MONDAY OF THE FOURTH WEEK OF EASTER
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MAY 12, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINTS NEREUS AND ACHILLEUS, MARTYRS; SAINT PANCRAS, MARTYR; BLESSED IMELDA LAMBERTINI, VIRGIN; SAINT LEOPOLD MANDIC, PRIEST AND SAINT EPIPHANIUS, BISHOP | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Saint Pancras, Blessed Imelda, Saint Leopold Mandić, and Saint Epiphanius| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-12th/)
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | May 12, 2025 | “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-69/
Greetings and blessings, dear beloved family. Happy Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter!
We continue to celebrate the election of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. May the Holy Spirit guide him as he shepherds the faithful, and may his pontificate be a source of renewal and unity for the Church.
May this new week be filled with peace, joy, and the renewed hope that comes from Christ’s Resurrection. Through the intercession of St. Joseph, we pray for all fathers, workers and all those who labour in this world. May the Lord bless the work of their hands 🙏🏽
The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. As we continue to rejoice in the victory of Christ’s Resurrection, we give heartfelt thanks to God for the gift of life and for bringing us safely into the month of May. May this Easter season renew our strength, deepen our faith, and fill our hearts with the peace of the Risen Lord. May our Mother Mary continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter. Wishing us all and our loved ones a joyful, blessed start to the month. Amen 🙏🏽
HABEMUS PAPAM! A PRAYER FOR OUR HOLY FATHER, POPE LEO XIV
MEET THE NEW POPE: Pope Leo XIV | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-from-st-peters-square-white-smoke-habemus-papam/
As the Papal Conclave to elect the next Roman Pontiff comes to an end, with profound reverence we give thanks to Almighty God for the election of Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost as the 267th pope of the Roman Catholic Church. Taking the name Pope Leo XIV, he becomes the first American-born pontiff in the Church’s two-millennia history. The announcement was made on May 8, 2025, following the traditional white smoke rising from the Sistine Chapel, signaling the conclusion of the conclave.
Cardinal Robert Francis Prevost, an American and a member of the Order of St. Augustine is known as Pope Leo XIV. A missionary bishop and former Prefect of the Dicastery for Bishops, Pope Leo XIV has served the Church faithfully in Chiclayo, Peru, and brings with him a pastoral heart deeply shaped by the Gospel and the spirituality of St. Augustine.
LET US PRAY:
Almighty God, we thank You for the gift of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Grant him wisdom, courage, and humility as he leads the Church in truth and love. May the Holy Spirit guide his every word and action, and may he be a bridge of unity for all nations. Through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace, strengthen him in his mission to proclaim Christ to the world. Amen 🙏🏽
Heavenly Father, You have raised Your servant, Pope Leo XIV, to the Chair of Saint Peter. Pour out Your abundant blessings upon him. Through him, guide Your pilgrim Church along the path to Heaven. Grant him wisdom to discern Your will, Courage to fulfill it, And charity to shepherd Your people with the Heart of Christ. In this time of transition, Bring peace to troubled hearts, Joy to those who suffer, And hope to the despairing. May he be a faithful successor to Peter, A humble servant of Your Word, And a fearless herald of Your Divine Mercy and Truth. Strengthen him with the grace of the Holy Spirit, That he may lead the Church in unity, holiness, and fidelity. We entrust him to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, And to the prayers of all the saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen 🙏🏽
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. 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 🙏🏽
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
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/
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 🙏🏽
Still in the radiant joy of the Easter season, today, the Church honors a host of remarkable witnesses to the faith: Saints Nereus and Achilleus (patrons of soldiers and those facing persecution), courageous Roman soldiers turned martyrs; Saint Pancras (patron of children, jobs, and against perjury), the youthful martyr of fidelity; Blessed Imelda Lambertini (patroness of First Communicants), the child mystic of the Eucharist; Saint Leopold Mandić (patron of confessors and cancer patients), the humble and compassionate confessor; and Saint Epiphanius (patron against heresies and of the diocese of Cyprus), the tireless bishop and defender of truth. United in their unwavering love for Christ, these holy men and women remind us of the cost and joy of true discipleship. Through their intercession, we pray for peace, justice, love, and unity in our families and the world. May they obtain grace for the sick and suffering, especially those battling cancer, for persecuted Christians, the conversion of sinners, and for the sanctification of the clergy and the universal Church. 🙏
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/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
(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, Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Monday of the Fourth Week of Easter | Monday, May 12, 2025
Reading 1, Acts 11:1-18
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 42:2-3; 43:3, 4
Gospel, John 10:1-10
Gospel Reading ~ John 10:1–10
“I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture”
“Jesus said: “Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever does not enter a sheepfold through the gate but climbs over elsewhere is a thief and a robber. But whoever enters through the gate is the shepherd of the sheep. The gatekeeper opens it for him, and the sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out. When he has driven out all his own, he walks ahead of them, and the sheep follow him, because they recognize his voice. But they will not follow a stranger; they will run away from him, because they do not recognize the voice of strangers.” Although Jesus used this figure of speech, they did not realize what he was trying to tell them. So Jesus said again, “Amen, amen, I say to you, I am the gate for the sheep. All who came before me are thieves and robbers, but the sheep did not listen to them. I am the gate. Whoever enters through me will be saved, and will come in and go out and find pasture. A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of Himself as the gate. Jesus uses an image drawn from the rural life of Galilee. There is a sheepfold or sheep pen. The sheep enter the sheepfold through the gate at night for protection. In the morning the shepherd enters the sheepfold through the gate and calls the sheep to follow him back out through the gate to pasture. Jesus identifies Himself with two elements of that image, firstly with the gate, and then with the shepherd. The sheep go through the gate at night for protection and go through the gate in the morning for pasture. In this way the gate is both life-protecting and life-sustaining. This is the sense in which Jesus applies ‘the gate’ to Himself. ‘I am the gate’. If we pass through Him, if we interact with Him, He both protects us and sustains our life. He protects in that He delivers us from evil, in the words of the Lord’s Prayer, and from the evil one who stands behind all evil. He sustains our life in that He works to give us life to the full, a sharing in God’s own life. God’s life is a life of love. Jesus sustains our life by working to make us as loving as God is loving. To the extent that we love as God loves we already share in God’s life, here and now in this earthly life. Jesus is the gate who both protects and sustains our life. That is why He calls on us to keep entering through Him, to keep interacting with Him, to keep growing in our relationship with Him. Far from getting in God’s way, Jesus was the gate through whom God came to people and they came to God. Jesus is the open gate onto God. People can go freely in and out through Him and experience the life of God. As Jesus says in the Gospel reading, ‘I have come that they may have life and have it to the full’. There is a sense in which we all share in that role of Jesus to be the gate. We too are called to be openings for God, people through whom God can enter people’s lives, just as the Spirit of God entered the lives of Cornelius and his household through St. Peter in the first reading. At the very least, this will mean, in the words of St. Peter, not standing in God’s way. We have a role to play in each other’s lives but we also have to leave room for God to work. There is a time to be the shepherd and a time to be the gate.
Reflecting further on today’s Gospel, Jesus continues using the imagery of sheep and shepherds to teach us about His relationship with His people. He warns that those who attempt to access the sheepfold by any way other than the gate are not true shepherds, but thieves and robbers. Then He reveals a profound truth: He Himself is the gate. Through Him alone is salvation, safety, and spiritual nourishment. Those who hear and recognize His voice are led to green pastures, while the voice of strangers leads only to fear and confusion. Jesus contrasts His mission with that of others who mislead “A thief comes only to steal and slaughter and destroy; I came so that they might have life and have it more abundantly.” This declaration invites us to trust in Him not just as a protector, but as the very access point to eternal life. The Good Shepherd not only guides but becomes the very means of entering into fullness of life. In a world of countless voices and paths, Jesus alone is the trustworthy gate to true joy, purpose, and peace.
In today’s first reading, Peter asks the question, ‘Who am I to stand in God’s way?’ When the Holy Spirit came down upon the pagan Cornelius and his household Peter realized that God was doing something in the lives of these pagans and, at the very least, Peter’s role was not to get in the way of what God was doing. Today’s first reading suggests that the Holy Spirit was always one step ahead of the early church. The first Christians were Jews and there was a natural reluctance among them to eat food that was considered unclean in their tradition, and there was an even stronger reluctance to visit the homes of pagans. However, in today’s reading, Peter has a vision in which he is told to regard no food as unclean. Immediately afterwards, the Spirit prompted St. Peter to do something he would not have done if left to himself, namely to go to the home of a pagan so as to witness to the Lord. When Peter went to this home and preached, something happened that Peter never would have expected. The Holy Spirit came down on the members of this pagan household in the same way that the Spirit had come down upon Jesus’ Jewish followers at the first Pentecost. Peter and the rest of the early church were being led by the Holy Spirit in directions they had not expected. The Holy Spirit is one step ahead of the church in every age. We are always trying to keep up with where the Spirit is leading us. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks of Himself as the gate and calls on us to enter through Him. However, today’s first reading suggests that Jesus is not a gate in any static or fixed way. Jesus, the gate, like the Spirit, is always ahead of us. We are always having to discern what it means to go through Jesus the gate. We have to keep searching for the gate that Jesus wants us to go through. It is often an unexpected gate, as Peter learned when the Spirit prompted him to go through the gate of a pagan house. We always need to be open to the Lord’s guidance. He often calls on us to go through a gate, that is new. We need to pray, in the words of today’s responsorial psalm, ‘O send forth your light and your truth; let these be my guide’.
Reflecting further on today’s first reading from Acts 11, we witness a critical turning point in the early Church. Peter is challenged by the Jewish believers in Jerusalem for having entered the house of Gentiles and sharing a meal with them. In response, Peter recounts his vision from God and how the Holy Spirit came upon the Gentiles just as He had upon the Jewish believers. This reading reveals that the Gospel is not limited by human boundaries or cultural divisions. God, through the Holy Spirit, confirms His acceptance of all peoples who believe in Christ. Peter’s vision and the descent of the Spirit on the Gentile household affirms the Church’s universality that salvation through Christ is for everyone. This moment is a reminder to each of us that our mission as followers of Jesus must include openness to others, especially those who might seem different or unfamiliar. If God does not show partiality, who are we to set limits on His grace?
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “Athirst is my soul for the living God” the psalm today expresses a deep yearning for God a thirst that only His presence can satisfy. It reminds us that the human heart finds no true peace until it rests in God. The psalmist longs to be led to the holy mountain, to stand before the altar of God with joy and thanksgiving. In times of doubt, trial, or spiritual dryness, these verses echo our own inner cry to return to the source of life. As we journey through the Easter season, may this thirst be renewed within us, drawing us ever closer to the Risen Lord who quenches every longing.
Are there areas of my life where I have been listening to voices other than that of the Good Shepherd? Do I trust Jesus enough to follow Him even when I do not see the full path ahead? How open am I to God’s work in others especially those who are different from me or unexpected recipients of grace? Let us walk with Christ who is both our Shepherd and our Gate. Let us listen for His voice, trust in His leadership, and open our hearts to the fullness of life He offers. As He welcomed all Jew and Gentile alike may we also welcome others with the same spirit of generosity and love, becoming living witnesses of the Gospel in our world today. Amen. 🙏🏽
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded that we must always follow the path and way set by the Lord, our loving God and Good Shepherd, and we must not allow ourselves to be easily swayed and tempted by all sorts of worldly temptations and evils, by those desires which may lead us astray into the wrong path, because we trusted more in our own intellect, power and abilities rather than to trust in the Lord and in what He has provided, revealed and explained to us, in all the guidance and path that He has shown us. As Christians, we should always be strongly rooted in faith, in our commitment and dedication to God, at all times. We are therefore reminded to focus our attention once again towards our Good Shepherd, our Lord and Saviour. We should heed His call and embrace His path, and we should be vigilant and careful lest the temptations and the allures of worldly glory, fame and all the falsehoods and lies around us, the paths shown by false leaders and false shepherds may end up leading us down the path of ruin and destruction. Let us all therefore seek to follow the Lord, our Good Shepherd ever more faithfully at all times, doing what He has called and entrusted to all to do in our respective parts and areas in life. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may He continue to bless us all and guide us in our every good works, efforts and endeavours. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, my Good Shepherd and Gate to life, help me to listen to Your voice and follow You with trust. Teach me not to be led astray by the distractions and noise of the world, but to remain close to You, the source of true life. May I embrace Your inclusive love and recognize the work of Your Spirit in every person, regardless of background or status. Quench my thirst for Your presence, and lead me to the joy of Your eternal pasture. Amen.🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINTS NEREUS AND ACHILLEUS, MARTYRS; SAINT PANCRAS, MARTYR; BLESSED IMELDA LAMBERTINI, VIRGIN; SAINT LEOPOLD MANDIĆ, PRIEST; SAINT EPIPHANIUS, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 12TH: Still in the radiant joy of the Easter season, today, the Church honors a host of remarkable witnesses to the faith: Saints Nereus and Achilleus (patrons of soldiers and those facing persecution), courageous Roman soldiers turned martyrs; Saint Pancras (patron of children, jobs, and against perjury), the youthful martyr of fidelity; Blessed Imelda Lambertini (patroness of First Communicants), the child mystic of the Eucharist; Saint Leopold Mandić (patron of confessors and cancer patients), the humble and compassionate confessor; and Saint Epiphanius (patron against heresies and of the diocese of Cyprus), the tireless bishop and defender of truth. United in their unwavering love for Christ, these holy men and women remind us of the cost and joy of true discipleship. Through their intercession, we pray for peace, justice, love, and unity in our families and the world. May they obtain grace for the sick and suffering, especially those battling cancer, for persecuted Christians, the conversion of sinners, and for the sanctification of the clergy and the universal Church. 🙏
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | May 12th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Saint Pancras, Blessed Imelda, Saint Leopold Mandić, and Saint Epiphanius| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-12th/)
SAINTS NEREUS AND ACHILLEUS, MARTYRS: According to Pope St. Damasus, Nereus and Achilleus were Roman soldiers in the third century who converted to Christianity and renounced military service. Their refusal to obey imperial orders led to their execution by beheading. They were buried in the cemetery of Domitilla on the Via Ardeatina. Tradition also associates them with Flavia Domitilla, a Christian noblewoman, whom they served and possibly accompanied in exile and martyrdom. Their sacrifice stands as a bold witness to the transforming power of faith.
PRAYER: Saints Nereus and Achilleus, pray for all in military service that they may place God above all and follow Him faithfully. May your courage inspire us to stand for Christ in a world that often rejects Him. Amen. 🙏
SAINT PANCRAS, MARTYR: Saint Pancras was only fourteen years old when he gave his life for Christ during the persecution of Diocletian around the year 304. Orphaned young, he was raised by a relative and converted to Christianity. Refusing to renounce his faith or worship false gods, he was beheaded for his unwavering witness. His youth and boldness have made him a beloved patron of children, fidelity, and oaths.
PRAYER: Lord God, through the prayers of Saint Pancras, strengthen our resolve to live faithfully and serve You with courage and joy. Amen. 🙏
BLESSED IMELDA LAMBERTINI, VIRGIN: Born in 1322 to a noble family in Bologna, Italy, Imelda displayed intense devotion to the Eucharist from a young age. Though too young to receive Holy Communion, her desire for union with Jesus was so pure that, on the vigil of Ascension, a miraculous Host appeared above her. The priest, recognizing the miracle, gave her Communion—her first and last. She died immediately after, in ecstatic joy. Imelda is now the patroness of First Communicants.
PRAYER: Blessed Imelda, little flower of the Eucharist, pray that we may always receive Jesus with a heart as pure and longing as yours. Amen. 🙏
SAINT LEOPOLD MANDIC, PRIEST: Born in 1866 in Croatia, Saint Leopold overcame physical deformities and a stammer to become a Capuchin priest and beloved confessor. He spent most of his life in Padua, Italy, hearing confessions for up to 15 hours daily. He longed for Christian unity and often offered his sufferings for that intention. He was devoted to the Virgin Mary and deeply compassionate to all, especially the poor and sick. He died in 1942, and his cell-confessional became a place of pilgrimage.
PRAYER: Saint Leopold, humble servant of reconciliation, pray for all who carry burdens of sin, that they may find healing in God’s mercy. Teach us to love the Sacrament of Reconciliation and serve others with gentle compassion. Amen. 🙏
SAINT EPIPHANIUS, BISHOP: Saint Epiphanius (c. 310–403), Bishop of Salamis, was known for his deep learning and fervent opposition to heresies of his time. Originally from Palestine, he became a monk, then abbot, and finally bishop. He wrote extensively, including his famous work Panarion, which defended the faith against false teachings. Though his zeal sometimes caused friction, his devotion to the truth and the Church’s unity remains admirable.
PRAYER: Saint Epiphanius, defender of truth, pray for the Church’s teachers and theologians. May they always proclaim the Gospel with clarity, courage, and charity. Amen. 🙏
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Saint Pancras, Blessed Imelda, Saint Leopold Mandić, and Saint Epiphanius ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS’ MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY: For Working Conditions ~ Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfilment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
PRAYER FOR THE MONTH OF MAY ~ POPE FRANCIS: For Working Conditions ~ Jesus, You knew work in this world, and You understand its hardships and joys… Hear our prayer today. Working is a human trait… Work is sacred… The beauty of the earth and the dignity of work were meant to be united… The earth becomes beautiful when man works… Lord, You see that we believe this with conviction, but we desire even more for it to become a reality among us.
We are saddened when people can’t find work and lack the dignity of bringing bread to their home. Give us the light of your Spirit, open our hearts, do not let indifference overcome us.
Help us recover the gift of universal brotherhood. We ask for a heart as big as Jesus’s so we can embrace the call to work to give dignity to people and families.
Amen 🙏🏽
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY | MONTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and our spiritual Mother. This month invites the faithful to draw closer to Mary through prayer, reflection, and imitation of her virtues especially her humility, obedience, purity, and unwavering faith. As the first and most perfect disciple of Christ, Mary leads us gently but firmly to her Son. Throughout Church history, May has been a time to honor Mary with special devotions such as the Rosary, May Crownings, Marian processions, and prayers like the Litany of Loreto. The Church teaches that Mary, assumed body and soul into Heaven, intercedes for us as Queen of Heaven and Mother of the Church. During this month, we are called to renew our relationship with her and seek her maternal care in our joys, sorrows, and needs. Mary said “yes” to God’s plan with total trust: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her faithful surrender encourages us to say “yes” to God’s will in our own lives. As we meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary and contemplate her role in salvation history, we grow in our love for her and our desire to follow Christ more closely.
In this beautiful month of blooming flowers, may our hearts also blossom with deeper devotion to the Mother of our Savior. Let us bring her our prayers, our homes, and our lives, asking her to accompany us with her love and protection.
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
Hail Mary, full of grace! Teach us to love Jesus as you loved Him. Cover us with your mantle of mercy, and help us to walk always in the light of your Son. Amen 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: We pray today for the Church, that she may be a true gateway to Christ, welcoming all into the fold with love and openness. May our leaders, both spiritual and civic, be guided by the voice of the Good Shepherd, leading with justice and compassion. We lift up all those who feel excluded or forgotten refugees, the poor, and the marginalized asking that they may encounter the boundless grace of God, just as the Gentiles did through Peter’s witness. Inspired by Blessed Imelda Lambertini, we pray especially for children preparing for First Holy Communion, that their hearts may thirst for Jesus in the Eucharist with childlike wonder and purity. Through the intercession of Saints Nereus and Achilleus, may persecuted Christians find strength, and may we all be granted the courage to remain faithful to Christ. In honor of Saint Pancras, we pray for young people to remain steadfast in their faith despite trials. With Saint Leopold Mandić, we lift up all who are ill especially cancer patients and those seeking reconciliation and healing. Through the example of Saint Epiphanius, we pray for bishops and theologians to defend the faith with wisdom and humility. We also remember those who seek peace, healing, or purpose, that their longing may be met in the presence of the living God. For our families, our communities, and the personal intentions we hold in our hearts, we entrust everything to the mercy of the Good Shepherd, who calls each of us by name and leads us to abundant life.
LET US PRAY
Jesus, my Good Shepherd, You speak to me each and every day. You are constantly revealing to me Your most holy will for my life. Help me to always recognize Your gentle voice so that I can be led by You through the challenges of life. May my life of prayer become so deep and sustaining that Your voice always echoes within my heart and soul. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, You are the Gate that leads to life, the Shepherd who knows each of us by name. In a world filled with noise and confusion, help us to discern Your voice and follow wherever You lead. May we open our hearts as Peter did, recognizing the work of Your Spirit in all people, and embracing the wideness of Your mercy. Like Blessed Imelda, may we thirst for Your presence in the Eucharist. Like Saints Nereus and Achilleus, may we have the courage to follow You even when it costs us everything. May the youthful witness of Saint Pancras strengthen our resolve, the compassion of Saint Leopold Mandić soften our hearts, and the clarity of Saint Epiphanius guard our understanding of truth. Renew in us the joy of Your salvation, and lead us to the green pastures of eternal peace. Amen. 🙏🏽
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Nereus and Achilleus, Saint Pancras, Blessed Imelda, Saint Leopold Mandić, and Saint Epiphanius ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
Thanking God for the precious gift of this new day, for the gift of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV 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 and our loved ones today and we pray for journey mercies for all those traveling during this Easter season. As we embrace the blessings of this new month, may God’s abundant grace continue to shower upon us, filling our hearts with peace, joy, and hope in His Resurrection. May this Monday be filled with blessings, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ is truly risen! Alleluia! Have a blessed, safe, and grace-filled Monday and joyful Fourth Week of Easter. 🙏🏽