MEMORIAL OF SAINT EVARISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR AND SAINT RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF NARBONNE

SUNDAY OF THE THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 26, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT EVARISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR AND SAINT RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF NARBONNE | OCTOBER 26TH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Evaristus, Pope and Martyr, and Saint Rusticus, Bishop of Narbonne | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-october-26th/)

Watch “Holy Mass Presided by Pope Leo XIV | Jubilee of Synodal Teams | LIVE from the Vatican | October 26, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-daily-mass-october-26-2025/

LIVE from St. Peter’s Basilica, the Holy Mass presided over by Pope Leo XIV on the occasion of the Jubilee of Synodal Teams and participatory bodies.

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | October 26, 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-26-2025/

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE | DAY 8 | Prayed in Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases or anytime of the year, especially October 19–27th | Novena link below | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/novena-to-saint-jude/

KIND REMINDER: JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE 2025 HOLY DOOR SCHEDULE TIMELINES | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/jubilee-of-hope-2025/

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/

DR. PHILOMENA IKOWE AND HER JOYFUL CATHOLIC WITNESS | LIGHTS, CATHOLIC, ACTION! | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/dr-philomena-ikowe-and-her-joyful-catholic-witness/

Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

Today, Sunday of the Thirtieth 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 particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the eternal repose of the souls in Purgatory. May our Blessed Mother Mary intercede for all those in pain and sorrow and 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 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

KIND REMINDER: JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE 2025 HOLY DOOR SCHEDULE TIMELINES | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/jubilee-of-hope-2025/

The Jubilee began with the opening of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, and will conclude with the closing of the Holy Door at St. Peter’s Basilica on January 6, 2026. The Holy Doors at the other major basilicas (St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul Outside the Walls) will be closed on Sunday, December 28, 2025

Important notes

The holy doors at the major basilicas in Rome opened on December 24, 2024, and will remain open until the end of the Jubilee Year on January 6, 2026.

Participating in a pilgrimage to a designated holy door can earn a plenary indulgence.

Individuals who cannot travel to Rome can participate in the Jubilee by making a pilgrimage to a local designated site.

Local Pilgrimage Sites

For a complete list of local pilgrimage sites, check with your local diocese.

For those in the US, you can find a list of designated pilgrimage sites for all the Dioceses on their websites. For instance, the Archdiocese of Galveston-Houston, the Diocese of Fort Worth, Diocese of Dallas, the Archdiocese of Seattle etc all listed their local pilgrimage sites on their websites.

For example, the Diocese of Fort Worth has assigned the following Parishes as pilgrimage churches with holy doors.

St. Patrick Cathedral,
Immaculate Conception of Mary Parish,
Our Lady of Guadalupe Parish,
St. Philip the Apostle Parish,
Sacred Heart Parish

Plenary Indulgence

In his proclamation of the Jubilee of 2025, Pope Francis announced an indulgence would be available to the faithful during the jubilee year. The indulgence, he explained, would be “a way of discovering the unlimited nature of God’s mercy.”

A plenary indulgence is a grace granted by the Catholic Church through the merits of Jesus Christ to remove the temporal punishment due to sin.

“May the Jubilee be a moment of genuine, personal encounter with the Lord Jesus, the ‘door’ (cf. Jn 10:7.9) of our salvation.” ~ Pope Francis

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/

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: (Day 8) – The 2025 Novena to Saint Jude is scheduled to begin, Sunday, October 19th, and end on October 27th in preparation for his Feast day on October 28th. Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, especially October 19–27th | Novena link below | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/novena-to-saint-jude/

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly – (make your request here) – and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen 🙏🏽

PRAYER: May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen 🙏🏽

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen 🙏🏽

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen 🙏🏽

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity. (say this prayer, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now recommend to your kindness (name of patient) who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen 🙏🏽

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Sunday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time | October 26, 2025
Reading 1: Sirach 35:12–14, 16–18
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2–3, 17–18, 19, 23
Reading 2: 2 Timothy 4:6–8, 16–18
Gospel: Luke 18:9–14

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 18:9–14

“O God, be merciful to me a sinner.”

“Jesus addressed this parable to those who were convinced of their own righteousness and despised everyone else. “Two people went up to the temple area to pray; one was a Pharisee and the other was a tax collector. The Pharisee took up his position and spoke this prayer to himself, ‘O God, I thank you that I am not like the rest of humanity — greedy, dishonest, adulterous — or even like this tax collector. I fast twice a week, and I pay tithes on my whole income.’ But the tax collector stood off at a distance and would not even raise his eyes to heaven but beat his breast and prayed, ‘O God, be merciful to me a sinner.’ I tell you, the latter went home justified, not the former; for whoever exalts himself will be humbled, and the one who humbles himself will be exalted.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks a parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector, two people who went up to the Temple in Jerusalem to pray. Though these two men were at prayer, but with vastly different hearts. The Pharisee stands proud, thanking God that he is not like others, sinners, thieves, adulterers, or tax collectors. His words are full of self-congratulation but empty of humility. The tax collector, on the other hand, stands at a distance, not daring even to lift his eyes to heaven. Beating his chest, he prays simply, “O God, be merciful to me, a sinner.” Jesus makes it clear which prayer truly reaches the heart of God. It is not eloquence or moral boasting that justifies us before God, but sincere humility. The tax collector’s prayer reflects awareness of his unworthiness and dependence on divine mercy. True prayer, therefore, begins with honesty before God. Pride builds walls; humility opens the soul to grace.

According to the Gospel, the prayers of the two people who went up to the Temple in Jerusalem to pray were very different. How we pray often says something about how we are relating to God, how we think God is relating to us. Prayer is something very personal to each one of us. How we pray can reveal a lot about ourselves and, in particular, about our relationship with God. This is especially the case with informal prayer. When we move away from the prayers that are set out for us, such as the communal prayers at Mass, and pray in our own words, we reveal how our heart is before God. There aren’t that many contexts, at least within our own Roman Catholic tradition, where we give public expression to our own very personal prayer. Our informal prayer in our own words tends to remain private. People of faith will always pray. If we believe in the Lord, we will want to speak to Him, to ask His help, to thank Him for His gifts. We will also want to listen to Him, to hear what He may want to say to us. We often pray on our own, in silence, but we also pray with others, aloud, as we do at Mass. Our relationship with the Lord is one we share with others, which is why we come together to pray, but it is also very personal to each one of us, which is why we need to pray on our own from time to time.

The parable of the Pharisee and the tax collector reminds us that righteousness is not self-achieved. Even our good deeds are sustained by grace. The Pharisee’s failure was not his obedience to the law, but his belief that it made him superior to others. In contrast, the tax collector teaches us that God’s mercy flows freely to those who acknowledge their need for it. To be justified before God is to be emptied of self and filled with His love. Of the two people who went up to the Temple to pray, only one of them was empty enough to receive from the fullness of God’s hospitable love. The parable encourages us to place our trust in God, more than in ourselves. It assures us that if we come before God, empty handed, recognizing our poverty, God’s loving mercy towards us will know no bounds. There is something in the attitude of the tax collector that Jesus clearly admires and wishes to hold up before His disciples, before all of us, and it is that attitude of humility. Humility is not about putting ourselves down. It is about acknowledging our own reality, both the goodness in us, the good work that God is doing in our lives, and our failings, the journey we have yet to travel in order for God to bring that good work in our lives to completion. We are all a work in progress. The parable in today’s Gospel reading calls on us not to compare ourselves with others in ways that make us think we are better than anyone else. The only one we can compare ourselves with is the Lord, and when we do that we realize our need to keep praying the simple but profound prayer of the tax collector, ‘God, be merciful to me, a sinner’.

Reflecting on the First Reading, in the book of Sirach reveals a profound truth about the God we serve, a God of justice who shows no partiality but listens to the cry of the humble. “The prayer of the lowly pierces the clouds; it does not rest till it reaches its goal.” God hears the orphan, the widow, and all who approach Him with sincerity of heart. In a world where power and privilege often speak the loudest, Sirach reminds us that it is the voice of the lowly that moves heaven. The Lord’s justice is not cold judgment but compassionate response. He defends the weak and vindicates the oppressed. When we serve God willingly and act justly, our petitions rise before Him like incense. This reading complements the Gospel perfectly: it is not position or appearance that counts before God, but humility and sincerity.

Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” This Psalm beautifully echoes the theme of God’s compassion and attentiveness to the humble. The Lord is near to the brokenhearted and saves those crushed in spirit. Even when the righteous face distress, the Lord rescues and redeems them. The psalmist reminds us that praise and trust go hand in hand. To bless the Lord at all times, even in suffering, is to declare faith in His goodness. Those who take refuge in Him are never abandoned. True worship, therefore, flows from a heart that knows God listens, not to pride, but to prayer born of trust and humility.

In the Second Reading, Saint Paul, nearing the end of his earthly mission, speaks with the voice of one who has run the race and kept the faith. His life becomes a testimony to perseverance, endurance, and unwavering hope in God’s promises. “The Lord stood by me and gave me strength,” he writes, affirming that divine presence sustains us even when human support fails. Paul’s “crown of righteousness” is not a personal achievement but a gift from the “just judge.” His confidence is rooted not in his own merit, but in the mercy and fidelity of God. The message for us is clear: we are called to remain faithful amid trials, trusting that the Lord will rescue and reward those who endure in love. Paul’s example calls us to live our faith courageously, even when misunderstood or abandoned. The strength to persevere comes not from ourselves, but from the One who is always near, the Lord who never fails His servants.

Do I approach God in prayer with humility or with a sense of self-righteousness? When I look at others, do I see them through the lens of compassion or judgment? Am I more like the Pharisee, confident in my own goodness, or like the tax collector, aware of my need for mercy? Do I trust that the Lord hears my cry when I am weak and brokenhearted? Am I running my race faithfully, drawing strength from God as Saint Paul did? Beloved in Christ, today’s readings remind us that God listens to the humble, defends the lowly, and crowns the faithful. Let us approach Him, not as those who boast of their virtue, but as children confident in their Father’s mercy. The prayer that pierces heaven is not the one that lists achievements but the one that flows from a broken and contrite heart.

As we continue our earthly journey, let us keep the faith, persevere in good works, and remember that the crown of righteousness awaits all who long for the Lord’s appearing. May our hearts remain open, our prayers sincere, and our lives fruitful in love, for “the Lord hears the cry of the poor.” May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace as we remain steadfast in faith and humility, and continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽

Lord Jesus, You are the God who exalts the humble and draws near to the contrite of heart. Teach me to pray with sincerity and truth, not boasting in my own righteousness but trusting only in Your mercy. Remove pride and self-sufficiency from my heart, and fill me with the grace of humility and love. May I seek You in every moment of my life and learn to see others through the eyes of compassion. When I am weary or abandoned, stand by me as You did for Saint Paul, and strengthen me to finish my race in faith. Amen. 🙏🏾

MEMORIAL OF SAINT EVARISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR; AND SAINT RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF NARBONNE ~ FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 26TH: Today, the Church honors the memory of Saint Evaristus, Pope and Martyr (Patron of Ecclesiastical Organization and Courage in Leadership), and Saint Rusticus, Bishop of Narbonne (Patron of Unity and Pastoral Zeal) two holy shepherds who served the early Church with courage, wisdom, and faith. Their lives remind us that true leadership in the Church is rooted not in power, but in service, sacrifice, and steadfast love for Christ. On this holy day, we pray for the Church and her shepherds, for our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, for bishops, priests, and all who guide God’s people. We pray for peace and healing in our homes and world; for the poor, the sick, and the dying; for widows, widowers, and the lonely; for the souls in Purgatory; and for all who bear the cross of suffering in faith. Through the intercession of these saints and our Blessed Mother Mary, may we be strengthened to serve with humility, persevere in hope, and witness boldly to the Gospel of Christ. Amen. 🙏🏾

Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | October 26th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

SAINT EVARISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR (1st–2nd Century): Saint Evaristus, also known as Aristus, was the fifth Pope of the Holy Roman Church, succeeding Pope Saint Clement I around the year 99 A.D. and serving until his martyrdom circa 107 A.D., during the reign of Emperor Trajan. Born in Bethlehem to a Jewish-Greek family, he became a devoted disciple of Christ and a faithful shepherd of the growing Christian community in Rome. According to early tradition, Saint Evaristus organized the Church in Rome by dividing it into parishes and appointing priests to serve them. He ordained seven deacons to assist in preaching and care for the faithful — a structure that strengthened the unity and discipline of the early Church. His pastoral letters reflected deep wisdom, teaching that the bond between husband and wife mirrors the spiritual union between a bishop and his diocese.

Saint Evaristus courageously led the Church through persecution and is believed to have been martyred for the faith. He was buried near Saint Peter on Vatican Hill. Depicted often with a sword, signifying his martyrdom, or a crib, symbolizing his Bethlehem heritage, he reminds us that true leadership flows from humility and fidelity to Christ.

PRAYER: O God, who raised Saint Evaristus to guide Your Church with courage and wisdom, grant that through his prayers we may remain steadfast in faith and courageous in witnessing to Your truth. Strengthen our pastors and leaders to serve with zeal and holiness, and keep us united in Your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾

SAINT RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF NARBONNE (c. 400–461): Saint Rusticus of Narbonne, born in Marseille, was the son of Bishop Bonosus and became one of the most respected bishops of 5th-century Gaul. A man of prayer and learning, Rusticus first gained fame as a gifted preacher in Rome before choosing the monastic life at the Abbey of Lérins. There he cultivated humility, discipline, and deep love for the Lord. In 430 A.D., he was consecrated Bishop of Narbonne and worked tirelessly to strengthen the faith of his people amid trials of heresy, war, and division. He rebuilt churches destroyed during invasions, encouraged sound doctrine, and defended the truth of Christ against Arianism and Nestorianism. His correspondence with Saint Jerome and Pope Saint Leo the Great shows his great learning and pastoral heart.

Despite moments of discouragement, Rusticus persevered in his mission, remaining faithful to his calling until his death on October 26, 461. He is remembered as a gentle bishop who built unity in the Church and guided his flock with fatherly care and steadfast faith.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You made Saint Rusticus a wise and faithful shepherd of Your people. Through his intercession, grant that we may serve You with humility, persevere in faith during trials, and build peace and unity within the Church. Strengthen all bishops and priests to guide their flocks with truth and love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Evaristus, and Saint Rusticus of Narbonne ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾

GENERAL PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS | PRAYERS FOR PEACE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/general-prayers-and-intentions/

WORLD MISSION SUNDAY (WMS) | OCTOBER 19, 2025 | Pope Leo XIV’s Message | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/world-mission-sunday-october-19-2025/

CANONIZATION OF SEVEN NEW SAINTS BY POPE LEO XIV| OCTOBER 19, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/pope-leo-xivs-canonization-of-seven-new-saints-october-19-2025/

Pope Leo XIV’s Canonization of Seven New Saints – October 19, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/pope-leo-xivs-canonization-of-seven-new-saints-october-19-2025/

LIST OF ALL NOVENAS | Month of October | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/list-of-all-novenas-october/

COMMON CATHOLIC PRAYERS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/common-catholic-prayers/

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: Heavenly Father, You are a God of justice and compassion who hears the cry of the poor and lifts up the humble. Today we bring before You the prayers of Your people. We pray for the Church, that she may always mirror the humility of the tax collector in today’s Gospel and the courage of Saints Evaristus and Rusticus, serving not for glory but for love of Christ. We pray for all leaders, in the Church and in society, that they may lead with integrity, humility, and compassion, always seeking the good of those entrusted to their care. We remember the poor, the orphan, and the widow, that they may experience Your comfort and justice through our hands and hearts. For those who feel abandoned or unheard, may they know that their cries reach the heavens and that You, Lord, never turn away. We pray for sinners, ourselves included, that we may never grow proud in our righteousness but always seek Your mercy with contrite hearts. Finally, we pray for all who, like Saint Paul, are nearing the end of their earthly journey, may they finish the race in faith and be crowned with righteousness in Your heavenly kingdom.

LET US PRAY:

O God, be merciful to me, a sinner. I bow before You, most glorious and merciful God. I offer You my praise and gratitude for Your abundant mercy in my life. I am not worthy of You and Your grace, but You bestow it anyway. For that I thank You with profound gratitude and beg for the ongoing gift of Your grace. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

Lord Jesus, You teach us that true greatness lies in humility and service, not in self-exaltation. Grant us the grace to approach You with sincere hearts, acknowledging our need for Your mercy. May the example of Saints Evaristus and Rusticus inspire us to remain steadfast in faith, courageous in witness, and gentle in leadership. Strengthen us to be Your instruments of justice and compassion, lifting the lowly and comforting the brokenhearted. May our lives proclaim Your mercy and truth, so that through our words and actions, others may come to know the God who saves. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed, Saint Evaristus, and Saint Rusticus of Narbonne ~ 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 gradually come to the end of the 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, and grace-filled Sunday, a fruitful week 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

MEMORIAL OF SAINT EVARISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR AND SAINT RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF NARBONNE

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