Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time and Happy St. Valentine’s Day!
We thank God for His love and the gift of this day, praying for His grace and mercy upon us all. May we draw closer to Him through prayer, acts of love, and generosity toward those in need. We lift our hearts in prayer for justice, peace, love, and unity in our families and in a world torn apart by war, terrorism, and countless acts of violence against human life. May God keep us safe and well during these challenging times. Wishing us all a blessed, holy, safe, and grace-filled day. Amen. š Love always ā¤ļø
“My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you” ~ John 15:12
FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 14, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT VALENTINE, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND SAINTS CYRIL, MONK AND METHODIUS, BISHOP | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/14/memorial-of-saint-valentine-priest-and-martyr/
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | “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/2025/02/14/catholic-daily-mass-5/
DAILY SAINTS AND REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Today, we honor and celebrate the Memorial of Saint Valentine, Priest and Martyr, the patron saint of love, young people, happy marriages, greetings, engaged couples, beekeepers, and those suffering from fainting, plague, epilepsy, and other ailments. We also commemorate Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop, (Patron Saints of Europe and protection against storms), devoted brothers who played a vital role in spreading Christianity across Eastern Europe.
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Valentine and Saints Cyril, and Methodius, and all Saints, we humbly pray for marriages, loved ones, for those seeking for life partners, young people and for those who are sick, particularly those who are sick with Epileptic disorders and mental illness. For those who are sick and dying, especially those who are sick with cancers and other terminal diseases. We continue to pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. Amen. We pray for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. We continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, for an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. May the Saints intercede for our children, children all over the world and us all. Amen.
We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. šš½
Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries | Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/holy-rosary-for-peace-with-pope-francis/
Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/daily-reflections-and-prayer-links/
THE POPEāS MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY – FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE | Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.
https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025 (See alsoĀ http://www.popesprayerusa.net/.)
We continue to pray for the intentions of our Holy Father. We pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spiritsā¦ Amen šš½
On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to pray for the repose of the gentle souls of the recent plane crashes and souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen š āļøšÆāļøšÆāļøšÆ
“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their abors for their good deeds go with them.” ~ Rev 14:13
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amenš
PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
A PRAYER FOR PEACE: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen š
Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT VALENTINE, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND SAINTS CYRIL, MONK, AND METHODIUS, BISHOP – FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 14TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Valentine, Priest and Martyr (Patron Saint of Love, Young People, Happy Marriages, Greetings, Affianced couples, againstĀ fainting,Ā beekeepers, happyĀ marriages,Ā love,Ā plague,Ā epilepsy,Ā Lesvos) and We also commemorate Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop, (Patron Saints of Europe), devoted brothers who played a vital role in spreading Christianity across Eastern Europe. Valentine’s Day, also calledĀ Saint Valentine’s DayĀ or theĀ Feast of Saint Valentine, is celebrated annually on February 14th. The Feast day ofĀ Saint Valentine is the celebration of love and affection. Before the 14th century, St. Valentine’s Day was primarily about honoring a Christian martyr. It originated as a ChristianĀ feast dayĀ honoring aĀ martyrĀ namedĀ Valentine, and through later folk traditions it has also become a significant cultural, religious and commercial celebration ofĀ romanceĀ and love in many regions of the world.
Over the centuries, Valentine’s Day has been a religious feast day and a secular day of romance. In its earliest incarnation, it was even a ritual celebrating fertility and springtime. There are various legends about this Christian figure named Valentine or Valentinus, who was martyred on February 14 in the 3rd century AD. Due to complicated and unclear facts, the Catholic Church removed the Feast of St. Valentine from the General Liturgical Calendar in 1969, though it still recognizes him as a Saint. The feast day in his name replaced the pagan Roman festival of Lupercalia. Valentine’s Day always falls on February 14, but the day of the week varies by year. In 2025, Valentine’s Day falls on a Friday for the first time since 2020.
Saint Valentine and Saints Cyril and Methodius ~ Pray for us šš½
Saint (s) of the Day | February 14th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
SAINT VALENTINE, PRIEST, AND MARTYR: St. Valentine was a Roman priest, born in c.ā226 Terni,Ā Italia,Ā Roman Empire and lived in Rome during the reign of Emperor Claudius II. The feast of St. Valentine of February 14 was first established in 496 byĀ Pope Gelasius I, who included Valentine among all those “ā¦ whose names are justly reverenced among men, but whose acts are known only to God.” St. Valentine, together with St. Marius and his family assisted the martyrs who suffered during the reign of Emperor Claudius II in the 3rd century. According to legend, he ministered to Christians who were persecuted and imprisoned for their faith and died a martyr. In addition to his other edicts against helping Christians, one account has it that Emperor Claudius II banned all marriages and engagements in Rome, he issued a decree forbidding marriage, believing this was the reason Roman men were unwilling to serve in the army. In order to increase troops for his army, he forbade young men to marry, believing that single men made better soldiers than married men. St. Valentine defied this decree and urged young lovers to come to him in secret so that he could join them in the sacrament of matrimony. Eventually, he was discovered by the Emperor, who promptly had St. Valentine arrested and brought before him. Because he was so impressed with the young priest, Emperor Claudius attempted to convert St. Valentine to Roman paganism rather than execute him. However, St. Valentine held steadfast and, in turn, attempted to convert Emperor Claudius to Christianity, at which point the Emperor condemned him to death. While in prison, Valentine was tended by the jailer, Asterius, and his blind daughter. St. Valentine miraculously restored sight to his jailer’s blind daughter, causing the jailer and his entire extended household, forty-six people in total, to immediately convert to Christianity. Upon hearing this, Emperor Claudius ordered St. Valentine’s execution. Asterius’ daughter was very kind to Valentine and brought him food and messages. They developed a friendship.Ā
The night before his execution, St. Valentine wrote a farewell message to the jailer’s daughter, whom he had befriended and signed it affectionately “From Your Valentine,” a phrase that lives on even today. He was executed on February 14th, ā269 AD (aged 42ā43) in Rome, Roman Empire. The Martyrology says, “At Rome, on the Flaminian Way, the heavenly birthday of the blessed martyr Valentine, a priest. After performing many miraculous cures and giving much wise counsel, he was beaten and beheaded under Claudius Caesar.” The church in which he is buried existed already in the fourth century and was the first sanctuary Roman pilgrims visited upon entering the Eternal City. Valentine has become the universal symbol of friendship and affection shared each anniversary of the priest’s execution — St. Valentine’s Day. Valentine has also become the patron of engaged couples. The custom of sending valentines on this day is the revival of an ancient pagan practice, which consisted of boys drawing the names of girls in honor of their goodness, Februata Juno, on February 15. To abolish this practice, names of Saints were substituted on billets drawn upon this day. Heās pictured with birds because birds start pairing in February around his feast day. He’s the Patron Saint of: Affianced couples; betrothed couples; engaged couples; happy marriages; love; lovers; youths; epilepsy; greeting card manufacturers; greetings; plague; travelers; young people; against fainting; bee keepers.
“Three things will last forever: Faith, Hope, and Love. But the greatest of these is Love.” ~ 1 Corinthians 13:13
PRAYER: “O St. Valentine, lover of Christ and of the Church, we ask your intercession that we may learn how to love God above all things and to selflessly love one another. O glorious St. Valentine, pray for us that we too may have the steadfast faith of the martyrs.”
“God of power and mercy, through Your help St. Valentine has overcome the tortures of his passion. Help us who celebrate his triumph to remain victorious over the wiles of our enemies.” ā¦ Amenš
Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Valentine and all Saints, we humbly pray for marriages, loved ones, for those seeking for life partners, young people and for those who are sick, particularly those who are sick with Epileptic disorders and mental illnesses. We pray for the sick and dying, particularly pray for those who are suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God grant them His divine healing and intervention. Amen šš½
Saint Valentine, Priest and Martyr ~ Pray for us šš½
SAINTS CYRIL, MONK, AND METHODIUS, BISHOP: Saints Cyril (originally named Constantine) and Methodius, known as the Apostles of the Slavs, were two brothers born into a noble family in Thessalonika, Greece. Methodius, the elder, was born around 815, and Cyril around 827. Though they came from a prestigious senatorial background, they renounced their wealth and status to dedicate their lives to God. Cyril became a professor of philosophy in Constantinople and librarian at the Hagia Sophia, while Methodius served as a governor in a Slavic-populated region before embracing monastic life.
In 861, the Byzantine Emperor Michael III sent the brothers on a mission to the Khazars near the Black Sea, where they successfully converted many to Christianity and discovered what were believed to be relics of Pope St. Clement I. Two years later, in 863, Prince Rastislav of Great Moravia requested missionaries to spread Christianity in a language his people could understand. The emperor, along with Patriarch Photius, chose Cyril and Methodius for this mission. The brothers translated the Liturgy and Scriptures into Slavonic and created an alphabet now known as the Cyrillic script. They also developed the Glagolitic script, which is still used in some Eastern liturgical traditions today. Despite the German missionariesā earlier efforts, Cyril and Methodius achieved great success, converting many to Christianity.
In 867, they were summoned to Rome to report on their mission. Pope Hadrian II welcomed them and approved their methods, despite opposition from some clergy who were critical of their liturgical innovations. Cyril entered a monastery in Rome, taking the name Cyril, but passed away shortly after on February 14, 869, at the age of 42. He was buried in St. Peterās Basilica, and his remains were later transferred to the Basilica of San Clemente, where they remain today. His funeral was a grand event, honoring his contributions to the faith.
After Cyrilās death, Methodius continued their apostolic work alone. He was consecrated as an archbishop and returned to Moravia, where he evangelized not only Moravians but also the people of Slovakia, Bohemia, Hungary, Bulgaria, Dalmatia, and Carinthia. Facing opposition from German clergy, he was imprisoned for three years but was later reinstated by Pope John VIII. Despite continued challenges, he expanded his mission to Poland, converted the Duke of Bohemia and his wife, and is believed to have traveled as far as Kiev and Moscow, helping establish Christian communities.
Methodius translated the entire Bible into Slavonic with the assistance of Greek priests and appointed a native Moravian successor to continue the mission after his passing. He died on April 6, 885, in Velehrad, the capital of Moravia, after enduring years of struggle and opposition. He was laid to rest in the Church of St. Mary, with funeral rites conducted in Greek, Slavonic, and Latin. The work of Saints Cyril and Methodius played a crucial role in the later Christianization of Ukraine and Russia, leading to the baptism of Prince Vladimir of Kiev in 988. Patronage: Saints Cyril and Methodius are Patron Saints of Europe, patrons of Slavic peoples, Bohemia, Bulgaria, Bosnia, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Russia, ecumenism, the unity of Eastern and Western Churches, and protection against storms.
PRAYER: Merciful God, You enlightened the Slavic nations through the teachings of Saints Cyril and Methodius. Help us to embrace Your truth and grow as a people united in faith. May we continue their mission of spreading the Gospel with courage and perseverance. Amen. šš½
Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop ~ Pray for us šš½
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass | Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | Memorial of Saint Valentine, Priest and Martyr and Saints Cyril, Monk, and Methodius, Bishop | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time | February 14, 2025
Reading 1,Ā Genesis 3:1-8
Responsorial Psalm,Ā Psalms 32:1-2, 5, 6, 7
Gospel,Ā Mark 7:31-37
Gospel Reading ~ Mark 7:31-37
“He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak”
“Jesus left the district of Tyre and went by way of Sidon to the Sea of Galilee, into the district of the Decapolis. And people brought to him a deaf man who had a speech impediment and begged him to lay his hand on him. He took him off by himself away from the crowd. He put his finger into the manās ears and, spitting, touched his tongue; then he looked up to heaven and groaned, and said to him, āEphphatha!ā (that is, āBe opened!ā) And immediately the manās ears were opened, his speech impediment was removed, and he spoke plainly. He ordered them not to tell anyone. But the more he ordered them not to, the more they proclaimed it. They were exceedingly astonished and they said, āHe has done all things well. He makes the deaf hear and the mute speak.ā
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus heals a deaf man who had an impediment in his speech. Jesus is in the Decapolis region, a region mostly populated by non-Jews and, there, He heals a pagan man who is both deaf and also has a speech impediment. At the end of the Gospel reading, the people of that region say, āHe has done all things well; He makes the deaf to hear and the dumb to speakā. Jesus only directly healed the manās hearing, but once his hearing was healed, he lost his speech impediment. The Gospel reading suggests that hearing is more fundamental than speaking. If our hearing is right, our speaking will be right. There is a very real sense in which listening is prior to speaking. We need to listen carefully before we speak. If we fail to listen, the words we speak may not be the right words. According to the Gospels, on the road to Emmaus, Jesus first listened to the story of the two disciples; only then did He tell a story of His own that shed new light on their story. As in all else, so in this matter of giving priority to listening over speaking, Jesus is our teacher. In the gospel reading people declare of Jesus, āhe has done all things wellā. His doing all things well was rooted in hHs attentive listening to God and to others, His attentiveness to all of life. There is a sense in which we are all a little bit like that man in the gospel reading who was brought to Jesus. We all need our ears to be opened that bit more so that we can speak well and, like Jesus, do all things well.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading, when Jesus was asked by people to heal the deaf man who had a speech impediment, He listened to their request and He responded to it. After Jesus healed the man, He asked those same people not to tell others about what He had done. However, the people who had brought the deaf and dumb man to Jesus did not listen to Jesusā request. In fact, the more Jesus insisted that they say nothing to anyone about what He did, the more widely they published it. Even though Jesus listened to their request, they did not listen to His request. The man whom the people brought to Jesus did not listen because he could not listen; he was deaf. Yet, we know from our experience of ourselves and of others, that good hearing does not always make for good listening. Our failure to listen can often have an impact on what we say and how we say it. It is striking that when Jesus restored the deaf manās hearing, he was able to speak clearly for the first time. His hearing and speaking were closely associated. Listening and speaking are also closely associated. The more we truly listen to someone, the more likely it is that the words we speak to them will build them up and bring them life.
Our first reading today from the Book of Genesis,gives an account of the moment when Satan, in the form of a snake, came upon our ancestors in the Gardens of Eden. At that time, everything had been created all good and perfect by God, and our ancestors, Adam and Eve, the first man and woman, had also been created perfect, all wonderful and good, in the image and likeness of God Himself, all meant to enjoy forever the fullness of Godās love and grace. However, our inability to resist the temptations of sin, of worldly desires, ambitions and pride, had all led to us succumbing to the sweet lies and falsehoods of Satan, who used all those to lead us all down the path of ruin, and therefore brought us into the corruption of sin. Satan played upon our curiosity and desire for knowledge, and also our indulgence in pleasure to seek for what we have been told not to seek the pursuit of power, glory and knowledge that Satan has offered us by tempting our ancestors to eat from the Tree of Knowledge of Good and Evil, and which he has continued to tempt us with as he offered us all sorts of worldly goods and ambitions, and all other things meant to shake our faith and trust in the Lord, in trying to make us to embrace the path of disobedience and sin instead. That is why we are reminded of this today so that we will always be vigilant and we will not allow Satan and all of the other forces of evil to tempt us into the path towards our downfall and destruction.
As we reflect on the hope of words of the Sacred Scriptures, we are all reminded of the downfall of mankind into sin, reminding us all how sin has led us into this wretched existence in this corrupted world, filled with sin and evil. But at the same time, we are being reminded also of our true nature which God had made and intended us all to be, a pure and holy existence in His Presence as He has meant us all to enjoy. At the same time, we should put our trust in the Lord, and allowing Him to heal us all from our afflictions, our corruptions of sin and evil, allowing us to be whole once again, to be enlightened once again by Godās grace and love, by His light and truth. God is the only One Who can do this for us, and we have to keep this always in mind. We are called to reflect on and emulate the lives and examples of the Holy men and women, and Saints, particularly the Saints we celebrate today, Saint Valentine, and Saints Cyril, and Methodius. They achieved much success in proclaiming the Good News of God to the pagan nations, and were also involved in other missionary works, including inter-Church mission to Rome and many other good works. Through their efforts, many of those people they visited and ministered became Christians, bringing Godās salvation to countless more souls. They did encounter difficulties and challenges during their ministry, including conflicts with the Latin and the Western Church during their evangelising work among the pagans, enduring the political conflicts between the Western and Eastern Christendom that happened at that time, but all these did not dissuade them from continuing to do their works and to carry on the missions entrusted to them faithfully to the very end of their lives. Let us all therefore strive to follow in the footsteps of Saint Valentine, and Saints Cyril and St. Methodius and do our best in all things, so that by our dedication and commitment to God, we may always be shining beacons of His light and truth, becoming the manifestation of His love and mercy, His kindness and compassion to all those whom we encounter daily in life. Hopefully many more people may come to believe in the Lord and be saved through us, and through everything that we do in our everyday living. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with us always, and may He bless us in all of our good works and endeavours, now and always. Amen šš½
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ’s public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family. The Feast of theĀ PresentationĀ (February 2) orĀ CandlemasĀ forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother’s arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice.
The Saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are:
St. BlaiseĀ andĀ St. AnsgarĀ (February 3); St. AgathaĀ (February 5); St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine BakhitaĀ (February 8); St. ScholasticaĀ (February 10); Our Lady of LourdesĀ (February 11); Sts. Cyril and MethodiusĀ (February 14); Seven Founders of the Orders of ServitesĀ (February 17); St. Peter DamianĀ (February 21); Chair of St. PeterĀ (February 22) andĀ St. PolycarpĀ (February 23). The Optional Memorial ofĀ PolycarpĀ (February 23), is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.
From Feast to Fast: Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter). The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is āthe Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save His people from their sins.ā Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. In addition, the faithful may receive in February two of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats. “The Light of Revelation” shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificenceāexposing our sinfulness and need for conversionāpropels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday, falls on March 5, 2025, marking the beginning of the Lenten season and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lentāfasting, prayer, almsgivingālaying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son. šš½
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12539
PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for the gift of His Son and pray for His grace as we serve Him in truth and love. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother and the saints we honor today, we pray for the sick and suffering, especially children and those battling epilepsy, strokes, heart disease, cancer, and other terminal illnesses. May God restore them to health and bring them comfort and peace.
We pray for the safety of our families and loved ones, for healing in marriages, and for unity in a world divided by violence and conflict. May God deliver us from hopeless situations and impossible causes.
We remember the souls in Purgatory, asking for Godās mercy upon them. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May they rest in peace. Amen.
We pray for widows, widowers, and all who are grieving. May the Lord strengthen them in their trials.
We continue to pray for Pope Francis, the clergy, and all those spreading the Gospel. May God bless vocations to the priesthood and religious life and protect persecuted Christians worldwide. We pray for peace in our families and throughout the world. Amen. šš½
Let us pray:
My good Jesus, please open my ears to hear all that You wish to say to me and please loosen my tongue so that I will become a mouthpiece of Your holy word to others. I offer myself to You for Your glory and pray that You will use me in accord with Your holy will. Jesus, I fully trust in You. Amen. šš½
Save us, Savior of the world. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Valentine, and Saints Cyril and Methodiu ~ Pray for us šš½
With gratitude for the gift of this new year, we pray for justice, peace, love, and unity within our families and throughout the world. May God’s Divine Mercy and Grace be upon us all during this Ordinary Time. Wishing you a blessed, safe, grace-filled and a joyful Valentineās Day and weekend. May God keep us all safe and well. Amen šš½
Blessings and Love always, Philomena š