THURSDAY OF THE THIRTY-FIRST WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME | NOVEMBER 5, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/thursday-of-the-thirty-first-week-in-ordinary-time-november-5-2026/
SAINTS OF THE DAY | NOVEMBER 5, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-november-5th/
FEAST OF THE HOLY RELICS; SAINTS ELIZABETH AND ZACHARIAH, PARENTS OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST AND SAINT BERTILLE, RELIGIOUS
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Greetings and blessings, beloved family!
Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of the Holy Relics, alongside the traditional memorial of Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah, Parents of Saint John the Baptist, and Saint Bertilla, Religious. The Feast of the Holy Relics reminds us that the physical bodies of the saints were temples of the Holy Spirit, destined for glorious resurrection, through which God bestows countless graces upon the faithful. Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah, having waited faithfully in their old age, trusted God’s promise and bore the precursor of Christ, while Saint Bertilla embraced decades of humble monastic service and austerity. Their lives illustrate today’s Gospel, where Jesus relentlessly seeks out the lost sheep and coin, rejoicing over every soul that turns to Him. As Saint Paul declares in the First Reading—counting all earthly credentials as loss for the supreme good of knowing Christ—let us rejoice in the Lord who searches for us and honors the holy witnesses who have gone before us.
BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:
Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time | Thursday, November 5, 2026
Reading 1: Philippians 3:3-8a
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 105:2-3, 4-5, 6-7
Gospel: Luke 15:1-10
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 15:1-10
“Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep… In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”
“The tax collectors and sinners were all drawing near to listen to Jesus, but the Pharisees and scribes began to complain, saying, ‘This man welcomes sinners and eats with them.’ So Jesus addressed this parable to them. ‘What man among you having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it? And when he does find it, he sets it on his shoulders with great joy and, upon his arrival home, he calls together his friends and neighbors and says to them, “Rejoice with me because I have found my lost sheep.” I tell you, in just the same way there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine righteous people who have no need of repentance. Or what woman having ten coins and losing one would not light a lamp and sweep the house, searching carefully until she finds it? And when she does find it, she calls together her friends and neighbors and says to them, “Rejoice with me because I have found the coin that I lost.” In just the same way, I tell you, there will be rejoicing among the angels of God over one sinner who repents.'”
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS
Today’s readings reveal the extraordinary, relentless mercy of God and the supreme value of knowing Christ Jesus above all earthly achievements. In the Gospel, as Pharisees criticize Jesus for welcoming and eating with sinners, Our Lord responds with two exquisite parables: the Lost Sheep and the Lost Coin. God does not sit passively waiting for us to figure things out; He actively searches for us in our lostness. Like a shepherd pursuing a single stray sheep or a woman sweeping every corner for a lost coin, God’s heart overflows with joy when a sinner repents. He carries the found soul on His shoulders, inviting all of heaven to celebrate.
This profound experience of being sought, found, and forgiven by God transforms our entire value system, as Saint Paul illustrates in the First Reading. Paul recounts his impressive religious pedigree—his elite lineage, strict Pharisaic observance, and blamelessness under the law. Yet, he counts all these earthly achievements as a loss compared to the “supreme good of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.” When we realize our true standing before God—saved not by our credentials or self-righteousness, but by His seeking grace—our hearts overflow with the joy of the Responsorial Psalm: “Let hearts rejoice who search for the Lord… Sing to him, sing his praise, proclaim all his wondrous deeds.”
Today, let us ask ourselves whether we view our relationship with God through self-righteous pride or through humble gratitude for being found by Him. Are we willing to let go of spiritual elitism so we can share in the joy of heaven over a repenting sinner? How can you light a lamp of love today to reach out to someone who feels lost, forgotten, or distant from God’s grace?
Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your tireless love that seeks us out whenever we wander. Forgive us for the times we have looked down on others, relied on our own self-righteousness, or forgotten the joy of being redeemed by Your mercy. Grant us the mind of Saint Paul, that we may count everything as loss compared to the supreme joy of knowing Your Son. Fill our hearts with Your searching compassion, that we may welcome the lost and rejoice with the angels over every soul that turns back to You. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINTS OF THE DAY | 5TH:
Direct link to the detailed history of the Feast of the Holy Relics, Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah, and Saint Bertille | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-november-5th/
THE FEAST OF THE HOLY RELICS: The Feast of the Holy Relics honors the sacred remains and personal items of saints who bore witness to Christ through their lives and often their martyrdom. From the earliest days of Christianity, the faithful venerated the mortal remains of holy men and women—those whose bodies had been temples of the Holy Spirit and destined for future glory in the resurrection. Holy Mass was often celebrated at their tombs as a sign of faith in the communion between heaven and earth. The veneration of relics is not mere sentiment or superstition, but an expression of deep reverence for God’s work in His saints. As taught by the Council of Trent, the bodies of saints—who were living members of Christ—are worthy of honor, and through them, God often grants blessings and miracles. The cult of relics is, therefore, both permitted and commended by the Church. It leads us beyond earthly admiration toward divine worship, for the honor we show the saints ultimately glorifies God who sanctified them.
Let us venerate the holy relics with devotion, remembering that they are signs of the eternal life awaiting all who remain faithful to God. These sacred remnants are testimonies of faith, courage, and holiness, calling us to imitate the virtues of those who have gone before us marked with the sign of faith.
PRAYER: O Lord, who through the relics of Thy saints workest signs and wonders, increase in us the faith of the resurrection and make us sharers in that immortal glory whose pledge we venerate in their ashes. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾
SAINTS ELIZABETH AND ZACHARIAH, PARENTS OF SAINT JOHN THE BAPTIST: Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah were the blessed parents of Saint John the Baptist, the forerunner of the Lord. Scripture praises them as “righteous before God, walking blamelessly in all the commandments and ordinances of the Lord” (Luke 1:6). Though barren and advanced in age, they trusted in God’s promise—and in due time, Elizabeth conceived John, through whom the dawn of salvation would be announced.
Saint Elizabeth, whose name means “worshipper of God,” rejoiced when the Blessed Virgin Mary visited her. Filled with the Holy Spirit, she cried out in prophetic praise: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of your womb” (Luke 1:42). In this encounter, Elizabeth recognized Mary as the Mother of the Lord, making her the first to proclaim Christ’s divinity. Her humility and faith inspire us to welcome God’s grace with joy and gratitude. Saint Zachariah, a priest of the Temple, doubted the angel Gabriel’s message and was struck mute until the prophecy was fulfilled. When his son was born, he proclaimed in faith, “His name is John.” His tongue was loosed, and he gave glory to God. Tradition tells us that Zachariah was later martyred in the Temple for his steadfast witness. Together, Elizabeth and Zachariah embody the virtues of faith, patience, and obedience, reminding us that God’s promises never fail.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You blessed Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah with steadfast faith and the grace to prepare the way for Your Son through their son, John the Baptist. Grant that we, too, may walk in righteousness and joy, trusting always in Your promises. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾
SAINT BERTILLE, RELIGIOUS: Saint Bertille (also known as Bertilla) was born into a noble family in Soissons, France, in the early seventh century. From her youth, she desired to renounce worldly honors and dedicate her life wholly to God. Encouraged by Saint Ouen, she entered the monastery of Jouarre, where she excelled in humility, prudence, and charity. Her virtues led her to be entrusted with caring for guests, the sick, and young sisters in formation—tasks she performed with maternal gentleness and zeal.
Later, at the request of Queen Saint Bathildis, Bertille was chosen to establish a new monastery at Chelles, near Paris, where she became its first abbess. Her wisdom and holiness attracted women of noble birth, including queens, to the cloistered life. For over forty years, she guided her community with love and firmness, uniting deep prayer with acts of charity. Renowned for her austerity, she embraced voluntary mortification, seeking spiritual martyrdom in the hidden sacrifices of daily life. Saint Bertille died peacefully around 692, leaving behind a legacy of sanctity, service, and humble leadership.
PRAYER: O God, who filled Saint Bertille with heavenly gifts and zeal for perfect charity, grant that through her intercession, we may serve You faithfully in our state of life and rejoice with her eternally in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah, and Saint Bertille ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾
HONORING THE SAINTS OF THE DAY:
Alongside the Feast of the Holy Relics, Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah (Saint Elizabeth, Saint Zachary), and Saint Bertille (Saint Bertilia), we also honor: SAINT DOMINATOR, SAINT DOMNINUS, SAINT EMERIC (SAINT EMERIC OF HUNGARY), SAINTS FELIX AND EUSEBIUS, SAINT FIBITIUS, SAINT GALATION, SAINT GUIDO MARIA CONFORTI, SAINT KEA, SAINT LAETUS, SAINT MAGNUS, SAINT SYLVIA, AND SAINT VARIACUS. May their faithful lives inspire our own journey today.
PRAYER INTENTION: FOR CHILDLESS COUPLES, EXPECTANT MOTHERS, RELIGIOUS COMMUNITIES, VENERATION OF THE SAINTS, AND REPENTANT HEARTS
Heavenly Father, we thank You for the sacred gift of Your saints and the holy relics through which You manifest Your divine power and grace. Through the intercession of Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah, parents of Saint John the Baptist, we pray for all married couples desiring the gift of children, for expectant mothers, and for all who wait upon Your promises with patient faith. Through Saint Bertilla, first Abbess of Chelles, bless all monastic communities, prioresses, and religious sisters, granting them a spirit of profound humility, penance, and tireless charity. Good Shepherd, who seeks out the lost and carries us on Your shoulders, grant us the grace to repent of our sins today, that we may bring joy to heaven and count everything as loss compared to the supreme joy of knowing Jesus Christ our Lord. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Elizabeth and Zachariah, and Saint Bertille and all the Saints we celebrate today ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾
THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER: For the proper use of wealth. Let us pray for the proper use of wealth, that not succumbing to the temptation of selfishness, it may always be put at the service of the common good and solidarity of those who have less.
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER | MONTH OF THE HOLY SOULS: November is dedicated to the Holy Souls in Purgatory, a month of prayerful remembrance for all the faithful departed who await the joy of Heaven. The Church calls us to intercede for them through our prayers, sacrifices, and Masses, trusting in God’s mercy to purify their souls and welcome them into eternal light. These souls, known as the Church Suffering, are united with the Church Triumphant in Heaven and the Church Militant on earth, one communion of love bound together in Christ.
This devotion is beautifully expressed in the Commemoration of All the Faithful Departed (All Souls’ Day) on November 2, which follows the Solemnity of All Saints on November 1. As the liturgical year draws to a close, the Church invites us to reflect on eternity, on the hope of resurrection and the promise of Heaven. Each prayer offered for the departed becomes an act of mercy that brings comfort to their souls and strengthens our own journey toward holiness.
“Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them.
May they rest in peace. 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 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/
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
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