MEMORIAL OF SAINT SAMSON, BISHOP OF DOL; SAINTS NAZARIUS AND CELSUS, MARTYRS; SAINT VICTOR I, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT INNOCENT I, POPE; AND BLESSED FR. STANLEY ROTHER, PRIEST AND MARTYR |

MONDAY OF THE SEVENTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 28, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT SAMSON, BISHOP OF DOL; SAINTS NAZARIUS AND CELSUS, MARTYRS; SAINT VICTOR I, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT INNOCENT I, POPE; AND BLESSED FR. STANLEY ROTHER, PRIEST AND MARTYR | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Samson, Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Pope Saint Victor I, Pope Saint Innocent I, and Blessed Stanley Rother | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-july-28th/ )

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | July 28, 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-142/

Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

Today is Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time! We give thanks to God for the gift of life and the grace to see this month. During this month of July, may the Precious Blood of Jesus cover and protect us, heal our wounds, and strengthen our faith. We pray for all those celebrating their birthdays, anniversaries, new beginnings, and special moments in this month of July. May God’s blessings overflow in their lives. May this month bring peace to troubled hearts, direction to the lost, comfort to the grieving, and strength to the weary. In all things, may His will be done and His name be glorified. Amen🙏🏽

“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” ~ Matthew 5:4

We pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints” ~ Psalm 116:15

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 & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. Amen 🙏🏽

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we humbly pray for the well-being and safety of all grandparents and the elderly. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world today. We continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of our children and children all over the world. We pray for all those who are marginalized in our society, the poor and the needy. We pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, that they be sanctified in their ministry to God’s people. We pray for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world suffering from political and religious unrest. May God protect us all and keep united in peace, love and faith. Amen 🙏🏽

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 July.🙏🏽

LIST OF ALL NOVENAS | Month of July | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/list-of-all-novenas-july/

COMMON CATHOLIC PRAYERS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/common-catholic-prayers/

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

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time | July 28, 2025
Reading 1: Exodus 32:15–24, 30–34
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 106:19–20, 21–22, 23
Gospel: Matthew 13:31–35

Gospel Reading: Matthew 13:31–35

“The mustard seed becomes a large bush and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches”

“Jesus proposed a parable to the crowds. “The Kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed that a person took and sowed in a field. It is the smallest of all the seeds, yet when full-grown it is the largest of plants. It becomes a large bush, and the birds of the sky come and dwell in its branches.” He spoke to them another parable. “The Kingdom of heaven is like yeast that a woman took and mixed with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch was leavened.” All these things Jesus spoke to the crowds in parables. He spoke to them only in parables, to fulfill what had been said through the prophet:
I will open my mouth in parables, I will announce what has lain hidden from the foundation of the world.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus uses two brief but powerful parables to describe the mystery and growth of the Kingdom of God: the mustard seed and the yeast. In both parables in today’s Gospel reading, Jesus draws a contrast between the tiny beginnings and the large scale of the final result. The mustard seed is the smallest of the seeds but within a year it has grown into a shrub large enough to provide a place of shelter for birds to nest. A tiny piece of yeast can leaven a huge amount of flour, three measures, enough to feed a hundred people. The yeast is not only tiny but it is powerful. Though small, the yeast goes about its work silently and unobtrusively until the entire batch is leavened, produces a result out of proportion to its size. Both are small and hidden at first, seemingly insignificant, but they hold within them the capacity for astonishing transformation. So it is with God’s Kingdom: it often begins in quiet, unnoticeable ways in our hearts, in acts of love, in whispered prayers but it has the power to permeate and transform everything. The same could be said of the ministry of Jesus. He goes about His work as someone who is humble and gentle of heart, quietly and unobtrusively, and, yet, the final outcome of his work will be out of proportion to those humble beginnings. The same can be true of our own lives. The good work we do, quietly and unobtrusively, can bear fruit in a way that will surprise us. The Lord can work powerfully through our good efforts, even though they may seem of little significance to us. There is some good we can all do, no matter how small, that no one else can do, and that can make a difference for the better in the lives of others. Saint John Henry Newman wrote, ‘God has created me to do him some definite service. He has committed some work to me which He has not committed to another’. Regardless of where we are on our life’s journey, the Lord can work powerfully through even the smallest service we render to one another. According to the Gospels, Jesus had access to only a relatively small proportion of the people of Galilee itself. Even among those He had access to, He was already beginning to encounter opposition. Such beginnings could seem very unpromising. Yet, Jesus assures His disciples that such small beginnings will bring forth something wonderful that will leave huge numbers blessed, as we can all vouch for. The two parables also speak to our own small efforts to do what is right and good. Jesus is reminding us that if we allow the Lord to work through us in even the smallest of ways, we will be surprised at the great good that will come from such small beginnings. This teaching invites us to trust in the hidden and gradual work of God. Often, we grow impatient, discouraged by the world’s brokenness or our own slow progress. But the Lord calls us to plant seeds of faith, hope, and love even if they seem small and trust Him for the increase. His Spirit is always at work, quietly expanding His Kingdom in ways we may not immediately see.

In the first reading, we encounter the dramatic fall of the Israelites who, in Moses’ absence, craft a golden calf to worship. This heartbreaking scene reminds us how quickly we can forget God’s faithfulness when we feel abandoned or afraid. Moses, upon witnessing the idolatry, breaks the tablets of the covenant in sorrow and righteous anger. But then, in a beautiful act of intercession, he offers himself on behalf of the people: “If you will not forgive them, strike me out of Your book.” This foreshadows the sacrificial love of Christ, who offered Himself to atone for the sins of the world. It also speaks to the deep responsibility of spiritual leaders to stand in the gap for others, praying and laboring for their conversion.

Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, the psalm laments the people’s forgetfulness how they exchanged the glory of God for a lifeless idol. Yet, even then, God’s mercy breaks through: “Moses… withstood Him in the breach to turn back His destructive wrath.” This reminds us that God’s justice is never without mercy, and intercessory prayer can change the course of judgment.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, the readings challenge us to examine where we may have grown impatient with God’s timing or sought quick fixes instead of trusting His promises. Are we tempted, like the Israelites, to turn to substitutes for God when we feel distant from Him? Do we recognize and value the small, hidden ways the Kingdom is growing in our hearts, homes, and communities? Are we willing to intercede for others like Moses, standing in the gap with compassion and courage? Are we faithful in planting seeds of hope, even when we do not immediately see results? May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace to continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth.🙏🏽

Heavenly Father, we come before You today in humility and trust, aware of how easily we forget Your goodness and turn to lesser things when fear and impatience cloud our hearts. Like the Israelites, we confess the idols we’ve fashioned in moments of doubt. And like Moses, we ask for the grace to intercede for others with courage and mercy. Lord, may Your Kingdom grow within us quietly, steadily, like the mustard seed and the leaven until it fills every corner of our lives with love, justice, and peace. Strengthen all those who feel discouraged today. Remind us that even the smallest acts of faith are powerful in Your sight. We lift up our loved ones, our communities, and those most in need of Your mercy. May the Holy Spirit breathe new life into dry places and help us to become true witnesses of Your Kingdom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾

MEMORIAL OF SAINT SAMSON, BISHOP OF DOL; SAINTS NAZARIUS AND CELSUS, MARTYRS; SAINT VICTOR I, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT INNOCENT I, POPE; AND BLESSED FR. STANLEY ROTHER, PRIEST AND MARTYR | JULY 28TH | Today, the Church honors four holy men who served the Gospel with courage and devotion: Saint Samson of Dol (patron of Dol-de-Bretagne, against illness), a tireless missionary bishop and one of the founding saints of Brittany; Saints Nazarius and Celsus (patrons of those persecuted for the faith), youthful martyrs whose fearless witness in Milan inspired conversions; Pope Saint Victor I (patron of unity in the Church), the first African pope who upheld orthodoxy and promoted Latin in liturgy; Pope Saint Innocent I (patron of the Roman Church and defenders of doctrine), a firm leader during times of heresy and turmoil and Blessed Stanley Rother (honored as a patron saint of missionaries, and priests), the first U.S.-born priest and missionary martyred in Guatemala during a time of civil unrest. These saints show that holiness takes many forms whether preaching, suffering, guiding, or serving in quiet strength. Through their prayers and the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary, we entrust to God all who are sick, suffering, poor, or dying especially those battling cancer. We pray for peace in the world, unity in our families, strength for our priests, and hope for the persecuted. 🙏🏽

Saint (s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | July 28th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Samson, Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Pope Saint Victor I, and Pope Saint Innocent I| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-july-28th/ )

SAINT SAMSON OF DOL (C. 490–565): Born in Wales and raised in a monastic tradition, Samson embraced a life of intense prayer, fasting, and mission. He preached across Wales, Ireland, Cornwall, and Brittany, where he eventually founded the monastery and diocese of Dol. Known for his humility, healing miracles, and deep charity, Saint Samson is revered as one of the seven founding saints of Brittany. He reminds us that even quiet, consistent service in God’s name leaves a legacy of transformation.

PRAYER: God of all nations, through Saint Samson’s bold witness and missionary heart, You brought light to many lands. May we, too, spread Your love in every place You send us. Amen. 🙏🏾

SAINTS NAZARIUS AND CELSUS, MARTYRS (1st Century): Nazarius, baptized by Pope Linus, and young Celsus, whom he catechized, journeyed together preaching the Gospel. They endured persecution, torture, and were eventually martyred in Milan. Their relics, discovered by Saint Ambrose, were accompanied by miraculous signs, a testament to their sanctity. These martyrs show us that age does not define courage only love for Christ does.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus, who strengthened Nazarius and Celsus to preach and suffer together, inspire us with their fearless love and youthful faith. Amen. 🙏🏾

POPE SAINT VICTOR I (D. 199): As the first African pope, Victor led the Church with authority and clarity. He defended orthodoxy, helped prisoners of persecution, and unified Easter celebration practices across the Christian world. His leadership came at a time of growing heresies and external pressure, yet he held fast to truth.

PRAYER: Almighty Father, who guided Pope Victor to uphold unity and truth, grant our leaders wisdom and courage to shepherd Your Church with love and integrity. Amen. 🙏🏾

POPE SAINT INNOCENT I (378–417): A contemporary of St. Jerome and St. Augustine, Pope Innocent defended the primacy of the Holy See and stood firmly against Pelagianism. During the sack of Rome, he remained a spiritual anchor for the faithful. His correspondence shows pastoral wisdom and unwavering commitment to apostolic doctrine.

PRAYER: Lord, who entrusted Pope Innocent with the care of Your Church in turbulent times, grant that we may always remain rooted in sound teaching and faithful to the Gospel. Amen🙏🏾

BLESSED FR. STANLEY ROTHER, PRIEST AND MARTYR: Blessed Stanley Rother (March 27, 1935 – July 28, 1981) was an American Catholic Priest and Missionary from Oklahoma who had worked as a missionary priest in Guatemala since 1968 and was murdered in Guatemala in 1981. He was the First American born Martyr to be beatified by the Catholic Church, 

Born in 1935 in Oklahoma, USA, Stanley Rother was a diocesan priest who served as a missionary in Santiago Atitlán, Guatemala. Deeply devoted to the indigenous people, he translated the New Testament into their Tz’utujil language and supported their material and spiritual needs. Amid civil unrest and persecution, he remained with his flock despite threats to his life. On July 28, 1981, he was martyred in his rectory, having refused to abandon his people.

On September 23, 2017 during the reign of Late Pope Francis, Cardinal Angelo Amato, prefect of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints, celebrated the Rite of Beatification for Blessed Stanley Rother during a Beatification Mass in downtown Oklahoma City. Blessed Stanley is the first martyr born in the United States and the first U.S. priest to be beatified. His feast day is July 28th.

PRAYER: Blessed Stanley Rother, brave shepherd and humble servant of God, pray for all missionaries and priests working in danger. May we imitate your unwavering love and trust in Christ. Amen. 🙏🏾

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Samson, Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Pope Saint Victor I, Pope Saint Innocent I and Blessed Stanley Rother ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾

GENERAL PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/general-prayers-and-intentions/

Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/daily-reflections-and-prayer-links/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF JULY: For formation in discernment. Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.

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

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY | MONTH OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ a profound devotion that honors the redeeming power of Christ’s Blood shed for our salvation. Flowing from His Sacred Heart, this Blood is the price of our redemption, the source of grace in the sacraments, and the seal of the New Covenant. It reminds us that salvation was not won lightly, but through the ultimate sacrifice of love. This month, the Church invites us to meditate on the infinite value of Christ’s Blood poured out during His Passion from Gethsemane to Calvary and in every celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We are called to offer acts of reparation for the sins of the world and to intercede for the conversion of souls. Devotions such as the Litany of the Precious Blood, the Chaplet of the Precious Blood, and daily consecration to the Precious Blood help deepen our union with Christ crucified.

As Saint John Chrysostom once said, “The Precious Blood is the salvation of souls; it purifies, sanctifies, and strengthens.” In our trials, let us take refuge beneath the cross, trusting in the Blood that speaks of mercy, victory, and eternal life.

“Precious Blood of Jesus, save us and the whole world.”

O Most Precious Blood of Jesus, fountain of salvation, we adore You. Wash us clean of sin, protect us from evil, and draw us into deeper love and union with You. Amen. 🙏🏽

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: Through the intercession of Saint Samson of Dol, Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Pope Saint Victor I, and Pope Saint Innocent I, we lift up our hearts to the Lord, praying for boldness in proclaiming the Gospel and fidelity in moments of trial. May their courage inspire missionaries, Church leaders, and all the faithful to walk in truth and love. We pray for healing for the sick especially those suffering from chronic or terminal illnesses and comfort for the grieving. May those caught in spiritual confusion or moral compromise find mercy and clarity. We also pray for peace in nations divided by violence, and for the strengthening of family life in a world that often forgets God.

LET US PRAY

My transforming Lord, You desire to enter deeply into my life and to permeate all that I am. You desire to change me, little by little, making me into the person You want me to become. Please help me to be attentive to all that You desire to do in me and to patiently await the transformation that You have already begun. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

Lord God, just as a tiny mustard seed becomes a mighty tree and a little yeast leavens a whole batch of dough, may Your Word grow within us and transform our lives from the inside out. May we never exchange Your glory for the fleeting idols of this world, as the Israelites did, but return to You with humble hearts. Like Moses, give us the courage to intercede for others, and like the saints we honor today, help us to lead, suffer, or serve for the sake of Your kingdom. Strengthen our faith through their holy example, and grant us the grace to bear lasting fruit. Through Christ our Lord. Amen🙏🏾

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Samson, Saints Nazarius and Celsus, Pope Saint Victor I, Pope Saint Innocent I, and Blessed Stanley Rother ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽

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 new month 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 Monday and fruitful week🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

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

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Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | Global Missions 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