MEMORIAL OF SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL, RELIGIOUS; SAINT BERTHA OF ARTOIS, WIDOW, ABBESS; SAINT ULRIC OF AUGSBURG, BISHOP AND SAINT PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 4TH 2026

SATURDAY OF THE THIRTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME | YEAR A | JULY 4, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saturday-of-the-thirteenth-week-in-ordinary-time-year-a-july-4-2026/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | JULY 4, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-july-4th/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL, RELIGIOUS; SAINT BERTHA OF ARTOIS, WIDOW, ABBESS; SAINT ULRIC OF AUGSBURG, BISHOP AND SAINT PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI

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

The Canonization of Saint Carlo Acutis & Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/canonization-of-carlo-acutis-pier-giorgio-frassati/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | July 4, 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-july-4-2026/

FIRST FRIDAYS AND FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/01/first-fridays-and-first-saturdays-devotions/

FIRST FRIDAYS DEVOTION: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/03/first-friday-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/

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-2/

THE HOLY ROSARY: WHAT IS THE HOLY ROSARY AND WHY DO WE PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/the-holy-rosary-what-is-the-holy-rosary-and-why-do-we-pray-the-holy-rosary/

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Greetings and blessings, beloved family and Happy 4th of July, USA Independence Day! 🙏🏽🇺🇸

As we celebrate the 250th Anniversary of the United States of America, we give thanks to Almighty God for His countless blessings upon our great nation. May He continue to bless the United States of America, bless the whole world, and keep us all united in peace, love, and faith. May He grant our nation continued peace, unity, and prosperity. Amen. 🙏🏽

The 250th Anniversary of the United States of America | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/the-250th-anniversary-of-the-united-states-of-america/

“My sheep hear my voice, says the Lord; I know them, and they follow me.” Alleluia! Today marks the First Saturday of the month, a day traditionally dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, inviting us to offer prayers of reparation and to seek her motherly intercession for the world. On this day, the Church invites us to step out of our old, rigid ways of thinking and embrace the vibrant, expansive novelty of God’s grace. In the Gospel, Christ challenges us to become fresh wineskins, warning that the explosive joy and transforming power of the Holy Spirit cannot be contained by brittle mindsets or mechanical routines. As our global community reflects on the gift of liberty and the United States marks its Independence Day, we are uniquely reminded that true, enduring freedom is found only when our lives are completely rooted in the unshakeable foundation of God’s peace and justice. We see this flexible, life-giving faith dynamic fully alive in the saints we celebrate today. Whether it is Saint Elizabeth of Portugal using her royal influence to step between rival armies and bring radical reconciliation, Saint Bertha of Artois gracefully pivoting from motherhood to a contemplative hermitage despite intense persecution, Saint Ulric of Augsburg leading his flock with rugged courage under the siege of war, or the newly canonized Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati scaling physical and spiritual heights to serve the poorest of the poor with pure joy, their lives prove that a heart stretched by grace can rebuild any ruin. Let us open our souls today to the overflowing harvest of His mercy, ready to expand and walk boldly in the authentic freedom of the Gospel.

🇺🇸🙏🏽PRAYER FOR SAFE TRAVELS THIS 4TH OF JULY 🙏🏽🇺🇸

“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” ~ Psalm 121:8

Heavenly Father, as many families and friends travel this Fourth of July holiday, we entrust all travelers into Your loving care. Watch over them by land, air, and sea. Grant them journey mercies, protect them from accidents, danger, illness, and every harm, and guide them safely to their destinations and back home again.

Bless all drivers with alertness, patience, and wisdom. Protect first responders, law enforcement officers, healthcare workers, and all those serving our communities during this holiday.

May this Independence Day be filled with peace, joy, gratitude, and meaningful time with loved ones. Keep our children, families, and communities safe, and continue to bless the United States of America with unity, justice, freedom, and peace.

We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽🇺🇸

May God grant everyone safe travels, journey mercies and a blessed, peaceful, and joyful Fourth of July! 🇺🇸❤️

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Saturday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time | July 4, 2026
Reading I: Amos 9:11–15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 85:9 and 10, 11–12, 13–14
Gospel: Matthew 9:14–17

GOSPEL READING ~ MATTHEW 9:14–17

“Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

The disciples of John approached Jesus and said, “Why do we and the Pharisees fast much, but your disciples do not fast?” Jesus answered them, “Can the wedding guests mourn as long as the bridegroom is with them? The days will come when the bridegroom is taken away from them, and then they will fast. No one patches an old cloak with a piece of unshrunken cloth, for its fullness pulls away from the cloak and the tear gets worse. People do not put new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise the skins burst, the wine spills out, and the skins are ruined. Rather, they pour new wine into fresh wineskins, and both are preserved.”

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, Christ defends the joyful novelty of His saving mission against rigid external regulations, presenting The Presence of the Divine Bridegroom and the Necessity of Spiritual Transformation. When questioned by the disciples of John the Baptist regarding why His followers do not fast according to religious custom, Jesus redefines the moment by identifying Himself as the long-awaited Messianic Bridegroom. He explains that it is liturgically inappropriate for wedding guests to mourn while the Bridegroom is actively present in their midst. Utilizing two vivid domestic analogies, unshrunken cloth on an old cloak and new wine in old wineskins, Jesus illustrates that the explosive grace of the New Covenant cannot be contained within the narrow, brittle structures of legalistic traditions. To attempt to force His radical Gospel into obsolete mindsets would only ruin both; instead, the new wine of the Holy Spirit demands an entirely transformed, supple heart capable of expanding with the dynamic rhythm of His grace.

Today’s Gospel isn’t simply a lecture on ancient wine storage; it is a direct challenge to our daily spiritual elasticity. Jesus marks an absolute boundary line between rigid performance-based religion and a living relationship with God. The old wineskins represent our stubborn habits, rigid expectations, and our human tendency to reduce faith to a checklist of external rules. Jesus explicitly warns us that we cannot experience the fullness of His transforming power if we try to squeeze His living truth into our comfortable, unyielding prejudices. This requires a profound interior conversion, a willingness to let our old ways of thinking break down so that our souls can be stretched, reshaped, and filled to the brim with the vibrant joy of the Gospel.

The First Reading delivers a beautiful, soaring promise of divine restoration and miraculous abundance, presenting The Rebuilding of the Ruined House of David and the Overflowing Harvest of Grace. Concluding his message on a note of intense hope, the prophet Amos declares the Lord’s unyielding commitment to lift up the fallen hut of David, wall up its breaches, and restore its ancient ruins. God describes a future of such supernatural prosperity that the traditional agricultural seasons will blend together, with the plowman overtaking the reaper because the land yields fruit faster than it can be harvested. The mountains will figuratively drip with sweet wine as the displaced people of Israel return to rebuild their cities, plant permanent gardens, and root themselves so deeply in the promised soil that they will never again be uprooted by the storms of exile.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 85) serves as the perfect peaceful liturgical anchor for this Saturday, proclaiming: “The Lord speaks of peace to his people.” The text beautifully pictures a holy environment where the virtues of heaven and earth live in complete, synchronized harmony. The psalmist sings of an intimate encounter where kindness and truth meet, and where justice and peace passionately kiss. This divine harmony ensures that the land will yield its spiritual and material increase, with righteousness walking like a herald before the steps of God to pave a smooth path for human salvation.

As we bring this thirteenth week of Ordinary Time to a close, managing our personal routines, family dynamics, and weekend rests on this Saturday, let us honestly evaluate the flexibility of our spiritual lives. Reflect today: Are you holding onto old, brittle wineskins—such as deep-seated resentments, small compromises, or dry religious habits—that prevent the Holy Spirit from pouring fresh grace into your soul? When God tries to disrupt your regular routine to bring restoration, do you resist the change out of comfort, or do you allow Him to rebuild your ruined spaces? How can you cultivate a heart that is soft, receptive, and ready to expand today so that the peace, truth, and justice of the Lord can flow continuously through your speech and actions?

Let us pray: Merciful Father, the Grand Rebuilder of our ruins and the Generous Provider of New Wine, we gather before Your presence today to surrender the old structures of our lives into Your hands. Forgive us for the times we have clung to rigid mindsets, dry external forms, or old habits that stifle the free movement of Your Holy Spirit within us. We thank You for the presence of the Bridegroom, Jesus Christ, who has brought the ultimate harvest of joy, liberation, and peace to our souls. Pour out Your Spirit upon us today; stretch our hearts and make them fresh wineskins capable of holding Your transformative grace without bursting. Rebuild the broken breaches in our families and personal lives; plant us firmly in Your truth so that we may never be uprooted by temptation or despair. Let Your divine justice and peace kiss in every choice we make today, so that our lives may bear abundant fruit for Your kingdom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | JULY 4TH:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | July 4th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, Saint Bertha of Artois, Saint Ulric of Augsburg, and Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-july-4th/

SAINT ELIZABETH OF PORTUGAL, RELIGIOUS: Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (1271–1336), born into Spanish royalty, was the daughter of King Peter III of Aragon and Queen Constance of Sicily. Named after her great-aunt, Saint Elizabeth of Hungary, she modeled her life on her namesake’s virtues of charity, humility, and prayer. Married at the age of twelve to King Denis of Portugal, Elizabeth remained deeply devoted to the faith, attending daily Mass, caring for the poor, and living with the discipline of a religious even while seated on a throne.

Despite her husband’s infidelities and the scandal they caused, Elizabeth responded not with resentment but with prayer, fasting, and penance. Her example and unceasing intercession eventually brought about his repentance. As a queen, she used her influence to bring peace to her realm, intervening on multiple occasions to prevent wars including between her own son and husband. After King Denis’s death, she joined the Third Order of Saint Francis and lived in the convent she had founded, dedicating herself entirely to the poor and the sick.

Her final act of peacemaking preventing a war between her son Alfonso IV and her grandson, the King of Castile became the context for her holy death. Falling ill during this mission of mercy, she died on July 4, 1336, in Estremoz, Portugal. She was canonized in 1625 by Pope Urban VIII.

PRAYER: God of peace and charity, You filled Saint Elizabeth with patience, wisdom, and courage to heal the wounds of division and bring harmony to families and nations. Through her example and intercession, may we become true peacemakers in our own time. Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, pray for us. 🙏🏽

SAINT BERTHA OF ARTOIS, WIDOW, ABBESS: Saint Bertha (644–723), a noblewoman of Frankish and English descent, was married to Sigfried, a relative of King Clovis II. The couple embraced a life of Christian virtue and had five daughters, two of whom Saint Gertrude and Saint Deotila are also venerated as saints. After her husband’s death, Bertha followed God’s call to religious life and founded a monastery in Blangy, France, where she served as abbess. Despite facing persecution and false accusations from a powerful court official who wished to marry her daughter, Bertha remained steadfast in faith and integrity. With the king’s protection and God’s providence, she persevered and continued building the spiritual and physical foundation of her monastery. Her later years were spent in a hermitage in deep prayer and solitude, a witness to contemplative grace. She died peacefully at the age of 79.

PRAYER: Lord, You raised up Saint Bertha to model holiness in marriage, motherhood, and religious life. Grant that we, through her example, may embrace our calling with courage and trust. Saint Bertha of Artois, pray for us. 🙏🏽

SAINT ULRIC OF AUGSBURG, BISHOP: Saint Ulric (c. 890–973), born in present-day Switzerland, became Bishop of Augsburg in 923. Known for his piety, discipline, and pastoral care, he reformed clergy life, built churches, and comforted the sick. During times of famine and war, he offered personal care and charity to his flock. He is most remembered for his role in defending Augsburg from the Magyar invasion in 955. His leadership, prayer, and trust in God inspired both clergy and laity to remain strong under siege. Ulric is noted for being the first saint canonized by a Pope Pope John XV formally declared his sainthood in 993, beginning the modern canonization process in the Church. He died on July 4, 973, after 50 years of episcopal service, leaving a legacy of holiness and pastoral excellence.

PRAYER: Merciful Lord, You blessed Saint Ulric with tireless love for his people and unshakable courage in times of trial. May we follow his example of faithful leadership and compassionate service. Saint Ulric of Augsburg, pray for us. 🙏🏽

SAINT PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI: Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati (1901–1925) was born into a wealthy and prominent family in Turin, Italy, yet lived a life of profound humility, radiant joy, and deep Catholic faith. He loved the Holy Eucharist, the Virgin Mary, and the poorest of the poor. He joined the St. Vincent de Paul Society at 17 and tirelessly gave his money, clothes, and time to those in need. A university student, avid mountain climber, and social activist, he stood firmly against fascism and injustice, beautifully combining deep contemplative prayer with active public engagement. Despite the frequent disapproval of his agnostic parents, Pier Giorgio maintained a hidden, heroic life of service. His sudden death from polio at age 24, contracted while ministering in the city’s slums, profoundly shocked his family. At his funeral, thousands of Turin’s poorest citizens lined the streets in silent testimony to his holiness. Originally beatified in 1990 by Pope Saint John Paul II, who famously gave him the title “Man of the Eight Beatitudes,” he was officially canonized a Saint by Pope Leo XIV on September 7, 2025, alongside Saint Carlo Acutis during the special Jubilee celebrations at the Vatican. Today, Saint Pier Giorgio stands as a powerful universal patron for modern youth and an unyielding role model of joyful holiness.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, through the life of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, You show us that heroic holiness is completely possible in the modern world. May we follow his example and live our faith with pure joy, bold courage, and an active love for the poor, always keeping our eyes fixed on the heights of heaven. Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, pray for us. Amen. 🙏🏽

HONORING THE SAINTS OF THE DAY:
As we draw immense inspiration today from the peacemaking heart of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, the patient, hidden holiness of Saint Bertha of Artois, the heroic pastoral leadership of Saint Ulric of Augsburg, and the vibrant, joyful youthfulness of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, we also turn our hearts to the entire cloud of witnesses sharing this July 4th feast day. Today, we prayerfully honor and remember SAINT ANDREW OF CRETE, BLESSED ANTHONY FANTOSAT, SAINT AURELIAN, BLESSED CATHERINE JARRIGE, BLESSED EDWARD FULTHROP, BLESSED HENRY ABBOT, BLESSED JOHN CAREY, BLESSED JOHN CORNELIUS, SAINT JUCUNDIAN, SAINT LAURIANUS, SAINT NAMPHANION, SAINT ODO THE GOOD, BLESSED PATRICK SALMON, SAINT PETER OF LUXEMBOURG, SAINT THEODORE OF CYRENE, BLESSED THOMAS BOSGRAVE, BLESSED THOMAS WARCOP, AND BLESSED WILLIAM ANDLEBY. Spanning across centuries of Church history, from courageous early African martyrs and a vast array of heroic, steadfast witnesses who faced ultimate sacrifice for the priesthood, to dedicated medieval young cardinals and holy, prayerful archbishops, their diverse lives all brilliantly reflect the multifaceted grace of God. Remembering them reminds us that the path to holiness is wide open to everyone, encouraging us to step out and boldly bring Christ’s love into our own everyday actions today.

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, Saint Bertha of Artois, Saint Ulric of Augsburg, Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, and all the Saints we celebrate today ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION: MARITAL HARMONY, PROTECTION FOR MOTHERS, HEALTH, AND JOYFUL DISCIPLESHIP

Heavenly Father, on this beautiful day, we marvel at the explosive novelty and restoring power of Your grace as revealed in today’s scriptures, where You promise to rebuild our broken ruins and invite us to become fresh wineskins ready for the new wine of the Holy Spirit. We lift our hearts to You, begging for the complete renewal of our spiritual lives, our homes, and our daily routines. On this day, as the United States celebrates its Independence Day, we also lift up that nation and the entire global community to You, praying that the true liberty found only in Your Gospel may prevail, and that all nations may look to You as the source of authentic freedom, justice, and peace. Through the powerful intercession of the saints we honor today, we bring our specific intentions before Your throne. By the patronage of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal (Patron Saint of brides, difficult marriages, victims of adultery, and peace), we pray for the healing of broken families, the restoration of troubled marriages, and the grace to be true peacemakers who avert the wars of division in our communities. Through the prayers of Saint Bertha of Artois (Patron Saint of widows and mothers), we lift up all widows, single parents, and those enduring unjust persecutions or false accusations, praying that Your divine protection will grant them unshakeable peace and steadfast integrity. We also invoke the intercession of Saint Ulric of Augsburg (Patron Saint against birth complications, faintness, fever, and a happy death), asking for safe deliveries for all expectant mothers, swift healing for the sick battling debilitating fevers or terminal illnesses, and comfort for the dying. Finally, through the youthful patronage of Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati (Patron Saint of students, young Catholics, mountaineers, and youth groups), we pray for our global youth, students, and young adults, asking that You ignite within them a heroic love for the poor, bold courage to stand against injustice, and a joyful zeal to scale the heights of holiness. Lord, shatter every rigid mindset, lingering resentment, or dry habit within us today. Stretch our hearts to contain Your transformative love, and grant us the faith to live as true citizens of Your household, always glorifying Your holy name. Amen. 🙏🏽

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

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF JULY: For respect for human life. Let us pray for the respect and protection of human life in all its stages, recognizing it as a gift from God.

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

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY | MONTH OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ a profound devotion that honors the redeeming power of Christ’s Blood shed for our salvation. Flowing from His Sacred Heart, this Blood is the price of our redemption, the source of grace in the sacraments, and the seal of the New Covenant. It reminds us that salvation was not won lightly, but through the ultimate sacrifice of love. This month, the Church invites us to meditate on the infinite value of Christ’s Blood poured out during His Passion from Gethsemane to Calvary and in every celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We are called to offer acts of reparation for the sins of the world and to intercede for the conversion of souls. Devotions such as the Litany of the Precious Blood, the Chaplet of the Precious Blood, and daily consecration to the Precious Blood help deepen our union with Christ crucified.

As Saint John Chrysostom once said, “The Precious Blood is the salvation of souls; it purifies, sanctifies, and strengthens.” In our trials, let us take refuge beneath the cross, trusting in the Blood that speaks of mercy, victory, and eternal life.

“Precious Blood of Jesus, save us and the whole world.”

O Most Precious Blood of Jesus, fountain of salvation, we adore You. Wash us clean of sin, protect us from evil, and draw us into deeper love and union with You. Amen. 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/month.cfm?y=2026&m=6

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 months and entrust this month of July to His loving providence. We pray for God’s grace and mercy as we anchor ourselves in the steady, life-giving rhythm of Ordinary Time. May the profound mysteries of the Cross, the cleansing power of the Most Precious Blood of Jesus, and the enduring fire of the Holy Spirit continue to help us seek You in every moment of our lives. May the peace, hope, and divine communion that flow from the Heart of our Redeemer shape our steps, inform our decisions, and strengthen our resolve to live each day in the light of Christ and the daily guidance of the Advocate. As we journey onward through the rest of 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, the gifts of the Spirit, 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 journey ahead. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, Saint Bertha of Artois, Saint Ulric of Augsburg, Saint Pier Giorgio Frassati, and all the Saints we celebrate today ~ 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/

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

Prayer of the Holy Rosary with Pope Leo XIV for the Closing of the Marian Month of May | May 30, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/prayer-of-the-holy-rosary-with-pope-leo-xiv-for-the-closing-of-the-marian-month-of-may-may-30-2026/

Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org/

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