MEMORIAL OF SAINT NICHOLAS OWEN OF LONDON; SAINT LEA OF ROME, WIDOW AND BLESSED CLEMENS AUGUST VON GALEN, BISHOP OF MÜNSTER: FEAST DAY ~ MARCH 22ND 2026

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT | YEAR A

SAINTS OF THE DAY | MARCH 22, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-march-22nd/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT NICHOLAS OWEN OF LONDON; SAINT LEA OF ROME, WIDOW AND BLESSED CLEMENS AUGUST VON GALEN, BISHOP OF MÜNSTER

History of the Saints | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | March 22, 2026 | “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-march-22-2026/

LENTEN CALENDAR AND REFLECTIONS: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/lenten-prayers-and-reflection-2026/

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Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

As we enter the Fifth Sunday of Lent, our liturgical journey reaches a dramatic crescendo, shifting our gaze from the desert of penance toward the threshold of the empty tomb. This week, the prophet Ezekiel delivers God’s unbreakable promise to a people who feel their hope is lost: “O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them,” a prophecy that finds its spectacular fulfillment in the Gospel as Jesus stands before the cave in Bethany. By calling Lazarus to “come out,” Christ proves that He is not merely a teacher of the law, but the Resurrection and the Life in Person, a God who weeps with us in our grief yet possesses the absolute authority to shatter the silence of death. We are joined this week by the courageous witness of Saint Nicholas Owen, who built secret refuges for the persecuted, Saint Lea, who found her “crown of tranquility” in humble service, and Blessed Clemens August von Galen, the “Lion of Münster” who stood firm against the darkness of his age. Like Lazarus, we are invited this week to “take away the stone” of our own despair and allow the Spirit of the One who raised Jesus from the dead to untie our burial bands, leading us out of the shadows and into the radical freedom of a new beginning. Amen. 🙏🏽

LENTEN REFLECTION

FIFTH SUNDAY OF LENT | LENTEN MEDITATION & REFLECTION 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/fifth-sunday-of-lent-lenten-meditation-reflection-2026/

The Glory of Sacrificial Love
(Fifth Sunday of Lent)

Scripture Passage:
“Now is the Son of Man glorified, and God is glorified in him.” (John 13:31)

We have found the strength to stand in truth.
We have allowed God’s mercy to transform our hearts.
We are moving closer to the heart of the Paschal Mystery.

Today Lent invites us to see that true glory is found in selfless love.

Meditative Reflection

As we enter the Fifth Week of Lent, the atmosphere shifts. We are no longer just looking inward at our own growth; we are looking upward at the Cross.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of “glory.” Usually, when we think of glory, we think of earthly success, power, or applause. But for Jesus, glory is revealed in the moment He is most hidden, most vulnerable, and most broken. He reveals that God’s greatest glory is not found in dominating others, but in sacrificing Himself for them. This is the ultimate transformation of the heart: moving from “What can I gain?” to “What can I give?” Our own “crosses” the difficult relationships, the physical exhaustion, or the quiet sacrifices we make for our families, are not just burdens to be carried. When united with Christ, they become our own path to glory. Suffering without love is just pain, but suffering with love is a sacrifice that transforms the world. To follow Christ is to accept that sometimes, the seed must fall to the ground and die before it can produce a harvest. Are we willing to let our pride or our comfort “die” so that God’s love can live more fully through us? The glory of God is a person fully alive in His love, and that life is often found in the places where we give of ourselves most freely.

Reflection Questions

Do I view my daily sacrifices as a burden, or as an act of love for God and others?
In what area of my life is God asking me to “die to myself” so that His grace can grow?
Can I see God’s light even in the dark moments of my current struggles?

Lenten Question

Q: Why does God allow us to go through trials if He loves us?
A: Trials are not a sign of God’s absence, but an invitation to depend more deeply on His strength. Just as gold is purified by fire, our hearts are often refined and made more capable of deep love through the challenges we endure.

Lenten Action

Identify one hidden sacrifice you can make today, something no one else will notice (like doing a chore you dislike or holding back a sharp word). Offer it silently to God as a gift of love.

Prayer

Lord Jesus, You showed us that true greatness is found in service and true glory is found in the Cross. Transform my heart so that I may love as You love. Help me to see my daily struggles not as obstacles, but as opportunities to draw closer to You. May my life be a reflection of Your sacrificial love, bringing light to those around me. Amen. 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

Fifth Week of Lent | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Fifth Sunday of Lent | March 22, 2026
Reading I: Ezekiel 37:12–14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 130:1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 7–8
Reading II: Romans 8:8–11
Gospel: John 11:1–45

Gospel Reading ~ John 11:1–45

“I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live.”

Now a man was ill, Lazarus from Bethany, the village of Mary and her sister Martha. Mary was the one who had anointed the Lord with perfumed oil and dried his feet with her hair; it was her brother Lazarus who was ill. So the sisters sent word to him saying, “Master, the one you love is ill.” When Jesus heard this he said, “This illness is not to end in death, but is for the glory of God, that the Son of God may be glorified through it.” Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that he was ill, he remained for two days in the place where he was. Then after this he said to his disciples, “Let us go back to Judea.” The disciples said to him, “Rabbi, the Jews were just trying to stone you, and you want to go back there?” Jesus answered, “Are there not twelve hours in a day? If one walks during the day, he does not stumble, because he sees the light of this world. But if one walks at night, he stumbles,  because the light is not in him.” He said this, and then told them, “Our friend Lazarus is asleep, but I am going to awaken him.” So the disciples said to him, “Master, if he is asleep, he will be saved.” But Jesus was talking about his death, while they thought that he meant ordinary sleep. So then Jesus said to them clearly, “Lazarus has died. And I am glad for you that I was not there, that you may believe.  Let us go to him.” So Thomas, called Didymus, said to his fellow disciples, “Let us also go to die with him.” When Jesus arrived, he found that Lazarus had already been in the tomb for four days. Now Bethany was near Jerusalem, only about two miles away. And many of the Jews had come to Martha and Mary to comfort them about their brother. When Martha heard that Jesus was coming, she went to meet him; but Mary sat at home. Martha said to Jesus, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died. But even now I know that whatever you ask of God, God will give you.” Jesus said to her, “Your brother will rise.” Martha said to him, “I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.” Jesus told her, “I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?” She said to him, “Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Christ, the Son of God, the one who is coming into the world.” When she had said this, she went and called her sister Mary secretly, saying,  “The teacher is here and is asking for you.” As soon as she heard this, she rose quickly and went to him. For Jesus had not yet come into the village, but was still where Martha had met him. So when the Jews who were with her in the house comforting her saw Mary get up quickly and go out, they followed her, presuming that she was going to the tomb to weep there. When Mary came to where Jesus was and saw him, she fell at his feet and said to him, “Lord, if you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her weeping and the Jews who had come with her weeping, he became perturbed and eeply troubled, and said, “Where have you laid him?” They said to him, “Sir, come and see.” And Jesus wept. So the Jews said, “See how he loved him.” But some of them said, “Could not the one who opened the eyes of the blind man have done something so that this man would not have died?” So Jesus, perturbed again, came to the tomb. It was a cave, and a stone lay across it. Jesus said, “Take away the stone.” Martha, the dead man’s sister, said to him, “Lord, by now there will be a stench; he has been dead for four days.” Jesus said to her, “Did I not tell you that if you believe you will see the glory of God?” So they took away the stone. And Jesus raised his eyes and said, “Father, I thank you for hearing me. I know that you always hear me; but because of the crowd here I have said this, that they may believe that you sent me.” And when he had said this, He cried out in a loud voice, “Lazarus, come out!” The dead man came out, tied hand and foot with burial bands, and his face was wrapped in a cloth. So Jesus said to them, “Untie him and let him go.” Now many of the Jews who had come to Mary and seen what he had done began to believe in him.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, the raising of Lazarus is the final and greatest “sign” in John’s Gospel before the Passion. It reveals a God who is not distant from our suffering—”Jesus wept”—but who refuses to let death have the final word. Martha’s faith is tested in the delay; she expected a healing, but Jesus intended a resurrection. When He says, “I am the resurrection and the life,” He is making a radical claim: life is not just a biological state, but a relationship with Him. This moment teaches us that even when God seems “late” to our crisis, He is perfectly on time for His glory.

The command to “Take away the stone” and later to “Untie him and let him go” is directed at us as much as the bystanders in Bethany. Lent is the sacred time when Jesus calls us by name out of the “tombs” of our addictions, grudges, and despair, asking our faith community to help unbind us from the burial cloths of our past. By raising Lazarus, Jesus proves that no situation is too “far gone” or “too smelly” for His touch. He invites us to move from the darkness of the grave into the light of the Spirit, reminding us that for those who believe, the end of this life is merely a transition to an eternal awakening.

The First Reading from Ezekiel provides the prophetic foundation for this miracle. Writing to a people in exile who felt their hope was lost, God promises the impossible: “O my people, I will open your graves and have you rise from them.” This isn’t just a promise for the end of time; it is a promise of restoration for the here and now. God pledges to put His Spirit within us so that we may truly live. It reminds us that no matter how “dry” or “dead” a situation in our life may seem, whether in our families, our work, or our inner spirits, God’s promise is binding: “I have promised, and I will do it.”

The Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 130, is the cry of a soul that knows its need for this life-giving Spirit. “Out of the depths I cry to you, O LORD.” It is a song of profound trust and “plenteous redemption.” Like sentinels waiting for the dawn, we wait for the Lord, knowing that He does not “mark iniquities” but offers forgiveness. This Psalm anchors our Lenten hope: even in the “depths” of our darkest tomb, the dawn of the Resurrection is coming. We do not wait in vain, for with the Lord is kindness and the fullness of redemption.

The Second Reading from Romans bridges the gap between the physical miracle of Lazarus and our spiritual reality. Paul explains that if the Spirit of the one who raised Jesus from the dead dwells in us, we are no longer “in the flesh.” This Spirit is the source of our righteousness and our future glory. It is a powerful reminder that the Christian life is supernatural; we carry within us the same power that shattered the seal of the tomb in Bethany. Our mortal bodies are destined for life because the Spirit of Christ has claimed them as His own.

As we move into these final weeks before Easter, the question Jesus posed to Martha is posed to us: “Do you believe this?” Do you believe that He can bring life to the “dead” parts of your heart? Are you willing to “take away the stone” of your own resistance and let Him see your vulnerability? Reflect today: What “burial bands” are still keeping you bound? How is the Spirit calling you to “come out” of the darkness and into the light of a new beginning?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, You are the Resurrection and the Life. We thank You for weeping with us in our sorrows and for calling us by name out of our graves. Remove the stones of doubt and fear from our hearts. By the power of Your Holy Spirit dwelling within us, unbind us from the sins that hold us back, so that we may walk in the freedom of the children of God. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | MARCH 22ND:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections| March 22nd https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Nicholas Owen, Saint Lea of Rome, and Blessed Clemens August von Galen | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-march-22nd/

SAINT NICHOLAS OWEN, RELIGIOUS AND MARTYR: Saint Nicholas (d. 1606), known as “Little John,” was a master carpenter who turned his craft into a divine mission. In an era when Catholicism was “beset” by the state, he spent twenty years secretly constructing “priest-holes”—hidden compartments that saved hundreds of lives. Like the “trusting lamb” led to slaughter, he was eventually betrayed and endured horrific torture in the Tower of London, yet he refused to “give up his friends.” He proved that the “hidden counsels of God” are stronger than any stone wall, dying as a martyr to protect the “Living Water” of the Sacraments. He is the patron of escape artists and carpenters, teaching us to use our unique talents to build refuges for the faith.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You gave Saint Nicholas Owen the strength to remain “invincible” under torture and the wisdom to protect Your priests. Through his intercession, grant us a “generous heart” to use our daily labor for the glory of Your Kingdom. When we are pursued by the “snares of the enemy,” be our refuge and our shield, so that we may never “stumble” but always walk in the light of Your truth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT LEA OF ROME, WIDOW: Saint Lea (d. 384) was a noblewoman who, after the death of her husband, “trampled Satan under foot” by renouncing her aristocratic wealth. Described by Saint Jerome as the “mother of virgins,” she traded soft raiment for sackcloth and spent her nights in prayer. Jerome contrasted her “happy death” with the hollow triumphs of the worldly, noting that while the rich are often “lying in torment,” the humble Lea is welcomed into the “choirs of angels.” She reminds us that “those who are in the flesh cannot please God,” but those who live in the Spirit—even if accounted “poor and of little worth” by the world—will never truly die.

PRAYER: Lord, amid the transitory things of this world, help us to be “wholeheartedly committed” to heavenly things in imitation of Saint Lea. Grant us the humility to be the “servant of all” and the wisdom to recognize that our bodies will soon be dust. Wash away our ostentation so that we may seek only the reward that comes from You, our Resurrection and our Life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

BLESSED CLEMENS AUGUST VON GALEN, BISHOP: Blessed Clemens (1878–1946), the “Lion of Münster,” was a shepherd who “cried out in a loud voice” against the wickedness of his time. As Bishop during the Nazi regime, he chose the motto “Neither praise nor threats,” fearlessly condemning the confiscation of Church property and the “shameful death” of the vulnerable through euthanasia. Like the prophet Ezekiel, he reminded his people that God would “open their graves” and put His Spirit in them to live. He stood firm as a “just judge” of his culture, proving that the Word of God cannot be chained by political oppression.

PRAYER: O God, You numbered Blessed Clemens among Your holy shepherds as a man “aflame with divine charity.” Through his intercession, grant us that “faith that overcomes the world” so that we may defend the dignity of every human life. When we face the “neopaganism” of our own age, give us the courage to speak the truth without fear, trusting in the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Nicholas Owen, Saint Lea of Rome, and Blessed Clemens August von Galen — pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION FOR THE DAY: FOR THE PROTECTION OF THE FAITH, HUMILITY OF HEART, WIDOWS AND THE DIGNITY OF LIFE

Through the intercession of Saint Nicholas Owen (Patron of Escape Artists and Carpenters), Saint Lea of Rome (Model of Holy Widows), and Blessed Clemens August von Galen (the Lion of Münster), let us cry out to the Lord from the depths of our supplication. Lord, we pray for all craftspeople and laborers; through the skill of Saint Nicholas Owen, grant them the creative courage to use their talents to protect and build up Your Church. Shield those who live in secret or under persecution, and provide priest-holes of safety for all who are hunted for their faith. We pray for widows and those living in consecrated life; like Saint Lea, may they trample Satan underfoot by renouncing worldly vanity and finding their crown of tranquility in sleepless nights of prayer and service to the poor. We lift up the leaders of nations and the shepherds of the Church; through the intercession of Blessed Clemens, grant them a spirit that fears neither praise nor threats. Give them the boldness to speak against the stench of injustice and the shameful death of the vulnerable, always defending the right to life and freedom as an indispensable part of the moral order. For those of us still tied hand and foot by our iniquities, Lord, hear our voice! Untie us and let us go, so that we may “rise from our graves” and walk in the power of the Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

PRAYER FOR PEACE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/a-prayer-for-peace/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH: For disarmament and peace. Let us pray that nations move toward effective disarmament, particularly nuclear disarmament, and that world leaders choose the path of dialogue and diplomacy instead of violence.

(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MARCH: MONTH OF SAINT JOSEPH: The Church dedicates the month of March to Saint Joseph, the humble and faithful guardian of the Redeemer. Though he spoke no recorded words in Scripture, his life preached obedience, courage, responsibility, and silent strength. “His was the title of father of the Son of God, because he was the Spouse of Mary, ever Virgin. He was our Lord’s father, because Jesus yielded to him the obedience of a son. He was our Lord’s father, because to him were entrusted, and by him were faithfully fulfilled, the duties of a father: protecting Him, giving Him a home, sustaining and rearing Him, and providing Him with a trade.” Saint Joseph was entrusted with the greatest treasure Heaven could give Jesus and Mary and he fulfilled that mission with quiet fidelity. He protected the Holy Family in danger, labored diligently to provide for them, and trusted God even when he did not fully understand the divine plan. In this month, we are invited to imitate his virtues: deep trust in God, purity of heart, faithful service, and steadfast responsibility in our own vocations. Like Saint Joseph, may we learn to act with courage, listen in silence, and obey God promptly. May this Month of Saint Joseph strengthen fathers, guide families, protect workers, and inspire all of us to live hidden yet holy lives before God.

Saint Joseph, pray for us. 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/month.cfm?y=2026&m=2

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD
We pray for the repose of the gentle souls of our loved ones and souls of all the faithful departed. 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 🙏🏽

Thanking God for His love and the gift of this day, we offer Him a prayer of gratitude and entrust the days ahead to His loving providence. We pray for God’s grace and mercy as we continue our spiritual journey. May this Lenten journey help us to seek You in the secret places of our hearts. May the peace, hope, and steady guidance that flow from walking daily with Christ shape our steps, inform our decisions, and strengthen our resolve to live each day in love and holiness. As we journey onward into this new month, may God bless our families and loved ones, and may His light continue to shine brightly in every home. Let us draw closer to God and be renewed through prayer, fasting, penance, and generosity to the poor. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times. Wishing us all a reflective, spiritually enriching, most blessed, and grace-filled Lenten Season. Amen 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Nicholas Owen, Saint Lea of Rome, and Blessed Clemens August von Galen ~ Pray for us 🙏🏾

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you! Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

A Guide to Catholic Prayer & Faith Resources: Prayers, Devotions, Teachings,and the Liturgical Year | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-prayer-faith-resources/

Catholic Mission & Witness: Foundations, Media Features, Global Outreach and Podcast Interview | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-mission-witness-foundations-media-features-and-global-outreach/

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