MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE, PRIEST; SAINT HEGESIPPUS, A PRIMITIVE FATHER OF THE CHURCH AND BLESSED HERMAN JOSEPH OF SEINFELD, PRIEST – FEAST DAY: APRIL 7TH 2026

TUESDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER | YEAR A | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/tuesday-in-the-octave-of-easter-year-a/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | April 7, 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-april-7-2026/

Day 5 (Easter Tuesday): Pray for the souls of those who have separated themselves from the Church.

Novena in preparation for DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. Good Friday is the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena. Novena begins Friday, April 3, 2026, to Saturday, April 11, 2026, leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday on April 12, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/divine-mercy-novena/

DAILY PRAYERS: St. Michael the Archangel Prayer; Angelus Prayer; and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/st-michael-the-archangel-prayer-angelus-prayer-and-the-chaplet-of-divine-mercy-prayer/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 7, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-7th/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE, PRIEST; SAINT HEGESIPPUS, A PRIMITIVE FATHER OF THE CHURCH AND BLESSED HERMAN JOSEPH OF SEINFELD, PRIEST

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

Stay connected with us on social media:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dailyreflectionswithphilomena/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587888688219
@dailyreflectionswithdrphilomena

Greetings and blessings, beloved family.

Alleluia! Christ is Risen! He is Risen indeed! Alleluia! Today is Easter Tuesday, having witnessed the empty tomb and Peter’s bold proclamation, the liturgy today draws us into a more personal encounter. We stand in the garden with Mary Magdalene, transitioning from her tears of grief to the overwhelming joy of hearing the Risen Lord call her by name: Mary! This is the heart of the Easter Octave, realizing that the victory of the Resurrection is not just a distant miracle, but a personal invitation to each of us to go and tell the world that we have seen the Lord. In this first full week of April, we are surrounded by a cloud of witnesses who responded to that call with their whole lives. We are accompanied by Saint John Baptist de la Salle, who saw the face of Christ in the poor and dedicated his life to building up the next generation through Christian education. We walk with Saint Hegesippus, the father of Church history, who traced the path of life through the succession of truth from the Apostles to his own day. And we are inspired by the simple, angelic devotion of Blessed Herman Joseph, who found the fullness of joy in the sanctuary. Like them, let us be cut to the heart by the Good News today, letting our souls wait for the Lord, who is our help and our shield. Amen. 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

Octave of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday in the Octave of Easter | April 7, 2026
Reading I: Acts 2:36–41
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 33:4–5, 18–19, 20 and 22
Gospel: John 20:11–18

Gospel Reading ~ John 20:11–18

“Jesus said to her, ‘Mary!’ She turned and said to him in Hebrew, ‘Rabbouni!'”

Mary Magdalene stayed outside the tomb weeping. And as she wept, she bent over into the tomb and saw two angels in white sitting there, one at the head and one at the feet where the Body of Jesus had been. And they said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping?” She said to them, “They have taken my Lord, and I don’t know where they laid him.” When she had said this, she turned around and saw Jesus there, but did not know it was Jesus. Jesus said to her, “Woman, why are you weeping? Whom are you looking for?” She thought it was the gardener and said to him, “Sir, if you carried him away, tell me where you laid him, and I will take him.” Jesus said to her, “Mary!” She turned and said to him in Hebrew, “Rabbouni,” which means Teacher. Jesus said to her, “Stop holding on to me, for I have not yet ascended to the Father. But go to my brothers and tell them,‘I am going to my Father and your Father, to my God and your God.’” Mary went and announced to the disciples, “I have seen the Lord,” and then reported what he had told her.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, we witness one of the most tender moments in all of Scripture. Mary Magdalene is blinded by her tears; she is looking for a corpse, so she cannot see the Living Lord standing right in front of her. It is only when Jesus calls her by name “Mary!” that her eyes are opened. This is the voice of the Good Shepherd calling His sheep by name. Jesus’ instruction to “stop holding on” is not a rejection, but an invitation to a new kind of relationship, one that is no longer limited by physical presence but defined by the Spirit. Mary becomes the “Apostle to the Apostles,” sent to announce the incredible news: “I have seen the Lord!” Her journey from weeping at a tomb to rejoicing in the Garden is the journey every Christian is invited to take this Easter.

The First Reading continues Peter’s powerful Pentecost sermon. Having established that Jesus is the Risen Lord, Peter’s words cut to the heart of his listeners. Their response is the essential question of the spiritual life: What are we to do? Peter’s answer is the blueprint for Christian conversion: Repent, be baptized, and receive the Holy Spirit. This promise is not just for those present, but for their children and all those far off. The result was staggering, three thousand souls added in a single day. This reminds us that the Resurrection is not just a past event; it is a current power that calls us to save ourselves from this corrupt generation and enter into the life of God.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 33) reminds us that the earth is full of the goodness of the Lord. In the light of the Resurrection, we see that all of God’s works are trustworthy. Even when we face death or famine, the eyes of the Lord are upon those who hope in His kindness. Our souls wait for the Lord, not in despair, but in the confidence that He is our help and our shield. This Psalm captures the interior peace of the newly baptized, who recognize that God’s kindness is a permanent gift poured out through the Risen Christ.

As we continue through this Tuesday of the Octave, let us listen for the Lord calling our own names. Like Mary, we may be looking for Him in the wrong places or through a veil of tears. Reflect today: Are you holding on to an old way of relating to God, or are you ready to go and announce His glory to your brothers and sisters? Does the message of the Resurrection still cut you to the heart, leading you to a deeper repentance and trust in His Spirit?

Let us pray: O God, who by the mystery of the Easter sacrifice have established the covenant by which you redeemed your people, chastise our hearts with the joy of Your Risen Son. Help us to recognize Your voice when You call our names in the gardens of our daily lives. Grant that we may hold fast to the baptismal grace we have received and always testify, with Mary Magdalene, that we have seen the Lord. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 7TH:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections| April 7th http://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Saint Hegesippus, and Blessed Herman Joseph | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-7th/

SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DE LA SALLE, PRIEST: Saint John Baptist (d. 1719) was a well-trained teacher for the poor, recognized as the father of modern pedagogy. Though born to nobility, he set his face like flint toward the mission of Christian education, giving away his inheritance to found the Institute of the Brothers of the Christian Schools. He understood that to build up the Church, one must first build up the hearts of children. Like the holy women at the tomb, he was often misunderstood and faced many tempests of opposition, yet he remained steadfast, dying on Good Friday with the same sacrificial love as his Master. He reminds us that the Kingdom of God is not found in tribute or armies, but is established within our very souls.

PRAYER: Lord God, You chose Saint John Baptist de la Salle to be an educator of youth and a witness to Your Truth. Through his intercession, fill the hearts of all teachers and school principals with wisdom and infectious passion. Grant them Your peace, so that stress may not overwhelm them as they instruct the next generation in the paths of life. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT HEGESIPPUS, FATHER OF THE CHURCH: Saint Hegesippus (d. 180) was a witness chosen by God who sought to preserve the unleavened sincerity of the early Church. A Jewish convert, he traveled extensively to ensure that the apostolic tradition remained pure and that no individual church had fallen into error. Like Saint Peter at Pentecost, he testified with many arguments against the heresies of his day, becoming the father of ecclesiastical history. He reminds us that all God’s works are trustworthy and that the succession of truth from the Apostles to our own day is a shield that preserves us from corruption.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You gave Saint Hegesippus the grace to trace the succession of Your bishops and protect the Church from error. Through his intercession, help us to be “stouthearted” in our own faith, always seeking the truth in Your Word and remaining faithful to the traditions passed down to us. Amen. 🙏🏽

BLESSED HERMAN JOSEPH, PRIEST: Blessed Herman (d. 1241) was a mystic who, from his earliest years, set the Lord ever before him through a tender devotion to the Blessed Mother. Known as the Spouse of Mary, he found fullness of joy in the sanctuary, once even seeing the Infant Jesus and Saint John. Though he suffered cruel sufferings of mind and body, his soul rejoiced in the kindness of the Lord. His life was an angelic model of purity, proving that those who fear the Lord and hope in His kindness will never be abandoned, even in the bitter winter of life’s trials.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You filled Blessed Herman Joseph with an angelic love for Your Mother and the Holy Child. Through his intercession, protect all children and students, and guide the hands of watchmakers and all who labor. May we, like him, find Your “goodness and protection” in the simple moments of our lives. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Saint Hegesippus, and Blessed Herman Joseph — pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR TEACHERS, STUDENTS, AND THE PRESERVATION OF TRUTH

Still in the celebration of Easter, we lift our prayers for those who guide the minds and hearts of the next generation. Lord, we pray for the Church during this Octave; may we be cut to the heart by Your Word and respond with lives of repentance and joy. We pray for all teachers, educators, and school principals; through the intercession of Saint John Baptist de la Salle (Patron of Teachers), fill them with strength so they may not grow weary in their service. We lift up all students and children; through the prayers of Blessed Herman Joseph (Patron of Students and Children), keep them safe and preserve them in purity and peace. Finally, we pray for historians and those who defend the Truth; through the example of Saint Hegesippus (Father of Church History), grant us the grace to remain witnesses of the Resurrection, standing firm against the circulating stories of a corrupt generation. 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 APRIL: For Priests Crisis. Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

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

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF APRIL | MONTH OF HOLY EUCHARIST: April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to His Church. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity offering Himself as the Bread of Life. This month invites us to deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist, especially as we approach Holy Week and Easter, celebrating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper when He said, “Take and eat; this is My Body… Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the Covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). In receiving the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and His Church. It is the source of our strength and the culmination of our salvation, as Christ Himself said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” As we journey through Lent, we are called to renew our reverence for the Eucharist. During Holy Week, we remember that Christ instituted this sacrament on Holy Thursday, offering us a way to remain in union with Him. Let us take this opportunity to attend Mass regularly, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and reflect on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

In this season of penance and reflection, may our devotion to the Eucharist strengthen our commitment to living as true disciples of Christ, leading us to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection.

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! Lord Jesus, You have given Yourself to us in the Eucharist. May we receive You with reverence and love, and let Your grace transform us always. Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/month.cfm?y=2026&m=4

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 glorious day, we offer Him a prayer of gratitude for the graces of the past month and entrust the remainder of April to His loving providence. We pray for God’s grace and mercy as we begin this new season of Easter joy. May the Resurrection of Your Son help us to seek You in every moment of our lives. May the peace, hope, and steady guidance that flow from the empty tomb shape our steps, inform our decisions, and strengthen our resolve to live each day in the light of the Risen Christ. 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 the joy of the Gospel and generosity to the poor. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times. Wishing us all a spiritually enriching, most blessed, and grace-filled Easter Season. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint John Baptist de la Salle, Saint Hegesippus, and Blessed Herman Joseph ~ 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/