THURSDAY IN THE OCTAVE OF EASTER

SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ APRIL 24, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT FIDELIS OF SIGMARINGEN, PRIEST AND MARTYR; SAINT MARY EUPHRASIA PELLETIER; SAINT BENEDETTO (BENEDICT) MENNI, PRIEST; SAINT WILFRID, BISHOP OF YORK AND SAINT MARY OF CLEOPHAS (MARY OF CLOPAS) | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

Daily Reflections with Philomena | Prayer for the Soul of Pope Francis | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/precious-in-the-sight-of-the-lord-is-the-death-of-his-saints-psalm-11615/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary for the Repose of the Soul of Pope Francis | EWTN | April 24, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-daily-mass-51/

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/catholic-daily-mass-51/

DIVINE MERCY NOVENA: Novena in preparation for DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. Good Friday is the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena. Novena begins, Friday, April 18, 2025, to Saturday, April 26, 2025, leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday on April 27, 2025 | DAY 7: Link ~ https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/17/divine-mercy-novena/

Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Easter Thursday in the Octave of Easter!

We continue to celebrate and rejoice in the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ during this first eight days of the Easter season (Easter octave) which are celebrated as solemnities of the Lord. Each day is another little Easter. The Alleluia verse is repeated throughout the octave: “This is the day the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad. Alleluia!” The Lord has risen from the dead, as He foretold. Let there be happiness and rejoicing for He is our King forever, Alleluia! May God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this Easter season and always. 🙏🏽

PRAYER FOR THE SOUL OF POPE FRANCIS

With the passing of Pope Francis, let us continue to pray for the eternal repose of his soul and for the College of Cardinals as they embark on their sacred duty to elect Pope Francis’ successor:

Heavenly Father, You entrusted the care of Your Church on earth to Pope Francis, and now You have called him to Yourself. We entrust his soul to Your boundless mercy. For his lifelong service, we thank You. For his care for the poor and marginalized, we thank You. For his witness to simplicity, we thank You. In Your mercy, cleanse him of all sin. Purify him and draw him into the light of Your presence. Grant him the vision of Your Eternal Essence, into which we all long to be drawn. Protect Your Church in this time of transition. Guide the Cardinals in their sacred duty. Grant them Wisdom and Courage, Hope and Charity, and the Faith they need to discern Your Holy Will.

Father Most Holy, our God and King, Creator of all that was, is, and is to come—
You alone know the heart of the one You have chosen as the successor to Pope Francis. Reveal Your will to the College of Cardinals. Open their hearts to Your inspirations. Open our hearts to receive, with faith and obedience, the one whom You will raise up to sit on the Chair of Saint Peter. May he be a man of deepest compassion, a man of profound faith and hope, a man whose charity shines forth, permeating the darkness of this world with the light of Christ. You are God Most High, the God of the living and the dead, the Great I AM, the Alpha and the Omega, Eternal Being and Source of all that is. May Your holy will be done, now and forever. Amen. Alleluia.

Merciful and loving God, We entrust to You our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis. May he rest in the light of Your presence, where suffering and sorrow are no more, and every tear is wiped away. Comfort all who mourn his passing, and raise up shepherds who will continue to guide Your Church in humility and love.

Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May his gentle soul and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏🏽

Day 7 (Easter Thursday): Pray for the souls who especially venerate and glorify God’s mercy.

Prayer: “Today bring to Me the souls who especially venerate and glorify My mercy, and immerse them in My mercy. These souls sorrowed most over My Passion and entered most deeply into My spirit. They are living images of My Compassionate Heart. These souls will shine with a special brightness in the next life. Not one of them will go into the fire of hell. I shall particularly defend each one of them at the hour of death.”

Most Merciful Jesus, whose Heart is Love Itself, receive into the abode of Your Most Compassionate Heart the souls of those who particularly extol and venerate the greatness of Your mercy. These souls are mighty with the power of God Himself. In the midst of all afflictions and adversities, they go forward, confident of Your mercy; and united to You, O Jesus, they carry all mankind on their shoulders. These souls will not be judged severely but Your mercy will embrace them as they depart from this life.

Eternal Father, turn Your merciful gaze upon the souls who glorify and venerate Your greatest attribute—that of Your fathomless mercy—and who are enclosed in the Most Compassionate Heart of Jesus. These souls are a living Gospel; their hands are full of deeds of mercy, and their hearts, overflowing with joy, sing a canticle of mercy to You, O Most High. I beg You O God: show them Your mercy according to the hope and trust they have placed in You. Let there be accomplished in them the promise of Jesus, who said to them: I Myself will defend as My own glory during their lifetime, and especially at the hour of their death, those souls who will venerate My fathomless mercy. Amen 🙏🏽

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, particularly Saint Joseph, Patron of the sick and dying, we pray for the sick and dying and all those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. We pray for our loved ones who have recently died, especially for our Holy Father, POPE FRANCIS, all those who died today, and 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 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their labors 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. Amen 🙏🏽

As we continue to rejoice in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we commemorate the lives and holy witness of several remarkable saints: Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr; Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier (Patroness of Travelers); Saint Benedetto (Benedict) Menni (Patron of the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, people with mental illness, the sick, and medical volunteers); Saint Wilfrid (Patron of the English Church and defenders of Roman customs); and Saint Mary of Cleophas (Patroness of mothers and witnesses of the Resurrection). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother and these saints, we lift our prayers today: For the sick especially those with mental illnesses and those facing terminal conditions, may they receive the comfort of God’s healing mercy. For the Church and the clergy may they be strengthened in holiness and mission. For persecuted Christians and the conversion of sinners may grace abound in every heart. For the poor, the needy, and all travelers may divine protection accompany them always. Amen. 🙏🏽

DAILY REFLECTIONS WITH PHILOMENA | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Daily Saints, Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Scripture Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/reflections/

Watch “HOLY MASS ON THE JUBILEE OF THE SICK AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS | Presided by H.E. Most Rev. Rino Fisichella | Live from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican | April 6, 2025” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/06/holy-mass-on-the-jubilee-of-the-sick-and-healthcare-workers/

WORLD PRAYERS FOR POPE FRANCIS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/26/world-prayers-for-pope-francis/

Honoring a Legacy of Service: The 10th Memorial Anniversary of Late Noble (Sir) Gabriel Louis Ihieje Opiepe (KSJI) | https://gliopiepehe.org/2025/04/12/honoring-a-legacy-of-service-the-10th-memorial-anniversary-of-late-noble-sir-gabriel-louis-ihieje-opiepe-ksji/

THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/

THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS’ MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL: For the use of the new technologies ~ Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.

PRAYER OF THE MONTH ~ POPE FRANCIS: Lord, Good Father, as I look at the world and see men and women working in it and beautifying it, a great “Thank You!” springs from my heart. The action of Your Spirit among us encourages us to grow in the progress of science and technology in the service of human dignity for integral and inclusive human development. Because we know You desire the good of all, from the heart of Your Church, Your Son calls us to ensure that technology does not replace “person-to-person” contact, that the virtual does not replace the real, and that social networks do not replace social settings. Help us develop the ability to live wisely, to think deeply, to love generously, without losing heart, promoting scientific and technological growth that increasingly aligns with human development in responsibility, values, and awareness.
Amen 🙏🏽

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

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/

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 🙏🏽

Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Thursday in the Octave of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday in the Octave of Easter | April 24, 2025
Reading 1, Acts 3:11-26
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 8:2, 5, 6-7, 8-9
Gospel, Luke 24:35-48

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 24:35–48

“Thus it was written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day”

“The disciples of Jesus recounted what had taken place along the way, and how they had come to recognize him in the breaking of bread. While they were still speaking about this, he stood in their midst and said to them, “Peace be with you.” But they were startled and terrified and thought that they were seeing a ghost. Then he said to them, “Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts? Look at my hands and my feet, that it is I myself. Touch me and see, because a ghost does not have flesh and bones as you can see I have.” And as he said this, he showed them his hands and his feet. While they were still incredulous for joy and were amazed, he asked them, “Have you anything here to eat?” They gave him a piece of baked fish; he took it and ate it in front of them. He said to them, “These are my words that I spoke to you while I was still with you, that everything written about me in the law of Moses and in the prophets and psalms must be fulfilled.” Then he opened their minds to understand the Scriptures. And he said to them, “Thus it is written that the Christ would suffer and rise from the dead on the third day and that repentance, for the forgiveness of sins, would be preached in his name to all the nations, beginning from Jerusalem. You are witnesses of these things.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus’ first words to the disciples after rising from the dead were, ‘Peace be with you’. It is a greeting that has made its way into our celebration of the Eucharist. The risen Lord was offering His disciples the gift of His peace. He was making peace with those who had slept on the Mount of Olives when He had asked them to pray. He was making peace with Peter who had denied Him publicly three times. He was taking the initiative to be reconciled with those who had failed Him. Like the father in the parable of the prodigal son, He was welcoming back into communion with Himself those who had strayed. He went on to express His communion with His disciples by eating in their company. The resurrection proclaimed the faithfulness of Jesus to His flawed disciples. It was a moment of grace which the disciples struggled to receive. According to the Gospel reading, they were agitated and full of doubt. They were dumbfounded. In a striking phrase, it is said of them that ‘their joy was so great they still could not believe it’. The risen Lord continues to stand among us offering us his peace. Our many past failings do not make His presence any less powerful or his offer of peace any less generous. He comes among us to call us into a renewed communion with Himself. As risen Lord He shows us the face of God as mercy. When we allow ourselves to receive the peace of God He is offering, then He will send us out, as He send out His first disciples, as His peacemakers, as messengers of God’s love and mercy.

Reflecting on today’s Gospel, the disciples recount their encounter with Jesus on the road to Emmaus. As they are speaking, Jesus suddenly appears in their midst and says, “Peace be with you.” The disciples are startled, frightened, and think they are seeing a ghost. But Jesus, ever gentle and reassuring, shows them His hands and feet, invites them to touch Him, and even eats a piece of fish before them to affirm that He is truly alive—not a spirit or an illusion. Then comes a crucial moment: Jesus opens their minds to understand the Scriptures. He explains that everything written about Him in the Law of Moses, the Prophets, and the Psalms had to be fulfilled—that the Messiah would suffer, die, and rise on the third day. He entrusts them with a mission: to proclaim repentance for the forgiveness of sins in His Name to all nations, beginning from Jerusalem. And He calls them “witnesses of these things.” This powerful scene reminds us that the Resurrection is not a myth or metaphor. It is a bodily, real event that transformed terrified, confused followers into bold proclaimers of the Good News. Jesus did not leave them in doubt—He entered their fear, brought peace, and commissioned them to carry His light into the world. We too are called to be witnesses—to let His peace calm our hearts, His word enlighten our minds, and His mission guide our steps.

Our first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, is the courageous and fiery speech from St. Peter the Apostle, who together with St. John had healed a paralysed beggar waiting by the Beautiful Gate of the Temple of Jerusalem. The people who witnessed the miraculous healing of the paralysed beggar were all astonished, surprised and filled with joy upon seeing the healed man. They could not believe what they had seen, and yet, were filled with joy because of what they had witnessed, seeing a hopeless man filled once again with strength and hope from God. St. Peter reminded the assembled people of everything that had just recently happened, how the Lord Jesus had come into their midst and revealed the extent of God’s most generous love for them, caring for them and providing for their needs, reaching out to those who were in need of healing and help. He empowered the people and gave them hope once again, bringing the light of God and true Hope amongst them, strengthening their resolve, healing those who were sick and were troubled, casting out demons and restoring those who were diseased back to good health once again. Yet, despite everything that He had done for their sake, many among the people still stubbornly refused to believe in God and still rejected Him, doubting Him and His works. That was also why the people chose to condemn the Lord to death, a most humiliating and painful death on the Cross, which the Apostles then were proclaiming, as St. Peter did. St. Peter told the people how even though they had condemned the Lord to death, but it was part of God’s overarching plan to save all of mankind. Through His suffering and death, God had purchased for all of us the gift of eternal life and salvation, and by His resurrection, He has united all of us in a new life with Him.

Reflecting on the first reading, we hear St. Peter’s passionate address after healing the crippled man at the temple. As the amazed crowd gathers around, Peter seizes the opportunity not to take credit, but to redirect all glory to Jesus. He boldly proclaims that it was through faith in the name of Jesus that the man was healed. This same Jesus, Peter says, was handed over, rejected, and crucified yet God raised Him from the dead. Peter speaks not in condemnation, but with compassion. He acknowledges that the people and their leaders acted out of ignorance, and he invites them to repentance and conversion. What shines through this passage is the transformative power of the Resurrection not only to heal bodies but to change hearts. Peter, once fearful and hiding, now stands in public with conviction and clarity, empowered by the Holy Spirit and the truth of the Risen Christ. Through this testimony, we are reminded that healing and salvation are gifts from God, not earned by our own merit. And we, like Peter, are called to point others to Jesus—not with pride, but with humility and love, inviting them into the joy and freedom of the Gospel.

Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “O Lord, our God, how wonderful your name in all the earth!” Today’s psalm marvels at God’s majesty and the dignity He bestows upon humanity. Though we are small compared to the vastness of creation, God remembers us, crowns us with glory, and entrusts us with stewardship over His works. This psalm complements the readings by celebrating the Creator who raises up what is lowly and reveals His greatness through the humility of Christ. In the Resurrection, we see the fullest expression of this divine wonder—God lifting fallen humanity to new life in Him.

Do I allow the peace of the Risen Christ to enter my fears and anxieties? Am I a true witness of His resurrection not just in word, but in the way I live and love? Like Mary Magdalene, Peter, and the disciples, how am I being called to share what I have seen and known of Jesus? Do I seek to understand the Scriptures more deeply, allowing Jesus to open my mind to His truth? Let us not remain in fear or doubt, but rise in the joy of the Resurrection. As Christ opened the minds of the disciples to understand the Scriptures, may He also open ours—so that we may know Him, love Him, and proclaim Him with conviction. Today, we are His witnesses.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we have been told to remember the salvation that has come down to us through Christ, Our Lord and Saviour. The Sacred Scriptures today have spoken to us regarding the things that God had done for our sake, in Him sending to us His only begotten Son, Jesus Christ, the Son of Man and the Son of God, to be the source of our Hope and salvation. By His Passion, His suffering, death and resurrection, He has liberated us from the bondage to sin and death, and through Him, a new hope and light had been revealed to us. Let us all renew our faith in God and let us commit ourselves wholeheartedly to the Lord with new zeal and dedication. May the Lord continue to guide us and help to strengthen us in this journey of faith. May He empower us and strengthen us in our struggles and journey in this world, and give us the courage and power to walk ever more faithfully in God’s path, and to proclaim His truth and glory by our very own lives and actions. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace and let us all be the shining beacons of the Resurrected Christ and His Light, that many more people may come to believe in Him and His salvation through us and our exemplary living. May the Risen Lord bless us always, and may He bless our Easter season and celebrations, bless our loved ones always. Amen 🙏🏽

Risen Lord Jesus, You stood among your frightened disciples and offered them peace. Stand now in the midst of my heart calm my fears, open my eyes to Your presence, and fill me with the joy of Your Resurrection. Help me, like Peter, to speak boldly of Your truth, and like Mary Magdalene, to proclaim, “I have seen the Lord!” Grant me the grace to be a faithful witness in all I do and say. Amen.🙏🏽

MEMORIAL OF SAINT FIDELIS OF SIGMARINGEN, PRIEST AND MARTYR; SAINT MARY EUPHRASIA PELLETIER; SAINT BENEDETTO (BENEDICT) MENNI, PRIEST; SAINT WILFRID, BISHOP OF YORK; AND SAINT MARY OF CLEOPHAS (MARY OF CLOPAS) – FEAST DAY: APRIL 24TH: Today, as we continue to rejoice in the Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, we commemorate the lives and holy witness of several remarkable saints: Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, priest and martyr; Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier (Patroness of Travelers); Saint Benedetto (Benedict) Menni (Patron of the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, people with mental illness, the sick, and medical volunteers); Saint Wilfrid (Patron of the English Church and defenders of Roman customs); and Saint Mary of Cleophas (Patroness of mothers and witnesses of the Resurrection). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother and these saints, we lift our prayers today: For the sick especially those with mental illnesses and those facing terminal conditions, may they receive the comfort of God’s healing mercy. For the Church and the clergy may they be strengthened in holiness and mission. For persecuted Christians and the conversion of sinners may grace abound in every heart. For the poor, the needy, and all travelers may divine protection accompany them always. Amen. 🙏🏽

Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | April 24th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

(Direct link to the detailed history of Saints Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Mary of Cleophas, Benedetto Menni, Wilfrid of York | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-april-24th/ )

SAINT FIDELIS OF SIGMARINGEN (1577–1622): Born Mark Rey in Germany, Saint Fidelis was first a successful lawyer known as “the poor man’s advocate” for his dedication to justice and charity. Disillusioned with the world, he joined the Capuchin Franciscans and zealously embraced a life of poverty, preaching, and defense of the Catholic faith during the Counter-Reformation. Sent as a missionary to the Grisons in Switzerland, he boldly preached against Calvinist errors and endured fierce persecution. Confronted by a mob and ordered to renounce the faith, he bravely replied, “I came to extirpate heresy, not to embrace it,” and was martyred shortly after, bludgeoned to death on April 24, 1622. His unwavering fidelity to the truth earned him the crown of martyrdom.

PRAYER: O God, who granted Saint Fidelis the crown of martyrdom as he fervently spread the faith, strengthen us by his intercession, that we too may be grounded in charity and share in the power of Christ’s Resurrection. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏

SAINT MARY EUPHRASIA PELLETIER (1796–1868): Born Rose Virginie Pelletier during the French Revolution, she overcame early challenges and answered God’s call to serve through the Congregation of Our Lady of Charity. She later founded the Sisters of the Good Shepherd, whose mission is to uplift and restore the dignity of marginalized women and girls. With a burning zeal for souls and deep compassion, she founded over 110 houses in various countries and introduced the Magdalene Sisters, a contemplative community for women desiring a life of penance and prayer. Her leadership, obedience, and motherly heart left a lasting legacy of hope and renewal for generations.

PRAYER: Lord, through the prayers of Saint Mary Euphrasia, help us love as You love—especially the vulnerable and forgotten. May we be united in heart, longing for Your promises, and grounded in compassion for one another. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏

SAINT BENEDETTO (BENEDICT) MENNI (1841–1914): A devoted follower of Saint John of God, Saint Benedetto Menni was a priest with a profound love for the sick and suffering, especially those with mental illness. He restored the Hospitaller Order of Saint John of God in Spain and founded the Hospitaller Sisters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus, providing compassionate care through hospitals, homes, and mental institutions. Despite trials, opposition, and health challenges, he tirelessly built 22 institutions across Europe and Latin America, embodying the Gospel message of mercy and healing.

Reflection: In Saint Benedetto’s life, we see the beatitude, “Blessed are the merciful.” His witness calls us to serve with humility and to recognize Christ in the vulnerable and infirm.

PRAYER: Merciful Father, through Saint Benedict Menni’s example and prayers, grant us the grace to love selflessly and serve faithfully, especially those most in need. May we, like him, be instruments of Your healing love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏

SAINT WILFRID, BISHOP OF YORK (634–709): Saint Wilfrid was a noble-born English bishop who dedicated his life to Church unity and reform. A gifted administrator and defender of Roman ecclesiastical customs, he helped align the practices of the English Church with those of Rome, especially during the Synod of Whitby. Though he faced exile and opposition, Wilfrid never wavered in his dedication to the Gospel and ecclesial order. He built monasteries, championed education, and promoted monastic life throughout England. His perseverance bore lasting fruits in the unity and vitality of the English Church.

PRAYER: O God, who raised up Saint Wilfrid to defend unity and nurture the faith in England, grant that, through his intercession, we may always work for peace, truth, and fidelity in the Church. Amen. 🙏

SAINT MARY OF CLEOPHAS (MARY OF CLOPAS): Saint Mary of Cleophas, identified in Scripture as one of the women present at the Crucifixion and later at the empty tomb, was a relative of the Blessed Virgin Mary and mother of James the Less and Joseph. Her quiet yet steadfast discipleship, especially during Christ’s Passion and Resurrection, reflects the strength of a mother’s love and unwavering faith even in sorrow. As one of the Myrrh-bearing women, she was among the first to witness the joy of the Resurrection.

PRAYER: Holy Mary of Cleophas, faithful follower of the Lord, intercede for us that we may remain near Jesus in times of trial and never lose faith in His promises. Amen. 🙏

Saints Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Mary of Cleophas, Benedetto Menni, Wilfrid of York – Pray for us. 🙏🏽

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 as we approach 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 this Lenten season and always. Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540

PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we continue to rejoice in the light of the Resurrection this Easter Thursday, we bring our hearts before the Lord in prayer. We pray for all who proclaim the Gospel with boldness, especially missionaries and martyrs like Saint Fidelis of Sigmaringen, that they may be strengthened by the Holy Spirit. We remember women in the Church, drawing inspiration from Saint Mary Euphrasia Pelletier and Saint Mary of Cleophas, asking that their faith and love continue to bear fruit in families and communities. For those who are sick, especially those abandoned or mentally ill, we entrust them to the care of Saint Benedetto Menni , that they may find healing and hope. We pray for unity and steadfastness in faith, as exemplified by Saint Wilfrid of York, and for all travelers, the poor, and the vulnerable, that through the intercession of these saints, they may find protection and provision. Finally, we pray that each of us may encounter the Risen Lord in our daily lives, growing in faith and understanding as the disciples did when Jesus opened their minds to the Scriptures. 🙏🏽

LET US PRAY

My risen Jesus, You gave Your disciples a glorious gift when You opened their minds to Your holy Truth and taught them many things. Please open my mind also, dear Lord, so that I will comprehend the deep and profound mysteries of faith. Help me to understand Who You are, why You had to die, and how to share in the new life of Your Resurrection. Please also use me as Your witness so that many will come to know You and share in the new life won by Your Resurrection. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

Risen Lord Jesus, You revealed Yourself to Your disciples in peace and mercy after the Resurrection, calming their fears and opening their minds to understand the Scriptures. As we celebrate the power of Your Resurrection this Easter, we ask You to pour out Your Spirit upon us. Strengthen us, like Your apostles, to be witnesses of Your truth in a world longing for hope. Through the intercession of Saints Fidelis, Mary Euphrasia, Benedetto Menni, Wilfrid, and Mary of Cleophas, may we become living signs of Your mercy, charity, and unwavering love. Open our hearts to the wonder of creation, as we proclaim with the psalmist, “O Lord, our Lord, how majestic is Your name through all the earth!” Let the splendor of Your grace renew our minds and empower us to bring healing to the broken, peace to the restless, and joy to all who long to see Your face. We ask this in Your Most Holy Name, Jesus Christ our Risen Lord, who lives and reigns with the Father in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God forever and ever. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us Savior of the world. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, Saints Fidelis of Sigmaringen, Mary Euphrasia Pelletier, Mary of Cleophas, Benedetto Menni, Wilfrid of York ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽

Thanking God for the precious gift of this new day and the immeasurable love shown through His Son, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. As we continue to rejoice in the glory of the Resurrection, may our hearts remain open to the peace and hope that flow from His victory over sin and death. During this joyful Easter season, we pray that our loving Savior will deepen our faith and draw us closer to the mystery of His Passion, death, and Resurrection. May we walk in the light of His risen life, renewed in spirit and overflowing with grace. Praying for us all andoour loved ones today and we pray for journey mercies for all those traveling during this Easter season. May this Easter Thursday be filled with blessings, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ is truly risen! Alleluia! 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

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

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

Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | Global Missons Now Awards |