MEMORIAL OF SAINT GEORGE, MARTYR AND SAINT ADALBERT OF PRAGUE, BISHOP AND MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: APRIL 23RD 2026

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

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 23, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-23rd/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT GEORGE, MARTYR AND SAINT ADALBERT OF PRAGUE, BISHOP AND MARTYR

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

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | April 23 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-23-2026/

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; Regina Caeli 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! I am the living bread that came down from heaven, says the Lord! Today is Thursday of the Third Week of Easter, a day that invites us into the mystery of how God draws us to Himself. In the Gospel, Jesus deepens the Bread of Life discourse, moving from the bread that perishes to the Living Bread. He reveals a staggering promise: the bread He gives is His own Flesh for the life of the world. He reassures us that no one comes to Him unless the Father draws them, and those who listen and learn from the Father will find eternal life. The First Reading shows the Holy Spirit’s drawing power in action. Philip, prompted by an angel and the Spirit, meets an Ethiopian official on a desert road. Through the interpretation of the prophet Isaiah, the official’s heart is opened to the Good News of Jesus, leading him to the waters of baptism and a journey of joy. We are joined today by two valiant witnesses: Saint George, the noble soldier and martyr who conquered fear with the sign of the Cross, and Saint Adalbert of Prague, the missionary bishop who entered his diocese barefoot and gave his life to bring the Gospel to the North. Like the Ethiopian official, let us loudly sound God’s praise, for He has given life to our souls and has not let our feet slip. Amen. 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday of the Third Week of Easter | April 23, 2026
Reading I: Acts 8:26–40
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66:8–9, 16–17, 20
Gospel: John 6:44–51

Gospel Reading ~ John 6:44–51

“I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

Jesus said to the crowds: “No one can come to me unless the Father who sent me draw him, and I will raise him on the last day. It is written in the prophets: They shall all be taught by God. Everyone who listens to my Father and learns from him comes to me. Not that anyone has seen the Father except the one who is from God; he has seen the Father. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes has eternal life. I am the bread of life. Your ancestors ate the manna in the desert, but they died; this is the bread that comes down from heaven so that one may eat it and not die. I am the living bread that came down from heaven; whoever eats this bread will live forever; and the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.”

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of a divine drawing. We often think of our faith as a product of our own effort or searching, but Jesus clarifies that the Father is the one who initiates. No one comes to Jesus unless the Father draws them. This is a reminder that grace precedes our action. Jesus identifies Himself as the Living Bread, contrasting Himself with the manna that only sustained physical life temporarily. To eat this Living Bread, to consume His teachings and participate in His Flesh given for the world, is to enter into a life that death cannot touch. This reflection teaches us that our spiritual life is a continuous listening and learning from the Father, who points us always toward the Son.

The climax of this discourse is Jesus’ radical statement: “the bread that I will give is my Flesh for the life of the world.” This is the bridge between the Passover of the Old Testament and the Eucharist of the New. Jesus offers His very self as the ransom and the nourishment for all humanity. It is a gift of absolute vulnerability and total generosity. When we believe, we don’t just think about Jesus; we are fed by Him. This food ensures that while we may walk through the desert of this world, we will not die in our spirits, but remain destined for the resurrection on the last day.

The First Reading provides a beautiful narrative of how the Father draws a soul. An Ethiopian official, seeking God through the Scriptures but lacking understanding, is met by Philip on a desert route. Philip doesn’t just happen to be there; he is sent by an angel and moved by the Spirit. This encounter shows that God meets us exactly where we are, even on the desert route of our confusion. When Philip proclaims Jesus to him, beginning with the prophecy of the suffering servant, the official’s response is immediate and joyful: “What is to prevent my being baptized?” It is a testament to the fact that when we are taught by God, our hearts move swiftly toward the waters of grace.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 66) echoes the joy of the baptized official: “Let all the earth cry out to God with joy.” It is a call to bless the God who has given life to our souls. Like the eunuch who continued on his way rejoicing, the psalmist declares what God has done for him. When we appeal to Him, He does not refuse our prayer or His kindness. This Psalm reminds us that our feet do not slip when we are grounded in the praise of the One who redeemed us from our humiliation.

As we go through this Thursday, let us reflect on our own desert routes. Where are the places in your life where you feel you need an instructor? Reflect today: How is the Father drawing you toward Jesus right now? Is it through a specific scripture, a restless hunger, or a Philip who has entered your life? This is the day to listen and learn. Trust that the Father is teaching you through your circumstances and that the Living Bread is available to sustain you. Stop your chariot, look for the waters of grace, and rejoice in the kindness that God never refuses.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, You are the Living Bread who gives life to the world. We thank You for the way the Father draws us to You even when we are wandering on desert roads. Open our mouths to proclaim Your praise and open our ears to listen to Your Father’s voice. We thank You for the gift of Your Flesh, the bread that prevents us from dying. Help us to believe more firmly so that we may taste eternal life today. May our feet never slip as we follow the path You have set before us. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 23RD:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections| April 23rd https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint George, and Saint Adalbert | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-23rd/

SAINT GEORGE, MARTYR: Saint George (d. 303) was a noble soldier who understood that whoever believes has eternal life. Renowned for his bravery in the Roman army, he refused to let his feet slip when the emperor commanded him to renounce Christ. Whether through the legend of the dragon or the historical truth of his martyrdom under Diocletian, he stands as a standard-bearer of the Light. Like the sheep led to the slaughter in the reading from Isaiah, he opened not his mouth in complaint but gave his flesh for the life of the world, proving that no earthly power can overcome a soul drawn by the Father.

PRAYER: Lord, we acclaim Your might and humbly pray: just as Saint George imitated the Lord’s Passion, let him now come to the aid of our weakness and help us to slay the dragons of fear and doubt in our own lives. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT ADALBERT OF PRAGUE, BISHOP AND MARTYR: Saint Adalbert (956–997) was a missionary bishop who entered his diocese barefoot, knowing it is a terrible thing to give an account of a bishopric to the Judge of the living. Like Philip on the desert route, he set out to convert the unreached tribes of the North, tirelessly preaching the Good News despite being twice banished. He did not seek the manna of comfort or luxury but lived poorly of his own free will. Impaled by spears on the Baltic coast, he died a shepherd whose life was taken from the earth, only to be raised in the memory and faith of the nations he served.

PRAYER: God, You bestowed the crown of martyrdom on Saint Adalbert, Your Bishop, who was animated by zeal for souls. By his intercession, grant that pastors may not be without their flocks’ obedience nor flocks without their pastor’s care. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint George, and Saint Adalbert — pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR PROTECTION, MISSIONARIES, AND THE FAITHFUL

As we celebrate the Living Bread that sustains us forever, let us bring our petitions to the Father through the intercession of our saints of the day. Lord, we pray for soldiers, knights, and those who protect the vulnerable; through the intercession of Saint George (Patron of soldiers, England, and those suffering from skin diseases), grant them courage in the face of danger and a spirit of chivalry that always seeks the truth of Your kingdom. We pray for missionaries, bishops, and those laboring in difficult mission territories; through the prayers of Saint Adalbert (Patron of Bohemia, Poland, and the Czech Republic), protect them as they travel the desert routes of the world and grant that their words may find fertile soil in the hearts of those they serve. Finally, we pray for all who suffer from physical afflictions or spiritual attacks; through the intercession of Saint George, heal their bodies and strengthen their souls. May our Blessed Mother Mary always guide us to the waters of grace, that we may continue our journey rejoicing. 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 George, and Saint Adalbert ~ 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/