FRIDAY OF THE TENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 13, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
( Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Anthony | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saint-of-the-day-feast-day-june-13th/ )
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | June 13, 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-101/
Greetings beloved family. Happy Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time!
We thank God for the gift of life and, we lift up in prayer all who celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and all those marking special milestones in June. May the Lord bless and favor them abundantly, guide their steps, and grant them joy, peace, and good health of body and mind. Amen 🙏🏽
Today, Holy Mother Church celebrates the Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church
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 and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of the Ordinary Time. Wishing us all and our loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and grace-filled month of June🙏🏽
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Friday of the Tenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church | Friday, June 13, 2025
Reading 1: 2 Corinthians 4:7–15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 116:10–11, 15–16, 17–18
Gospel: Matthew 5:27–32
Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 5:27–32
“Everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart”
“Jesus said to his disciples: “You have heard that it was said, You shall not commit adultery. But I say to you, everyone who looks at a woman with lust has already committed adultery with her in his heart. If your right eye causes you to sin, tear it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body thrown into Gehenna. And if your right hand causes you to sin, cut it off and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one of your members than to have your whole body go into Gehenna. “It was also said, Whoever divorces his wife must give her a bill of divorce. But I say to you, whoever divorces his wife (unless the marriage is unlawful) causes her to commit adultery, and whoever marries a divorced woman commits adultery.”
In today’s Gospel reading, the treaching of Jesus shows a profound respect for women. Jesus is addressing married men primarily, saying to them, ‘If the law prohibits you to commit adultery against your wife, I prohibit the lustful look that leads to adultery’. Jesus was very aware that how we see people profoundly influences how we behave towards them. Not just individuals but a whole people can be seen as less than human, and then treated accordingly, as we know from the history of the twentieth century. Racism is a form of behaviour which is rooted in a certain way of seeing people. Jesus knew that actions spring from what is in the human heart, the attitudes and values that reside there. Jesus goes on to address married men regarding divorce. It was common practice in the time of Jesus for a married man to divorce his wife for the flimsiest of reasons, thereby leaving his wife vulnerable and exposed. A woman, in contrast, could never divorce her husband in Jewish law. In prohibiting married men from engaging in casual divorce, Jesus was calling on them to be faithful to their wives in love, to respect them as equals. Jesus’ defence of woman against male exploitation in today’s gospel reading is in keeping with his defence of all who were vulnerable in his society, the poor, the blind, the deaf, the lame, children, those judged to be possessed by evil spirits. Jesus’ attitude of respect for everyone was rooted in his loving relationship with God, his deep conviction that everyone was equally precious in God’s sight. The more we open our hearts to the Lord in love, the more we let him into our lives, then the more we will imbibe his loving respect for all. In the first reading, Elijah the prophet lets the Lord into his life more fully. On that occasion the Lord came to Elijah not in the dramatic signs of the mighty wind or the earthquake but in the sound of a gentle breeze. The Lord doesn’t overpower us; he comes to us gently, imperceptibly, respecting our freedom. Whenever we welcome his coming and receive him into our hearts, he will send us out, as he sent out Elijah, to bring his life-giving presence to all those we meet.
Reflecting further on today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us beyond mere observance of the law into a deeper interior transformation. He challenges us to recognize that sin does not begin with external actions but originates in the heart. Lust, Jesus teaches, is not simply an action it’s a condition of the heart that must be addressed with seriousness. He uses strong imagery not to encourage self-harm, but to underscore the urgency of rooting out sin. What causes us to sin may not be an eye or hand, but a habit, a thought pattern, a toxic relationship, or even a digital device. Jesus asks us to be courageous and disciplined in cutting these things off if they lead us away from holiness. His words about divorce also remind us of the sacredness of marriage. The bond between husband and wife is meant to reflect God’s covenant with His people faithful, enduring, and life-giving. Jesus emphasizes that marriage is not merely a contract but a sacrament a living sign of divine love. In a world where relationships are often treated as disposable, His teaching is a call to radical fidelity, sacrificial love, and grace-filled perseverance.
In the First Reading, Saint Paul’s words to the Corinthians echo the trials and triumphs of the Christian journey: “We hold this treasure in earthen vessels.” These fragile vessels our human lives carry within them the surpassing power of God. Though afflicted, persecuted, and struck down, we are never abandoned. This paradox death at work in us, life in others reflects the paschal mystery: through dying, we are brought to life in Christ. Paul urges us not to despair in the face of suffering, for it is precisely through our weakness that God’s glory shines. Our struggles, when united to Christ, become instruments of grace for others. Like Saint Anthony of Padua, who preached boldly and served humbly, we are invited to let the life of Jesus be manifested through our mortal bodies. Our hope lies not in ourselves but in the God who raises the dead and fills our brokenness with divine strength.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “To you, Lord, I will offer a sacrifice of praise.” Psalm 116 is a psalm of thanksgiving from a heart that has known deliverance. The psalmist recalls affliction and alarm, yet clings to faith, even in the face of despair. He speaks as one who has experienced God’s mercy and responds not with mere words, but with sacrifice, vows, and public praise. The psalm reminds us that our suffering is precious in God’s eyes He sees, He knows, and He redeems. Like the psalmist, we are called to serve God as freed people no longer bound by sin or fear, but loosed from our chains and lifted into communion with the Lord. Every Eucharist, every prayer, every small act of fidelity becomes a sacrifice of praise an offering of love to the One who has loosed our bonds.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are called to ponder on the Scriptures. Am I guarding my heart as diligently as my actions? What thoughts or habits do I need to “cut off” so they no longer lead me into temptation or sin? Do I honor the sacredness of my relationships especially marriage with reverence and commitment? When afflicted, do I despair, or do I see an opportunity for Christ’s life to be made manifest in me? Like Saint Paul, do I believe that God’s power shines through my weakness? And like the psalmist, do I return to God with thanksgiving and public praise for His faithfulness?
Lord Jesus, You call me to a purity of heart that honors both body and soul. Help me to reject sin at its root and to embrace the discipline of holiness. Strengthen me to persevere in love and to uphold the dignity of every relationship You’ve entrusted to me. In my trials, let me remember that I am a vessel of Your glory and grace. May I, like Saint Paul and Saint Anthony, carry Your light into the world. May my life be a constant offering of praise and thanksgiving. Amen. 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 13TH: Today, Holy Mother Church joyfully celebrates the Memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, Priest and Doctor of the Church (Patron of lost items and persons; the poor; travelers; expectant mothers; animals; mariners; the oppressed; Portugal; Padua; and seekers of life partners). Through his powerful intercession and under the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Anthony of Padua, we pray for the poor and the needy, the sick and the dying, and all who suffer material or spiritual loss. We also lift up those seeking life partners, those struggling with discouragement, and those yearning for healing and restoration in any form. May the Church, her clergy, and all missionaries be strengthened in holiness and zeal. May peace, unity, and charity reign in our families and throughout the world. May persecuted Christians find courage, and may sinners find their way home to the heart of Christ. Amen. 🙏🏽
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | June 13th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
( Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Anthony | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saint-of-the-day-feast-day-june-13th/ )
SAINT ANTHONY OF PADUA, PRIEST AND DOCTOR OF THE CHURCH: “Charity is the soul of faith, makes it alive; without love, faith dies.” Born as Fernando de Bouillon in Lisbon, Portugal in 1195, Saint Anthony of Padua is one of the most beloved saints in the Catholic Church. Though he is famously known today as the patron of lost items, in his time, he was revered as a profound preacher and theologian—so much so that he earned the title “Hammer of Heretics” for his effectiveness in defending the faith through preaching and miracles. Raised in a noble and devout family, Fernando chose the religious life at the young age of 15, first joining the Augustinian Canons, and later, inspired by the martyrdom of five Franciscan friars in Morocco, he joined the Franciscan Order, taking the name Anthony in honor of Saint Anthony the Great. His burning desire to become a missionary and die a martyr for Christ led him to Morocco, but illness redirected his path to Italy by divine providence.
Saint Anthony lived humbly, hiding his brilliance by offering to work in the kitchen. But God’s plan soon unfolded: when an unprepared preacher failed to arrive at an ordination ceremony, Anthony was asked to speak and astonished everyone with his eloquence and spiritual depth. Even Saint Francis of Assisi himself gave Anthony permission to teach theology, insisting he never lose the spirit of prayer and devotion. Throughout Italy and France, Saint Anthony preached with boldness, drawing massive crowds, calling sinners to repentance, and performing astounding miracles. His love for the poor and the Eucharist defined his ministry. He was renowned for many miracles including animals reverencing the Blessed Sacrament, healing the sick, multiplying food, and even raising the dead. One of the most cherished stories recounts how the Child Jesus appeared to him, embracing him in a vision witnessed by another man who kept the secret until after Anthony’s death. Saint Anthony passed away on June 13, 1231, at the age of 36. His holiness was so evident that Pope Gregory IX canonized him less than a year later, calling him the “Ark of the Covenant” for his mastery of Scripture. In 1946, Pope Pius XII declared him a Doctor of the Church, naming him the Evangelical Doctor.
Saint Anthony is the patron saint of: Lost articles and lost people, the poor, the hungry, and travelers, Sailors, expectant mothers, and animals, the cities of Lisbon (his birthplace) and Padua (his home and burial place), and those seeking life partners or struggling with barrenness and sterility. Let us honor him today by living lives of mercy, humility, and fervent love for Christ and His people.
PRAYER: Almighty ever-living God, You gave Your Church the brilliant teacher and miracle worker Saint Anthony of Padua, whose love for the Gospel and the poor made him a true disciple of Christ. Through his intercession, help us to live the Gospel we profess and seek Your help in all our needs, especially those we carry silently in our hearts. Strengthen our faith, ignite our charity, and make us tireless in love and truth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Anthony ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
GENERAL PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS:
Watch “Holy Mass and Regina Caeli | Presided over by Pope Leo XIV | Jubilee of Families | Live from the Vatican | June 1, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/holy-mass-and-regina-caeli/ | Live from St. Peter’s Square: Holy Mass presided over by the Holy Father for the Jubilee of Families, Children, Grandparents, and the Elderly, followed by the Regina Caeli prayer.
We continue to pray for all families, for the safety and well-being of all families, children, parents, grandparents, and the elderly. May the good Lord keep them all in good health of body and mind. Amen 🙏🏽
THE HOLY FAMILY PRAYER
JESUS , Son of God and Son of Mary, bless our family. Graciously inspire in us the unity, peace, and mutual love that you found in your own family in the little town of Nazareth.
MARY , Mother of Jesus and Our Mother, nourish our family with your faith and your love. Keep us close to your Son, Jesus, in all our sorrows and joys.
JOSEPH , Foster-father to Jesus, guardian, and spouse of Mary, keep our family safe from harm. Help us in all times of discouragement or anxiety.
HOLY FAMILY OF NAZARETH , make our family one with you. Help us to be instruments of peace. Grant that love, strengthened by grace, may prove mightier than all the weaknesses and trials through which our families sometimes pass. May we always have God at the center of our hearts and homes until we are all one family, happy and at peace in our true home with you. Amen 🙏🏽
PRAYER FOR FAMILIES
God, Our Father, loving and merciful, bring together and keep all families in perfect unity of love and mutual support. Instill in each member the spirit of understanding and affection for each other. Keep quarrels and bitterness far from them, and for their occasional failures instill forgiveness and peace. May the mutual love and affection of parents set a good example. Instill in children self-respect that they may respect others and grow in mature independence. May the mutual affection and respect of families be a sign of Christian life here and hereafter, through Jesus Christ, our Lord, and Savior. Amen 🙏🏽
A PRAYER FOR OUR HOLY FATHER, POPE LEO XIV
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 🙏🏽
We thank God for the successful celebration of the Inauguration Holy Mass for 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. Amen 🙏🏽
MEET THE NEW POPE: Pope Leo XIV | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-from-st-peters-square-white-smoke-habemus-papam/
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 | 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, 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 🙏🏽
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/
Watch ” Pentecost Holy Mass and Regina Caeli | Presided over by Pope Leo XIV | Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Association and New Communities | Live from the Vatican | June 8, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-from-the-vatican-pope-leo-xivs-pentecost-mass-and-regina-caeli/
Live from St. Peter’s Square, the celebration of the Solemnity of Pentecost presided over by Pope Leo XIV, on the occasion of the Jubilee of Ecclesial Movements, Associations and New Communities. Following the Mass, the Holy Father led the Regina Caeli prayer, invoking the Holy Spirit upon the whole Church as the Easter season concludes.
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
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/
THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF JUNE: That the world might grow in compassion. Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE | MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS: June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a powerful sign of Christ’s love and mercy. His Heart, pierced and crowned with thorns, burns with compassion for all humanity. This devotion calls us to return love for love to console His Heart and make reparation for sin and indifference. Rooted in the revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Church invites us this month to deepen our trust in Jesus, especially through First Friday devotions, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, and acts of consecration. His words echo in our hearts: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Matthew 11:29).
The Sacred Heart shows us what true love looks like patient, humble, and self-giving. In a world often cold and restless, we find peace and healing in His Heart.
“Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You.”
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach us to love as You love. Fill our hearts with compassion, mercy, and a deep desire to follow You. Amen. 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: On this memorial of Saint Anthony of Padua, we lift our hearts to God in prayer. We ask for the grace to surrender our attachments and follow Christ with undivided hearts, seeking first the treasures of heaven. We pray for those who are lost spiritually, emotionally, or materially that through the intercession of Saint Anthony, they may find guidance, healing, and hope. We remember the poor, the hungry, and the forgotten, that they may be touched by God’s mercy through our acts of compassion. We ask God’s blessing upon expectant mothers, travelers, and those discerning their vocations, that they may walk in peace and safety. We pray for all who preach and teach the Gospel, that their words may bear fruit as Saint Anthony’s once did. We commend the sick, the suffering, and the dying into God’s loving care, and we ask for strength and unity within our families, our Church, and our communities. May all of us be salt of the earth and light for the world, faithful to the call of discipleship.
LET US PRAY
My Lord and true Friend, I thank You for loving me with a perfect love. I pray that I will always be open to that love so that my unity with You will ever deepen. I also pray that I will be an instrument of Your love to others. Please give me the grace to love everyone in my life in the way that You love them, nothing less and nothing more. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord God, You call us to let go of all that hinders us from fully following Your Son. Help us to trust You completely, to seek the things that are above, and to live as salt and light in this world. Through the intercession of Saint Anthony of Padua, teach us to hunger for Your Word, to love the poor and forgotten, and to live with simplicity and zeal. May our lives be a testimony of Your goodness. Strengthen our faith, inflame our hearts with charity, and make us bold in proclaiming Your truth. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Anthony ~ Pray for us🙏🏽
Thanking God for the precious gift of this new day, and as we now enter the gentle rhythm of Ordinary Time, may our hearts remain open to the quiet working of the Holy Spirit who continues to guide, renew, and strengthen us each day. May this weekend be filled with blessings, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ walks with us always. Alleluia! Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled start to Ordinary Time, and a peaceful and relaxingweekend🙏🏽
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 |
North Texas Catholic Magazine | Dr. Philomena Ikowe – Life on Purpose (pages 44-45) | https://www.flipsnack.com/A9DFE877C6F/north-texas-catholic-magazine-mar-apr-issue-2025/full-view.html