THE FIFTH DAY IN THE OCTAVE OF CHRISTMAS
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: DECEMBER 29, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
MEMORIAL OF SAINT THOMAS BECKET, BISHOP AND MARTYR | DECEMBER 29TH | Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Thomas Becket | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-december-29th/
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | December 29, 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-december-29-2025/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family!
Today, the Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas, within the joyful light of the Christmas Octave, the Church commemorates the Memorial of Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr, who courageously gave his life for the truth and the freedom of the Church. As we continue to celebrate the mystery of the Incarnation, today’s readings remind us to walk in the light of Christ, love one another sincerely, and live our faith with integrity, just as Saint Thomas bore faithful witness to God even in the face of persecution. 🙏🏽
We joyfully thank God for the gift of life and for leading us safely into the month of December. As we continue this sacred journey of faith, we give thanks for God’s boundless mercy and the hope of eternal life promised to those who believe in Him. May the witness of the Saints and the faith of our loved ones inspire us to live each day in holiness, humility, and love. This month of December, dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, invites us to grow in grace and devotion, following her example of purity, obedience, and complete trust in God’s plan. Through the prayers of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of All Saints, may God fill our hearts with hope, strengthen our faith, and guide us in holiness throughout this Advent season. May this month bring light to our minds, peace to our hearts, and strength to our souls. Amen 🙏🏽
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” ~ Matthew 5:4
We join our Holy Father Pope Leo XIV to pray for the gentle repose of the souls of our dear beloved late Pope Francis, the Cardinals, Bishops, Priests and Religious who have gone to be with the Lord. We also 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.
“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 🙏🏽
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🙏🏽✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯
Lord Almighty, we lift our hearts in gratitude for Your unfailing love, protection, and mercy that carried us through the past months. We entrust the days of December into Your hands, asking for Your blessings, guidance, and peace upon our lives and families. May this month be for us a time 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 it 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 healthcare professionals, educators, 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 Advent. Wishing us all and our loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and grace-filled month of December. 🙏🏽
SOLEMNITY OF THE NATIVITY OF OUR LORD | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/solemnity-of-the-nativity-of-our-lord/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, The Octave of Christmas | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Fifth Day in the Octave of Christmas | December 29, 2025
Reading 1: 1 John 2:3–11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1–2a, 2b–3, 5b–6
Gospel: Luke 2:22–35
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 2:22–35
“A light for revelation to the Gentiles, and glory for your people Israel.”
When the days were completed for their purification according to the law of Moses, the parents of Jesus took him up to Jerusalem to present him to the Lord, just as it is written in the law of the Lord, Every male that opens the womb shall be consecrated to the Lord, and to offer the sacrifice of a pair of turtledoves or two young pigeons, in accordance with the dictate in the law of the Lord. Now there was a man in Jerusalem whose name was Simeon. This man was righteous and devout, awaiting the consolation of Israel, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. It had been revealed to him by the Holy Spirit that he should not see death before he had seen the Christ of the Lord. He came in the Spirit into the temple; and when the parents brought in the child Jesus to perform the custom of the law in regard to him, he took him into his arms and blessed God, saying: “Lord, now let your servant go in peace; your word has been fulfilled: my own eyes have seen the salvation which you prepared in the sight of every people, a light to reveal you to the nations and the glory of your people Israel.” The child’s father and mother were amazed at what was said about him; and Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, “Behold, this child is destined for the fall and rise of many in Israel, and to be a sign that will be contradicted (and you yourself a sword will pierce) so that the thoughts of many hearts may be revealed.”
In today’s Gospel, we are drawn into the mystery of Christ’s presentation in the Temple. Mary and Joseph faithfully observe the law, offering their child entirely to God. Simeon’s words reveal both the joy and the cost of salvation. Jesus is the light long awaited, but His mission will bring division, challenge hearts, and pierce souls. Christmas joy is therefore inseparable from the Cross. From His infancy, Jesus is marked as the One who will reveal what lies hidden in human hearts and call each person to a decision for or against the light.
Reflecting more deeply on the Gospel, Simeon’s encounter reminds us that faith involves patient waiting and attentive listening to the Spirit. Simeon waited many years, yet he recognized the Savior immediately when the moment came. His prayer, “Now, Lord, let your servant go in peace,” teaches us what true fulfillment looks like: to see Christ, to hold Him close, and to entrust everything else to God. At the same time, Mary’s silent acceptance of the prophecy invites us into a faith that does not flee from suffering but embraces God’s will with trust, even when it is painful or unclear.
In the First Reading, Saint John gives us a concrete way to measure our relationship with Christ: obedience rooted in love. To claim that we know Jesus while failing to keep His commandments is self-deception. True knowledge of Christ is shown in how we walk, love, and live. John’s emphasis on love of neighbor flows naturally from the light revealed in the Gospel. Whoever loves remains in the light; whoever hates remains in darkness. Christ, the light revealed to the nations, calls His followers to reflect that same light through lives of charity, mercy, and fidelity.
The Responsorial Psalm echoes this call with joyful proclamation: “Let the heavens be glad and the earth rejoice!” Salvation is not meant to be hidden. God’s glory is to be announced day after day, among all peoples and nations. The psalm invites us to praise not only with words, but with lives that reflect God’s splendor and justice. When we live in love, obedience, and truth, we become living proclamations of the salvation Simeon beheld.
As we ponder today’s readings, we are invited to ask ourselves: Do I truly walk as Jesus walked? Does my love for God show itself in how I treat others? Am I willing to embrace both the joy and the cost of following Christ? The light of Christ has already entered the world, but it demands a response. To live in that light means choosing love over hatred, faithfulness over convenience, and trust over fear. May this Octave of Christmas deepen our resolve to live as children of the light, bearing Christ to the world through lives shaped by obedience, love, and joyful praise.
Lord Jesus, Light of the nations and glory of Your people, help us to walk as You walked, loving as You loved and obeying the Father with faithful hearts. Drive away the darkness within us and fill us with Your truth and grace. May our lives proclaim Your salvation to all we meet, and may we remain steadfast in love until we behold You face to face. Amen. 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT THOMAS BECKET, BISHOP AND MARTYR – FEAST DAY: DECEMBER 29TH: Today, the Church solemnly commemorates the Memorial of Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr (Patron of clergy, secular clergy, and defenders of the Church’s freedom). Celebrated within the sacred Octave of Christmas, this feast reminds us that the coming of Christ into the world calls for unwavering fidelity to truth, even at great personal cost. Saint Thomas Becket’s life powerfully witnesses to the courage required to uphold justice and the rights of the Church in the face of political power. His martyrdom proclaims that allegiance to God must always surpass allegiance to earthly authority, and that faithfulness to Christ may demand the ultimate sacrifice. 🙏🏾
Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | December 29 https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com
( Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Thomas Becket | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-december-29th/)
SAINT THOMAS BECKET, BISHOP AND MARTYR: Saint Thomas Becket (c. 1118–1170), also known as Saint Thomas of Canterbury, was Archbishop of Canterbury from 1162 until his martyrdom in 1170. Born in London to devout parents, he received a solid religious and academic formation and later studied canon law, becoming a gifted administrator. His abilities brought him into close friendship with King Henry II, who appointed him Lord Chancellor in 1154. At that time, Thomas lived a life of honor, influence, and royal favor, enjoying great political success and prominence at court.
Following the death of Archbishop Theobald, Thomas was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury in 1162. Upon assuming this sacred office, he experienced a deep spiritual conversion, renouncing worldly privilege and dedicating himself fully to prayer, penance, and the defense of the Church’s freedom. His refusal to submit the Church to royal control led to intense conflict with King Henry II, resulting in exile and persecution. Returning to England despite knowing the danger he faced, Saint Thomas was brutally murdered by four knights in Canterbury Cathedral on December 29, 1170, while praying before the altar. Canonized within three years, he remains a powerful witness to courage, integrity, and unwavering fidelity to God and His Church.
PRAYER: O God, who strengthened Saint Thomas Becket to give his life in defense of truth and justice, grant us, through his intercession, the courage to remain faithful to Christ and His Church in every trial. Help us to stand firm in righteousness, to resist injustice, and to place our trust not in human power but in Your divine will. May we, like Saint Thomas, be willing to sacrifice all for the sake of the Gospel, that we may share in the glory of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾
Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Thomas Becket, Bishop and Martyr ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾
GENERAL PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS | PRAYERS FOR PEACE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/general-prayers-and-intentions/
LIST OF ALL NOVENAS | Month of December | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/list-of-all-novenas-december/
COMMON CATHOLIC PRAYERS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/common-catholic-prayers/
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/
KIND REMINDER: JUBILEE YEAR OF HOPE 2025 HOLY DOOR SCHEDULE TIMELINES | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/jubilee-of-hope-2025/
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 DECEMBER: For Christians in areas of conflict. Let us pray that Christians living in areas of war or conflict, especially in the Middle East, might be seeds of peace, reconciliation and hope.
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF DECEMBER | MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE CONCEPTION: December is dedicated to the Immaculate Conception of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a celebration of God’s most wondrous work in preparing a pure and spotless Mother for His Son. From the first moment of her existence, Mary was preserved from the stain of Original Sin by a singular grace and privilege, in view of the merits of Christ’s saving passion. She is the “all-holy,” full of grace, the radiant dawn announcing the coming of our Savior, and the perfect model of what God desires for every Christian—a life transformed by grace.
This devotion reaches its summit on December 8, the Solemnity of the Immaculate Conception, one of the most cherished Marian feasts of the Church. Throughout this month, the Church invites us to contemplate Mary’s unique call, her purity of heart, and her total openness to God’s will. As we enter the Advent season and prepare for the birth of Christ, Mary stands before us as the first and most faithful disciple—the woman whose “yes” changed the course of salvation history.
In honoring Mary Immaculate, we are drawn into the mystery of God’s redeeming love and reminded that holiness is possible for us too through God’s grace. May this month awaken in us a deeper devotion to the Mother of God and inspire us to imitate her virtues of humility, purity, obedience, and trust.
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.” 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we continue to rejoice in the light of Christ made manifest at Christmas, we lift our hearts to God, praying for the grace to truly know Him by keeping His commandments and walking as Jesus walked. We pray for the Church, that she may always remain faithful to her divine mission, boldly proclaiming the truth of the Gospel without fear or compromise, even in the face of opposition. Through the witness of Saint Thomas Becket, we pray for bishops, priests, and all who serve in leadership, that they may have the courage to defend the freedom of the Church and remain obedient to God above all earthly powers. We remember families, especially those experiencing suffering or uncertainty, asking that the light of Christ, revealed to all nations, may bring them peace, unity, and hope. We also pray for our own hearts, that we may reject all hatred and darkness, choose love of neighbor, and live as children of the light, bearing joyful witness to Christ in our words and actions.
LET US PRAY:
Lord God, You revealed Your Son as a light for all peoples and call us to live in His truth and love. Grant us the grace to remain faithful to Your commandments and to walk in the light, rejecting all darkness of sin, fear, and hatred. Through the intercession of Saint Thomas Becket, strengthen us to stand firm in faith, to love without compromise, and to bear courageous witness to Christ in every circumstance. May our lives proclaim Your salvation and reflect the joy of Christmas each day. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, and Saint Thomas Becket ~ 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 as we continue our joyful celebration of the Octave of Christmas, may our hearts remain open to the wondrous mystery of Christ’s birth, who comes to dwell among us and bring light, hope, and salvation to the world. As we journey through these holy days, we lift our hearts in gratitude for the greatest gift ever given: God Himself, born for us in humble love. May this sacred season fill our lives with the peace, joy, and grace that flow from the presence of Emmanuel, God-with-us. Alleluia! May God bless all those gathering with family and friends during this blessed time, and may His love shine brightly in every home. May these days of the Christmas Octave be safe, grace-filled, and joyful, drawing us ever deeper into the mystery of the Lord’s Incarnation and the quiet wonder of His abiding presence among us. 🙏🏽
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
Dr. Philomena Ikowe and Her Joyful Catholic Witness | Lights, Catholic, Action! | Podcast Interview | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/dr-philomena-ikowe-and-her-joyful-catholic-witness/