MEMORIAL OF SAINT BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS OF LOURDES, VIRGIN; SAINT BENEDICT JOSEPH LABRE AND SAINT ENGRATIA AND THE EIGHTEEN MARTYRS OF SARAGOSSA: FEAST DAY: APRIL 16TH 2026

THURSDAY OF THE SECOND WEEK OF EASTER | YEAR A | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/thursday-of-the-second-week-of-easter-year-a/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 16, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-16th/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS OF LOURDES, VIRGIN; SAINT BENEDICT JOSEPH LABRE AND SAINT ENGRATIA AND THE EIGHTEEN MARTYRS OF SARAGOSSA

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

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | April 16, 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-16-2026/

LIVE UPDATES: Pope Leo XIV’s Historic Apostolic Journey to Africa | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-updates-pope-leo-xivs-historic-apostolic-journey-to-africa/

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/

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Greetings and blessings, beloved family.

Alleluia! The one who comes from above is above all! Today is Thursday of the Second Week of Easter, a day that calls us to a definitive choice: earthly logic or heavenly life. In the Gospel, we conclude the discourse with Nicodemus. Jesus makes it clear that He does not ration the gift of the Spirit, He pours it out abundantly on all who believe. We are reminded that to believe in the Son is to possess eternal life, while to disobey is to remain under a shadow of our own making. The First Reading reaches a climax of spiritual defiance. Peter and the Apostles, having been liberated from jail by an angel, now stand before the Sanhedrin. When ordered to stop teaching in the name of Jesus, they provide the ultimate rule of life for every Christian: “We must obey God rather than men.” They stand as witnesses to the Savior who was lifted up on a tree and exalted at God’s right hand. We are joined today by a diverse company of saints who lived this truth: Saint Bernadette Soubirous, the humble visionary of Lourdes; Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, the Beggar of Perpetual Adoration who found riches in poverty; and Saint Engratia, who with the Eighteen Martyrs of Saragossa, boldly confronted the persecutors of the Church. Like these holy witnesses, let us acknowledge that the Lord hears the cry of the poor and is close to the brokenhearted. Amen. 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday of the Second Week of Easter | April 16, 2026
Reading I: Acts 5:27–33
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 34:2 and 9, 17–18, 19–20
Gospel: John 3:31–36

Gospel Reading ~ John 3:31–36

“Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life.”

The one who comes from above is above all. The one who is of the earth is earthly and speaks of earthly things. But the one who comes from heaven is above all. He testifies to what he has seen and heard, but no one accepts his testimony. Whoever does accept his testimony certifies that God is trustworthy. For the one whom God sent speaks the words of God. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit. The Father loves the Son and has given everything over to him. Whoever believes in the Son has eternal life, but whoever disobeys the Son will not see life, but the wrath of God remains upon him.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, we see the final contrast between the earthly and the heavenly. Jesus explains that those who belong to the earth speak from an earthly perspective, limited by what they can see and touch. But Jesus, “the one who comes from above,” speaks the very words of God because He has seen and heard the Father. To accept His testimony is to certify that God is trustworthy. This is a profound invitation: our faith is not a leap into the dark, but a landing on the solid ground of God’s reliability. He does not ration his gift of the Spirit, meaning the power to live this heavenly life is available to us in full measure, not in drops.

The verdict of the Spirit is simple: Life or disobedience. To believe in the Son is not just an intellectual agreement; it is an entry into eternal life here and now. Disobedience, on the other hand, is a refusal to see the life God is offering. This reflection encourages us to move beyond our earthly anxieties and earthly things that clutter our minds. When we align our will with the Son, we move into the above all perspective, where the peace of God governs our hearts regardless of earthly circumstances.

The First Reading shows us exactly what it looks like to live by the “above all” perspective. The Sanhedrin is focused on earthly things, their authority, their strict orders, and the fear of being blamed for this man’s blood. But the Apostles, filled with the Spirit that God does not ration, speak of heavenly things. Peter’s reply is the foundational principle of Christian courage: “We must obey God rather than men.” They testify to the Resurrection and the exaltation of Jesus as Leader and Savior. Their obedience is their witness. They are so grounded in the Spirit that even the threat of death does not move them, though it infuriates those who are bound to the earth.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 34) reminds us why the Apostles could be so bold: “The Lord hears the cry of the poor.” When the just cry out, the Lord does not just listen, He rescues. Whether we are brokenhearted or crushed in spirit, the Lord is close. The Psalm confirms that many are the troubles of the just man, but the delivery of the Lord is certain. To taste and see how good the Lord is is to take refuge in Him rather than in the approval of men.

As we go through this Thursday, let us reflect on our own allegiances. Whose orders are we following? Reflect today: Is there an area of your life where you are speaking only earthly things, fears, complaints, or worldly logic? This is the day to ask for the Spirit that is not rationed. Choose to obey God in the small promptings of your heart today, trusting that as you accept the testimony of the Son, you are stepping into a life that is above all.

Let us pray: Step into our hearts, O Lord, and pour out Your Spirit without measure. Give us the courage of Peter and the Apostles to obey You rather than the voices of the world. Help us to testify to Your trustworthiness in all we do. When we are brokenhearted or crushed in spirit, remind us that You are close and that You hear our cry. May we always believe in Your Son and dwell in the eternal life He has prepared for us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 16TH:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections| April 16th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Bernadette Soubirous, Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, and Saint Engratia with the Martyrs of Saragossa | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-16th/

SAINT BERNADETTE SOUBIROUS OF LOURDES, VIRGIN: Saint Bernadette (1844–1879) was a sickly child of an impoverished family who became a witness of these things when the Queen of Heaven appeared to her. Though she was of the earth and faced ridicule and interrogation, she remained focused on the one who comes from above. She allowed herself to be used as a broom for the Lord, unearthing a spring of healing for the world while she herself suffered heroically. She reminds us that God exalts the lowly and that those who believe in the Son find a life that transcends physical infirmity.

PRAYER: Lord God, You showered heavenly gifts on Saint Bernadette. Help us to imitate her humility and her unwavering testimony during our earthly life, that we may trust in Your trustworthiness even when we are misunderstood by the world. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT BENEDICT JOSEPH LABRE: Saint Benedict Joseph (1748–1783) was a pilgrim who lived the reality of tasting and seeing how good the Lord is by possessing nothing of this earth. After failing to find a home in various monasteries, he realized he was called to be a brokenhearted wanderer, a hobo for Christ who spent his days in perpetual adoration. He was crushed in spirit by the mockery of others but saved by his constant communion with God. He shows us that whoever accepts the testimony of the Son has eternal life, even while sleeping in the streets.

PRAYER: Lord, You gave Saint Benedict Joseph Labre the grace to follow the poor and humble Christ through a life of pilgrimage and prayer. Through his intercession, help us to detach ourselves from earthly things and to seek the heavenly inheritance that never fades. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT ENGRATIA AND THE EIGHTEEN MARTYRS OF SARAGOSSA: Saint Engratia (d. 303) was a noblewoman who, like the Apostles, refused to stop teaching in that name. When she witnessed the massacre of her fellow Christians, she did not hide in darkness but boldly confronted the persecutor Dacian. Alongside her uncle and eighteen companions, she endured many troubles but was delivered by the Lord into eternal glory. Their witness confirms that when we obey God rather than men, the wrath of God is replaced by the crown of life.

PRAYER: Almighty God, grant that we may follow the example of Saint Engratia and her companions, who preferred the truth of the Gospel to the safety of their own lives. Give us the boldness to stand for what is right and the grace to witness to Your Savior in all circumstances. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Bernadette Soubirous, Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, and Saint Engratia with the Martyrs of Saragossa — pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR THE POOR, THE HOMELESS, AND THE SICK

As we celebrate the Savior who is exalted at the right hand of God, let us bring our cries to the Lord who rescues the just from their distress. Lord, we pray for the sick, the poor, and those ridiculed for their piety; through the intercession of Saint Bernadette (Patron of the ill, poor, and sheep tenders and those ridiculed for their piety), provide them with the healing waters of Your grace and the comfort of Your presence. We pray for the homeless, the mentally ill, and those rejected by society; through the prayers of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre (Patron Saint of beggars, hobos, the homeless, unmarried men (bachelors), rejects, mental illness, mentally ill people, insanity), put Your arms around them so they feel hope and have their physical needs met. Finally, we pray for persecuted Christians and those facing unjust rulers; through the merits of Saint Engratia and the Martyrs of Saragossa, grant them an unmeasurable gift of the Holy Spirit to remain steadfast in their witness. 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 during 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 continue this 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 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 Bernadette Soubirous, Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, and Saint Engratia with the Martyrs of Saragossa ~ 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/