DailyReflections

Author: Resa

  • MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIBURTIUS, VALERIAN AND MAXIMUS, MARTYRS; SAINT BENEZET; SAINT LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM, VIRGIN AND BLESSED PETER GONZÁLEZ, PRIEST

    MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIBURTIUS, VALERIAN AND MAXIMUS, MARTYRS; SAINT BENEZET; SAINT LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM, VIRGIN AND BLESSED PETER GONZÁLEZ, PRIEST

    HOLY WEEK OF LENT

    SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ APRIL 14, 2025

    MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIBURTIUS, VALERIAN AND MAXIMUS, MARTYRS; SAINT BENEZET; SAINT LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM, VIRGIN AND BLESSED PETER GONZÁLEZ, PRIEST | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

    Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN” | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/14/catholic-daily-mass-41/

    DAY 35: LENTEN PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/14/day-35-lenten-prayers-and-reflections/

    Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Monday Holy Week of Lent!

    Today, as we continue our Lenten journey and celebrate the Holy Week and Easter Triduum we commemorate the lives of four distinct and inspiring saints whose lives illuminate the path of sacrifice, humble service, redemptive suffering, and spiritual conversion: Saints Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus, Roman martyrs and defenders of the faith; Saint Benezet, the boy shepherd and bridge builder; Saint Lidwina of Schiedam, a mystic and patroness of the chronically ill; and Blessed Peter González, priest and preacher to sailors and the forgotten. Through their intercession and under the loving protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we lift our prayers today for the sick, the oppressed, the poor, travelers, and all seeking healing or spiritual strength. May their stories inspire us to stand firm in faith, to serve joyfully, and to offer our suffering to God with love. Amen. 🙏🏽

    We thank God for the  gift of life and for the gift of this day. May this season of Lent bring renewal in faith, deepening our journey through Lent and drawing us closer to Christ. May God’s grace guide and strengthen us every day, and may His grace and mercy be with us all during this final week of our Lenten journey. 🙏🏽

    DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

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

    LENT: | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/03/lent/

    STATIONS OF THE CROSS | A JOURNEY WITH CHRIST | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/03/stations-of-the-cross/

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

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

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

    PRAYER FOR POPE FRANCIS

    “Loving God, we thank you for the unwavering faith and leadership of Pope Francis. As he recovers from his hospitalization, we humbly ask for your healing touch upon his body, your peace upon his mind, and your comfort for his spirit. Grant him strength, renewed energy, and a continued ability to serve your flock with compassion and wisdom. We entrust him to your loving care, and we pray that he may soon be restored to good health, if it be your will. Through Christ our Lord, Amen”🙏🏽

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

    On this special feast day, as we continue the Holy Week 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 and celebrate their memorial anniversary today. We pray for our loved ones who have recently died, and we continue to pray for the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls 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 🙏🏽

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

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

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

    Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries | Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/holy-rosary-for-peace-with-pope-francis/

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

    PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

    Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

    A PRAYER FOR PEACE: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen 🙏🏽

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

    A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏🏽

    God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen 🙏🏽

    LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

    For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards

    Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection. 🙏🏽

    SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIBURTIUS, VALERIAN AND MAXIMUS, MARTYRS; SAINT BENEZET; SAINT LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM, VIRGIN; AND BLESSED PETER GONZÁLEZ, PRIEST – FEAST DAY: APRIL 14TH: Today, the Church honors a group of saints whose lives, though different in time and circumstance, shine forth with extraordinary faith, humility, and sacrifice. Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus (Roman martyrs and defenders of the faith) bore witness to Christ through martyrdom in ancient Rome. Saint Benezet,(the boy shepherd and bridge builder) a humble shepherd, was called to an unlikely mission of bridge-building in 12th-century France. Saint Lidwina of Schiedam (a mystic and patroness of the chronically ill), who suffered a lifetime of illness with grace and deep spiritual insight, stands as a symbol of redemptive suffering. Blessed Peter González (priest and preacher to sailors and the forgotten), once an ambitious cleric, found conversion and became a devoted preacher to sailors, the poor, and the imprisoned. Their lives speak of fidelity, transformation, and the power of grace in all human conditions.

    Through the intercession of these holy men and women and under the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we lift up the sick and suffering, the oppressed and abandoned, those called to unlikely missions, and all who seek redemption and purpose in life. May their examples encourage us to live our vocations with courage, humility, and joy. Amen. 🙏🏽

    Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | April 14th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

    (Direct link to the detailed history of Saints Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus, Saint Benezet, Saint Lidwina of Schiedam, and Blessed Peter González| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day/)

    SAINTS TIBURTIUS, VALERIAN AND MAXIMUS, MARTYRS (3rd Century): These three early Christian martyrs were closely associated with Saint Cecilia, one of the Church’s most beloved virgin-martyrs. Valerian, the noble Roman husband of Cecilia, was converted to Christianity through her witness. He, in turn, helped convert his brother Tiburtius. Together, they refused to worship pagan gods and instead boldly professed their faith in Christ. Their bravery caught the attention of Maximus, a Roman officer assigned to oversee their execution. So moved was he by their peace and courage that he, too, embraced the Christian faith and was promptly arrested and executed for his belief. Their martyrdom, marked by unity in truth and strength in witness, reminds us that conversion often spreads through the courageous example of faithful hearts.

    PRAYER: Almighty God, who gave Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus the grace to stand firm in faith and to shed their blood for Christ, grant us the courage to witness to the Gospel in our own lives. Through their intercession, may we remain unshaken in times of persecution. Amen. 🙏🏽

    SAINT BENEZET (1163–1184): Saint Benezet (also known as Benedict the Bridge-Builder) was a poor shepherd boy from the region of Ardèche, France. While tending his flock, he received a divine call to build a bridge over the Rhône River at Avignon a task considered impossible for someone so young and unskilled. Inspired by his obedience and fervent faith, others joined him, and under his leadership, the massive structure was completed. This bridge facilitated pilgrimage, commerce, and connection, standing as a testament to faith in action. Benezet later founded a brotherhood to maintain the bridge and aid travelers. Though he died young at the age of 21, his legacy remains etched in both stone and spirit.

    PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You raised up Saint Benezet to accomplish great things through childlike trust and perseverance. Through his intercession, may we follow Your call with faith, even when the task seems beyond us. Inspire in us a spirit of service and unity. Amen. 🙏🏽

    SAINT LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM, VIRGIN (Lydwine, Lydwid, Lidwid, Liduina of Schiedam) (1380–1433): Saint Lidwina was born in Schiedam, Holland. At the age of 15, she suffered a severe injury while ice skating, fracturing a rib a wound that never healed. Her body became increasingly frail, and for nearly 40 years, she lived in extreme pain and suffering. Despite her condition, Lidwina became a mystic, receiving visions of Christ and the saints, and uniting her suffering to His Passion. She offered her pain for the conversion of sinners and the relief of souls in purgatory. Though bedridden and disfigured, she was a source of healing, wisdom, and comfort to countless visitors. Her sanctity transformed illness into a fountain of grace, and she is now considered a patroness of the chronically ill and those who suffer.

    PRAYER: Lord Jesus, who strengthened Saint Lidwina in her long suffering and gave her a heart full of compassion and intercession, grant us the grace to find You in our trials. Through her prayers, may the sick be comforted, and all who suffer be filled with hope and peace. Amen. 🙏🏽

    BLESSED PETER GONZÁLEZ, PRIEST (1190–1246): Born in Spain, Blessed Peter González was a brilliant scholar and ambitious cleric who sought fame and admiration. However, after falling from his horse during a grand public entrance, he experienced deep humiliation that led to a profound conversion. He joined the Dominican Order, renounced his worldly aspirations, and committed himself to preaching and a life of poverty. Peter became a beloved preacher, especially ministering to sailors, travelers, prisoners, and the poor. He brought countless souls back to the faith and advocated for humane treatment of captives. Even in his final years, he continued to preach tirelessly, his sermons filled with mercy and truth.

    PRAYER: Merciful God, You transformed the pride of Blessed Peter González into humble zeal for the Gospel. Help us, through his intercession, to turn away from vanity and embrace the mission of compassion and truth. May we bring Your light to the forgotten and the lost. Amen. 🙏🏽

    Saints Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus, Martyrs; Saint Benezet; Saint Lidwina of Schiedam, Virgin and Blessed Peter González, Priest ~ Pray for us! 🙏🏽

    SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

    Bible Readings for today, Monday of Holy Week | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

    Today’s Bible Readings: Monday of Holy Week | Monday, April 14, 2025
    Reading 1, Isaiah 42:1-7
    Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 27:1, 2, 3, 13-14
    Gospel, John 12:1-11

    Gospel Reading ~ John 12:1-11

    Let her keep this for the day of my burial

    “Six days before Passover Jesus came to Bethany, where Lazarus was, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. They gave a dinner for him there, and Martha served, while Lazarus was one of those reclining at table with him. Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the oil. Then Judas the Iscariot, one of his disciples, and the one who would betray him, said, “Why was this oil not sold for three hundred days’ wages and given to the poor?” He said this not because he cared about the poor but because he was a thief and held the money bag and used to steal the contributions. So Jesus said, “Leave her alone. Let her keep this for the day of my burial. You always have the poor with you, but you do not always have me.” The large crowd of the Jews found out that he was there and came, not only because of him, but also to see Lazarus, whom he had raised from the dead. And the chief priests plotted to kill Lazarus too, because many of the Jews were turning away and believing in Jesus because of him.”

    In today’s Gospel reading, Mary, the sister of Lazarus, does something extravagant for Jesus, anointing the feet of Jesus with very costly ointment and then wiping them dry with her hair. This was her way of expressing gratitude to Jesus for the service He rendered to her family in raising her brother, Lazarus, to life. Whereas Judas tried to make little of her extravagant gesture, a very negative spin is put on Mary’s action by Judas who interprets it as a waste of good money that could have been given to the poor. Jesus, however, comes to the defence of Mary, interpreting her action as a timely anointing in preparation for His death and burial, which was imminent, and, indeed, which Judas would help to bring about. Jesus graciously received Mary’s generous outpouring of gratitude. We all have something to be grateful for. We have all been graced in some way. The ultimate source of every good gift we receive in life is the Lord. It is to Him, above all, that we express our gratitude. This Holy Week we remember with gratitude how Jesus gave us the greatest gift anyone could give, the gift of His life. ‘No one has greater love than this’, said Jesus, ‘to lay down one’s life for one’s friends’. Jesus gave His life so that we may have life and have it to the full. This Holy Week we allow ourselves to be touched by that great and generous love, and like Mary in today’s Gospel reading, we give expression to our gratitude in our own personal way.

    Reflecting on the Gospel reading, as Holy Week begins, we are drawn into an intimate scene in Bethany, where love, betrayal, and divine purpose intertwine. Mary’s act of anointing Jesus with costly perfume was more than generosity—it was a prophetic act of devotion, one that anticipated His burial. In a world where extravagance often seeks applause, Mary’s gesture speaks quietly but powerfully of deep love, sacrifice, and recognition of who Jesus truly is. She understood something even the disciples hadn’t fully grasped: Jesus was the Messiah, about to give His life.Contrast her with Judas, who criticized her act not out of concern for the poor, but from greed. This moment foreshadows the betrayal to come, yet also reveals the different responses to Jesus’ presence adoration or self-interest. Today, we’re asked to examine our own posture: Are we at His feet in loving surrender, or are we clinging to our own desires, even cloaked in good intentions?

    In our first reading today, from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, the Lord spoke through Isaiah the prophecy of the Messiah or Saviour that God has promised. It’s a proclamation about a certain Chosen One Whom God had appointed to be the One to bear His salvation and deliverance to the nations. He spoke of how the Messiah would come to bring all of His people back to Him, to proclaim the Good News of the salvation of God, ushering the blessed time of new life with God. The beloved people of God would no longer be separated from Him, and He will gather all of them into His Presence, reconciling each and every one of us to Himself, through none other than the very same Saviour, Jesus Christ, the One Whom Isaiah had spoken about. The Lord revealed His truth to the nations, of His love and compassion towards them, that He has sent into our midst His Servant, the One Who would be crushed and persecuted for us, to suffer and even die for our sake. This is the same Messiah that the prophets and messengers of the Lord have been prophesying about and which they had promised and proclaimed for many ages. The Lord has willingly sent His salvation into our midst, in the form of His own Beloved Son, born into this world and taking up our own human existence such that by His coming into this world, He may reunite us with God, our loving Father and Creator. That is what the Lord has done, by reaching out to us, coming down to dwell among us, so that all of us sinners may find our consolation and help through Him, as we are reminded yet again of His love and faithfulness to the Covenant that He has made and renewed again and again with us. God has never forgotten about His people and He has reached out to them, every time they had faltered and fallen into sin. He reminded them of His ever patient and most generous love, and called on them to reject the path of sin and disobedience. Through His Son, God made us all partakers of a New and Eternal Covenant sealed by the breaking of His own Most Precious Body and by the shedding and outpouring of His own Most Precious Blood, broken and poured out for us and our salvation, as the most worthy offering made on the Altar of the Cross, at Calvary.

    Reflecting on today’s first reading, Isaiah’s prophecy introduces the “Servant of the Lord” gentle, just, and Spirit-filled. This Servant is chosen not for violence or noise, but for quiet strength and healing presence. “A bruised reed he shall not break….” This is Christ, who walks gently with the wounded, upholding justice without crushing the weak. As we follow Him through Holy Week, we are reminded that true power lies in compassion, justice, and fidelity to God’s mission even when it leads to suffering.

    Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom should I fear?” Psalm 27 is a cry of confidence in the midst of surrounding threats. As Jesus approaches the Cross, we too are invited to fix our eyes on the Lord, trusting that even when enemies plot and storms rise, He remains our refuge and strength. Let us wait for the Lord with courage, especially in times of trial.

    Do I approach Jesus like Mary, offering Him my love and devotion freely and without reserve? Do I allow distractions, pride, or hidden motives to cloud my judgment, like Judas? Am I willing to be the Lord’s servant gentle, just, and Spirit-led even when it’s difficult or misunderstood? This Holy Week, don’t just observe the events enter into them. Let your heart be stirred by Christ’s quiet, courageous love. Like Mary, pour out your soul in worship. Like Isaiah’s servant, walk gently with others. And like the psalmist, anchor your courage in God’s unfailing light.

    As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, all of us are reminded first of all, of God’s ever enduring and patient love for us, which we should always keep in mind throughout this most solemn week commemorating our Lord’s Passion, His suffering and death. It was for our sake that He has willingly suffered all of that, so that by everything that He had to go through, He might deliver us from our fate of destruction and death, and offer us the sure path to eternal life through Him. Then, we are also reminded of the need for us to listen to the Lord and His patient calling for us to embrace His love and mercy, as we are all called to be humble like Mary, the sister of Lazarus, in realising our sinfulness and unworthiness before God, and in obeying the will of God like the Lord Jesus Himself, Who obeyed the Father’s will so perfectly, for our salvation. Let us also distance ourselves from the dangers of pride and worldly temptations, that we do not fall into the same trap as Judas Iscariot had experienced. May the Lord continue to help us in our journey of faith and life, especially throughout this season of Lent and this most solemn time of the Holy Week. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and continue to strengthen each and every one of us and help us to persevere through the many hardships, trials and challenges that we may have to face daily in life. May God bless each and every one of us and help us all to be ever more faithful and committed in our lives, in following Him at all times. Amen 🙏🏽

    Lord Jesus, as Mary poured out her love, may I offer You my whole heart. Help me to sit at Your feet in gratitude and devotion. Strip away the pride and greed that blind me, and give me the grace to follow You with sincerity. As I walk through this Holy Week, may I stay close to You, comforted by Your mercy and inspired by Your sacrificial love. Amen 🙏🏽

    DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF APRIL | MONTH OF HOLY EUCHARIST: April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to His Church. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity offering Himself as the Bread of Life. This month invites us to deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist, especially as we approach Holy Week and Easter, celebrating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper when He said, “Take and eat; this is My Body… Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the Covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). In receiving the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and His Church. It is the source of our strength and the culmination of our salvation, as Christ Himself said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” As we journey through Lent, we are called to renew our reverence for the Eucharist. During Holy Week, we remember that Christ instituted this sacrament on Holy Thursday, offering us a way to remain in union with Him. Let us take this opportunity to attend Mass regularly, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and reflect on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

    In this season of penance and reflection, may our devotion to the Eucharist strengthen our commitment to living as true disciples of Christ, leading us to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection.

    O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! Lord Jesus, You have given Yourself to us in the Eucharist. May we receive You with reverence and love, and let Your grace transform us this Lenten season and always. Amen 🙏🏽

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

    PRAYER INTENTIONS: We pray for the grace to remain firm in faith, like Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, who chose death over denying Christ. May we be fearless in living out the Gospel, even when it means standing against the crowd or enduring hardship. Through the intercession of Saint Benezet, may we have the courage to embrace God’s calling, even when it seems beyond our strength or understanding. We pray for all who suffer chronic illness, pain, or disability, that they may find comfort and strength through the example of Saint Lidwina of Schiedam, who transformed her suffering into a life of prayer and spiritual fruit. May her intercession bring healing and peace to the sick, the bedridden, and the lonely. We remember those who serve the marginalized sailors, travelers, the imprisoned, and the poor and ask for the intercession of Blessed Peter González, that we may follow his path of conversion and humility, turning away from pride and selfishness to become vessels of mercy and compassion.

    As we enter Holy Week, may we draw closer to Jesus, who gave Himself completely for our salvation. May His Passion and Resurrection transform our hearts and renew our lives. We pray for healing in our families, unity in the Church, and peace in our world. May the lives of these holy men and women inspire us to walk the path of truth, love, and sacrificial service. Amen. 🙏🏽

    LET US PRAY

    My glorious Jesus, You are worthy of all praise and honor. You are worthy of our deepest devotion and love. As I enter into this Holy Week, I pray that it will be a time in which I may express my deepest love for You. Help me to pour forth that love in abundance this week so as to show You the glory and praise You deserve. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

    Lord Jesus, as You entered the house of Your friends in Bethany, You accepted the love and devotion of Mary who anointed Your feet in preparation for burial. So too may we pour out our love for You, not in mere words, but through the daily offering of our hearts and lives. Grant us the faith of Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, who refused to deny You. May we never be ashamed of the Gospel but proclaim it boldly in our lives. Like Saint Benezet, help us build bridges of faith, unity, and charity wherever there is division or indifference. Through the example of Saint Lidwina of Schiedam, teach us to find You in our suffering and to unite our pain with Yours for the salvation of souls. And may Blessed Peter González inspire us to serve the forgotten with compassion, humility, and joy.

    Jesus, You are our Light and our Salvation whom shall we fear? As we walk with You through this Holy Week, open our eyes like the servant in Isaiah, that we may see the poor, the bruised, and the imprisoned with Your heart. Renew us with Your mercy and make us faithful to the end. Save us, Savior of the world, for by Your Cross and Resurrection You have set us free.

    Save us Savior of the world. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, Saint Benezet, Saint Lidwina of Schiedam, and Blessed Peter González ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽

    Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this season of Lent, let us be renewed by prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love, and unity in our families and our world. May this Lenten season deepen our trust in God’s providence and open our hearts to His transforming grace. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times, and may this season of Lent bring us all true salvation in Christ as we remain united in peace, love, and faith. Have a blessed, safe, and grace-filled and fruitful Holy Week. Amen 🙏🏽

    Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

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

    Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

  • Catholic Daily Mass

    Catholic Daily Mass

    Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on the Holy Week of Lent | April 14, 2025 on EWTN” |

    Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | April 14, 2025 |

    Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | April 14, 2025 |

    Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” |

  • DAY 35: LENTEN PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS

    DAY 35: LENTEN PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS

    Day Thirty-Five: A Fragrant Offering of Love
    Monday of Holy Week

    Scripture Passage:
    “Then she dried his feet with her hair, and the house was filled with the ointment’s fragrance.”
    — John 12:3

    As Holy Week begins, we are drawn into one of the most tender scenes in Scripture. Jesus sits at table with His close friends Lazarus, Martha, and Mary. With heartfelt devotion, Mary approaches Him, breaks open a costly jar of perfumed oil, and anoints His feet. This simple yet profound act of love fills the house with fragrance and the moment with grace. It is love expressed not through words, but through sacrifice, humility, and tender care. Mary’s gesture invites us to draw close to Christ this week not with mere routine, but with intimate, extravagant devotion.

    Judas reacts with criticism, questioning the practicality of the gift. Yet Jesus defends Mary, reminding us that true love is never wasted. Her action becomes prophetic, a preparation for His burial, and an expression of something deeper than logic: undivided love for the Savior. As we begin this sacred week, let us reflect on how we too might bring a “fragrant offering” to Jesus not only through our service to others, but in acts of direct love and worship.

    Now is the time to give our Lord our full attention. Can we sit at His feet in prayer, even when the world beckons us to other tasks? Can we adore Him in the Blessed Sacrament, spend time in silence with Him, or pour out our hearts in gratitude? These are not wasted moments they are the very essence of our discipleship.

    Reflection Questions:
    When was the last time I did something for God that seemed excessive to others? Do I sometimes hesitate to show my devotion for fear of what people might think? How can I express my love for Jesus more fully this Holy Week?

    Lenten Question:
    Q: Is worship as important as serving the poor?
    A: Yes—both are vital expressions of love. Jesus reminds us that adoration and direct acts of devotion to Him are central to Christian life. Serving the poor honors Christ in others, while worship honors Him as Lord.

    Lenten Action:
    Let go of a long-standing grudge and offer true forgiveness, imitating Mary’s humble love and Jesus’ mercy. Then, set aside time today to adore Christ through prayer, silence, or a visit to the Blessed Sacrament.

    Concluding Prayer:
    Jesus, my God, You are worthy of all praise and adoration. I adore You present in the Blessed Sacrament, in the silence of my heart, and in every moment of this sacred week. Teach me to love You with Mary’s devotion, to honor You not only with duty but with overflowing affection. May my actions today fill Your heart with joy and be a fragrant offering of love. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.

    Resources for Lenten Prayers and Reflections:

    Daily Saints and Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

    Lenten Reflections | EWTN | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/reflections/lent

    Lenten Prayers and Daily Reflections | My Catholic Life | https://mycatholic.life/lent-prayers-reflections/

  • SAINTS OF THE DAY: APRIL 14

    SAINTS OF THE DAY: APRIL 14

    MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIBURTIUS, VALERIAN AND MAXIMUS, MARTYRS; SAINT BENEZET; SAINT LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM, VIRGIN AND BLESSED PETER GONZÁLEZ, PRIEST: Today, on this third Sunday of Easter, we celebrate the Memorial of Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, three Christian Martyrs who were buried on April 14th. They are known by their inclusion in the Acts of St. Cecilia. Saint Benezet (Little Benedict), he’s Patron Saint of Avignon; bachelors; bridge-builders. Blessed Peter Gonzalez, Priest, Dominican protector of captives and sailors, he’s Patron Saint of sailors and Saint Lydwina of Schiedam, Virgin (Lydwine, Lydwid, Lidwid, Liduina of Schiedam), she is the Patron Saint of those with chronic pain, chronically ill, ice skaters and town of Schiedam. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick, the Church, for persecuted christians and the conversion of sinners and for Christians all over the world.🙏

    SAINTS TIBURTIUS, VALERIAN AND MAXIMUS, MARTYRS: Saints Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus, three Christian Roman Martyrs of the 2nd and 3rd century, who were buried in the cemetery of Praetextatus on April 14th. They are known by their inclusion in the Acts of St. Cecilia, a mid-fifth-century Acts of the Martyrs. According to the Acts, Valerian was Cecilia’s husband, Tiburtius his brother, and Maximus a Roman soldier or official who died with them. As Valerian and Tiburtius refused to worship the pagan gods (the supposed protectors of Rome’s earthly glory and wealth), they were executed. Their courage and composure in the face of death was so remarkable that it converted their guard, Maximus. After professing Christianity, he too suffered martyrdom. The three were buried by the grieving Cecilia, and a little later she herself was sentenced.

    The three martyrs were traditionally honoured with a joint feast day on 14 April, as shown in the Tridentine Calendar. The 1969 revision of the General Roman Calendar removed this celebration, since the only thing really known about them is the historical fact of their burial in the Catacombs of Praetextatus. However, it allowed them to be honoured in local calendars. The 2001 decree of promulgation of the revised Roman Martyrology declared: “In accordance with the Constitution Sacrosanctum Concilium of the Second Vatican Ecumenical Council on the Sacred Liturgy, ‘the accounts of martyrdom or the lives of the saints are to accord with the facts of history’ (art. 92 c), the names of saints included in the Martyrology and their notices have to be subjected more carefully than before to the judgement of historical study.” Accordingly, the revised Roman Martyrology now merely states, under 14 April: “At Rome, in the cemetery of Praetextatus on the Appian Way, Saints Tiburtius, Valerian and Maximus, martyrs.’ The Eastern Orthodox Church honors them together with Saint Cecilia on November 22nd.

    PRAYER: Almighty God, for Whom holy Tiburtius, Valerian, and Maximus uplifted their testimony, grant, we beseech Thee, unto all whosoever call the same to solemn memory, grace to imitate the example of their godly courage. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, Who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Ghost, ever one God, world without end… Amen🙏

    SAINT BENEZET, THE BRIDGE BUILDER: St Benezet, the Bridge Builder, also known as “Little Benedict” (c 1163-1184). St Benezet is also known as Benezet of Hermillon, Benedict, Bennet, Benet, Benoit, Little Benedict the Bridge Builder. Born in c 1163 at Hermillon, Savoy, France and died in 1184. He is a Shepherd, Mystic, miracle-worker, Founder of the Fratres Pontifices – the Bridge-Building Brotherhood, he was the builder who instigated and directed the building of the Pont d’Avignon and founder of the tradition of the bridge building brotherhood. St Benezet, the Bridge Builder, was born somewhere in the countryside of eastern or northeastern France. As he grew up he tended his mother’s sheep. Though uneducated and unskilled, gentle Benedict was a quiet, devout youth, thoughtful of others. One day in 1177, while the sun was in eclipse, Benezet heard a voice, he believed was Jesus, commanding him three times to go to Avignon, where the Rhone current was especially swift and to build a bridge there. He was also told that Angels would watch over his flocks in his absence. He obeyed the Divine order, without delay and reported immediately to the Bishop of Avignon. Naturally, the Bishop was hesitant about accepting the word of the frail teenager. But little Benezet lifted a massive stone to begin the work and announced that it would be the start of the foundation. This would become the Pont Saint-Bénézet. Thus he succeeded in convincing the Bishop that the construction of the bridge would be an act of true Christian charity. Permission was granted and the youth set about his task.   According to the legend, there were shouts of “Miracle! Miracle!” when Bénézet had lifted and laid that first huge stone.   Eighteen miracles occurred in total during the project – the blind had their vision restored, the deaf could hear again, cripples could walk and hunchbacks had their backs straightened. For the next seven years St. Benedict worked hard on the project and around 1181 he won support for his project from wealthy sponsors who formed themselves into a Bridge Brotherhood to fund its construction. This was a religious association active during the 12th and 13th centuries and begun in Avignon but by it’s inspiration, it spread across Europe and whose purpose was building bridges, especially to assist pilgrims. It was customary for a bishop to grant indulgences to those who, by money or labour, contributed to the construction of a bridge. They also maintained and/or built hospices at the chief fords of the principal rivers, besides building bridges and looking after ferries. The Brotherhood consisted of three branches– knights, clergy and artisans, where the knights usually had contributed most of the funds and were sometimes called donati, the clergy were usually monks who represented the church and the artisans were the workers who actually built the bridges. Sisters are sometimes mentioned as belonging to the same association.   In addition to the construction of bridges, the brotherhood often attended to the lodging and care of pilgrims and travellers and the collection of alms, in this area, the sisters were most active.

    In 1184, sadly, young Benezet died, some four years before the great stone bridge at Avignon was completed. The wonders that occurred during the bridge’s erection and the miracles wrought at the Bridge Builder’s tomb convinced the people of Avignon that the young man was a Saint and he was referred to as such as early at 1237.  They, therefore, built a Chapel on the “Bridge of St Benezet” to enshrine his relics. There the body was venerated until 1669, when floodwaters carried away a large segment of the bridge. His remains were rescued from the flood and on examination, were found to be incorrupt.   Now they repose in the local church of St Didier. Understandably, bridge builders adopted little Benedict as their Patron Saint. The remains of the bridge still remain a pilgrimage site. St Benezet’s bridge has another claim to fame – it achieved worldwide fame through its commemoration by the song “Sur le Pont d’Avignon” (“On the Bridge of Avignon”). One can build in a figurative as well as a literal sense. Bishops, the pope in particular, are often called “pontiffs”, a title derived from the Latin word for “builder of bridges”. Building bridges between God and mankind is their special calling. Our Lord Himself was a “pontiff” in the sense that He made his Cross a bridge, on which souls could enter heaven.  The beatitude “Blessed are the peacemakers” promises heaven to those who work for reconciliation, that is, “build bridges”. Some persons labour to raise walls, or “iron curtains” to divide mankind.   Others labour to tear down the walls that divide, straighten the paths that connect, bridge the crevices that separate people. Surely they come close to fulfilling the great commandment to love our neighbour as oneself. St Benezet was one such. He promoted the unity of God’s children. St. Benezet is the Patron Saint of Avignon; bachelors; bridge-builders and construction workers. His body is incorrupt.

    Little St Benezet ~ Pray for us!🙏

    SAINT LIDWINA OF SCHIEDAM, VIRGIN: St. Lydwina of Schiedam, Virgin (Lydwine, Lydwid, Lidwid, Liduina of Schiedam) (1380-1433) was a Dutch mystic who is honored as a saint by the Catholic Church. St. Lidwina is thought to be one of the first documented cases of multiple sclerosis. She is the Patron Saint of those with chronic pain, chronically ill, ice skaters and town of Schiedam. St. Lidwina was born into a poor country family of Holland in 1380. At an early age, she prayed to the Mother of God and experienced visions of incredible religious images. When she was 15, she went ice-skating with some friends and fell. She broke a rib from this fall, but gangrene continued to consume her body. No medical professional could diagnose her injury, and this began her martyrdom.

    As the gangrene spread throughout her body, she became permanently paralyzed. Pieces of her body even fell off, and she suffered from external bleeding. Despite these medical complications, Saint Lidwina never gave up on her faith in God. She engaged in constant prayer and commitment in her faith to God. She continued to experience great pain for the rest of her life, but she was rewarded with visions of faith from God. She died in 1433 at age 53. She was canonized by Pope Leo XII in 1890. Today, she serves as an inspiration for chronically-ill patients and those with multiple sclerosis.

    PRAYER: Lord, we devoutly recall the sufferings of St. Lidwina. Give success to our joyful prayers and grant us also constancy in our Faith. Amen🙏

    BLESSED PETER GONZÁLEZ, PRIEST: Bl. Peter González (1190 – 15 April 1246), sometimes referred to as Pedro González Telmo, Saint Telmo, or Saint Elmo, was a Castilian Dominican friar and priest, born in 1190 in Frómista, Palencia, Kingdom of Castile and Leon. St. Peter Gonzales, Dominican protector of captives and sailors. He preached a campaign against the Moors, and then cared for the captured Muslims and sailors. Saint Paul had a conversion experience on the road to Damascus. Many years later, the same proved true for Peter Gonzalez, who triumphantly rode his horse into the Spanish city of Astorga in the 13th century to take up an important post at the cathedral. The animal stumbled and fell, leaving Peter in the mud and onlookers amused.

    Humbled, Peter reevaluated his motivations—his bishop-uncle had secured the cathedral post for him—and started down a new path. He became a Dominican priest and proved to be a most effective preacher. He spent much of his time as court chaplain, and attempted to exert positive influence on the behavior of members of the court. After King Ferdinand III and his troops defeated the Moors at Cordoba, Peter was successful in restraining the soldiers from pillaging, and persuaded the king to treat the defeated Moors with compassion.

    After retiring from the court, Peter devoted the remainder of his life to preaching in northwest Spain. Having developed a special mission to Spanish and Portuguese seamen, he is considered their patron. He is the Patron Saint of Sailor. Bl. Peter Gonzalez died in 1246 and was beatified in on December 13, 1741, Rome, Papal States, Pope Benedict XIV.

    Blessed Peter González ~ Pray for us 🙏

  • MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARTIN I, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT HERMENEGILD, MARTYR AND BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, RELIGIOUS

    MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARTIN I, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT HERMENEGILD, MARTYR AND BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, RELIGIOUS

    HOLY WEEK OF LENT

    SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ APRIL 13, 2025

    MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARTIN I, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT HERMENEGILD, MARTYR AND BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, RELIGIOUS| Lives of the Saints | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

    Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN” | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/13/catholic-daily-mass-40/

    LENTEN PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS | PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/13/passion-palm-sunday-lenten-meditation-reflection/

    Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion and Holy Week of Lent!

    “Blessed is the king who comes in the name of the Lord” ~ Luke 19:38

    Today, as we continue our Lenten journey and celebrate the Holy Week and Easter Triduum starting today Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, we commemorate the lives of three extraordinary souls in the communion of saints: Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr (Defender of the Faith and Witness to Truth), Saint Hermenegild, Martyr (Patron Saint of Converts and Seville), and Blessed Margaret of Castello, Religious (Patroness of Pro-life Movements, the Disabled, Handicapped, Blind, and Unwanted). Through the intercession of these holy witnesses and under the loving protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we offer prayers for the Church, for persecuted Christians around the world, for the disabled and the marginalized, and for the conversion of hearts. May we, like these holy ones, have the courage to stand for truth, the grace to forgive our persecutors, and the humility to serve others in love. Amen. 🙏🏽

    We thank God for the  gift of life and for the gift of this day. May this season of Lent bring renewal in faith, deepening our journey through Lent and drawing us closer to Christ. May God’s grace guide and strengthen us every day, and may His grace and mercy be with us all during this season of our Lenten journey. 🙏🏽

    DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

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

    LENT: | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/03/lent/

    STATIONS OF THE CROSS | A JOURNEY WITH CHRIST | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/03/stations-of-the-cross/

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

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

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

    PRAYER FOR POPE FRANCIS

    “Loving God, we thank you for the unwavering faith and leadership of Pope Francis. As he recovers from his hospitalization, we humbly ask for your healing touch upon his body, your peace upon his mind, and your comfort for his spirit. Grant him strength, renewed energy, and a continued ability to serve your flock with compassion and wisdom. We entrust him to your loving care, and we pray that he may soon be restored to good health, if it be your will. Through Christ our Lord, Amen”🙏🏽

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

    On this special feast day, as we begin the Holy Week 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 and celebrate their memorial anniversary today, for our beloved father, LATE SIR GABRIEL LOUIS IHIEJE OPIEPE, KSJI on the 10th anniversary of his passing to eternal glory. We pray for our loved ones who have recently died, and we continue to pray for the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls 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 🙏🏽

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

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

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

    Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries | Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/holy-rosary-for-peace-with-pope-francis/

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

    PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

    Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

    A PRAYER FOR PEACE: Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen 🙏🏽

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

    A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏🏽

    God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen 🙏🏽

    LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.

    For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards

    Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection. 🙏🏽

    PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION: Today, we enter Holy Week, beginning with Palm Sunday, a day of stark contrasts, holding both triumph and solemnity. We commemorate Jesus Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, a pivotal moment leading to the Paschal Mystery. Jesus, riding on a colt, was greeted by crowds who laid down palm branches, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David!” (Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; John 12:12-19). This scene marks the start of the final week of Jesus’s earthly ministry, a week that will culminate in his ultimate sacrifice.

    The Church combines the remembrance of this triumphant entry with the focus on Christ’s impending Passion, emphasizing the gravity of Holy Week. Jesus’s journey to Jerusalem was a conscious step towards his sacrificial death, fulfilling prophecy and offering salvation. The “Hosanna” cries, meaning “save now,” and the waving of palm branches, symbols of victory, foreshadow both the adoration and the coming suffering. While the crowds hoped for a political Messiah, as foretold in Zechariah 9:9, their acts of worship honored God (Matthew 21:16). Yet, even in their joy, the shadow of the cross loomed.

    In our contemporary observance of Palm Sunday, we participate in liturgical celebrations that include the distribution and blessing of palm branches. These practices serve to vividly recall Christ’s entry and his journey towards the cross. Liturgical services, marked by red vestments, include Gospel readings, processions, and the creation of palm crosses. The priest’s introduction reminds us of the solemnity of the week and invites us to participate fully in the remembrance of Christ’s saving work, reminding us that this joy is a prelude to sorrow.

    As we wave our palm branches and echo the “Hosanna” cries, we also remember the profound purpose of Christ’s arrival. He came to liberate us from sin, and his Passion leads to our resurrection. This week, we are invited to walk with Jesus, to feel the weight of his sacrifice, and to understand the depth of his love. As we begin this Holy Week, let us not only express our devotion with words but also with hearts that are truly focused on his suffering and triumph. May we receive the strength to persevere through life’s trials, guided by his grace. A blessed and fruitful Holy Week to all. Amen.

    In Pope Francis Palm Sunday homily, he highlighted the figure of Simon of Cyrene, who was unexpectedly drawn into Christ’s journey to Calvary. This Jubilee Year, we are called to reflect on how we, like Simon, are invited to share in Christ’s suffering by extending compassion to those who bear heavy burdens. The Pope’s words remind us that Jesus’s passion becomes our compassion when we reach out to lift up the fallen and embrace the discouraged. This year, within the context of the Jubilee, we are invited to become, for one another, a Simon of Cyrene, transforming our own crosses and the crosses of others into acts of redemptive love. Let us this week, remember that we are called to not just be spectators, but participants in the saving act of Jesus Christ.

    Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion | April 13, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/13/palm-sunday-of-the-lords-passion/

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

    SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

    Bible Readings for today, Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion | Year C | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

    The Passion of our Lord Jesus Christ, according to Luke

    Today’s Bible Readings: Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion | Year C | Sunday, April 13, 2025

    *At the Procession – Gospel: Luke 19:28–40
    *Reading 1, Isaiah 50:4–7
    *Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 22:8–9, 17–18, 19–20, 23–24
    *Reading 2: Philippians 2:6–11
    Gospel, Luke 22:14—23:56 or Luke 23:1–49

    Gospel Reading ~ Luke 22:14-23:56

    “Father, if you are willing, take this cup away from me; still, not my will, but yours be done.” ~ Luke 22:42

    “When the hour came, Jesus took his place at table with the apostles. He said to them, “I have eagerly desired to eat this Passover with you before I suffer, for, I tell you, I shall not eat it again until there is fulfillment in the kingdom of God.” Then he took a cup, gave thanks, and said, “Take this and share it among yourselves; for I tell you that from this time on I shall not drink of the fruit of the vine until the kingdom of God comes.” Then he took the bread, said the blessing, broke it, and gave it to them, saying, “This is my body, which will be given for you; do this in memory of me.” And likewise the cup after they had eaten, saying, “This cup is the new covenant in my blood, which will be shed for you. “And yet behold, the hand of the one who is to betray me is with me on the table; for the Son of Man indeed goes as it has been determined; but woe to that man by whom he is betrayed.” And they began to debate among themselves who among them would do such a deed……. “

    Today’s Gospel reading this Sunday, which was read before the triumphant procession with the Cross and the blessed palms, gives the account of the time when the Lord was about to enter into the city of Jerusalem for the last time prior to His Crucifixion, at the appointed time when He would accomplish everything that had been planned for our salvation. We heard how He sent His disciples to prepare the time of His triumphant entry into Jerusalem, getting a colt or a young donkey that had never been used or sat on before. This fulfilled the prophecy which God had made through His prophets, particularly the prophet Zechariah who prophesied about the coming of the Messiah or Saviour, the King of Kings, Who would come on a donkey to the Holy City of Jerusalem, marking the coming of God’s salvation for His people. That is why by this action of this triumphant entry of the Lord into the city of Jerusalem, the people of God and hence all of us are shown God’s fulfilment of everything that He has promised to us, everything that He had said that He would do for those whom He dearly loved, and He came on a donkey instead of a great and fearsome warhorse, highlighting the manner by which He would accomplish this mission. He came into this world not to subjugate it to His will or to force us all to obey Him, but rather as our loving and compassionate King, Jesus showed us all this most generous love in restoring hope in our hearts, through His coming that fulfilled the prophecies of the prophets and the promises of God. And while Jesus came to Jerusalem with great pomp and celebration, it was all to obey the Father’s will and for Him to suffer for our sake on the Cross, to be the Source of salvation for all of us who believe in God.

    Reflecting on the Gospel reading, Palm Sunday ushers us into the solemn mystery of Holy Week, beginning with joy and ending in sorrow. The crowds cheer “Hosanna!” as Jesus enters Jerusalem (Luke 19:28–40), but by the end of today’s Gospel, those voices fall silent or turn hostile. In Luke 22–23, we see Jesus’ last moments filled with suffering, betrayal, denial, and abandonment. And yet, amidst this pain, He reveals profound strength not by avoiding the Cross, but by embracing it with unwavering obedience to the Father. His words in Gethsemane—”not my will but yours be done” encapsulate the heart of Christian discipleship: surrendering our own desires in faith and trust. Even as His closest friend denies Him, and the crowds mock Him, Jesus continues to love, heal, and forgive. His Passion reminds us that divine love is most radiant in moments of greatest darkness.

    The Passion narrative from Saint Luke envelops us in the most sacred and sorrowful moments of Christ’s earthly mission. Whether we begin with the Last Supper in Luke 22:14 or with Jesus before Pilate in Luke 23:1, the message is one of deep love expressed through silent suffering and radical obedience.

    In the longer version, Jesus institutes the Eucharist, sharing His Body and Blood in a meal that becomes the eternal offering of love. As He prays in agony in the garden, we witness the full weight of His human fear, yet He accepts the chalice of suffering. Betrayed by Judas, denied by Peter, and left alone by the disciples, Jesus stands firm, not defending Himself but allowing the will of the Father to unfold.

    The shorter version begins with His trial before Pilate and Herod, highlighting the injustice and cruelty inflicted on the Innocent One. He is mocked, flogged, rejected by the very people He came to save, and traded for a murderer. As He carries His cross, He consoles the weeping women of Jerusalem a profound act of compassion even in His own pain.

    At Calvary, Jesus is crucified between two criminals. One mocks Him, the other repents. To the repentant thief, He offers mercy and paradise a powerful reminder that no soul is beyond redemption. His final words, “Father, into your hands I commend my spirit,” express complete surrender and trust. At that moment, the veil of the temple is torn He has opened the way to the Father. Even the centurion, a Gentile, declares Him innocent and glorifies God.

    This Gospel is not just a story from long ago; it is the very heart of our faith. Christ’s Passion is a mirror in which we see the depth of God’s love and the cost of our redemption. As we enter Holy Week, let us not remain mere observers. Let us walk beside Jesus with hearts open to be changed, renewed, and made worthy of the salvation He won for us.

    Our first reading from the Book of the prophet Isaiah, details the prophecy of the Suffering Servant, the One Whom God sent to be with His people, the Saviour Who would suffer on behalf of all of mankind. This was indeed a curious and strange prophecy because the common understanding by many of the Jewish people by the time of the ministry of Jesus and His works, was that the Messiah would be a mighty, conquering King Who would restore the Kingdom of Israel as how it was during the glorious days of David and Solomon, and that He would be born into the House of David. But little did many of them realise that the Lord did not intend for that, as His plans and ways are truly beyond that of man’s comprehension. Firstly, He chose to be born into a poor family in Nazareth, the simple family of a carpenter, and then, He would accomplish His mission through suffering and not through war and conquest. And that is how the narrative of the triumphant entry into Jerusalem then shifts to the sombre details of the sufferings and the trials that the Lord’s Saviour had to endure as we heard from the first reading today onwards to the Passion Reading, showing us what we are going to experience throughout this coming week, this Holy Week commemorating our Lord’s Passion, His sufferings and all that He had to endure in His mission to bring us all to salvation and eternal life. God has never forgotten about us and while we are suffering the consequences of our sins and wickedness, He has always persisted in loving us so generously and lovingly as a loving Father loving His children. And in order to save us all, He has given us all His own Son, manifesting His love in the flesh, so that by His perfect obedience and His ultimate loving sacrifice on the Cross, He might offer us the assurance of eternal life and true freedom from the bondage and domination of sin.

    Reflection on the First Readiing, Isaiah’s suffering servant reflects Christ perfectly. The servant listens attentively to God and speaks words that strengthen the weary. He does not resist pain or humiliation. This prophecy foreshadows Christ’s silent endurance the beaten back, the spit-covered face, the unshaken resolve. Christ, like Isaiah’s servant, sets His face “like flint” not because He is unmoved, but because He is utterly committed to saving us. He shows that suffering, when united to God’s will, becomes redemptive.

    Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “My God, my God, why have you abandoned me?” these haunting words echo from the Cross and give voice to every human cry of despair. Psalm 22, though steeped in suffering, ends in praise. It teaches us that even in abandonment, we are not alone. Jesus enters into our deepest human pain so that no sorrow is untouched by His love. The Psalm shows us that lament and trust can coexist. God does not abandon His faithful ones. Even in darkness, His presence remains. As we reflect on the Passion, we are reminded that God is closest when we feel most alone.

    Reflecting on the second reading this Palm Sunday from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful people of God in Philippi, in what is now part of Greece, the Apostle speaks about the obedience of Christ, the Son of God made Man, Who has come into our midst and revealed God’s love for us, and as just mentioned, how this perfect obedience of Christ, as the Son of Man, as the New Man, the New Adam, has for His Father’s will, counteracted perfectly the disobedience of our ancestors that had once led us all into our downfall. By acting as our High Priest in offering the perfect offering of His own Most Precious Body and Blood, and by His perfect obedience, His sacrifice has been accepted by the Father for the atonement of all of our innumerable sins and flaws, allowing us all to access His love and grace once again. In this deeply profound hymn from Saint Paul, we are brought face-to-face with the mystery of Christ’s humility and glory. Though He was God, Jesus did not cling to His divine privileges. Instead, He emptied Himself the Greek word used here, kenosis, implies a complete pouring out. He became one of us, not as a mighty king or warrior, but as a servant, choosing the path of suffering and total obedience.His humility was not a step down but a step into the very heart of human need. By submitting even to death on a cross the most shameful form of execution He redefined greatness. The cross, once a symbol of defeat, became the throne of salvation. And because of His radical obedience, the Father exalted Him, giving Him a name above all names: Jesus, the name that brings healing, power, and peace. This passage challenges us to imitate Christ’s humility. Are we willing to empty ourselves forgive when it’s hard, serve when it’s inconvenient, obey when it’s uncomfortable? True glory comes not from pride or power, but from surrendering ourselves in love. And when we do, we too share in His victory.

    When have I shouted “Hosanna” in joy, only to later falter in faith when trials came? In what ways do I, like Peter, deny Christ through silence or compromise? Can I trust God’s will even when it leads through Gethsemane? Do I remember that Christ’s love remains steadfast even in my moments of weakness? This Holy Week is an invitation to follow Jesus closely to the Upper Room, to Gethsemane, to the cross, and ultimately to the empty tomb. Do not let these sacred days pass you by. Enter into them with prayer, fasting, and reflection. Let the Passion of Christ become your path to new life.

    As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures this Sunday which marks the beginning of the Holy Week, the holiest and most important of all weeks and periods in the whole entire liturgical year. This Sunday marks the Palm Sunday of the Passion of the Lord, in which the moments surrounding the Lord’s Passion or suffering is highlighted to us, in this most solemn week when the Lord fulfilled all of His promises of salvation to us, bringing unto us the fulfilment and perfect completion of everything that He had planned for us from the very beginning, the plan of bringing us all back to God’s loving embrace the moment that we fell into sin through disobedience and rebellion against Him. On this day we remember the Lord embarking on this most important mission which has been entrusted solely to Him alone in order to bring us all out of the darkness and back into God’s light and grace. This Holy Week should be different from our past Holy Week observances and experiences, especially if we have not truly devoted ourselves, our time, attention and effort to focus ourselves and our whole lives to the Lord, to the One Who has overcome sin and death by His most painful and sorrowful death on the Cross. And by the glorious Resurrection that He has shown us at the end of this most Holy Week, the triumph of Our Lord over sin and death by His Resurrection reminds us all that if we put our faith and trust in the Lord our God, we will be truly be victorious in the end, sharing in His joy and majesty. We shall no longer be bound by the tyranny and power of sin, evil and all the things that had kept us separated and sundered from God’s fullness of grace and love for us. That is why we should strive our best to focus ourselves well this time of the Holy Week, to centre ourselves upon the Lord’s Passion, all the sufferings that He had to endure out of love for us all. May the Lord our most loving God and Father continue to guide us all through our lives and especially through this upcoming celebrations this Holy Week and the Paschal Triduum so that each and every moments of this most solemn and sacred period be truly fruitful and faithful to Him. Let us all continue to do our best to follow the Lord ever more faithfully each day and let us continue to be good role models and examples in our faith and in how we live our lives so that our lives may truly be exemplary and be good beacons of God’s Light and truth to all mankind. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with us all and be with our every efforts and good works in all things, and may He bless our Holy Week observances and time. Amen 🙏🏽

    Lord Jesus, in Your Passion You bore the weight of our sin, not with bitterness but with boundless love. Teach us to walk the path of surrender as You did to choose obedience over comfort, truth over safety, and love over revenge. When we feel abandoned or overwhelmed, remind us that You have gone before us and remain with us. Strengthen our hearts to stand by You in faith, even when the cross seems heavy. Amen 🙏🏽

    SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARTIN I, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT HERMENEGILD, MARTYR AND BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, RELIGIOUS – FEAST DAY: APRIL 13TH: Today, we commemorate the lives of three extraordinary souls in the communion of saints: Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr (Defender of the Faith and Witness to Truth), Saint Hermenegild, Martyr (Patron Saint of Converts and Seville), and Blessed Margaret of Castello, Religious (Patroness of Pro-life Movements, the Disabled, Handicapped, Blind, and Unwanted). Through the intercession of these holy witnesses and under the loving protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, we offer prayers for the Church, for persecuted Christians around the world, for the disabled and the marginalized, and for the conversion of hearts. May we, like these holy ones, have the courage to stand for truth, the grace to forgive our persecutors, and the humility to serve others in love. Amen. 🙏🏽

    Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | April 13th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

    ( Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr; Saint Hermenegild, Martyr; and Blessed Margaret of Castello, Religious | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day/)

    SAINT MARTIN I, POPE AND MARTYR: Saint Martin I (d. 655), born in Umbria, Italy, became Bishop of Rome in 649 during a time of great theological and political upheaval. He is remembered for his courageous opposition to the Monothelite heresy—a doctrine that falsely claimed Christ had only one will. As Pope, Martin convened the Lateran Council of 649, which condemned this heresy and upheld the Church’s true teaching that Christ has both a human and a divine will, perfectly united.

    His firm stance enraged the Byzantine Emperor Constans II, who opposed the Council’s decrees. In retaliation, the Pope was arrested, taken in chains to Constantinople, and subjected to public humiliation and harsh imprisonment. Despite immense suffering, Saint Martin I refused to betray the faith or submit to imperial pressure. He was exiled to Crimea, where he endured further hardship and eventually died from neglect and ill-treatment in 655. His martyrdom was not by the sword but through relentless persecution for the truth of Christ.

    Saint Martin I was the last pope to be martyred and is revered as a model of pastoral courage, orthodoxy, and fidelity under trial.

    PRAYER: O God, who called Saint Martin I to serve as a faithful shepherd and to bear witness to Your truth even unto suffering and death, grant that, through his intercession, we may remain firm in faith, persevere in love, and stand unwavering in the face of trial. Amen. 🙏🏽

    SAINT HERMENEGILD, MARTYR: Saint Hermenegild (d. 585) was a Visigothic prince and the son of King Leovigild of Spain. Raised in the Arian faith, Hermenegild converted to Christianity, embracing the orthodox Catholic faith. His father, a staunch Arian, attempted to pressure him into renouncing his beliefs, but Hermenegild remained steadfast in his Catholic convictions. When he refused to marry an Arian princess and publicly denounced his father’s heretical views, Hermenegild was imprisoned and eventually executed.

    Saint Hermenegild’s martyrdom is significant in the history of Spain and the Arian controversy. His sacrifice helped pave the way for the eventual conversion of his father and many others in the Visigothic kingdom to Catholicism.

    PRAYER: O God, who gave Saint Hermenegild the courage to stand firm in his faith and to witness for You even unto death, grant that we, through his intercession, may be strengthened in our faith and unyielding in our love for Christ, even in the face of persecution. Amen. 🙏🏽

    BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, RELIGIOUS: Blessed Margaret of Castello (1287–1320) was born with physical disabilities, yet she lived a life of profound faith, humility, and service. Born to noble parents, she was abandoned due to her physical limitations but was taken in by the Franciscan Third Order. Despite her challenges, Margaret became known for her deep prayer life, her care for the poor, and her commitment to a life of solitude and penance.

    Her life was a powerful witness to God’s love for all, especially those who are marginalized or overlooked. Blessed Margaret died at the age of 33 and was beatified by Pope John Paul II in 1985.

    PRAYER: Lord, You called Blessed Margaret of Castello to be a light to the poor and marginalized. Through her intercession, may we grow in compassion and love for those who suffer and, in our own difficulties, find strength in Your grace. Amen. 🙏🏽

    Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr; Saint Hermenegild, Martyr; and Blessed Margaret of Castello, Religious ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽

    DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF APRIL | MONTH OF HOLY EUCHARIST: April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to His Church. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity offering Himself as the Bread of Life. This month invites us to deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist, especially as we approach Holy Week and Easter, celebrating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper when He said, “Take and eat; this is My Body… Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the Covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). In receiving the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and His Church. It is the source of our strength and the culmination of our salvation, as Christ Himself said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” As we journey through Lent, we are called to renew our reverence for the Eucharist. During Holy Week, we remember that Christ instituted this sacrament on Holy Thursday, offering us a way to remain in union with Him. Let us take this opportunity to attend Mass regularly, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and reflect on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

    In this season of penance and reflection, may our devotion to the Eucharist strengthen our commitment to living as true disciples of Christ, leading us to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection.

    O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! Lord Jesus, You have given Yourself to us in the Eucharist. May we receive You with reverence and love, and let Your grace transform us this Lenten season and always. Amen 🙏🏽

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

    PRAYER INTENTIONS: We pray for the grace to stand firm in our faith and remain steadfast in truth, just as Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr, did in the face of persecution. May we have the courage to defend the teachings of Christ, especially when they are challenged, and may we, like Saint Hermenegild, be willing to sacrifice everything for our faith. We lift up those who experience division, injustice, and suffering in their lives. May they find strength in Christ, who gave His life for the salvation of the world. We pray for the intercession of Blessed Margaret of Castello, that we may see Christ in those who are often overlooked, marginalized, and suffering. May her example inspire us to show love and compassion to the least among us. Through her intercession, may we grow in humility and learn to embrace God’s will in every circumstance, trusting that He will provide for us, especially in times of trial.

    We ask for the grace to follow Christ closely, especially as we enter Holy Week. May our hearts be transformed by the mystery of His Passion, Death, and Resurrection. Through the intercession of Saint Martin I, Saint Hermenegild, and Blessed Margaret of Castello, we pray for unity in the Church and in our families, and for the healing of all divisions and wounds. Amen. 🙏🏽

    LET US PRAY

    Most glorious King, You were fittingly worshiped and adored as You entered Jerusalem for the Feast of Passover. I commit myself to that adoration and praise, and I pray that I will honor and love You, not only when it is easy but also when it is unpopular. May I never allow fear to deter me from my love of You and follow You all the way to the glorious throne of Your Cross. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

    Lord Jesus, You gave Your life for the salvation of the world, even unto death. Just as Saint Martin I defended the truth, Saint Hermenegild stood for You in his royal lineage, and Blessed Margaret of Castello devoted herself to the marginalized, grant us the courage to live boldly for You in all circumstances. Help us to trust in Your love, which unites us as one people. When we face trials and sufferings, may we follow Your example of humility and love, offering our lives as a sacrifice of praise. May we seek unity within our families, communities, and the Church, working together as instruments of Your peace.

    As we prepare to walk through the events of Holy Week, guide us closely by Your side. Let the power of Your Passion and Resurrection renew our hearts and inspire us to live as Your disciples. Jesus, we trust in You. Amen. 🙏🏽

    Save us, Savior of the world. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Joseph, Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr, Saint Hermenegild, Martyr, and Blessed Margaret of Castello, Religious ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽

    Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for us all during this season of Lent, let us be renewed by prayer, fasting, and giving to the poor. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world. May this Lenten season deepen our trust in God’s providence and open our hearts to His transforming grace. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times and may this season of Lent bring us all true salvation in Christ as we remain united in peace, love and faith. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled Palm Sunday and fruitful Holy Week. Amen 🙏🏽

    Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

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

    Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

  • Catholic Daily Mass

    Catholic Daily Mass

    Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on the Holy Week of Lent | April 13, 2025 on EWTN” |

    Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | April 13, 2025 |

    Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | April 13, 2025 |

    Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” |

  • SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: APRIL 13

    SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: APRIL 13

    MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARTIN I, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT HERMENEGILD, MARTYR AND BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, RELIGIOUS: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr and defender of Church doctrine; Saint Hermenegild, Martyr, who was converted from Arianism to Chalcedonian Christianity and Blessed Margaret of Castello, Religious (Patron Saint of Pro-life movements, against poverty, and of the disabled, handicapped, blind people and unwanted). Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the Church, for persecuted christians and the conversion of sinners and for all Christians. We ask for the grace to pray for those who hurt us, frustrate us, or persecute us as St. Martin I, one of the last popes to be martyred, did for his persecutors.

    SAINT MARTIN I, POPE AND MARTYR: St. Martin I, was Pope, Martyr and defender of Church doctrine. Saint Martin I, pope from 649 to 653 and died of abuse and starvation in 655 as a result of his defense of the church against heresy. He was the last pope to be martyred for defending the faith. Saint Martin I was considered a man of great intelligence, piety, and charity. A member of Roman clergy, St. Martin was sent to Constantinople. Upon the death of Pope Theodore he was elected to succeed him, in the year 649. In the following October he held a Council in the Lateran Church in which he condemned the leaders of the heresy of the Monothelites, a modification of that of the Eutychians. A document emanating from the Emperor Constans was also censured. This incensed the Emperor, and he sent Olympus, his chamberlain, to Italy with orders to cause the Pope to be put to death, or to send him to the East as a prisoner. An attempt on the Saint’s life in the Church of St. Mary Major was miraculously frustrated. Olympus now bcame reconciled to the Pope and went over to Sicily.

    The Emperor then sent Calliopas and Pellurus to Rome, with orders to seize St. Martin. The Pope, who lay sick, was seized, carried down the Tiber at midnight, and conveyed to the East. After three months he arrived at the island of Naxos, where his guards kept him a whole year and subjected him to many indignities. In 654, Martin reached Constantinople, and for three months he was confined in a dungeon. His suffering were extreme, but like St. Stephen, he hoped that his persecutors would be brought to repentance. He was banished to Chersonesus in 655, while a terrible famine raged in that region. In his exile, Martin’s sorrow was the greater because he regarded the Church as having abandoned him by electing a new Pope. Nonetheless, he prayed constantly for his successor, Eugene I. Martin died in 656, and is the last Pope to be venerated as a Martyr.

    Quotes of Saint Martin I, Pope and Martyr:

    “The Lord is near. Why then am I anxious? I put my hope indeed in his mercies that the Lord will not delay to bring my course to an end in whatever way he has commanded.”

    “If anyone in word and mind does not properly and truly confess according to the holy Fathers all even to the last portion that which has been handed down and preached in the holy, Catholic, and apostolic Church of God…let him be anathema.”

    “If anyone does not in accord with the Holy Fathers acknowledge the holy and ever virgin and immaculate Mary was really and truly the Mother of God, inasmuch as she, in the fullness of time,and without seed, conceived by the Holy Spirit, God in the Word Himself, who before all time was born of God the Father, and without loss of integrity brought Him forth, and after His birth preserved her virginity inviolate, let him be condemned.”

    PRAYER: Almighty God, help us to bear worldly adversities with an unconquerable spirit. For You did not let St. Martin Your Pope and Martyr be terrified by threats or conquered by pains. Amen🙏

    SAINT HERMENEGILD, MARTYR: St.  Hermenegild was converted from Arianism to Chalcedonian Christianity. When St. Hermenegild refused to accept Arianism he was tortured and subsequently beheaded on April 13 in the year 586. Leovigild, Arian King of the Visigoths, had two sons, Hermenegild and Recared, who were reigning conjointly with him. All were Arians, but Hermenegild married a zealous Catholic, the daughter of Sigebert, King of France, and by her holy example was converted to the faith. His father, on hearing the news, denounced him as a traitor, and marched to seize his person. Hermenegild tried to rally the Catholics of Spain in his defense, but they were too weak to make any stand; and after a two years’ fruitless struggle, Hermenegild surrendered on the assurance of a free pardon. Once he was safely in the royal camp, the king had him loaded with fetters and cast into a foul dungeon at Seville. Tortures and bribes were in turn employed to shake his faith, but Hermenegild wrote to his father that he regarded the crown as nothing, and preferred to lose scepter and life rather than betray the truth of God. At length, on Easter night, an Arian bishop entered his cell, and promised him his father’s pardon if he would receive Communion from his hands. Hermenegild indignantly rejected the offer, and knelt with joy for his death-stroke, praying for his persecutors. The same night a light streaming from his cell told the Christians keeping vigil nearby that the martyr had won his crown and was celebrating the Resurrection of the Lord with the Saints in glory.

    King Leovigild, on his death-bed, was changed interiorly. He had been witness to the miracles that had occurred after his son’s cruel death, and he told his son and successor Recared to seek out Saint Leander, whom he himself had persecuted. Recared should follow Hermenegild’s example, said the king, and be received by the bishop into the Church. Recared did so; and although his father himself had not had the courage to renounce the false faith publicly, after his father’s death the new king labored so earnestly for the extirpation of Arianism that he brought over the whole nation of the Visigoths to the Church. Nor is it to be wondered, says Saint Gregory, that he came thus to be a preacher of the true faith, since he was the brother of a martyr, whose merits helped him to bring so many into the haven of God’s Church. St. Hermenegild was beheaded on April 13, 586. He is the Patron Saint of Converts, Seville, Spain.

    PRAYER: O God, You taught blessed Hermenegild, Your martyr, to value the kingdom of Heaven more than an earthly throne; grant, we pray you, that, following his example, we may despise all transitory things and seek those that are eternal… Amen🙏

    BLESSED MARGARET OF CASTELLO, RELIGIOUS: Bl. Margaret of Castello (1287–1320) was an Italian Roman Catholic and professed member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic. She was born 1287 at Castello della Metola, Papal States to noble Italian parents who were awaiting the birth of the child of their dreams. Instead, they bore a daughter who was blind, dwarfed, lame, and hunchbacked. Bl. Margaret’s parents were horrified by the physical appearance of their newborn child, so they hid her and kept her existence secret. A servant had her baptized and named her Margaret, meaning, “Pearl.” When she was six years of age she was nearly discovered, so that her father confined her to a cell inside the wall of a church with her necessities given through a window. The parish priest took it upon himself to educate Margaret. She lived in this way until age sixteen, when her parents took her on pilgrimage to a shrine famous for miraculous healings. There they prayed earnestly for their daughter to be cured of her deformities, which they loathed. When no cure came, her parents abandoned her in the streets and returned home, never to see her again.

    Bl. Margaret begged for food and was helped by the town’s poor who took turns sheltering her in their homes. Nuns later offered her a home at their convent but soon came to detest her presence and cast her out, prompting the town’s poor to once again take her in and care for her. But she met with Dominican friars and was accepted as a secular member in their third order; she became a Dominican Tertiary and took up the work of serving the sick, dying, and imprisoned. She started a school for children to teach them in the faith and often took care of children while their parents were out at work. Bl. Margaret was known for her great joy, sanctity, and profound mystical experiences. She died at the age of 33 on April 13, 1320 at Città di Castello, Papal States and hundreds of miracles were credited to her intercession both before and after her death. Her body is incorrupt. Bl. Margaret’s holiness was apparent to all in her life that people lobbied for her to be buried in the local church which was an honor reserved for few – this was a clear demonstration people believed in her holiness. Her beatification received approval from Pope Paul V on 19 October 19, 1609 at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Papal States. Pope Francis later declared her a s
    Saint through equipollent canonization on April  24, 2021 at Apostolic Palace, Vatican City. She is the Patron Saint of Pro-life movements, against poverty, and of the disabled, handicapped, blind people and unwanted. Her feast day is April 13th.

    Blessed Margaret of Castello, Religious ~ Pray for us🙏

  • HOLY MASS ON PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION Presided over by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

    HOLY MASS ON PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION Presided over by Cardinal Leonardo Sandri

    Watch “HOLY MASS ON PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION” | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | APRIL 13, 2025 |

    Live from St. Peter’s Square, the Holy Mass on Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion.

    HOMILY OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS ON PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION READ BY CARDINAL LEONARDO SANDRI | APRIL 13, 2025 |
    https://www.vatican.va/content/francesco/en/homilies/2025/documents/20250413-omelia-palme.html

  • PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION

    PALM SUNDAY OF THE LORD’S PASSION

    Today, we celebrate Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion during which we commemorate Christ’s entry into Jerusalem for the completion of the Paschal Mystery. Today marks the beginning of Holy Week, the reliving of the final seven days of Jesus’ earthly ministry. The Holy Week is the holiest of all weeks in the entire liturgical year, seven days of celebration of Our Lord’s Passion, beginning with Palm Sunday and which ends on the glorious resurrection at Easter Sunday. On this day the Church recalls the triumphal entrance of the Messiah, our Lord Jesus Christ into Jerusalem in order to accomplish the Pascal Mystery: His Passion, death, burial, and resurrection for the salvation of all mankind. Jesus rode into the city on a colt as the crowd laid their cloaks and palm branches on the road before Him, shouting, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord: Hosanna in the highest!” The biblical account of Palm Sunday can be found in all four Gospels: Matthew 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-11; Luke 19:28-44; and John 12:12-19.

    In Liturgical Calendar preceding Vatican II, the Church celebrated Passion Sunday two Sundays before Easter, and then Palm Sunday was the beginning of Holy Week. The Church has combined the two to reinforce the solemnity of Holy Week. Palm Sunday is a moveable feast, meaning the date changes every year based on the Liturgical Calendar. Palm Sunday always falls one week before Easter Sunday. The date of the first observance of Palm Sunday is uncertain. A detailed description of a palm processional celebration was recorded as early as the 4th century in Jerusalem. The ceremony was not introduced into the West until much later in the 9th century.

    Palm Sunday and Jesus’ Triumphal Entry in the Bible: Jesus traveled to Jerusalem knowing that this journey would end in His sacrificial death on the cross for the sins of all mankind. Before He entered the city, He sent two disciples ahead to the village of Bethphage to look for an unbroken colt: As He approached Bethphage and Bethany at the hill called the Mount of Olives, He sent two of his disciples, saying to them, “Go to the village ahead of you, and as you enter it, you will find a colt tied there, which no one has ever ridden. Untie it and bring it here. If anyone asks you, ‘Why are you untying it?’ say, ‘The Lord needs it.’” (Luke 19:29-31, NIV). The men brought the colt to Jesus and placed their cloaks on its back. As Jesus sat on the young donkey, He slowly made His humble entrance into Jerusalem. The people greeted Jesus enthusiastically, waving palm branches and covering His path with palm branches: The crowds that went ahead of Him and those that followed shouted, “Hosanna to the Son of David! Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord! Hosanna in the highest heaven!” (Matthew 21:9, NIV). The shouts of “Hosanna” meant “save now,” and the palm branches symbolized goodness and victory. Interestingly, at the end of the Bible, people will wave palm branches once again to praise and honor Jesus Christ: After this I looked, and there before me was a great multitude that no one could count, from every nation, tribe, people and language, standing before the throne and before the Lamb. They were wearing white robes and were holding palm branches in their hands. (Revelation 7:9, NIV).

    On this inaugural Palm Sunday, the celebration quickly spread throughout the whole city. People even threw down their cloaks on the path where Jesus rode as an act of homage and submission. The crowds praised Jesus enthusiastically because they believed He would overthrow Rome. They recognized Him as the promised Messiah from Zechariah 9:9: Rejoice greatly, Daughter Zion! Shout, Daughter Jerusalem! See, your king comes to you, righteous and victorious, lowly and riding on a donkey, on a colt, the foal of a donkey. (NIV). Although the people did not fully understand Christ’s mission yet, their worship honored God: “Do you hear what these children are saying?” they asked Him. “Yes,” replied Jesus, “have you never read, ” ‘From the lips of children and infants you, Lord, have called forth your praise’?” (Matthew 21:16, NIV). Immediately following this great time of celebration in the ministry of Jesus Christ, He began His journey to the cross.

    How Palm Sunday is Celebrated Today: Palm Sunday, or Passion Sunday as it is referred to is the sixth Sunday of Lent and the final Sunday before Easter. Worshipers commemorate Jesus Christ’s triumphal entry into Jerusalem. On this day, Christians also remember Christ’s sacrificial death on the cross, praise God for the gift of salvation, and look expectantly to the Lord’s second coming. Many Christian churches, including Roman Catholic, Lutheran, Methodist, Anglican, Eastern Orthodox, Moravian and Reformed traditions, distribute palm branches to the congregation on Palm Sunday for the customary observances. These observances include a reading of the account of Christ’s entry into Jerusalem, the carrying and waving of palm branches in processional, the blessing of palms, the singing of traditional hymns, and the making of small crosses with palm fronds. In some traditions, worshippers take home and display their palm branches near a cross or crucifix, or press them into their Bible until the next year’s season of Lent. Some churches will place collection baskets to gather the old palm leaves to be burned on Shrove Tuesday of the following year and used in the next day’s Ash Wednesday services.

    Liturgy for Palm Sunday: The Priests and Deacons wear red vestments for Mass. There is a special entrance at the beginning of each Mass, either simple or solemn. This includes a blessing of the palms and the Gospel reading of the entrance into Jerusalem (Matt 21:1-11; Mark 11:1-10; John 12:12-16; Luke 19:28-40). The introduction by the priest explains the solemnity of Holy Week, and invites the faithful to take full part in the celebration: “Dear friends in Christ, for five weeks of Lent we have been preparing, by works of charity and self-sacrifice, for the celebration of our Lord’s paschal mystery. Today, we come together to begin this solemn celebration in union with the whole Church throughout the world. Christ entered in triumph into his own city to complete His work as our Messiah: to suffer, to die, and to rise again. Let us remember with devotion this entry, which began His saving work and follow Him with a lively faith. United with Him in His suffering on the cross, may we share His resurrection and new life.” The palms are blessed with the following prayer: Almighty God, we pray you bless these branches and make them holy. Today, we joyfully acclaim Jesus our Messiah and King. May we reach one day the happiness of the new and everlasting Jerusalem by faithfully following him who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.

    As faithful, we remember and dramatize Christ’s triumphal entrance into Jerusalem on a donkey. In Jesus’ time, a huge crowd assembled, put their cloaks or branches on the ground, and waved palm branches, acclaiming Christ as the King of Israel, the Son of David We now wave our palm branches and sing as the priest enters the church: Hosanna to the Son of David, the King of Israel. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest. These words of praise are echoed every day at the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass at the Sanctus (Holy, Holy). Our joy is quickly subdued. We are jolted to reality and see the purpose of Christ coming to Jerusalem by the reading of the Passion at the Gospel. Jesus Christ was sent into this world to wrest us from sin and the power of Satan, He underwent His Passion, the punishment for our sins, but issues forth triumphant from the tomb, the victor over death, making our peace with God and taking us with Him into the kingdom of His Father in heaven.

    Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week, a solemn week focusing on the final days of Jesus’ life. Holy Week culminates on Easter Sunday, the most important holiday in Christianity. As we enter into this time of most solemn commemoration of His Passion, His suffering and death during this Holy Week and the upcoming Easter Triduum, let us not just acclaim Him with our words and mouth only, but let us all acclaim Him from deep within our hearts. May He help us all to remain focused on Him, and may He empower each and every one of us so that we may persevere ever more against the many challenges, trials, and temptations in life. May the grace and blessings of our Lord Jesus Christ be with us all on this Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion as we begin the Holy Week and always! Wishing all of us a most blessed, Holy, safe, fruitful, and grace-filled Holy Week. Amen 🙏🏽

    Palm Sunday of the Lord’s Passion | April 13, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/13/palm-sunday-of-the-lords-passion/

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

  • PASSION (PALM SUNDAY) | LENTEN MEDITATION & REFLECTION

    PASSION (PALM SUNDAY) | LENTEN MEDITATION & REFLECTION

    Following Jesus in Glory and Suffering

    Scripture Passage:
    “I tell you, if they keep silent, the stones will cry out!”
    — Luke 19:40

    Opening Reflection:
    Palm Sunday opens Holy Week with a striking contrast. The joyful cries of “Hosanna!” echo through Jerusalem as Jesus enters the city on a humble colt. People wave palms and shout His praise, recognizing Him as the Messiah. Yet within days, those same voices fall silent or turn to cries of “Crucify Him!” This dramatic shift challenges us to consider whether we truly follow Christ when it matters most not only in glory but in suffering too.

    Meditative Reflection:
    The crowd rejoiced loudly when it felt good to do so. But as Jesus approached the darkest moments of His mission the agony in Gethsemane, His arrest, the brutal path to Calvary praise disappeared. Fear silenced many, including the disciples. Only a few, like Mary and John, remained faithful at the foot of the Cross. Jesus’ warning that if His followers were silent, even the stones would cry out foreshadowed the moment of His death, when creation itself mourned: the earth quaked, rocks split, and darkness covered the land.

    As we begin Holy Week, we are invited not to stand at a distance but to walk closely with Jesus. Are we willing to follow Him when it’s uncomfortable, when faith costs us something, when the world jeers rather than cheers? The triumphal entry and the crucifixion are not separate stories but one journey. True discipleship means staying with Jesus through both the palms and the Passion.

    Reflection Questions:
    Do I only praise Jesus when it’s easy and socially acceptable?
    Have I remained silent about my faith in moments of pressure or fear?
    Am I willing to follow Him not only in moments of celebration but also in suffering?

    Lenten Question:
    Q: Why did Jesus enter Jerusalem on a donkey?
    A: Jesus chose a donkey to fulfill the prophecy of Zechariah (Zech 9:9), symbolizing humility and peace, contrasting the image of a conquering king on a horse. He came not to wage war, but to bring salvation through the Cross.

    Lenten Action:
    Identify one area in your life where you are tempted to remain silent about your faith. Make a conscious effort this week to speak, act, or pray boldly in that space even if it feels uncomfortable.

    Concluding Prayer:
    Lord Jesus, I welcome You with praise as You enter Jerusalem, but I also choose to stay with You as You walk the path of suffering and love. Strengthen my faith so that I do not abandon You in moments of trial. May I never be silenced by fear, but speak and live as one who truly belongs to You.
    Amen.

    Resources for Lenten Prayers and Reflections:

    Daily Saints and Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

    Lenten Reflections | EWTN | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/reflections/lent

    Lenten Prayers and Daily Reflections | My Catholic Life | https://mycatholic.life/lent-prayers-reflections/