, according to tradition, personally instructed by Saint John the Apostle. He later became the third Bishop of Antioch, succeeding Saint Peter himself. Known for his deep humility and courage, Ignatius guided the Church during a time of fierce persecution, defending the faith against heresy and urging unity under the bishop as a sign of communion with Christ. Under Emperor Trajan, Ignatius was arrested for refusing to deny Christ and was condemned to die in Rome. During his journey to martyrdom, he wrote seven profound letters to various Christian communities, which remain treasures of early Christian theology. In these letters, he affirmed the divinity of Christ, the authority of bishops, the necessity of unity, and the real presence of Jesus in the Eucharist — calling it the “medicine of immortality.” It was also Saint Ignatius who first used the word “Catholic” to describe the universal Church.
Before facing the wild beasts in the Roman amphitheater, he declared with serene joy:
“I am the wheat of the Lord; may I be ground by the teeth of the beasts to become the pure bread of Christ.”
Saint Ignatius embraced martyrdom with faith and peace, offering his life as a witness to the power of divine love. His courage continues to inspire Christians to live boldly for Christ, no matter the cost.
SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH QUOTES AND SAYINGS:
☆“Pray as if God will take care of all; act as if all is up to you.”
☆”Do not have Jesus Christ on your lips, and the world in your heart.”
☆“It is impossible for a man to be freed from the habit of sin before he hates it, just as it is impossible to receive forgiveness before confessing his trespasses…”
☆“Be careful, therefore, to take part only in the one Eucharist; for there is only one Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ and one cup to unite us with His Blood.”
☆”I prefer death in Christ Jesus to power over the farthest limits of the earth. He who died in place of us is the one object of my quest. He who rose for our sakes is my one desire.”
☆”It is not that I want merely to be called a Christian, but to actually be one. Yes, if I prove to be one, then I can have the name…Come fire, cross, battling with wild beasts, wrenching of bones, mangling of limbs, crushing of my whole body, cruel tortures of the Devil–Only let me get to Jesus Christ!”
PRAYER: O glorious Saint Ignatius of Antioch, fearless bishop and martyr of Christ, you faced death with joy, longing to be united with your Savior. Obtain for us the courage to bear witness to the truth of the Gospel in our daily lives. May your love for the Eucharist inspire us to seek Jesus more fervently in the Sacraments, and your example of unity guide the Church to greater harmony and holiness. Through your intercession, may we, too, live as true disciples of Christ until we behold Him face to face in glory. Amen. 🙏🏾
Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Ignatius of Antioch ~ 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: As we commemorate Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop and Martyr, we pray for the grace to live our faith with courage and authenticity, unafraid to witness Christ before others. May the Lord deepen our trust in His mercy, as Saint Paul teaches, and remind us that true righteousness comes through faith and not by works alone. We pray for bishops, priests, and all who shepherd the Church, that they may be guided by the same spirit of unity and zeal that animated Saint Ignatius. We remember those persecuted for their faith, asking God to strengthen them with perseverance and peace. We lift up the sick, the lonely, and those burdened by fear or sin, that they may find healing and forgiveness in Christ. May the Lord also bless our families and communities with love, peace, and harmony, and grant eternal rest to the souls of the faithful departed.
LET US PRAY:
My revealing Lord, You see all things. You know my heart in every way. Please grace me with the ability to see myself as You see me and to know my inner heart as You know me. As the deepest truths of who I am come to light for me to see, I pray that I will also have the grace to sincerely change so that I may truly glorify You with my actions and become a source of authentic inspiration to all. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord God, You filled Saint Ignatius of Antioch with unwavering faith and love for Your Son, Jesus Christ. As he faced death with joyful confidence, so may we face the challenges of life with trust in Your mercy and providence. Strengthen our hearts to live in holiness and truth, and make us instruments of unity and peace within Your Church. Through the intercession of Saint Ignatius, grant us the courage to bear witness to the Gospel with steadfast hearts. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. ✝️
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed, Saint Ignatius of Antioch ~ 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 Friday, a relaxing weekend ahead, 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