MEMORIAL OF SAINT RITA OF CASCIA, RELIGIOUS ~ MAY 22ND: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Rita of Cascia and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. We pray for all parents and all marriages, especially pray for those marriages going through challenges and spouses who are abused in their marriages, we pray for peace, love and harmony and God’s divine intervention.🙏🏽
SAINT RITA OF CASCIA, RELIGIOUS: St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457) an Italian widow and Augustinian nun venerated as a saint is referred to as, “a disciple of the Crucified One” and an “expert in suffering” by late Pope John Paul II. She is known in Spain as “La Santa de los impossibiles” (the saint of the impossible), St. Rita has become immensely popular throughout the centuries. She is invoked by people in all situations and stations of life, since she had embraced suffering with charity and wrongs with forgiveness in the many trials she experienced in her life: as a wife, widow, a mother surviving the death of her children, and a nun.
St. Rita of Cascia was born Margherita Lotti in 1381 at Spoleto, Italy during an era of violent strife between cities and warring family tribes. As a child she repeatedly requested to enter the convent, but instead her parents arranged her marriage to a rich, ill-tempered, and violent man. He became physically abusive, in anger he often mistreated his wife, yet she met his cruelty with kindness and patience. He taught their children his own evil ways. St. Rita tried to perform her duties faithfully and to pray and receive the Sacrament frequently. During her eighteen years of marriage she bore two sons whom she loved deeply. After many years of persistent prayer she eventually won her husband over to greater civility and kindness. After nearly twenty years of marriage, St. Rita’s husband was stabbed by an enemy but before he died he repented because St. Rita prayed for him. When he was murdered, her sons plotted a bloody vendetta against the culprits. St. Rita labored to guide her children into forgiveness, without success. She earnestly prayed that God would change her sons’ murderous intentions, or allow them to die rather than commit a mortal sin. God heard St. Rita’s prayers, and soon both of her sons became ill and died and St. Rita was alone in the world. Prayer, fasting, penances of many kinds, and good works filled her days. St. Rita was then free to join the convent, however, she was rejected due to her family’s connection with the local violence. She finally obtained entry only after much prayer, humility, patience, and perseverance. She asked the intercession of Sts. Augustine, Mary Magadalene and John the Baptist. St. Rita joined an Augustinian community of religious sisters at Cascia in Umbria, where she lived the last 40 years of her life and was known both for practicing mortification of the flesh and for the efficacy of her prayers and service to the people of Cascia. St. Rita’s life in the convent was marked by heroic charity and penance as she closely united herself and her life of deep suffering to Christ. In a life-long and terrible malady her patience, cheerfulness, and union by prayer with almighty God, never failed her. Sister Rita had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. “Please let me suffer like You, Divine Savior, “ she said one day while praying before the Crucifix and suddenly one of the thorns from the crucifix struck her on the forehead. She mystically received the mark of a thorn on her forehead (stigmata) from Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. It left a deep wound that did not heal and that caused her much suffering for the rest of her life. In the last 15 years of her life, the stigmata-like thorn wound that she received in answer to her prayers made her more profoundly conformed to the passion of the Lord Jesus. St. Rita was bedridden for the last four years of her life, consuming almost nothing except for the Eucharist.
St. Rita died of tuberculosis at the age of 70 on May 22, 1457. St. Rita was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on 24 May 1900. Her feast day is celebrated on May 22nd. At her canonization ceremony, she was bestowed the title of Patroness of “Impossible Causes” and hopeless circumstances because of her difficult and disappointing life. Through her trials God used her in remarkable ways. In many Catholic countries, St. Rita came to be known as the patroness of abused wives and heartbroken women. Her incorrupt body remains in the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia. Various miracles are attributed to her intercession, and she is often portrayed with a bleeding wound on her forehead, which is understood to indicate the partial stigmata. She’s the Patron Saint of Lost, impossible causes and hopeless circumstances, sickness, wounds, sterility, abuse victims, loneliness, marital problems, abuse, widows, mothers, difficult marriages, parenthood, the sick, bodily ills and wounds.
On the 100th anniversary of her canonization in 2000, Pope John Paul II noted her remarkable qualities as a Christian woman: “Rita interpreted well the ‘feminine genius’ by living it intensely in both physical and spiritual motherhood.”
PRAYER: Father in heaven, You granted to St. Rita a share in the Passion of Your Son. Give us courage and strength in time of trial, so that by our patient endurance we may enter more deeply into the Paschal Mystery of Your Son. Amen🙏🏽
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | May 21, 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-78/
Greetings and blessings, dear beloved family. Happy Wednesday of Fifth Week of Easter!
May this 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 🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
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 rejoicing in the light of the Resurrection, the Church today commemorates two powerful witnesses to the Gospel Saint Christopher Magallanes (Patron of persecuted Christians, Mexico) and his Companions, Martyrs, who shed their blood for Christ in 20th-century Mexico, and Saint Eugene de Mazenod (Patron of dysfunctional families), a bishop whose heart burned with zeal for the salvation of souls and the restoration of broken families. These holy men of God, though separated by time and place, each responded heroically to the call of the Gospel amid fierce opposition, leaving behind a legacy of faith, courage, and sacrificial love. We implore their heavenly intercession through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the needs of the world and our families today. May their example inspire us to remain steadfast in faith. We pray especially for peace, unity, and reconciliation in broken families, for the poor and vulnerable, for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and for persecuted Christians across the globe. May all seminarians preparing for ordination be filled with the spirit of fidelity and service. Amen.🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday of the Fifth Week of Easter | May 21, 2025 Reading 1: Acts 15:1–6 Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122:1–2, 3–4ab, 4cd–5 Gospel: John 15:1–8
Gospel Reading ~ John 15:1-8
“Remain in me, as I remain in you; Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit”
“Jesus said to his disciples: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower. He takes away every branch in me that does not bear fruit, and everyone that does he prunes so that it bears more fruit. You are already pruned because of the word that I spoke to you. Remain in me, as I remain in you. Just as a branch cannot bear fruit on its own unless it remains on the vine, so neither can you unless you remain in me. I am the vine, you are the branches. Whoever remains in me and I in him will bear much fruit, because without me you can do nothing. Anyone who does not remain in me will be thrown out like a branch and wither; people will gather them and throw them into a fire and they will be burned. If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask for whatever you want and it will be done for you. By this is my Father glorified, that you bear much fruit and become my disciples.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks frequently about the importance of the disciples bearing fruit. From what Jesus goes on to say, it is clear that the fruit Jesus is referring to is the fruit of love, a life of love that reflects Jesus’ love for his disciples, for all of us, and for humanity. Jesus makes clear in our Gospel reading that such a life of love flows from our communion with Him, just as fruit on the branches of a vine are due to the branches being in communion with the vine. If the branches are separated from the vine, the fruit will wither. In the same way, Jesus says, ‘cut off from me you can do nothing’. Jesus stresses the importance of a certain way of life, a life of love, but he suggests that even more important is our communion with him and his with us. His primary call is not to bear the fruit of love but to make our home in him, as he makes His home in us. In becoming flesh, Jesus made Himself at home with us; He looks to us to make ourselves at home with Him. As He has cultivated His communion with us, we are to cultivate our communion with Him. It is this intimate relationship with the Lord that empowers our lives to bear the fruit of love. It is only in and through our communion with the Lord that we can come to love one another as He has loved us, and it is such a way of life that gives glory to God the Father.
Reflecting further on today’s Gospel, Jesus uses the beautiful imagery of the vine and the branches to reveal the intimate relationship He desires with each of us. He declares Himself the true vine our source of life, strength, and fruitfulness and reminds us that apart from Him, we can do nothing. This passage invites us to remain in Him, to stay connected not occasionally or when convenient, but constantly. Just as a branch separated from the vine withers and dies, so too does our spiritual life fade when we detach ourselves from Christ. The pruning mentioned may sound painful, but it speaks to God’s loving discipline the way He shapes us, removes what hinders our growth, and calls us to deeper conversion. Pruning is not rejection; it is refinement. The trials and challenges we face are often God’s way of purifying us so we may bear more fruit. To remain in Christ means to stay rooted in His Word, nourished by the sacraments, and sustained by prayer. It means choosing faithfulness over comfort, obedience over independence, and love over fear. Jesus assures us that those who remain in Him will bear “much fruit.” These fruits charity, peace, patience, kindness, and all the fruits of the Holy Spirit are not the result of mere effort, but of divine communion. The goal is not just survival, but transformation. Our lives are meant to glorify the Father by reflecting the life of His Son, Jesus. When His words dwell in us, our prayers align with His will, and our lives become a testimony to His goodness.
In the First Reading from Acts, we see the early Church wrestling with matters of doctrine and unity. Some believers from the Pharisaic tradition insisted that Gentile converts must be circumcised according to Mosaic law to be saved. Paul and Barnabas engage in “no little dissension” over this, highlighting that salvation is through grace, not external rituals. Their journey to Jerusalem to consult with the Apostles underscores the importance of Church authority, dialogue, and discernment in resolving disputes. This episode is a reminder that confusion and conflict can arise even among believers, but the Holy Spirit guides the Church through prayerful dialogue and communal discernment. The joy shared as they passed through Phoenicia and Samaria, testifying to the conversion of the Gentiles, shows how God’s grace surpasses human boundaries. It affirms that the Church must always welcome all peoples and seek unity not in uniformity of culture, but in the shared experience of Christ’s transforming love.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord,” echoes the joy and unity of the pilgrim Church. Jerusalem, the city of peace, is a symbol of our eternal destination and the unity we seek as one people of God. The Psalm reminds us that worship is not just a personal act, but a communal one tribes going up together, giving thanks, and sitting in the judgment seats of David. It draws us back to the vine-and-branches imagery: though we are many, we are connected to one source, and we thrive when we journey together in faith.
Am I truly remaining in Christ, or am I trying to live by my own strength? What areas of my life need to be pruned so that I can bear more spiritual fruit? How open am I to God’s discipline and refinement? Do I help others stay connected to Christ by my words and actions? How can I be a source of unity, encouragement, and joy in my faith community? Let us remain in Christ today intentionally, prayerfully, joyfully. Our fruitfulness does not lie in our talents or our efforts, but in our communion with Him. In every challenge, let us allow the Lord to prune and shape us for greater love. Like the early Church, let us journey together in faith, celebrate God’s work in every soul, and proclaim the Gospel that saves not by the law but by grace. May our lives bear much fruit to the glory of God.Amen🙏🏽
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded that all of us as Christians, as the disciples and followers of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, we are all part of the same Body of Christ, the Church, and as such we are also called to remain true and faithful to the ways and teachings of the Lord, so that we do not end up separating ourselves from the true path of the Lord. We are reminded that ultimately all of us must always be focused and centred on God, and not on our man-made rules and laws. And whatever rules and laws we have should be attuned harmoniously with the Law of God, so that in our way forward in life we will always be truly truly committed to God and not be distracted into the wrong path. All of us should continue to focus ourselves on what is important, that is our faith and trust in the Lord, and not to be tempted by worldly glory and ambitions, or be divided by our pursuits and ideals in life, or be fractured by our disagreements and conflicts. This is because none of these will last forever, no matter how much worldly power we accumulate, and our ideologies and superficial divisions do not elevate our faith and magnify the Lord, but instead bring about rupture in the unity of the Lord’s Body, the Church, a serious sin that we commit in His Presence that we will have to account for. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and let us all continue to be inspired by the humility and dedication of the Joly Men and Women, and Saints, particularly the ones we celebrate today, Holy Martyrs of Mexico, St. Christopher Magallanes and Companions, that we may ever be more faithful in following God, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, You are the true vine and the source of all life. Keep me rooted in You, especially when I am tempted to drift or rely on my own strength. Prune my heart of all that hinders my growth in holiness. Help me to bear fruit that glorifies the Father fruit that blesses others and reflects Your love. May Your Word remain in me, and may I be a living branch that brings joy and unity to Your Church. Amen. 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS; AND SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 21ST: Still rejoicing in the light of the Resurrection, the Church today commemorates two powerful witnesses to the Gospel Saint Christopher Magallanes (Patron of persecuted Christians, Mexico) and his Companions, Martyrs, who shed their blood for Christ in 20th-century Mexico, and Saint Eugene de Mazenod (Patron of dysfunctional families), a bishop whose heart burned with zeal for the salvation of souls and the restoration of broken families. These holy men of God, though separated by time and place, each responded heroically to the call of the Gospel amid fierce opposition, leaving behind a legacy of faith, courage, and sacrificial love.
We implore their heavenly intercession through the Immaculate Heart of Mary, for the needs of the world and our families today. May their example inspire us to remain steadfast in faith. We pray especially for peace, unity, and reconciliation in broken families, for the poor and vulnerable, for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, and for persecuted Christians across the globe. May all seminarians preparing for ordination be filled with the spirit of fidelity and service. Amen 🙏🏽
SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS: “¡Viva Cristo Rey y la Virgen de Guadalupe!” (“Long live Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe!”) these defiant last words became the rallying cry of the Cristero Martyrs, heroes of faith who resisted the brutal anti-Catholic persecution in Mexico during the early 20th century. Among them was Saint Christopher Magallanes, a devoted priest who, along with 21 other priests and three laymen, chose martyrdom over apostasy during one of the most violent waves of religious suppression in modern history.
After the Mexican Revolution of 1911, the new regime sought to strip the Church of her power and influence. Laws were passed banning the celebration of Mass in many areas, expelling foreign missionaries, and persecuting clergy. Catholic schools and seminaries were shuttered, bishops were replaced with schismatic figures, and faithful priests like Christopher Magallanes were hunted as criminals. In response, the Catholic Action Movement emerged, striving to preserve the faith under great personal risk. St. Christopher, undeterred, secretly ministered to his people, founded a clandestine seminary in Totatiche, and fearlessly preached the Gospel. Arrested during the presidency of Plutarco Calles, he died forgiving his persecutors, proclaiming, “I am innocent, and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serve the peace of our divided Mexico.”
From 1915 to 1937, these martyrs were executed by firing squads or hanging in eight Mexican states, most notably in Jalisco and Zacatecas. Though their deaths were scattered by time and place, their unity in Christ and fearless defense of the Faith bind them forever. They were beatified by Pope St. John Paul II on November 22, 1992, and canonized on May 21, 2000. Their feast stands as a timeless reminder that no government, ideology, or threat can suppress the Church when Christ the King reigns in the hearts of His faithful.
PRAYER: Almighty and Eternal God, You filled Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions with unwavering courage in the face of persecution. By their prayers, strengthen us to remain faithful in trials, to forgive those who harm us, and to proclaim Christ as King with love and truth. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP (1782–1861): Born into French nobility, Saint Eugene lived a life marked by hardship, resilience, and a burning love for Christ. As a child, he fled with his family to Italy during the French Revolution. Stripped of status and wealth, the de Mazenods became refugees. Amidst this poverty and instability, a compassionate priest introduced young Eugene to the riches of the Catholic faith.
Returning to a post-revolutionary France at age 20, Eugene found not only his homeland changed but his family torn apart. His parents divorced—an unusual and painful occurrence at the time. Pressured to marry a wealthy heiress, Eugene instead discerned a deeper call. Moved by the devastation he saw in the Church and among the poor, he entered the seminary. Ordained in 1811, he soon gathered like-minded priests to form the “Missionaries of Provence,” later approved by the Pope as the Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI) in 1815. Their mission: to evangelize the poorest and most abandoned souls. Under his leadership, the Oblates spread rapidly across France and beyond, reaching Africa, the Americas, and Asia.
As Bishop of Marseille, Eugene revitalized a wounded diocese—rebuilding churches, inviting religious communities, and doubling the clergy. He defended the rights of the Church and the dignity of all, especially the poor and broken families, drawing from his own painful past. His last words captured his enduring love for Christ:
“I wish I could pass my life at the foot of the holy tabernacles in which our adorable Saviour dwells.”
Saint Eugene was beatified by Pope Paul VI in 1975 and canonized by Pope John Paul II on December 3, 1995. He remains a beacon of hope for those navigating family wounds and a model of apostolic zeal.
PRAYER: God our Father, by the fire of the Holy Spirit, You raised up Saint Eugene de Mazenod to bring Christ’s healing love to the poor and to wounded families. Through his prayers, grant peace in every home divided by strife. May his example inspire us to see Jesus in others and to proclaim the Gospel with boldness and compassion. Amen. 🙏🏽
Oblate Novena for Vocations
The Oblate Novena for Vocations is a special nine-day period of prayer, observed particularly around May 21, the feast of St. Eugene de Mazenod, founder of the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate (OMI). This novena seeks to encourage vocations to the religious life and priesthood, especially within the Oblate family. Each day focuses on themes close to St. Eugene’s heart: zeal for souls, compassion for the poor, and unwavering love for the Church. The novena invites the faithful to pray that more men will respond generously to God’s call to serve the most abandoned and to proclaim the Gospel as Missionary Oblates. It is also a time for all of us to renew our own missionary commitment, wherever we are.
Oblate Prayer for Vocations
Loving and generous God, It is You who call us by name and ask us to follow You. Help us to grow in the love and service of our Church as we experience it today. Give us the energy and courage of Your Spirit to shape its future. Grant us faith-filled leaders who will embrace Christ’s mission of love and justice. Bless the Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate. May they continue to respond with generosity and perseverance to the call of the Gospel. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen 🙏🏽
Mary Immaculate, pray for us.🙏🏽 St. Eugene de Mazenod, pray for us.🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Christopher Magallanes, & Companions and Saint Eugene de Mazenod ~ 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 🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we honor Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions, who laid down their lives for the faith, and Saint Eugene de Mazenod, whose missionary heart burned for the salvation of souls, we pray for the Church to remain united in truth and charity, especially amid internal challenges. We remember all persecuted Christians and ask for their strength and protection. We pray for healing in broken families, for peace in places torn by violence, and for a deepened commitment to justice and reconciliation. May vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life flourish, and may all seminarians be formed in fidelity and service. As we strive to abide in Christ, the True Vine, may our lives bear lasting fruit in love and holiness.
LET US PRAY
Jesus the Vine, You are the source of all goodness, and, without You, I can do nothing. Help me to always remember how deeply I need You in my life and help me to cling to You always. Please bring forth an abundance of good fruit in my life and, through me, into the world. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
O God, who are the source of all unity and peace, You raised up holy martyrs like Saint Christopher Magallanes and his Companions to bear fearless witness to Your Son, and bishops like Saint Eugene de Mazenod to shepherd the wounded and proclaim Your love to the poor. May their intercession strengthen us to remain in You, O Christ, the True Vine, so that our lives may bear abundant fruit. Purify our hearts, heal our divisions, and deepen our love for You and for one another. Grant that, like the saints we honor today, we may persevere in faith and be found faithful at the harvest. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.🙏🏽
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Christopher Magallanes and Saint Eugene de Mazenod ~ 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 Wednesday 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 Wednesday and joyful Fifth Week of Easter!🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS AND SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 21ST – Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest and Martyr and Companions, Martyrs and Saint Eugene de Mazenod. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. May they rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ 🙏🏽 We pray for all families, particularly pray for dysfunctional families, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world and for the poor and needy. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially for all Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. We continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world🙏🏽
SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS: “Long live Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe!” This was the slogan of the “Cristero” uprising in the 1920’s against the anti-Catholic government of Mexico which had instituted and enforced laws against the Church in an absurd attempt to eradicate the Catholic faith in Mexico, even going so far as to ban all foreign clergy and the celebration of Mass in some regions. Beginning in 1911, Mexico underwent a revolution, which brought to power a government that was, to say the least, strongly anticlerical. As a result, this event inaugurated a bitter struggle between the civil authorities and the Catholic Church, which had aided the people of Mexico from the 16th century. The authorities wanted to impose a Mexican Church on the country, replacing Catholic Bishops with schismatic prelates. To attain that goal, they mounted a full-sale campaign of terror against the Church. The government expelled foreign missionaries and closed schools and seminaries. Eventually even churches were closed, priest became hunted men, and Catholics were warned to renounce the Church and Christian worship.
This persecution gave rise to the growth of the Catholic Action Movement, which fought against the government’s repression. Over the period from 1915 to 1937 its members like Christopher Magallanes and twenty-four companions chose to die rather than give up their faith, like Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, S.J. (November 23). These Martyrs included twenty-two priests and three laymen: Manuel, David, and Salvador who died with their parish priest, Luis Batis. St. Christopher Magallanes erected a seminary in Totatiche and he and his companions secretly preached and ministered to the faithful during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-1928). The last words heard spoken by St. Christopher Magallanes were from his cell, when he shouted, “I am innocent and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serve the peace of our divided Mexico”. These Martyrs died because of their membership in the Cristero movement in different places and at different times by shooting or hanging, throughout eight Mexican states, with Jalisco and Zacatecas having the largest number. Fifteen of the Martyrs were slain in Jalisco, four in Zacatecas, and one each in Chihuahua, and Morelos. All endured torture before their deaths, most of which occurred by firing squads. What bound them together was their championing of the Faith in the face of death. These great warriors of God, the Cristero Martyrs were beatified on November 22, 1992, by Pope John Paul II and canonized on May 21, 2000, by the same Pontiff.
PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, You kept St. Christopher and his Companions faithful to Christ the King even to undergoing martyrdom. Through their intercession grant that we may persevere in professing the true Faith and always heed the commands of Your love. Amen🙏🏽
SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP: St. Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861), a French aristocrat and Bishop was born Charles-Joseph-Eugène de Mazenod on August 1, 1782, Aix-en-Provence, France, in southern France to a noble family. When he was eight years of age his family was forced to flee the turmoil of the French Revolution and seek political asylum in Italy. Leaving their possessions behind, as refugees in Italy, they were poor and the family struggled financially as they relocated from city to city. A sympathetic priest took it upon himself to educate Eugene and stir in him a love for God. The family returned to France when Eugene was twenty. They were distressed to find a dramatically altered society, and their social status no greater than ordinary citizens. The family was also plagued with in-fighting which culminated in divorce, a rarity at the time. While Eugene’s father remained in Italy, Eugene’s mother fought to regain the family’s former possessions. She also attempted to force Eugene to marry a wealthy heiress. St. Eugene, deeply affected by how the Revolution had decimated the Church in France, decided to enter the seminary instead. After his ordination he sought out other zealous priests and together they went as missionaries into the countryside villages, calling themselves the “Missionaries of Provence,” which was later approved by the pope as the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate.” The Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded by St. Eugene de Mazenod in 1815 was to evangelize the poorest populations of Provence that were being neglected. He then sent his missionaries to proclaim the Gospel in America, South Africa and Asia.
St. Eugene was later appointed Vicar General of Marseilles and, in 1836, Bishop of this same diocese. He did much work in restoring his diocese by building and repairing churches, doubling the number of priests, and bringing in religious communities. In his city, rapidly developing at the time, he created numerous parishes, built new churches and installed new Religious Institutes. — Cardinal Bernard Gantin. He also worked to weaken the government’s monopoly on education, and supported the rights of the Holy See. Until his death on May 21, 1861 at Marseille, France, he was at the service of his people with an extraordinary pastoral charity, nourished by an intense interior life. St. Eugene de Mazenod was Beatified on October 19, 1975 & April 19, 1976, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Paul VI and Canonized on December 3, 1995 & June 3,1996, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II. St. Eugene de Mazenod is the Patron Saint of dysfunctional families. His feast day is May 21st.
“I wish I could pass my life at the foot of the holy tabernacles in which our adorable Saviour dwells.” ~ Saint Eugene de Mazenod
NOVENA TO SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD [The Novena is to be prayed on 9 consecutive days.]
PRAYER TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL FAVOR
God our Father, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, you called St. Eugene de Mazenod to gather priests and brothers as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to announce the Gospel especially among the poor and neglected. May we ourselves be inflamed with his zeal for announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Savior and receive through his intercession the special graces of vocations to the Oblate way of life, and for those we ask for at this time. [Mention your intention(s) here and Say 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary and 1Glory Be] Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏🏽
NOVENA PRAYERS TO SAINT EUGENE
St. Eugene, Patron Saint of Dysfunctional Families, come to the aid of all families who suffer brokenness, misunderstanding, separation or divorce. You know well these difficulties and trials because of the separation and divorce of your own parents. May all who suffer these family hard-ships seek your intercession to discern more clearly how the Light of Jesus Christ can help them in the midst of their darkness and despair. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen🙏🏽
God our Father, we thank you for having called Saint Eugene de Mazenod to follow Christ the Savior and Evangelizer. Through his intercession help us to reach out with the healing touch of Christ who calls us to holiness and to Mission. May we be build communities which are signs of your presence, and share the Good News of salvation with all peoples. For this we dedicate ourselves, through Christ our Lord.
Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Share with us your love for Christ. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Help us to stand firm in goodness. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Be with us in all our efforts. Amen🙏🏽 [Say 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary and1 Glory Be]
Saint Eugene, By your example, touch me to see Jesus in others, to help those in need, and to have the courage to do God’s will. I ask you to intercede on my behalf for a special need. May God, through your intercession, guide me to accept the difficulties in my life and to work toward a happy and healthy solution. May I accept God’s will in my life with strength and love. I ask this through His Son Jesus Christ. Amen🙏🏽
God our Father, you filled Eugene de Mazenod, your bishop, with apostolic virtue in the evangelization of the people. Fill our hearts with the same fervor that we may dedicate ourselves to the service of the Church and the salvation of all. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen🙏🏽
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | May 20, 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-77/
Greetings and blessings, dear beloved family. Happy Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter!
May this 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 🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
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, 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 rejoicing in the light of the Resurrection, the Church honors today Saint Bernardine of Siena (Patron of advertisers, public relations personnel, gamblers, and those suffering from respiratory ailments), a fiery Franciscan missionary whose preaching revived the Catholic faith across 15th-century Italy. Through the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Bernardine of Siena, we pray today for all suffering from terminal illnesses especially those battling respiratory diseases and cancer. We also lift up in prayer the poor and the needy, those struggling with gambling addictions, and all who work in advertising, communication, evangelization, and public relations. May the Holy Spirit empower them to proclaim the truth with love, integrity, and wisdom.
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 🙏🏽
Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter | May 20, 2025 Reading 1, Acts 14:19-28 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 145:10-11, 12-13, 21 Gospel, John 14:27-31a
Gospel Reading ~ John 14:27–31a
“My peace I give to you”
“Jesus said to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus promises the gift of peace to His followers. He immediately goes on to contrast the peace He gives with the peace the world gives. In the time Jesus lived and in the time John’s Gospel was written, the Pax Romana, the Roman peace, was being heralded and praised throughout the empire. This peace that Rome brought was the fruit of conquest and oppression. This peace which the world of the time gave is not the peace that Jesus gives. The Lord’s peace is not the fruit of conquest, but is what Paul would call the fruit of the Spirit. It is the peace which comes to those whose lives are led by the Spirit and shaped by the Spirit. The primary fruit of the Spirit is love. Love and peace are dimensions of the one fruit of the Spirit. When we love with the Lord’s love then we will know His peace and we will become channels of that peace to others.
Reflecting further on today’s Gospel, Jesus offers a parting gift to His disciples a gift only He can give: peace. But this peace is not like the world’s fleeting peace; it is the deep, abiding peace that springs from trust in God and the certainty of His promises. As Jesus prepares to enter His Passion, He is not shaken. His words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid,” are not empty comfort they are rooted in divine truth. He knows the darkness that is coming, and yet, He remains steadfast, grounded in His love for the Father and His mission of redemption. The peace He gives is not the absence of suffering, but the assurance of God’s presence within it. This peace empowers us to stand firm, even when the world shakes around us. The Gospel also reminds us that Jesus’ departure His Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension is not a loss but a victory. He says, “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father.” This heavenly perspective calls us to look beyond our own fears and pain, and to see with the eyes of faith. Jesus is fulfilling the Father’s will, and in doing so, He is glorified. His obedience, even unto death, reveals the depth of His love. In a world where peace is often superficial and conditional, Jesus offers a peace rooted in divine love and truth a peace that no ruler, no hardship, no fear can take away.
In the First Reading, we witness the resilience and unwavering faith of St. Paul. After being stoned and left for dead, he rises and continues to preach the Gospel with Barnabas. Their journey is not one of comfort or success by worldly standards, but one of perseverance and bold witness. They proclaim, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” This is not meant to discourage us, but to prepare us to remind us that discipleship involves courage, endurance, and trust. Paul and Barnabas also build up the local communities, appointing leaders and entrusting them to the Lord with prayer and fasting. They show us that the Church grows not just through individual effort, but through communal faithfulness and divine grace.
Their return to Antioch is marked by celebration not of their own achievements, but of what God had done through them: “He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” This line is striking. It reminds us that every conversion, every step of faith, is ultimately the work of God’s grace. Our role is to be faithful instruments speaking, witnessing, encouraging but always remembering that it is God who opens hearts and doors. The mission of the Church, like that of Paul and Barnabas, is to proclaim the Gospel boldly, suffer courageously, and rejoice in what God is doing in every soul He touches.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm today—Psalm 145—is a hymn of thanksgiving that lifts our eyes to the majesty of God’s kingdom. “Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.” The psalm reflects the universality and timelessness of God’s reign: “Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.” This connects powerfully with the first reading, where Paul and Barnabas bring the Gospel to new peoples and new lands. It reminds us that the kingdom of God transcends cultures, languages, and generations. It is a kingdom built not by force, but by love, service, and truth. The psalmist’s prayer, “May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord,” also echoes Jesus’ command to witness to His love in the world. Every word of praise, every act of mercy, every step in faith contributes to making God’s kingdom more visible on earth. In our families, communities, parishes, and even in the quiet of our hearts, we are called to be heralds of this kingdom living witnesses of a peace and love that the world cannot give.
Am I open to receiving the peace that only Christ can give, especially in moments of fear and uncertainty? In what ways do I try to control outcomes rather than trust in the will of the Father? Do I listen to Jesus’ words and allow them to strengthen my faith when trials arise? How can I be a bearer of Christ’s peace to others in my family, workplace, or community? Like Paul and Barnabas, do I encourage others in faith, even through personal hardships?
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are remunded that peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ in our lives. We are not promised ease, but we are assured of grace, guidance, and the companionship of the Risen Lord. Like the early disciples, we too must walk through trials and proclaim the Gospel with perseverance. Christ’s peace is the armor we wear and His love is the mission we carry. Let us choose today to trust more deeply, love more sacrificially, and encourage others with the peace we ourselves have received. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace and let our lives be living signs that God is truly among us. Amen. 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, You offer us a peace the world cannot give deep, lasting, and rooted in trust in the Father. Calm our troubled hearts and free us from fear. Strengthen us to follow You with courage, even when we face hardships. Teach us to love as You have loved, to speak peace where there is conflict, and to bring hope to the discouraged. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may persevere with joy and draw others to Your kingdom through lives of faithful witness. Amen🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 20TH: Still rejoicing in the light of the Resurrection, the Church honors today Saint Bernardine of Siena (Patron of advertisers, public relations personnel, gamblers, and those suffering from respiratory ailments), a fiery Franciscan missionary whose preaching revived the Catholic faith across 15th-century Italy. Through the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Bernardine of Siena, we pray today for all suffering from terminal illnesses especially those battling respiratory diseases and cancer. We also lift up in prayer the poor and the needy, those struggling with gambling addictions, and all who work in advertising, communication, evangelization, and public relations. May the Holy Spirit empower them to proclaim the truth with love, integrity, and wisdom.
SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST: Born in 1380 in Siena, Italy, to a noble family, Bernardine Albizeschi was orphaned early and raised by his devout aunt, Diana. Even as a child, Bernardine showed a deep compassion for the poor and a fervent love for God. By the age of 17, he had embraced fasting and voluntary poverty. During a devastating plague in 1400, he and twelve companions took over the care of the sick in a Siena hospital, risking their lives to serve others. Though the plague did not affect him, the exhaustion left him bedridden for months.
After recovering, Bernardine discerned a call to religious life and joined the Franciscan Order of Strict Observance in 1403. Embracing a life of radical poverty, penance, and prayer, he later became a powerful preacher, moving crowds across Italy with his fiery sermons on conversion, justice, and the mercy of God. Often likened to Saint Paul, Bernardine rekindled the faith of entire cities. His eloquence and holiness drew tens of thousands to public squares, and his words transformed hearts and reconciled enemies.
Saint Bernardine was especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. He promoted reverence for the sacred name and designed the symbol IHS (the first three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek) encircled by rays of light a symbol still used today. Despite facing accusations of heresy, which Pope Martin V disproved, he continued preaching fearlessly. He declined three offers to become a bishop, choosing instead to fulfill his missionary calling.
In 1438, he was elected Vicar General of the Franciscans and revitalized the Order. His health declined in 1444 while preaching in Aquila, Italy. He died on Ascension Eve, May 20, 1444, as his fellow friars chanted, “Father, I have manifested Your Name to men.” He was canonized just six years later in 1450. At the time of his death, the once small group of friars had grown to over 4,000. Saint Bernardine remains a radiant example of fearless evangelization, passionate love for Christ, and total dedication to the Church.
“Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand.” — Saint Bernardine of Siena
PRAYER: Saint Bernardine of Siena, holy preacher of Christ’s name, we ask your intercession today. Pray for all who suffer from respiratory illnesses and terminal diseases. May they find healing and hope in the love of Jesus. Intercede for evangelists, communicators, and all who proclaim God’s Word in public life. May they speak with clarity, truth, and charity. Help us, like you, to seek first the Kingdom of God, to love the poor, and to glorify the name of Jesus in all that we do. Amen. 🙏🏽
O God, who gave the Priest Saint Bernardine a great love for the holy Name of Jesus, grant, through his merits and prayers, that we may be ever aflame with the spirit of Your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Bernardine ~ 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 🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
PRAYER INTENTIONS: Let us pray for the grace to be courageous witnesses of Christ in a world often marked by fear, doubt, and confusion. May we, like Saint Bernardine of Siena, boldly proclaim the name of Jesus in our words and actions. We pray for evangelists, missionaries, and all who spread the Gospel that they may be strengthened by the peace Christ gives, not as the world gives. May the troubled and anxious find comfort in the words of today’s Gospel: “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” We also pray for those rebuilding their lives after hardship, just as Paul and Barnabas encouraged the early Christians to persevere through trials. May God renew their strength and bless their journey.
LET US PRAY
My Lord of true peace, You and Your holy will are the only path to the deepest fulfillment of all of my desires in life. When I make poor choices that lead to disorder and confusion, help me to turn to You with all my heart. Please unmask any deception I struggle with and give me the strength I need to seek You and Your peace alone. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
O God of peace and truth, You sent Your Son to calm our fears and fill us with lasting peace. Grant us hearts that do not waver in the face of trouble, and minds fixed on Your promises. Through the example of Saint Bernardine, may we speak Your name with reverence and spread Your light with joy. Kindle in us a missionary spirit, like Paul and Barnabas, to strengthen others in faith. Let our lives echo Your goodness, and our days be marked by trust in Your providence.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest ~ 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 Tuesday 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 Tuesday and joyful Fifth Week of Easter!🙏🏽
SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST, FEAST DAY ~ MAY 20TH: Today we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Bernardine of Siena. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Bernardine of Siena on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from respiratory diseases, cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the poor and the needy all over the world, for gamblers, for advertisers, those in public relations, Evangelists and all those who proclaim the good news of our Lord. 🙏🏽
SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST: St. Bernardine (1380–1444) is known as “the Apostle of Italy” for his efforts to revive the country’s Catholic faith during the 15th century. Born Bernardine Albizeschi in 1380 to upper-class parents in the Italian republic of Siena. Misfortune soon entered the boy’s life when he lost his mother at age three and his father four years later. His aunt Diana cared for him afterward, and taught him to seek consolation and security by trusting in God. Even at a young age, Bernardine demonstrated a remarkable concern for the poor as an outgrowth of his love for God. Having become accustomed to fasting, he preferred at times to go without any food in order to help someone in greater need. From the ages of 11 to 17 he focused on his studies, developing the eloquence and dedication that would serve his future work as an evangelist. Before becoming a preacher, however, Bernardine spent several years ministering to the sick and dying. He enrolled in a religious association that served at a hospital in the town of Scala, and applied himself to this work from 1397 to 1400. During that time, a severe plague broke out in Siena, causing a crisis that would eventually lead to the young man taking charge of the entire hospital. Inside its walls, up to 20 people were dying each day from an illness that also killed many of the hospital workers. The staff was decimated and new victims were coming in constantly. St. Bernardine persuaded 12 young men to help him continue the work of the hospital, which he took over for a period of four months. Although the plague did not infect him, the exhausting work left him weak and he contracted a different sickness that kept him in bed for 4 months After recovering, he spent over a year caring for his aunt Bartholomaea before her death.
Then the 22-year-old St. Bernardine moved to a small house outside the city, where he began to discern God’s will for his future spending much time praying and fasting to know God’s will for his life. He discerned a call to Holy Orders and the religious life, and eventually chose to join the Franciscans of the Strict Observance in 1403 at the age of 22, embracing an austere life focused on poverty and humility. During this time, while praying before a crucifix, Bernardine heard Christ say to him: “My son, behold me hanging upon a cross. If you love me, or desire to imitate me, be also fastened naked to your cross and follow me. Thus you will assuredly find me.” After Bernardine was ordained a priest, his superiors commissioned him to preach as a missionary to the Italians who were falling away from their Catholic faith. The Dominican evangelist St. Vincent Ferrer, just before leaving Italy, preached a sermon in which he predicted that one of his listeners would continue his work among the Italians – a prophecy St. Bernardine heard in person, and went on to fulfill. He lived in solitude for over a decade before being sent to preach in the streets, which he did with incredible skill, so much so that he became the most renowned preacher of his day. He traveled on foot to strife-torn cities, attacking sin and paganism and encouraging all to a life of faith and virtue. Huge crowds numbering in the tens of thousands would come to hear him preach in the public square. His fame and effectiveness as a preacher caused the pope to compare him to St. Paul the Apostle. St. Bernardine’s personal devotion to God, which amazed even the strict Franciscans, made his preaching extremely effective. He moved his hearers to abandon their vices, turn back to God, and make peace with one another. He promoted devotion to the name of Jesus as a simple and effective means of recalling God’s love at all times. When other priests consulted him for advice, St. Bernardine gave them a simple rule: “In all your actions, seek in the first place the kingdom of God and his glory. Direct all you do purely to His honor. Persevere in brotherly charity, and practice first all that you desire to teach others.” By this means, he said, “the Holy Spirit will be your master, and will give you such wisdom and such a tongue that no adversary will be able to stand against you.”
St. Bernardine was especially known for his devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary and for promulgating devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. It was he who devised the IHS symbol over a blazing sun as a monogram and logo for the Holy Name of Jesus (in Greek) to replace the public display of insignias of rival family tribes which disturbed the peace. This symbol of Christ began appearing in churches and on public buildings, even to this day.
St. Bernardine’s own life attested to this source of strength in the face of trials. He patiently suffered an accusation of heresy – which Pope Martin V judged to be false – and refused to abandon his bold preaching when a nobleman threatened him with death. But St. Bernardine was also widely admired throughout Italy, and he was offered the office of a bishop on three occasions. In 1427, he refused the Bishopric of Siena; in 1431, that of Ferrara; and again, in 1435, that of Urbino. Each time, however, he turned down the position, choosing to fulfill the prediction of St. Vincent Ferrer through his missionary work. St. Bernardine preached throughout most of Italy several times over, and even managed to reconcile members of its warring political factions. Saint Bernardine was appointed Vicar General of his Order in 1438, which office he held for five years, and revived the practice of its strict rule of life, then preached again for a time until his last illness forced his retreat in 1444. He was instrumental in effecting many conversions. Then in 1444, forty years after he first entered religious life, St. Bernardine became sick while traveling. He continued to preach, but soon lost his strength and his voice. St. Bernardine of Siena died at Aquilea in the midst of his missionary labors, on May 20, 1444, on Ascension Eve of that year, while his brethren were chanting the antiphon, Father, I have manifested Thy Name to men. Only six years later, in 1450, a Jubilee year, Pope Nicholas V canonized him as a saint. When he began as the head of his Franciscan community there were 300 friars; when he died there were over 4,000. He’s the Patron Saint of advertisers; advertising; publicists; against hoarseness; communications; compulsive or uncontrolled gambling; gambling addicts; lungs; public relations; chest, respiratory, or lung problems; Aquila, Italy; diocese of San Bernardino, California; Italy.
“Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand.” ~ St. Bernardine of Siena
PRAYER: “St. Bernardine of Siena, you were healed of respiratory illness and preached the love and mercy of God everywhere you went. I come to you now seeking your prayers for all who suffer respiratory illnesses. Plead their cases in union with Mary, the Mother of God, and seek healing for them if that is God’s holy will. Pray, dear saint, that they suffer with joy, persevere with hope, and that they join their afflictions with Jesus’ for the salvation of souls. I ask your intercession on their behalf in Jesus’ holy Name… Amen”🙏🏽
O God, You gave St. Bernardine Your Priest an exceeding love for the Holy Name of Jesus. Through his merits and prayers grant that we may ever be inflamed with the spirit of Your love…. Amen🙏🏽
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | May 19, 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-76/
Greetings and blessings, dear beloved family. Happy Monday of Fifth Week of Easter!
We thank God for the gift of life and particularly pray for all those who celebrate their birthdays in the month of May. We also pray for all those graduating during this season. May the good Lord bless and favor them, direct their path and grant them good health of body and mind. Amen 🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
HABEMUS PAPAM! A PRAYER FOR OUR HOLY FATHER, POPE LEO XIV
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 🙏🏽
Watch “POPE LEO XIV’S INAUGURATION MASS | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN, ST. PETER’S SQUARE | MAY 18, 2025 |https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/pope-leo-xivs-inauguration-mass-live-from-the-vatican/ | Live from St. Peter’s Square for the historic Eucharistic Celebration for the Start of the Petrine Ministry of the Bishop of Rome, Pope Leo XIV. At the end of the Holy Mass, the Holy Father prayed the Regina Caeli prayer.
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 🙏🏽
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 rejoicing in the light of the Resurrection, the Church joyfully celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we also honor three radiant saints whose lives bore powerful witness to faith, service, and self-giving love: Saint Peter Celestine (Patron of bookbinders and those who suffer rejection), a humble pope; Saint Pudentiana (Patroness of the Philippines and Catholic young women), a young virgin and martyr of the early Church; and Saint Yves of Brittany (Patron of lawyers and abandoned children), a priest and lawyer who championed justice for the poor. Through their intercession, and that of our Blessed Mother Mary, we pray for a renewal of justice, peace, and love in our world. May all in positions of authority, especially lawyers, judges, and civic leaders, be guided by truth and compassion. We pray for the sick and the dying, especially those suffering from terminal illnesses, and for the safety and well-being of the poor and needy. May the Holy Spirit strengthen the Church, sustain the clergy, comfort persecuted Christians, and draw all sinners to conversion.
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 🙏🏽
Today’s Bible Readings: Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter | May 19, 2025 Reading 1, Acts 14:5-18 Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 115:1-2, 3-4, 15-16 Gospel, John 14:21-26
Gospel Reading ~ John 14:21-26
“The Advocate whom the Father will send will teach you everything”
“Jesus said to His disciples: “Whoever has my commandments and observes them is the one who loves me. Whoever loves me will be loved by my Father, and I will love him and reveal myself to him.” Judas, not the Iscariot, said to him, “Master, then what happened that you will reveal yourself to us and not to the world?” Jesus answered and said to him, “Whoever loves me will keep my word, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our dwelling with him. Whoever does not love me does not keep my words; yet the word you hear is not mine but that of the Father who sent me. “I have told you this while I am with you. The Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send in my name – he will teach you everything and remind you of all that I told you.”
Today’s Gospel reading speaks of our love for Jesus, Jesus’ love for us, and God the Father’s love for us. God the Father expresses his love for us by giving us the Son. Jesus expresses His love for us by laying down His life for us, and by making known to us all He has learnt from the Father. We express our love for Jesus by keeping His word, by living according to His teaching, which, in John’s Gospel, is summed up as ‘love one another as I have loved you’. Jesus offers a powerful truth: authentic love for Him is shown not merely through feelings or words, but through obedience to His commandments. The one who loves Jesus is the one who listens to His word and lives it out. In return, Jesus promises something deeply personal and intimate: He and the Father will come and make their home within that person. This is not merely a future reward, but a present reality an indwelling presence of God in the heart of the faithful. Judas (not Iscariot) asks an honest and relatable question: Why does Jesus reveal Himself to His disciples and not to the world? Jesus’ answer emphasizes the quiet, hidden nature of divine love it’s not about external displays or public proof, but about a relationship rooted in love, obedience, and trust. The world often seeks signs and wonders, but Jesus reveals Himself to those who open their hearts in faith and humility.
Today’s Gospel reading also makes reference to the Advocate, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send. This Spirit will not only teach the disciples but also remind them of all that Jesus has said. As the Father expresses His love for us by giving us the Son; the Father and Son together express their love for us by giving us the Holy Spirit. One of the roles of the Holy Spirit is to lead us into a deeper understanding of all that Jesus did and said. In that sense, the Holy Spirit leads us to Jesus, just as Jesus leads us to the Father. According to our reading, is to be our teacher, to keep bringing to our minds the teaching, the word, of Jesus. The Holy Spirit helps us to keep Jesus’ word, especially His command to ‘love one another as I have loved you’. It is the Holy Spirit who helps us to hear what Jesus said as a word addressed to us today; the Holy Spirit brings Jesus close to us, makes Him present and brings His word to life for us. That is why as we listen to the Lord’s word it is good to invoke the coming of the Holy Spirit, and to invite the Spirit to bring that word alive for us. The Holy Spirit helps us to listen fruitfully to the Lord’s word; the Holy Spirit enables us also to make a heartfelt response to that word, both in prayer and in how we live. Todays Gospel reading is a whole vision of the Christian life, of God’s relationship with us as Father, Son and Spirit, and of our relationship with each other. As we draw gradually closer to the feast of Pentecost, this reminder is crucial because we are prone to forget, especially when trials arise. The Holy Spirit becomes the divine voice whispering God’s truth to our hearts in moments of fear, doubt, or confusion. Jesus assures us that we are not alone; even when He is no longer physically present, the Spirit will remain to guide, teach, and comfort. We very much need the Holy Spirit; that is why the church encourages us to pray, ‘Come Holy Spirit’ especially in the during these weeks as we prepare for the feast of Pentecost.
The first reading vividly shows the challenges Paul and Barnabas faced while spreading the Good News. Despite attempts on their lives, they continued their mission with courage and fidelity. In Lystra, Paul heals a crippled man, and the people, mistaking them for gods, attempt to offer sacrifices to them. But instead of receiving praise, Paul and Barnabas tear their garments and correct the crowd, reminding them they are only human and redirecting all glory to the living God. This moment teaches a profound lesson about humility and authentic witness. In a world obsessed with fame and recognition, the apostles remind us that our mission is not to elevate ourselves, but to point others to Christ. Even when misunderstood or wrongly praised, they remained faithful to their calling to preach the living God who nourishes, sustains, and reveals Himself through creation and mercy. Their rejection of false worship also speaks to modern idols those things we exalt above God, whether they be power, fame, technology, or even people. Like Paul and Barnabas, we are called to redirect hearts toward the true God.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “Not to us, O Lord, but to your name give the glory.” This psalm echoes the humility of the apostles. It reminds us that all good things every blessing, healing, or success come from God alone. It also contrasts the living God with lifeless idols, warning us not to place our trust in what is man-made. The psalmist invites us to bless the Lord, who made heaven and earth and entrusted the earth to humanity. In this entrustment lies both privilege and responsibility: to glorify God in how we live and care for the world He has given us.
Do I love Jesus by keeping His commandments, or do I merely say I love Him without living it out? How open am I to the teaching and reminding presence of the Holy Spirit in my daily life? Do I seek recognition for the good I do, or do I, like Paul and Barnabas, redirect glory to God? Are there idols in my life things I unknowingly revere or prioritize more than God? The Christian life is a journey of obedience rooted in love. Jesus’ promise to dwell with those who keep His word assures us of divine intimacy and strength. The example of Paul and Barnabas reminds us that true discipleship demands humility and courage. As we walk through this Easter season, let us remain attentive to the Spirit’s voice and committed to living the Gospel, so that our lives may glorify God and bring others to faith in Him. Amen. 🙏🏽
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded of the fact that we serve the Lord not for our own glory but for the greater glory of God, and we should always listen to the Lord and keep His commandments and words. We should always strive to proclaim the Lord’s truth, His love and Good News together, to glorify Him with all of our hearts and might at every opportunities provided to us. We must not be easily swayed by the temptations of worldly glory, ambition and all the other things that may easily mislead us down the wrong path in life. We must always be focused on the Lord and do our very best in our every moments in life so that we will always be firmly rooted in our faith and commitment to Him, to live our lives as Christians each day and every moments to the best of our abilities. Let us all therefore continue to put our trust and focus on the Lord, doing our very best to let Him be known to everyone we meet and encounter in life, not just through words but also through our actions in being good role models as faithful disciples and followers of Christ. In everything that we say and do, in all of our interactions, let us all be good and worthy bearers of our Christian faith and examples at all times, being the beacons of God’s light to everyone whom we encounter in our lives, to our communities and in our world today. That is what all of us have been entrusted by God to do as Christians, as those whom He has called and chosen, and entrusted with the truth and commandments that He has given us all through His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Risen Lord continue to help and guide us all in our journey in life, and may He continue to strengthen us all in our every good efforts, works and endeavours, doing them for the greater glory of God and for the salvation of more souls. May all of us continue to be blessed with the strength and courage to carry out the missions entrusted to each one of us in our various and unique circumstances and opportunities, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, help me to love You not just in word but in action. Give me a heart that treasures Your commandments and a will that seeks to live them out each day. Teach me through the Holy Spirit and remind me of Your truth when I forget. May I never take glory for myself but always direct it to You, the source of all goodness. Help me to recognize and tear down the idols in my heart so that You alone may reign there. Amen. 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT PETER CELESTINE, POPE; SAINT PUDENTIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR AND SAINT YVES OF BRITTANY (IVO OF KERMARTIN), PRIEST AND LAWYER ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 19TH: Still rejoicing in the light of the Resurrection, the Church joyfully celebrates the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, we also honor three radiant saints whose lives bore powerful witness to faith, service, and self-giving love: Saint Peter Celestine (Patron of bookbinders and those who suffer rejection), a humble pope; Saint Pudentiana (Patroness of the Philippines and Catholic young women), a young virgin and martyr of the early Church; and Saint Yves of Brittany (Patron of lawyers and abandoned children), a priest and lawyer who championed justice for the poor. Through their intercession, and that of our Blessed Mother Mary, we pray for a renewal of justice, peace, and love in our world. May all in positions of authority, especially lawyers, judges, and civic leaders, be guided by truth and compassion. We pray for the sick and the dying, especially those suffering from terminal illnesses, and for the safety and well-being of the poor and needy. May the Holy Spirit strengthen the Church, sustain the clergy, comfort persecuted Christians, and draw all sinners to conversion.
SAINT PETER CELESTINE, POPE: Born Pietro Angelerio around 1221 into a large and humble family in Apulia, Italy, Peter was drawn to solitude and prayer from an early age. After receiving a basic education thanks to his devout mother’s faith in his future sanctity he embraced a life of radical asceticism, inspired by the example of Saint John the Baptist. Living in caves and forests, he wore a hair shirt, fasted rigorously, and spent hours in prayer.
Attracting followers by his holiness, Peter eventually founded a monastic community that became the Celestine branch of the Benedictine Order. Despite his love for solitude, he was unexpectedly elected pope in 1294 after the papacy had been vacant for over two years. Taking the name Celestine V, he humbly accepted the call but struggled with the burden of the office. After just five months, recognizing his limitations, he made the rare and courageous decision to resign an act of humility almost unheard of in papal history.
He lived his final years in seclusion and prayer, experiencing heavenly consolations. On Pentecost Sunday in 1296, he foretold his death and peacefully entered eternal life later that week. He was canonized in 1313.
PRAYER: Saint Peter Celestine, you who embraced humility and silence over power and prestige, intercede for us that we may seek God’s will above our own desires. May we, like you, find peace in surrender and strength in simplicity. Pray for those rejected or burdened by failure, that they may find consolation in God’s embrace. Amen.🙏🏽
SAINT PUDENTIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: Saint Pudentiana was a second-century Roman virgin and martyr, the daughter of the senator Pudens and sister of Saint Praxedes. Raised in a devout Christian home that welcomed the apostles Peter and Paul, Pudentiana devoted herself wholly to Christ. She distributed her wealth to the poor, assisted in burying the bodies of persecuted Christians, and courageously refused to offer worship to the emperor, choosing instead to remain faithful to Christ.
Tradition holds that she died around the year 160 at the young age of sixteen. Her home became the site of one of Rome’s earliest churches Santa Pudenziana considered among the oldest in Christendom. Though her feast was removed from the Roman Martyrology in 2001 due to uncertainties in early sources, her legacy of charity and courage continues to inspire.
PRAYER: Saint Pudentiana, pure and courageous, you gave your life in steadfast love for Christ and His Church. Inspire in us a youthful zeal and unwavering faith, especially in times of persecution or doubt. Pray for young people around the world to remain rooted in Christ and joyful in their witness. Amen.🙏🏽
SAINT YVES OF BRITTANY (IVO OF KERMARTIN), PRIEST AND LAWYER: Born in 1253 to a noble family in Brittany, France, Saint Yves (also known as Ivo or Ives) is celebrated as the patron of lawyers and advocates for the poor. He studied civil and canon law at Paris and Orléans, excelling in philosophy, theology, and jurisprudence. Upon returning to Brittany, he served as an ecclesiastical judge, known for his integrity, humility, and passionate defense of the poor.
Yves often represented the marginalized at no cost, visiting them in prison and paying their court fees. He worked tirelessly to bring reconciliation and peace between feuding parties, striving to prevent unnecessary litigation. His life was marked by personal austerity, deep prayer, and generous charity. A member of the Franciscan Third Order, he embodied the Gospel through his work, simplicity, and justice.
Saint Yves died in 1303 and was canonized in 1347. He remains a powerful model of how faith and justice can work hand-in-hand.
PRAYER: Saint Yves, defender of truth and friend of the poor, you served with justice and charity in the courts and in the Church. Intercede for all who work in law and governance, that they may uphold the dignity of every person. Teach us to be generous and just, merciful and firm in the truth. Amen.🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Peter Celestine, Saint Pudentiana, and Saint Yves of Brittany ~ 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 🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽
PRAYER INTENTIONS: We pray today for the Church throughout the world, that guided by the Holy Spirit, she may remain faithful in proclaiming the living God to all peoples. May those in positions of leadership, especially in law and government, be inspired by Saint Yves of Brittany to act with justice, mercy, and integrity. We entrust to God all young women who strive to live faithfully amid trials, that through the example of Saint Pudentiana, they may remain courageous and steadfast in Christ. May those discerning difficult paths be strengthened by the humility and surrender of Saint Peter Celestine, choosing God’s will above worldly recognition. We remember the poor, the suffering, the sick, and the forgotten may they find hope and healing in the name of Jesus. And for ourselves, we ask for open hearts to love Christ more deeply, to keep His commandments, and to welcome the guidance of the Holy Spirit in our daily lives.
LET US PRAY
Most glorious Lord Jesus, You promised the disciples and all Your people that the Holy Spirit would be sent to us to remind us of all that You have revealed. Holy Spirit, please continuously descend upon me, teach me and guide me. Help me to never forget the many lessons I have been taught so that I will never let fear lead to confusion. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Heavenly Father, You are the true and living God, full of compassion and steadfast love. We praise You for the gift of Your Son, Jesus Christ, who calls us to love Him by keeping His commandments. Send forth Your Holy Spirit to dwell in our hearts and guide us in truth. Strengthen us through the intercession of Saint Peter Celestine, that we may walk humbly and choose peace over pride. Inspire us through Saint Pudentiana to remain steadfast in our faith and generous in love. And lead us, like Saint Yves of Brittany, to pursue justice with compassion and serve the poor with joyful charity. Teach us to reject the idols of our time selfishness, pride, indifference and to live only for You, the God of heaven and earth. May we glorify You not only with our lips, but with our lives. Grant that, as we walk the path of Easter joy, we may be ever attentive to Your Spirit, trusting that You are near to all who call upon You in truth.Amen.🙏🏽
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Peter Celestine, Saint Pudentiana, and Saint Yves of Brittany ~ 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 new week 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 Fifth Week of Easter!🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT PETER CELESTINE, POPE; SAINT PUDENTIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR AND SAINT YVES OF BRITTANY (IVO OF KERMARTIN), PRIEST AND LAWYER ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 19TH: As we celebrate the coming of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost today, we also celebrate the Memorial of Saint Peter Celestine, Pope; Saint Pudentiana, Virgin and Martyr and Saint Yves of Brittany (Saint Ivo of Kermartin), Priest and Lawyer. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for justice, peace and love in our world. We pray for all lawyers and those in authority. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those suffering from terminal diseases and for the safety and well-being of the poor and the needy all over the world. We continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world🙏
SAINT PETER CELESTINE, POPE: St. Peter (1221- 1296) was born Pietro Angelerio in about 1221, also known as Pietro da Morrone, Peter of Morrone, and Pope Celestine V. He was the eleventh of the twelve children of a poor Italian farmer in Apulia, in the Neapolitan province of Moline. His parents, Angelo Angelerio and Maria Leone were very virtuous, and charitable to the poor to the uttermost of their abilities. As a child, Peter had visions of our Blessed Lady, Angels and Saints. His heavenly visitors encouraged him in his prayers and chided him when he fell into any fault. After his father’s death, his mother, though only a poor widow, seeing his extraordinary inclination to piety provided him with a literary education, she sent him to school, feeling sure that he would one day be a Saint. He retired into the desert when he was hardly an adolescent. His virtues soon drew disciples around him. This was the origin of the branch of the Benedictine order known as the Celestines. He became a Benedictine monk at the age of seventeen and was eventually ordained priest at Rome. His love of solitude led him first into the wilderness of Monte Morone in the Abruzzi, whence his surname, and later into the wilder recesses of Mt. Majella. He was strongly influenced by the life of John the Baptist, and took him as his model in his religious life. His hair-cloth was roughened with knots, he wore a chain of iron encompassing his emaciated frame, and he fasted every day except for on Sunday. Each year he kept four Lents, passing three of them on bread and water only, and he consecrated the entire day and a great part of the night to prayer and labour. At twenty years of age he left the schools, and retired to a solitary mountain of Apulia, where he made himself a little cell under ground, but so small that he could scarce stand or lie down in it. Here he lived three years in great austerities, during which he was often assailed by violent temptations and assaulted by evil spirits; but these he overcame by the help of such practices and austerities as the grace of God suggested to him. He was consoled by the visits of Angels. After this his seclusion was invaded by disciples who refused to be sent away; and the rule of life which he gave them formed the foundation of the Celestines, a branch of the Order of Saint Benedict. Angels assisted in the church which St. Peter built; unseen bells rang peals of surpassing sweetness, and heavenly music filled the sanctuary when he offered the Holy Sacrifice; he had consented to be ordained, to find in the Holy Eucharist assistance against temptation.
Suddenly the poor anchorite found himself torn from his loved solitude, having been named by acclamation to the Papal throne, which had remained vacant for twenty-seven months. Resistance was of no avail. He took the name of Celestine, to remind him of the heaven he was leaving and for which he sighed. He was seventy-two years old. He was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States for five months from July 5th to December 13, 1294. St. Peter judged himself unfit for the office, and summoning the cardinals to his presence, he solemnly resigned his trust. During the remaining three years of his life he worked many and great miracles. On the day after his abdication, his blessing after Mass healed a lame man. Saint Peter left the palace, desiring seclusion, but was brought back by the papal guards, for his successor feared a schism; crowds had followed Saint Peter. Lest he be prevailed upon to take back his office, he was put under surveillance at Anagni. Content, he remarked: I desired nothing but a cell, and a cell they have given me. And there he enjoyed his former loving intimacy with the Saints and Angels, and sang the Divine praises almost continually. At length, on Pentecost Sunday he told his guards he would die within the week, and immediately fell ill. He received the Last Sacraments, and the following Saturday, as he finished the concluding verse of Lauds, Let every spirit bless the Lord! he closed his eyes to this world and opened them to the vision of God. He died on May 19,1296 and was Canonized May 5, 1313 by Pope Clement V. He’s the Patron Saint of Aquila, Italy; bookbinders; Papal resignations, Urbino, Molise, Sant’Angelo Limosano.
Saint Peter Celestine, Pope ~ Pray for us🙏
SAINT PUDENTIANA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: St. Pudentiana of Rome was Virgin, Martyr, Friend to the Apostles. She was the sister of St. Praxedes, and daughter of Pudens a Roman senator, who was converted to the faith by the apostles SS. Peter and Paul. They cared for Christians and buried their bodies during the persecutions of Marcus Antoninus. A traditional Christian saint and martyress of the 2nd century who refused to worship the Roman Emperors Marcus Aurelius and Antoninus Pius as deities. She gave away her wealth to the poor, aided the burials of Christians, and consecrated herself wholly to Christ and died in the year 160 when she was sixteen. Her church in Rome is esteemed the most ancient that is known in the world. It was in the first ages called the church of the Pastor, and is said to have been the palace of Pudens, in which St. Peter lodged and celebrated the divine mysteries.
According to an ancient tradition, St. Peter was the guest of the senator Pudens during his stay in Rome. Pudens had two daughters, Pudentiana and Praxedes, virgins who dedicated themselves wholly to acts of charity. After the death of their parents, Pudentiana and her sister Praxedes distributed their patrimony to the poor. The fact that Puden’s entire household of some 96 persons were baptized by Pope Pius I (d. 154) is ascribed to their zealous activities. When Christian services were forbidden by the Emperor Antoninus Pius, Pius I celebrated Mass in their home. The saints were buried next to their father in the catacomb of St. Priscilla. One of Rome’s most ancient stational churches is dedicated to St. Pudentiana. Despite being in the Tridentine Missal and having a church dedicated to her in Rome, she was removed from the Roman Martyrology, 2001. Her uncertain status is the result of not being listed in the earliest martyrologies.
St. Pudentiana of Rome was Virgin, Martyr ~ Pray for us🙏
SAINT YVES OF BRITTANY, PRIEST AND LAWYER: St. Yves also known as Ives or Ivo of Kermartin (1253–1303) worked hard for justice both as a civil and canon lawyer, often working without charge for the poor. He worked to help the less fortunate, building hospitals, orphanages, and helping widows and the poor. St. Yves was born to a noble family at Kermartin, near Tréguier, Brittany, France on October 17, 1253. He was the son of Helori, lord of Kermartin, and Azo du Kenquis. The lessons his pious mother instilled in the heart of the boy through Christian training, preserved him amid the grave dangers to which he was exposed during his student years at Paris and Orleans. In 1267 at the age of 14, St. Yves was sent by his landowning father to Paris to receive a higher education, he went to the University of Paris, where he graduated in civil law. He went to Orléans in 1277 to study canon law and at the end of ten years he had gained distinction in Philosophy, Theology, and Canon Law, as well as Civil Law. He went on to practice law for many years in both the civil and ecclesiastical courts. On his return to Brittany he was appointed a diocesan judge, first to the Bishop of Rennes and later to the Bishop of Treguier. In this capacity, he carried out his duties with equity, incorruptibility, and concern for the poor and lowly. St. Yve’s fame quickly spread and he became known as “the poor man’s advocate.” He pleaded for the poor in other courts, going so far as pay their expenses and even visiting them in prison while they awaited trials; his constant concern was to obtain justice for all. Accordingly, he constantly tried to reconcile quarreling parties and have them arrive at an amicable agreement without incurring the cost of unnecessary lawsuits. St. Yves also practiced a life of asceticism; he wore a hairshirt under his clothing, fasted regularly, and became a Franciscan Tertiary. These spiritual disciplines aided him in his practice of virtue in the courtroom: he fought the State in court on behalf of the rights of the Church, and became a diocesan judge who was unable to be tempted by bribes. St. Ivo eventually resigned from practicing law and joined the priesthood.
In 1284, St. Yves became a priest and having been ordained he was appointed to the parish of Tredrez in 1285 and eight years later to Louannee, where he died. From 1287 onward he devoted himself to parish work. But he made his legal knowledge ever available to any of his parishioners who needed it. He lived frugally and unassumingly, instructed the people in both spiritual and temporal matters, and preached the Word of God with power. He is noted as being a great preacher and arbitor. He built a hospital with his own money, providing for the sick poor. He is known as a miracle worker, with an instance of feeding hundreds from a single loaf of bread. Saint Yves of Brittany’s labors and his strict life sapped all his energy. He was hardly fifty years old when he felt his end nearing. Fortified with the last sacraments, he commended his soul to the hands of his Creator and died with a smile on May 19, 1303, this “attorney who was a holy man” appeared before the Ultimate Judge to receive his reward. St. Yves died at Louannee, May 19, 1303 and was buried in Tréguier. He was canonized in 1347 by Pope Clement VI. He’s the Patron Saint of abandoned people; advocates; attorneys; bailiffs; barristers; Brittany; canon lawyers; canonists; judges; jurists; lawyers; notaries; orphans.
PRAYER: God, You taught Your Church to observe all the heavenly commandments in the love of God. Help us to practice works of charity in imitation of Your Priest, St. Yves, and merit to be numbered among the blessed in Your Kingdom. Amen🙏
