Author: Resa

FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 7, 2025

FIRST FRIDAYS AND FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTIONS Details and prayer links | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/01/first-fridays-and-first-saturdays-devotions/

Greetings and blessings, beloved family and Happy Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time!

Today, the 1st Friday of the month of February is the Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Our Lord Jesus Christ. The month of February is dedicated to the Holy Family.

Today, this First Friday of the month, on this feast day, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Richard of Lucca, King; Saint Moses the Black, Hermit and Martyr (St. Moses is venerated by many Christians around the world and is regarded by many as the Patron Saint of nonviolence, forgiveness and Africa) and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Religious. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Richard of Lucca, King; Saint Moses the Black, Hermit and Martyr and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Religious and all the Saints, we humbly pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. For those who are sick, especially those who are sick with cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. We continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, for an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. May the Saints intercede for our children, children all over the world and us all. Amen. Saint Richard of Lucca, King; Saint Moses the Black, Hermit and Martyr and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Religious ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES | Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th | Novena prayer | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/07/catholic-daily-mass-daily-tv-mass-february-7-2025/

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/

DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY – FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE | Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025 (See also http://www.popesprayerusa.net/.)

We continue to pray for the intentions of our Holy Father. We pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits… Amen 🙏🏽

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to pray for the repose of the gentle souls of the recent plane crashes and 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 abors 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🙏

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/

FIRST FRIDAYS AND FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTIONS:

The FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION is a Catholic practice that involves attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion and praying and adoring before the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of each month for nine months in a row. The devotion originated in the 17th century after Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary and spoke of His Sacred Heart. Jesus promised that those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays of nine consecutive months will receive the grace of final perseverance. The devotion is a way to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to atone for sins. The devotion is also known as the Communions of Reparation to the Sacred Heart or the Nine First Fridays Devotion. The Roman Catholic Church fully approved the devotion. 

Some elements of the First Fridays Devotion include:

• Sacramental Confession: A preparation for the devotion 
• Holy Communion: Received on the first Friday of each month for nine months in a row 
• Holy Hour: Spent in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament 
• Prayer for the Holy Father: A prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father 

The devotion is said to offer many spiritual blessings, including:

• Increased Grace: The soul is strengthened and intimacy with Christ is deepened through the frequent reception of the Eucharist
• Inner Peace: Trusting in Jesus’ promises can bring comfort in times of trial
• Forgiveness and Healing: Reparation for sins can bring peace to the heart and renewal in Christ
• Final Perseverance: Those who complete the devotion with love and faith are assured of Christ’s presence at the moment of death

The FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTION originated from the 1917 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal. During these apparitions, Our Lady asked for acts of reparation to be made on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, with the intention of atoning for the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. While the Sacred Heart of Jesus promises abundant blessings, including peace, consolation, and assistance at the hour of death, to those who faithfully observe nine consecutive First Fridays. Similarly, Our Lady extends her maternal protection and the promise of salvation to those who commit to five consecutive First Saturdays in honor of her Immaculate Heart.

Our Lady promises her assistance and graces especially at the hour of death, as well as peace and consolation in families and eventual salvation for those who faithfully practice the First Five Saturdays devotion. It involves attending Mass, receiving communion, praying the Rosary, and meditating on its mysteries on 5 consecutive first Saturdays with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.

The promises of Mary for the First Five Saturdays devotion:
* On each First Saturday, after receiving communion, reciting the Rosary, and meditating for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary, Our Lady promised to assist at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for salvation all those who make this devotion in reparation to Her Immaculate Heart.
* Our Lady promised to grant peace to families who fulfill this devotion.
* Those who fulfill the devotion will be consoled by Our Lady and will see Her eventually in heaven.
* Our Lady promised to assist in the salvation of those who practice this devotion by the graces of Her Immaculate Heart.

These First Saturday Prayers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary are recommended for those participating in the Five First Saturdays devotion.

Please see below links for both First Fridays and First Saturdays Devotions:

First Fridays Devotion: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/03/first-friday-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/

First Fridays and First Saturdays Devotions: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/03/first-fridays-first-saturdays-devotions/

https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/01/first-fridays-and-first-saturdays-devotions/

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES [Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th]

NOVENA PRAYER: Most Holy Mother Mary, at Lourdes you asked us to do penance and to pray for the conversion of sinners. Obtain for each of us the grace of true repentance. Help those for whom we pray, and especially those who most need God’s mercy. Your Divine Son so loves every soul that He gave His life to pay the price for our redemption. Help us to return His love by making the sacrifices needed to keep his commandments. Most Holy Mother you offered your Divine Son to the Eternal Father when you presented Him in the temple; offer us to the Father as your other children; watch over us and guide us. Blessed Mother, obtain for me the grace I most need, and especially these favors that I ask in this Novena, if they be in keeping with God’s will. Amen.
O Immaculate Virgin Mary, preserved from the slightest stain of sin, and enriched with all the treasures of divine grace, I thank you for the many blessings I have received through your most powerful intercession. You know my needs, my trials, my sufferings. Mother of mercy, I beseech you to hear my prayer, and to obtain for me of your Divine Son the favors I seek in this Novena. (Here make your requests.)

THE MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen 🙏🏽(Add your daily Rosary)

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us 🙏🏽
Saint Bernadette, Pray for us 🙏🏽

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes Link | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT RICHARD OF LUCCA, KING; SAINT MOSES THE BLACK, HERMIT AND MARTYR AND BLESSED ROSALIE RENDU, RELIGIOUS – FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 7TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Richard of Lucca, King; Saint Moses the Black, Hermit and Martyr (St. Moses is venerated by many Christians around the world and is regarded by many as the Patron Saint of nonviolence, forgiveness and Africa) and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Religious. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Richard of Lucca, King; Saint Moses the Black, Hermit and Martyr and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Religious and all the Saints, we humbly pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. For those who are sick, especially those who are sick with cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. We continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, for an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

Saint Richard of Lucca, King; Saint Moses the Black, Hermit and Martyr and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Religious ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

Saint(s) of the Day | February 7th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

SAINT RICHARD OF LUCCA, KING: St. Richard (c. 720 A.D.), also known as Richard the King or Richard the Pilgrim, was a Saxon king born in Wessex, England. St. Richard was a prince of the West Saxons in the 8th century but he was accorded the title of King by his people who held him in great veneration. He was related by blood to the royal house of Kent. His brother-in-law was St. Boniface, and three of his children are numbered among the saints: St. Willibald, St. Winnebald, and St. Walburga. When Willibald was gravely ill as a child, Richard’s prayers for his son are said to have saved his life. He wrapped his child in a blanket and took him to the foot of a large crucifix erected near their village, and the child recovered.

When Willibald was grown and a Benedictine monk at the monastery of Waltham, he convinced his father and brother, Winnebald to accompany him on a missionary pilgrimage to Rome and the Holy Land. St. Richard agreed, renounced his royal estate, and embarked on the journey with his two sons, while his daughter entered a convent. After staying at Rouen for some time, they continued through France and northern Italy despite severe hardships. On the way they visited churches and shrines and nourished their faith and devotion. Exhausted by the lengthy and difficult journey, St. Richard became sick and died at Lucca in Italy about the year 720 and enjoys great veneration there. He was buried in Tuscany at the Church of San Frediano. Numerous miracles are reported to have occurred at his tomb. Some of his relics were transported to Eichstatt, Germany, where his son Winnebald would become Bishop. St. Richard’s sons helped their uncle, St. Boniface, the apostle of Germany, to evangelize the Franks. His daughter became abbess of Heidenheim and ran a school for the children of Frankish nobles.

PRAYER: Lord God, You alone are holy and no one is good without You. Through the intercession of St. Richard help us to live in such a way that we may not be deprived of a share in Your glory. Amen🙏

SAINT MOSES THE BLACK, HERMIT AND MARTYR: St. Moses (330-405) was enslaved, committed murder, became leader of a gang, and then changed his ways forever. He was an ascetic monk born in Ethiopia in 330. Moses the Black also called the Ethiopian was known as a “Desert Father”. Moses didn’t start out a monk and for most of his early life, he lived on the wrong side of the law. St. Moses the Black was an Ethiopian with great physical strength, he was a large, imposing figure. He traveled to Egypt for adventure but got a lowly servant job. He was a house-servant (slave) to a government official in Egypt until he was dismissed by his own master because of immorality and brigandage – theft and suspected murder. Forced out on the streets, he roamed the Nile Valley with an infamous and violent gang of robbers. Moses quickly became the leader of a gang and was notorious for violence and robbery. On one occasion, a barking dog prevented Moses from carrying out a robbery, so he swore vengeance on the owner. Weapons in his mouth, Moses swam the river toward the owner’s hut. The owner, again alerted, hid and the frustrated Moses took some of his sheep to slaughter. Attempting to hide from local authorities, he took shelter with some monks in a colony in the desert of Wadi El Natrun, then called Scetes, near Alexandria. The dedication of their lives, as well as their peace and contentment, influenced Moses deeply. He soon gave up his old way of life, renounced his life of violence and became a Christian, was baptized and joined the monastic community at Scetes. He dedicated the rest of his life to prayer as a leader of a group of hermits in the desert. He had a rather difficult time adjusting to regular monastic discipline. His flair for adventure remained with him. His past did come in handy when a group of robbers attacked the monastery and tried to overpower him in his desert cell. Moses fought back, overpowered the intruders, and dragged them to the chapel where the other monks were at prayer. He told the brothers that he didn’t think it Christian to hurt the robbers, asked what he should do with them. The robbers astounded by what happened, repented and converted to the Christian faith and eventually joined the community of monks.

St. Moses was zealous in all he did, but became discouraged when he concluded he was not perfect enough. Early one morning, St. Isidore, abbot of the community, took Brother Moses to the roof and together they watched the first rays of dawn come over the horizon. Isidore told Moses, “Only slowly do the rays of the sun drive away the night and usher in a new day, and thus, only slowly does one become a perfect contemplative.” Moses proved to be effective as a prophetic spiritual leader. The abbot ordered the brothers to fast during a particular week. Some brothers came to Moses, and he prepared a meal for them. Neighboring monks reported to the abbot that Moses was breaking the fast. When they came to confront Moses, they changed their minds, saying “You did not keep a human commandment, but it was so that you might keep the divine commandment of hospitality.” Some see in this account one of the earliest allusions to the Paschal fast, which developed at this time. When a brother committed a fault and Moses was invited to a meeting to discuss an appropriate penance, Moses refused to attend. When he was again called to the meeting, Moses took a leaking jug filled with water and carried it on his shoulder. Another version of the story has him carrying a basket filled with sand. When he arrived at the meeting place, the others asked why he was carrying the jug. He replied, “My sins run out behind me and I do not see them, but today I am coming to judge the errors of another.” On hearing this, the assembled brothers forgave the erring monk. St. Moses became the spiritual leader of a colony of hermits in the desert. At some time, he had been ordained priest. At about age 75, about the year 405, word came that a group of renegades planned to attack the colony. The brothers wanted to defend themselves, but Moses forbade it. He told them to retreat, rather than take up weapons. He and seven others remained behind and greeted the invaders with open arms, but all eight were martyred by the bandits. After years of humbly preaching forgiveness, he was killed trying to protect the monastery, but not before he saved 70 brother monks. St. Moses is venerated by many Christians around the world and is regarded by many as the Patron Saint of nonviolence, forgiveness and Africa. 

Saint Moses The Black, Hermit and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏

BLESSED ROSALIE RENDU, RELIGIOUS: Blessed Rosalie Rendu (1786-1856) was born in France during the chaotic French Revolution. Her life was one of prayer and charity which led her to enter the Daughters of Charity, eventually becoming the superior of the Paris convent. She served the poor, opened a free clinic, pharmacy, schools, orphanages, childcare centers, homes for the elderly, youth clubs for young workers, and cared for the wounded between both sides of warring revolutions.

Blessed Rosalie worked closely with Bl. Frederic Ozanam whose work became the St. Vincent de Paul Society. She died in 1856 of frailty and fatigue from a lifetime of incredible work. Blessed Rosalie Rendu Feast Day is February 7th.

Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Religious ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Friday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time | February 7, 2025
Reading 1, Hebrews 13:1-8
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 27:1, 3, 5, 8-9
Gospel, Mark 6:14-29

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 6:14-29

“It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up”

“King Herod heard about Jesus, for his fame had become widespread, and people were saying, “John the Baptist has been raised from the dead; That is why mighty powers are at work in him.” Others were saying, “He is Elijah”; still others, “He is a prophet like any of the prophets.” But when Herod learned of it, he said, “It is John whom I beheaded. He has been raised up.” Herod was the one who had John arrested and bound in prison on account of Herodias, the wife of his brother Philip, whom he had married. John had said to Herod, “It is not lawful for you to have your brother’s wife.” Herodias harbored a grudge against him and wanted to kill him but was unable to do so. Herod feared John, knowing him to be a righteous and holy man, and kept him in custody. When he heard him speak he was very much perplexed, yet he liked to listen to him. Herodias had an opportunity one day when Herod, on his birthday, gave a banquet for his courtiers, his military officers, and the leading men of Galilee. His own daughter came in and performed a dance that delighted Herod and his guests. The king said to the girl, “Ask of me whatever you wish and I will grant it to you.” He even swore many things to her, “I will grant you whatever you ask of me, even to half of my kingdom.” She went out and said to her mother, “What shall I ask for?” Her mother replied, “The head of John the Baptist.” The girl hurried back to the king’s presence and made her request, “I want you to give me at once on a platter the head of John the Baptist.” The king was deeply distressed, but because of his oaths and the guests he did not wish to break his word to her. So he promptly dispatched an executioner with orders to bring back his head. He went off and beheaded him in the prison. He brought in the head on a platter and gave it to the girl. The girl in turn gave it to her mother. When his disciples heard about it, they came and took his body and laid it in a tomb.”

In today’s Gospel reading, at the beginning of the Gospel reading, people express their views as to who Jesus really is. Some say that Jesus is a prophet, like the prophets of old. Others are more specific and say that He is Elijah the prophet, whose return was expected at some time. Herod Antipas, the ruler of Galilee, thought that Jesus might be John the Baptist risen from the dead. If this is what Herod Antipas actually thought, it may have sprung from a sense of guilt over ordering the execution of John the Baptist because John was against Herod, who contrary to the Jewish Law, married his brother Philip’s wife. The Gospel of St. Mark gave the account of the time when St. John the Baptist, the Herald of the Messiah was imprisoned after having been arrested by King Herod Antipas upon his criticism and rebuke of the adulterous relationship which the king had with his own brother’s wife, Herodias, the wife of Philip, the brother of Herod Antipas himself. This relationship was considered as adulterous because according to inferences of Scriptural records and historical evidence, Philip, the brother of Herod was still very much alive, and this marriage had produced a daughter, the one named as the daughter of Herodias in the Gospel today, likely the stepdaughter of Herod. As Herod’s brother was still alive, for him to take his own brother’s wife as his own was adulterous. Therefore, St. John the Baptist harshly rebuked the immoral behaviour of the king, which did not show a good example for the people under his dominion and leadership, among other wicked deeds he had done. This led to St. John the Baptist being hated especially by Herodias, who plotted to have him killed, and this succeeded when Herodias managed to get Herod to make promises to her daughter, when he was bewitched by her beauty during a celebration, and hence, Herod had no choice but to order the execution of the holy man of God, who was beheaded, and his head was delivered to Herodias on a platter. St. John the Baptist, the Herald of the Messiah, the one to announce the coming of the Lord, was faithful to the very end, and showed his faith to all of us as good inspiration and example.

In the Gospel reading, Herod was afraid of John the Baptist, knowing him to be a good and holy man and Herod liked to listen to John even though he was often perplexed by what John had to say. It seems that Herod had John beheaded against his better judgement. He felt bound by a rather rash public oath he had made to his step daughter, the daughter of his wife Herodias from her marriage to Herod’s brother, Philip. Herod’s wife, Herodias, took advantage of Herod’s rash promise by getting her daughter to ask for the head of John the Baptist. Rather than follow his better instincts, Herod gave in to his wife’s request, to protect his honour. He couldn’t be seen not to keep an oath he had publicly made. Preserving his honour was more important than preserving the life of a man whom he knew to be good and holy. The dilemma of Herod is the dilemma of us all, at some time in our lives. We sense a call from deep within us to do what is good and noble and honourable, what is generous and life-giving. At the same time, we feel pressures of various kinds to ignore that call and act in a more self-serving way. At such moments, we need help from beyond ourselves, the help of the Holy Spirit, so that we can take the path the Lord is calling us to take, even though it is the more difficult path, the one that will demand more of us.

Reflecting on today’s Gospel, John the Baptist was the innocent victim of the irresponsible use of power. Accordi g to thr Gospel reading, Herod had John executed because he wanted to save face. Having made a reckless promise to his step daughter, he would not go back on it, as to do so would have meant a loss of honour. There have always been and still are innocent victims of the irresponsible use of power. Jesus was the supreme example of a victim of the irresponsible use of power. It was the religiously and politically powerful who had Jesus crucified. Whenever anyone is victimized in this way, it is always a terrible tragedy. Such a travesty of justice is never God’s will. Yet, both the death of John the Baptist and of Jesus show us that God can bring good out of such tragedies, out of such travesties of justice. God can work powerfully through the weakness of such innocent victims, even though it is never God’s will that such victimization should ever happen. It is Jesus and John, not Pilate or Caiaphas or Herod, who continue to shine as a light for all who seek the path of life today.

Our first reading today is the continuation of the discourse from the Epistle to the Hebrews. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews exhorts the faithful people of God from among the Jewish community to follow the path which the Lord has shown and taught them, that they all ought to obey sincerely and truly the Law and commandments of God by living their lives as good and devout followers of God, in being faithful to one another, as spouses and members of the family and the loving community of God’s people, to be ever righteous and just in everything that they say and do, so that they may be good examples to everyone. They were reminded to be kind and loving to those who are suffering, and to follow the examples of Christ Himself. All of us as Christians ought to embody our faith in our everyday living, doing our best so that we may reveal the Lord and His truth to everyone we encounter in our daily living. It is through each and every one of us that God may be proclaimed and glorified, and it is indeed our duty and responsibility to be missionary and evangelistic in our everyday actions and life. If we cannot carry out these faithfully and live our lives instead in the manner that is contrary to our faith, full of sin and wickedness, then we cannot call or consider ourselves as true Christians, as God’s truly beloved and faithful disciples, the ones whom He had called and chosen to be His own. Many people throughout history had been called by God and came to His salvation through the great examples of many of those who have lived their lives worthily as Christians, and equally many had been prevented and repulsed from doing so by the wickedness of those who called themselves as Christians as well.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded of the kind of life and actions that we are all expected to do as Christians, that is as those who are considered as followers and disciples of the Lord, and who have professed our faith in God. Each and every one of us as Christians must always strive to be truly devoted, genuine and committed to God, doing whatever we can so that by our holy and exemplary lives, we may always be good examples, role models and inspirations to everyone whom we encounter daily in life. We should be the shining beacons of God’s light, hope and truth, showing forth Who our Lord and Saviour is through our good examples and lives. And we must remember that our every actions, words and deeds, our whole lives and every moments in our existence will be held accountable on the Day of Judgment. If we have been faithful and committed ourselves sincerely and lovingly to the Lord, to the cause He has entrusted to us, and doing what we can to glorify God even in the smallest things we do in life, then we shall be righteous and justified because of this living and genuine faith which we have in God. On the contrary, if we have ignored our calling and mission in life, refusing to do what we are able to do to help others around us, to do what is God according to God’s Law and commandments, then those failures and omissions will be judged against us, and the Lord may count us among the unworthy and the condemned. We are all called to follow the lives and examples of the Holy men and women, and the Saints, particularly the Saints we celebrate today, Saint Richard of Lucca, King; Saint Moses the Black, Hermit and Martyr (St. Moses is venerated by many Christians around the world and is regarded by many as the Patron Saint of nonviolence, forgiveness and Africa) and Blessed Rosalie Rendu, Religious. Therefore let us all continue to do whatever we can so that in our everyday living we may always be good and faithful beacons of God’s light to everyone, to be great examples and inspirations to our brothers and sisters in our midst, to help many others to come to know the Lord and His truth, by sharing our faith with them, and by walking this path of life with righteousness and virtue in all the things that we say and do. May God bless us always, and may He empower us in all the efforts and works that we do so that our every good works and endeavours may bring even more good things and be ever more fruitful, now and forevermore. Let us all be good and worthy disciples of God, His beloved and holy children, His holy people. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to dedicate ourselves thoroughly and completely to walk in His path, to obey His will and commandments, and to answer His call with firm resolution in our hearts. May God bless us all in our every good efforts, deeds and endeavours, now and always, forevermore. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ’s public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.
The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother’s arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice.
The Saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are:
St. Blaise and St. Ansgar (February 3); St. Agatha (February 5); St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8); St. Scholastica (February 10); Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11); Sts. Cyril and Methodius (February 14); Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites (February 17); St. Peter Damian (February 21); Chair of St. Peter (February 22) and St. Polycarp (February 23). The Optional Memorial of Polycarp (February 23), is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.

From Feast to Fast: Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter). The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save His people from their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. In addition, the faithful may receive in February two of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats. “The Light of Revelation” shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday, falls on March 5, 2025, marking the beginning of the Lenten season and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son. 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12539

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Every life is a gift. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints, we humbly pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. For persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. We pray for all those who are sick, we particularly pray for sick children, the mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from breast cancer and other cancers and terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families. We pray for an end to war, political and religious unrest. We pray for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. For God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed and for all widows and widowers. We continue to pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits… Amen. We pray for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, the Middle East, for an end to the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

Let us pray:

My Lord of all Truth, Your Word and Your Word alone brings grace and salvation. Please give me the grace I need to always listen to Your Word and to respond generously with all my heart. May I repent when I am convicted by Your Word and may I wholeheartedly return to You. Give me courage when others reject Your Truth and wisdom to know how to share that Word with love. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Richard of Lucca; Saint Moses the Black and Blessed Rosalie Rendu ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this new year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all as during this Ordinary Time. Have a blessed, safe, and grace-filled and relaxing weekend. Amen 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 5, 2025

Greetings and blessings, beloved family and Happy Wednesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time!

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. St. Agatha is the Patron Saint of rape victims; torture victims; martyrs; single laywomen; sterility; nurses; wet-nurses; Bell-founders; jewelers; against breast cancer and diseases of the breast; invoked against earthquakes, fire, natural disasters; eruptions of Mount Etna; Catania, Italy; Palermo, Italy; Zamarramala, Spain. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Agatha, and all the Saints, we humbly pray for torture victims, victims of human trafficking, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. For those who are sick, especially those who are sick with cancers and other terminal diseases. For persecuted Christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints, may they intercede for us all and for peace in our families and our divided and conflicted World. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES [Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th | Novena prayer | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/05/catholic-daily-mass-daily-tv-mass-february-5-2025/

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/

DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY – FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE | Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025 (See also http://www.popesprayerusa.net/.)

We continue to pray for the intentions of our Holy Father. We pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits… Amen 🙏🏽

Today, we continue to pray for the victims of the recent plane and helicopter crash last week Wednesday evening near Washington, DC and the Medical transport jet crash in Philadelphia last week Friday night. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. May their gentle soul and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏🏽

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to pray for the repose of the gentle souls of the recent plane crashes and 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 abors 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🙏

PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS OF WILDFIRES AND DISASTERS: We continue to pray for the victims of the current wildfires in the United States (Los Angeles, California and other parts of the country) and victims of natural disasters across the world. We especially pray for those that have lost their lives and their families and loved ones.

“Most Merciful God, Be “our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress” (Psalm 46:1). You created us and sustain us by Your almighty power. Your mercy knows no bounds. At this time of great suffering, we entrust all victims of the wildfires to You. Comfort them, fill them with Your grace, and provide for their needs. We entrust all who have died to Your merciful Heart. Cleanse them of their sins and welcome them into Your heavenly Kingdom. Give wisdom and prudence to those managing this disaster. Give courage and resolve to those on the front lines. Keep them safe and successful in their efforts. Command the winds and the flames to obey You, Lord, as You once calmed the stormy seas. Pour the water of Your grace upon these destructive fires. Stay them with Your powerful hand. Angels of God, come to the aid of those most in need of God’s mercy. Protect them, guide them, and reveal to them God’s holy will. St. Florian, patron of firefighters, pray for those bravely battling the flames. St. Michael the Archangel, defend them in their peril. Saints in Heaven, we beseech your prayer. Intercede for those most in need. From this tragedy and chaos, bring hope and peace. Turn sorrow into compassion. Turn confusion into faith. Turn despair into divine hope. We place all our trust in You, Most Merciful God, knowing that You will bring forth new life and healing from the ashes of this trial. May Your name be glorified now and forever. Amen” 🙏🏽

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/

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES [Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th]

NOVENA PRAYER: Most Holy Mother Mary, at Lourdes you asked us to do penance and to pray for the conversion of sinners. Obtain for each of us the grace of true repentance. Help those for whom we pray, and especially those who most need God’s mercy. Your Divine Son so loves every soul that He gave His life to pay the price for our redemption. Help us to return His love by making the sacrifices needed to keep his commandments. Most Holy Mother you offered your Divine Son to the Eternal Father when you presented Him in the temple; offer us to the Father as your other children; watch over us and guide us. Blessed Mother, obtain for me the grace I most need, and especially these favors that I ask in this Novena, if they be in keeping with God’s will. Amen.
O Immaculate Virgin Mary, preserved from the slightest stain of sin, and enriched with all the treasures of divine grace, I thank you for the many blessings I have received through your most powerful intercession. You know my needs, my trials, my sufferings. Mother of mercy, I beseech you to hear my prayer, and to obtain for me of your Divine Son the favors I seek in this Novena. (Here make your requests.)

THE MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen 🙏🏽(Add your daily Rosary)

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us 🙏🏽
Saint Bernadette, Pray for us 🙏🏽

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes Link | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT AGATHA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR – FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 5TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr. St. Agatha is the Patron Saint of rape victims; torture victims; martyrs; single laywomen; sterility; nurses; wet-nurses; Bell-founders; jewelers; against breast cancer and diseases of the breast; invoked against earthquakes, fire, natural disasters; eruptions of Mount Etna; Catania, Italy; Palermo, Italy; Zamarramala, Spain. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Agatha, and all the Saints, we humbly pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. For those who are sick, especially those who are sick with cancers and other terminal diseases. For persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. May they intercede for us all and for peace in our families and our conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏽

Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

Saint(s) of the Day | February 5th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

SAINT AGATHA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: St. Agatha (231-251 A.D.) was an illustrious Sicilian virgin, noble by birth but more so by her heroic virtue, was martyred (at Catania in 251 during the Decian persecution) for refusing the solicitations of a Roman senator. At a young age she made the decision to devote herself to Christ, resisting every offer of marriage. Struck by her beauty and wealth, a magistrate named Quintanius desired to marry her. He plotted to use his political power to force her hand, and threatened to prosecute her for the crime of Christianity unless she accepted his sexual advances. When she refused, he forced her into a brothel. Even there, she refused to relinquish her chastity. Furious, Quintanius imprisoned and tortured Agatha, ordering her breasts to be cut off. Upon this barbaric treatment, God sent St. Peter the Apostle to Agatha in a vision, and he healed her wounds. St. Agatha’s torture continued, when she continued to resist, she was then thrown upon red-hot coals. At this point, a violent earthquake shook the town, caused her captors to flee, two walls collapsed, burying two of the governor’s friends in the debris. Quintanius, fearing that people would rise up in protest, had Agatha returned to prison half dead. Here she offered her dying prayer: “Blessed Agatha stood in the midst of the prison and with outstretched arms prayed to the Lord: O Lord Jesus Christ, good Master, I give You thanks that You granted me victory over the executioners’ tortures. Grant now that I may happily dwell in Your never-ending glory.” Thereupon she died of her tortures shortly after in 251 at Catania, Sicily.

A year after her death the city of Catania was in great peril from an eruption on Mount Etna. Pagans, too, were numbered among those who fled in terror to the saint’s grave. Her veil was taken and held against the onrushing flames, and suddenly the danger ceased. Her grave is venerated at Catania in Sicily. She is one of the seven women, besides the Virgin Mary, mentioned by name in the Roman Canon of the Mass. Her name is contained in Eucharistic Prayer I at Mass. St. Agatha is the Patron Saint of rape victims; torture victims; martyrs; single laywomen; sterility; nurses; wet-nurses; Bell-founders; jewelers; against breast cancer and diseases of the breast; invoked against earthquakes, fire, natural disasters; eruptions of Mount Etna; Catania, Italy; Palermo, Italy; Zamarramala, Spain.

“Jesus Christ, Lord of all things! You see my heart, You know my desires. Possess all that I am – You alone. I am Your sheep. Make me worthy to overcome the devil.” ~ St. Agatha

PRAYER: Lord God, St. Agatha always pleased You by her chastity and in the end her martyrdom. May she obtain for us merciful pardon for our sins. Amen🙏🏽

Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

Saint(s) of the Day | February 5th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass for Wednesday, Fourth Week in Ordinary Time | Memorial of Saint Agatha, Virgin and Martyr | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday, February 5, 2025
Reading 1, Hebrews 12:4-7, 11-15
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 103:1-2, 13-14, 17-18
Gospel, Mark 6:1-6

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 6:1-6

“A prophet is not without honor except in his native place”

“Jesus departed from there and came to his native place, accompanied by his disciples. When the sabbath came he began to teach in the synagogue, and many who heard him were astonished. They said, “Where did this man get all this? What kind of wisdom has been given him? What mighty deeds are wrought by his hands! Is he not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James and Joseph and Judas and Simon? And are not his sisters here with us?” And they took offense at him. Jesus said to them, “A prophet is not without honor except in his native place and among his own kin and in his own house.” So he was not able to perform any mighty deed there, apart from curing a few sick people by laying his hands on them. He was amazed at their lack of faith.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the people of Nazareth took offense at the fact that one of their own, someone whose family they knew well, someone whom they had known as a carpenter, was now displaying great wisdom in the words He spoke and great power in His deeds on behalf of others. ‘What is this wisdom that has been granted to Him, and these miracles that are worked through Him?’ They took offense, it seems, not at His actual wisdom and power, but at the fact that one of their own was displaying such wisdom and power. It was as if Jesus was too ordinary, too much like themselves, to be taken seriously. They would not accept him; in the words of Jesus, they despised Him. He was too familiar to them; they knew His mother and His family. He was one of their own; He was too ordinary. He could not possibly be all that different to everyone else in Nazareth. It is a clear case of familiarity breeding contempt. Jesus’ family were as ordinary as all the other inhabitants of this small town. He was the son of a ‘carpenter’, a term that can refer to a person with a skill not just with wood but with stone. Such a skill would have been in demand but indicated nothing exceptional. The reading suggests that we can sometimes be slow to recognize the presence of God in the ordinary and the familiar. The people of Nazareth were familiar with Jesus’ family who continued to live among them and whose members they could name off. Rather than rejoicing in the life-giving power of His ministry and the wisdom of His teaching, the people of Nazareth were scandalized by Him, because, in so many ways, He was no different from themselves. They were coming up against the scandal of the incarnation, the Word who was God became flesh as all of us are flesh. God chose to come to us in and through someone who was like us in all things, except sin. When Jesus went on to speak about God, He often pointed to the ordinary, to the familiar, to the normal – a farmer sowing seed, a man on a journey from Jerusalem to Jericho, a rebellious son in a family, a widow looking for justice from a judge. The life and teaching of Jesus shows us that God speaks to us in and through the ordinary events of life. What we need are the eyes to see and the ears to hear the extraordinary in the ordinary, the divine in the human.

According to the Gospel, Jesus had spent the best part of thirty years in Nazareth. During that time He was known by all as the carpenter, or the son of the carpenter, and the son of Mary. However, since leaving Nazareth, Jesus’ life had taken a new direction. He had thrown Himself into the work that God had given Him to do. He had left Nazareth as a carpenter; He returned as a teacher and a healer. There was in fact much more to Jesus that His own townspeople had ever suspected while He was living among them. The Gospel reading suggests that, when He returned for the first time after leaving, they could not accept this ‘more’; they rejected Him. They wanted Him to be the person they had always known; they would not allow Him to move on from their former perception of Him. The image they had of Him, which they held on to with great tenacity, became a block to their learning more about Him. There was more to Jesus than the people of Nazareth were aware of. Indeed there is always more to every human being than we are aware of. That is true even of those we would claim to know well.

Our first reading today is from the continuation of the discourse from the Epistle to the Hebrews, in which the author reminded the faithful among the Jewish community of the reality of how the Lord their God has adopted all of them as His own beloved children, and how He has loved them, guided them, helped and chastised them as a loving Father would do to His children, to help and guide them in their journey throughout life so that they will not end up falling into temptations and the path to ruin. This is contrasted to the traditional perception of God among the Jewish community at that time and previously, which perceived God as distant, invisible and transcendent beyond the reach of the people. But the Incarnation of the Saviour, the Son of God Himself in the flesh, has made God to be approachable and tangible for us. The author of the Epistle to the Hebrews had spent a lot of time and effort throughout his Epistle to elaborate about the nature and role of the Messiah, the One Whom God had sent into the world to be the Liberator and the One to redeem us from our many sins, all the things that had separated us from God, our most loving and gracious Father and Creator. Therefore, he told the Jewish community how this same Saviour that God had sent into the world was truly the Son of God, and by His incarnation, He has become one like us, sharing our human existence and nature, and by doing so, He has made us all to share in His relationship with the Heavenly Father, and allow us all to become the adopted sons and daughters of God, while at the same time restoring the grace that has been lost to us, by His action in redeeming us through His loving sacrifice on the Cross.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded of the hope that we all ought to have in the Lord, our God, Who is also our most loving Father and Creator. As long as we continue to have faith in Him, we will not be disappointed, and we will be assured the glorious inheritance that He has promised to all of us, the many graces and blessings which He, our loving Father has prepared for all of us, whom He has adopted to become His own most beloved sons and daughters. All of us must have faith in the Lord even when others despise us and make our lives difficult and challenging, as it is through the Lord alone that we shall be triumphant in the end against all of those who seek our destruction and damnation. There is truly no hope and future for us beyond the Lord. We are called as Christians to emulate the lives and examples of the Holy men and women and all the Saints, particularly the Saints we celebrate today, St. Agatha, Virgin and Holy Martyr of the Church. Let us all remember God’s most generous love for us as our loving Father, in all that He had done for us, and in how He guided us all patiently throughout even the most difficult and challenging moments in life. We are also reminded to be faithful like how St. Agatha had been faithful in all things, in all her commitment to God and the courage she showed in resisting all the efforts to turn her away from the Lord and in how she had maintained her faith courageously despite all the sufferings and martyrdom that she had to endure. That is why, today all of us as Christians are called and reminded to be good examples and inspirations for each other, to be the beacons of God’s light and hope for everyone around us. Let us all continue to love the Lord our God with all of our hearts and might, and help one another in accomplishing our respective missions in this world. Let us all be strengthened in faith in the Lord, being always reminded that God Himself has willingly dwelled in our midst, and He has always been loving and compassionate towards us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace, as we all place Him at the centre of all of our lives, and let us continue to live our lives worthily in accordance to what God has shown and taught us, that we may be truly exemplary and inspirational in our own way of life. May the Lord bless us all in our every good endeavours, efforts and works, and may He continue to help and guide us in our journey through life so that in all things and at all opportunities, we will always strive to be good, faithful and worthy Christians, to be faithful and righteous as our holy predecessors had been, like St. Agatha before us. Amen 🙏🏽

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ’s public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.
The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother’s arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice.
The Saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are:
St. Blaise and St. Ansgar (February 3); St. Agatha (February 5); St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8); St. Scholastica (February 10); Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11); Sts. Cyril and Methodius (February 14); Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites (February 17); St. Peter Damian (February 21); Chair of St. Peter (February 22) and St. Polycarp (February 23). The Optional Memorial of Polycarp (February 23), is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.

From Feast to Fast: Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter). The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save His people from their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. In addition, the faithful may receive in February two of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats. “The Light of Revelation” shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday, falls on March 5, 2025, marking the beginning of the Lenten season and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son. 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12539

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Agatha, and all the Saints, we humbly pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. For persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. We pray for all those who are sick, we particularly pray for sick children, the mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from breast cancer and other cancers and terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families. We pray for an end to war, political and religious unrest. We pray for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. For God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed and for all widows and widowers. We continue to pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits… Amen. We pray for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. Please let us continue to pray for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏽

Let us pray:

My ever-present Lord, thank You for the countless ways in which You are present in the lives of those all around me. Give me the grace to see You and to love You in the lives of those closest to me. As I discover Your glorious presence in their lives, fill me with deep gratitude and help me to acknowledge Your love that comes forth from their lives. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Agatha ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this new year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all as during this Ordinary Time. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled and fruitful week. Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 4, 2025

Greetings beloved family and Happy Tuesday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time!

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Joseph of Leonessa, Priest; Saint Joan of Valois, Queen of France (Patron Saint of those in difficult circumstances) and Saint Andrew Corsini, Bishop of Fiesole (Patron Saint: Against Civil disorder; Against riot; Florence; Fiesole; Diplomats). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints, may they intercede for us all and for peace in our families and our divided and conflicted World. We ask this through Christ our Lord…. Amen 🙏🏽

We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES [Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th | Novena prayer | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | February 4, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/04/catholic-daily-mass-daily-tv-mass-february-4-2025/

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/

DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY – FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE | Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025 (See also http://www.popesprayerusa.net/.)

We continue to pray for the intentions of our Holy Father. We pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits… Amen 🙏🏽

Today, we continue to pray for the victims of the recent plane and helicopter crash last week Wednesday evening near Washington, DC and the Medical transport jet crash in Philadelphia last week Friday night. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. May their gentle soul and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏🏽

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES [Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th]

NOVENA PRAYER: Most Holy Mother Mary, at Lourdes you asked us to do penance and to pray for the conversion of sinners. Obtain for each of us the grace of true repentance. Help those for whom we pray, and especially those who most need God’s mercy. Your Divine Son so loves every soul that He gave His life to pay the price for our redemption. Help us to return His love by making the sacrifices needed to keep his commandments. Most Holy Mother you offered your Divine Son to the Eternal Father when you presented Him in the temple; offer us to the Father as your other children; watch over us and guide us. Blessed Mother, obtain for me the grace I most need, and especially these favors that I ask in this Novena, if they be in keeping with God’s will. Amen.
O Immaculate Virgin Mary, preserved from the slightest stain of sin, and enriched with all the treasures of divine grace, I thank you for the many blessings I have received through your most powerful intercession. You know my needs, my trials, my sufferings. Mother of mercy, I beseech you to hear my prayer, and to obtain for me of your Divine Son the favors I seek in this Novena. (Here make your requests.)

THE MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen 🙏🏽(Add your daily Rosary)

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us 🙏🏽
Saint Bernadette, Pray for us 🙏🏽

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes Link | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOSEPH OF LEONESSA, PRIEST; SAINT JOAN OF VALOIS, QUEEN OF FRANCE AND SAINT ANDREW CORSINI, BISHOP OF FIESOLE- FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 4TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Joseph of Leonessa, Priest; Saint Joan of Valois, Queen of France (Patron Saint of those in difficult circumstances) and Saint Andrew Corsini, Bishop of Fiesole (Patron Saint: Against Civil disorder; Against riot; Florence; Fiesole; Diplomats). Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints, may they intercede for us all and for peace in our families and our conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏽

Saint Joseph of Leonessa, Priest; Saint Joan of Valois, Queen of France and Saint Andrew Corsini, Bishop of Fiesole ~ Pray for us 🙏

Saint(s) of the Day | February 4th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

SAINT JOSEPH OF LEONESSA, PRIEST St. Joseph of Leonessa, OFM Cap.; was  born Eufranio Desideri at Leonessa in Umbria, Italy on January 8, 1556. He was the third of eight children. At baptism he was given the name Eufranio. Impressed by the example of Matthew Silvestri, who had left the medical profession to embrace the Capuchin life and whose holiness was evident, Eufranio was inspired to become a Capuchin.  After overcoming family opposition, he was admitted to the novitiate and received the habit and the name Joseph and made profession on January 8, 1573. On May 21, 1581, the Capuchin general vicar issued patents for preaching, the ministry in which Joseph would be engaged for the remainder of his life. Relying solely on grace and with a mission crucifix always tucked in his cincture, Joseph negotiated the most obscure, mountainous regions of Umbria, Lazio and the Abruzzi in an intense and extensive mission of evangelization among those who were poor. Joseph enjoyed such great success in preaching because of his intimate union with God which was cultivated by incessant prayer. He would pray and meditate on the road, while holding his crucifix. Assigned to  Constantinople he was appointed as chaplain to some 4,000 Christian slaves who worked in the penal colony of Qaasim-pacha. He immediately went to work bringing the Gospel and charitable relief to those who were languishing in inhumane conditions. Many times he offered himself as a substitute in order to obtain the release of a slave who was near death. His offer was never accepted.

When the plague broke out in the penal colonies, the Capuchins immediately took up the ministry of assisting those who were sick and dying. Two Capuchins, Peter and Dennis, died doing so. Although Joseph became ill, he and Brother Gregory alone survived to remain at the mission. After converting a Greek bishop who had renounced the faith, Joseph devised a plan which entailed approaching the sultan, Murad 111, to seek the recognition of the right of freedom of conscience for anyone who was converted or returned to the Christian faith. When Joseph attempted to enter the sultan’s chambers, he was arrested and bound in chains. He was condemned to an immediate death by being hung on hooks. He was hung from the gallows with one hook through the tendons of his right hand and another through his right foot.  Near death, on the evening of the third day, the guards cut him down. Joseph quickly left Turkey and arrived at Rome where he and the converted Greek bishop presented themselves to Pope Sixtus V. Following Joseph’s return to Italy, in the autumn of 1589, he took up residence at the Carcerelle in Assisi. In the aftermath of the Council of Trent, Joseph spent much time and energy catechizing. He began a ministry of evangelization among shepherds who lacked even rudimentary knowledge of the faith, prayer and the commandments. He would walk through the streets ringing a bell, reminding parents to send their children to catechism class. When he became deathly ill, Joseph asked to be taken to Leonessa in order to pay his last respects to his relatives and friends. On Saturday evening, February 4, 1612, after beginning the divine office, which proved too difficult to continue, Joseph repeated his favorite prayer: “Sancta Maria, succurre miseris.”  Joseph was beatified by Clement XII in 1737 and canonized by Benedict XIV in 1746.

PRAYER: O God, You made St. Joseph and illustrious preacher of the Gospel. Through his intercession, enkindle us with love and with his zeal for souls that we may serve You alone. Amen🙏

SAINT JOAN OF VALOIS, QUEEN OF FRANCE: St. Joan of Valois (1464-1505) also known as Jane, Jeanne, Joanna of France. The second daughter of Louis X1, King of France, and Charlotte of Savoy, she was born on April 23, 1464. Joan’s father hated her from birth, partly because of her sex and partly because she was sickly and deformed.  Joan had a hump on her back and walked with a limp, suggesting that she had curvature of the spine. At the age of five, she was sent away to be brought up by guardians in a lonely country home, deprived of common comforts and sometimes even necessities. The neglected child offered her whole heart to God, and yearned to do some special service in honor of His blessed Mother. She developed a deep devotion to Our Lady, praying the Angelus daily. At the age of two months Joan was betrothed to Louis, Duke of Orleans, the future King Louis XII, and the marriage took place when she was just nine years old. The marriage was forced upon Louis and was never consummated.

After her marriage, Joan suffered even more than before. The duke hated the fact that she was imposed on him in the marriage, and even publicly insulted and humiliated her. In spite of this, Joan loved him and remained a devoted and faithful wife for twenty-two years. Joan saved her husband’s life when her brother, King Charles VIII decided to execute him for rebellion. When the duke ascended to the throne in 1498 and wanted to marry Ann of Brittany, he had Pope Alexander VI declare his marriage to Joan null.  Joan offered no objections and accepted the situation with the patience that marked her entire life.  “If so it is to be, praised be the Lord”, was her remark on this occasion. With humility, in imitation of Our Lady, she accepted the will of God. In 1500, along with her Franciscan director, Gilbert Nicolas, Joan founded the Order of the Annunciation, a community whose chief rule was to imitate the virtues of Mary, as shown in the Gospels. Jane died in heroic sanctity at the age of 41 on February 4, 1505, and was buried in the royal crown and purple, beneath which lay the habit of her Order. She was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. Many miracles, particularly of healing, followed her death. St. Joan is the patron of those in difficult circumstances.

Quote:  “I am ugly in body but I want a beautiful soul.” ~ St. Joan of Valois

Saint Joan of Valois, Queen of France ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT ANDREW CORSINI, BISHOP OF FIESOLE: St. Andrew (1302 – 1373)
was born at the beginning of the fourteenth century in Florence Italy on November 30, 1302 to illustrious Corsini family and entered the Carmelite Order there. He was elected provincial of Tuscany at the general chapter of Metz in 1348. He was made bishop of Fiesole on October 13th, 1349, and gave the Church a wonderful example of love, apostolic zeal, prudence, and love of the poor.  A short time before the birth of Saint Andrew, his mother experienced a strange dream, in which she had given birth to a wolf which became a lamb upon entering a Carmelite church. After a dissolute youthful life Andrew repented, when one day in 1318 his desolate mother told him of her dream. He rose and went to the altar in the church where his parents had offered to God the child they hoped to obtain from His mercy; there he prayed to the Blessed Virgin with tears, then went to beg his admission to the Carmelite Order. He began a life of great mortification. Ordained a priest in 1328, he studied in Paris and Avignon, and on his return became the Apostle of Florence, and Prior of his convent there.

In 1360, despite his efforts to the contrary, he was made Bishop of Fiesole in Tuscany, near Florence, and gained a great reputation as a peacemaker between rival political factions and for his love of the poor. He was also named papal nuncio to Bologna, where he pacified dissenting factions and won the hearts of the nobility with whom he was associating. He wrought many miracles of healing and conversion during his lifetime. A man of austere penance, he fasted continuously, always wore a hair shirt, and prayed the penitential psalms daily. For humility’s sake he often washed the feet of the poor and beggars. His special gift from God was the grace to effect the conversion of hardened sinners. At the age of 71, while he was celebrating the midnight Mass of Christmas, the Blessed Virgin appeared to him and told him he would leave this world on the feast of the Epiphany, to meet the beloved Master he had served so faithfully. In effect, he died on that day on January 6, 1373 in Fiesole, Italy, in the thirteenth year of his episcopacy. Miracles were so multiplied thereafter that Pope Eugenius IV permitted a public cult immediately. The city of Florence has always invoked him with confidence and happy results. Canonized on April 22, 1629 at Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome, Papal States; by Pope Urban VIII. He’s Patron Saint: Against Civil disorder; Against riot; Florence; Fiesole; Diplomats;

Saint Andrew Corsini, Bishop of Fiesole ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, February 4, 2025
Reading 1, Hebrews 12:1-4
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 22:26-27, 28, 30, 31-32
Gospel, Mark 5:21-43

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 5:21-43

“Little girl, I say to you, arise!”

“When Jesus had crossed again in the boat to the other side, a large crowd gathered around him, and he stayed close to the sea. One of the synagogue officials, named Jairus, came forward. Seeing him he fell at his feet and pleaded earnestly with him, saying, “My daughter is at the point of death. Please, come lay your hands on her that she may get well and live.” He went off with him and a large crowd followed him. There was a woman afflicted with hemorrhages for twelve years. She had suffered greatly at the hands of many doctors and had spent all that she had. Yet she was not helped but only grew worse. She had heard about Jesus and came up behind him in the crowd and touched his cloak. She said, “If I but touch his clothes, I shall be cured.” Immediately her flow of blood dried up. She felt in her body that she was healed of her affliction. Jesus, aware at once that power had gone out from him, turned around in the crowd and asked, “Who has touched my clothes?” But his disciples said to him, “You see how the crowd is pressing upon you, and yet you ask, Who touched me?” And he looked around to see who had done it. The woman, realizing what had happened to her, approached in fear and trembling. She fell down before Jesus and told him the whole truth. He said to her, “Daughter, your faith has saved you. Go in peace and be cured of your affliction.” While he was still speaking, people from the synagogue official’s house arrived and said, “Your daughter has died; why trouble the teacher any longer?” Disregarding the message that was reported, Jesus said to the synagogue official, “Do not be afraid; just have faith.” He did not allow anyone to accompany him inside except Peter, James, and John, the brother of James. When they arrived at the house of the synagogue official, he caught sight of a commotion, people weeping and wailing loudly. So he went in and said to them, “Why this commotion and weeping? The child is not dead but asleep.” And they ridiculed him. Then he put them all out. He took along the child’s father and mother and those who were with him and entered the room where the child was. He took the child by the hand and said to her, “Talitha koum,” which means, “Little girl, I say to you, arise!” The girl, a child of twelve, arose immediately and walked around. At that they were utterly astounded. He gave strict orders that no one should know this and said that she should be given something to eat.”

In today’s Gospel reading, two people approached Jesus for help. One was a synagogue official named Jairus, a person of some standing in the community with reasonably high social status and probably well to do. He approached Jesus very publicly on behalf of his dying daughter. The other was a nameless woman who would have been excluded from the synagogue because of her condition (hemorrhage) and had become impoverished because of her illness. She approached Jesus very privately on her own behalf, discreetly touching the hem of His garment. Here we have two people from opposite ends of the social and religious spectrum. Yet, they have something in common and that is their trusting faith in the power of Jesus as the Lord and giver of life. Their needs were great, and they approached Jesus in their needs. Jairus fell at Jesus’ feet in a very public way; the woman came up behind Jesus and secretly touched His cloak. One didn’t mind being noticed; the other didn’t want to be noticed. The woman with hemorrhage didn’t have the self-confidence of the synagogue official. Perhaps she felt unworthy to be approaching Jesus. After all, she was a woman; she was penniless; she had a physical condition (chronic haemorrhage) that, under the Jewish Law, rendered her ritually unclean and prevented her from entering the synagogue. They approach Jesus in very different ways but their faith is equally strong. Yet, it was the woman that Jesus challenged to be more public about her faith, with the question, ‘Who touched me?’ The Lord looks to us to publicly witness to our trusting faith in Him. Our public witness is a support to the faith of others. The Gospel reading also suggests that the Lord wants to engage with each one of us in our uniqueness. He wants a personal relationship with each of us. That is why He wanted to meet the woman who touched the hem of His cloak. He needed to look into her eyes, to talk to her, to confirm her faith that led her to Him. The woman who wanted to be anonymous found herself addressed by Jesus as ‘my daughter’. The Lord calls each of us by name; He relates to us as the unique individual that we are. The gospel reading reminds us that the Lord does not make distinctions between people. He wants each one of us to approach Him in trust as beloved sons and daughters regardless of where we find ourselves in life. There is nothing that need block us from confidently coming before the Lord in our need and opening ourselves to His personal presence to us.

In these two well-known miracles that the Lord Jesus had done during His ministry, healing the woman who was suffering from haemorrhage and also raising the dead daughter of the synagogue official named Jairus, God has shown us all His providence and love, as He reached out to those who sought His help and mercy. The woman who was suffering from haemorrhage had no one else to turn to, and she had tried out many methods and sought many people’s help in vain, and that was when she decided to seek the Lord, quietly and discreetly because her condition was something that had made her disgraced and unclean according to the Law. Jairus, the synagogue official also turned to the Lord as there was no one else who could help his very sick daughter, who eventually passed away. What is remarkable is that for each one of them, they had such faith in the Lord and believed in Him so much that they were willing to make the effort to come towards Him, to seek His healing and mercy. The woman braved through the crowds and believed that if she could just touch the fringe of His cloak, then she could be healed. And later on, after his daughter passed away, Jairus still believed in the Lord even though the others at his house laughed at Him when He said that Jairus’ daughter was merely asleep. And as the Lord Himself said, it was their faith in Him which had saved them, and the woman was healed, the dead daughter of Jairus was raised and returned from the dead because of the faith which they all had in God, in His love and Providence, above all else. Therefore, it is a reminder for all of us that even in moments of our greatest sufferings, when everything seemed to be against us, and when life is very tough and challenging for us, we must always keep our faith in the Lord and we must not easily be tempted to give up our faith and struggle, or to seek for other source of help and things to depend on other than the Lord, our God. It is very often that many among us, our predecessors and ancestors had fallen into the path of sin and darkness because they were unable to resist the temptations, pressures and coercions to abandon the Lord, when the evil ones managed to persuade them that there was no use to have faith in God, or that they were alone in their struggles and journeys, and hence, embrace the false promises of the evil ones, the path of ruin and darkness that they had offered.

Our first reading today from the Epistle to the Hebrews, are the words of the author to the Jewish community and believers among them which were meant to encourage them so that amidst all the challenges and trials that they would have to face throughout their lives in this world, they were not alone, and the Lord would also guide them, strengthening them and empowering them to overcome all those obstacles and challenges. And the author also reassured them in believing in Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, because even though He had suffered, betrayed by His own people and the leaders of the Jewish community, made to suffer the most humiliating death on the Cross, but He has risen triumphantly in glory, overcoming the trials and opponents that have been in His way, principally being sin and death. If we remember His loving sacrifice and how He has patiently offered Himself for our sake, then we will remember how He has also endured what we are facing now, and He is there for us, even at the most difficult and challenging moments. We should not abandon Him just like those disciples who had abandoned Him when He was facing the moments of His Passion, His suffering and death. Knowing that we are truly beloved and precious in the eyes of the Lord, is something that we must always remember, so that even in the darkest times, we will not easily give up the struggle and the fight, to continue to live our lives faithfully and worthily as Christians as we have always done, to bear witness to the Lord and His Good News, His love and truth through our lives.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are once again reminded firstly of the nature of our Christian faith, of how we are likely going to face difficulties and hardships in our path, just as the Lord Himself and our many predecessors have shown us through their lives and experiences. And yet, at the same time, we must not allow ourselves to be overcome by fear and doubt, because the Lord Himself is by our side, guiding and strengthening us, journeying with us together, helping us to shoulder the challenges and to push forward in our journey towards Him. Being a faithful Christian is likely something that will not be an easy task, as many of our predecessors and perhaps we ourselves have experienced throughout our respective journeys. But with God, everything is possible, and it is this strong and enduring faith in God that all of us need to have with us, so that we may continue to uphold this faith regardless of the obstacles and difficulties that we may have to face. We cannot be easily pressured or coerced to abandon the Lord just because we want to have a good and easy path in life. We must always remember that with God, everything will be possible for us, and through Him, we will be able to overcome even the greatest of the difficulties and obstacles, and even our final enemy, that is death. Our Scripture readings today serves to remind us exactly of this reality, and we have to keep this in mind as we continue to progress through life, as we face our daily struggles and challenges around us. We are called to emulate the lives and examples of the Holy men and women and all the Saints, particularly the Saints we celebrate today, Saint Joseph of Leonessa, Priest; Saint Joan of Valois, Queen of France (Patron Saint of those in difficult circumstances) and Saint Andrew Corsini, Bishop of Fiesole (Patron Saint: Against Civil disorder; Against riot; Florence; Fiesole; Diplomats). As Christians, each and every one of us ought to be good role models and examples to one another, and we should help encourage our brethren around us so that we will always be strong and able to persevere despite the many obstacles and challenges that we may have to face in our path. Let us all continue to support each other and be active members of the Church, doing our very best to contribute our efforts and good works for the evangelisation of the whole world. May the Lord be with us all, and may He continue to guide us all in our journey, strengthen our faith and empower us with the resolve and commitment needed for us all to do our part as living and active members of His Body, the Church, now and always. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace and freedom to let go of our plans when the Lord’s life-giving purpose for our lives beckons to us and may the Lord bless us always, in our every good efforts, works and endeavours. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ’s public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.
The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother’s arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice.
The Saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are:
St. Blaise and St. Ansgar (February 3); St. Agatha (February 5); St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8); St. Scholastica (February 10); Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11); Sts. Cyril and Methodius (February 14); Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites (February 17); St. Peter Damian (February 21); Chair of St. Peter (February 22) and St. Polycarp (February 23). The Optional Memorial of Polycarp (February 23), is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.

From Feast to Fast: Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter). The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save His people from their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. In addition, the faithful may receive in February two of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats. “The Light of Revelation” shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday, falls on March 5, 2025, marking the beginning of the Lenten season and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son. 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12539

For the repose of the gentle souls of the recent plane crashes and 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 abors 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🙏

PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS OF WILDFIRES AND DISASTERS: We continue to pray for the victims of the current wildfires in the United States (Los Angeles, California and other parts of the country) and victims of natural disasters across the world. We especially pray for those that have lost their lives and their families and loved ones.

“Most Merciful God, Be “our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress” (Psalm 46:1). You created us and sustain us by Your almighty power. Your mercy knows no bounds. At this time of great suffering, we entrust all victims of the wildfires to You. Comfort them, fill them with Your grace, and provide for their needs. We entrust all who have died to Your merciful Heart. Cleanse them of their sins and welcome them into Your heavenly Kingdom. Give wisdom and prudence to those managing this disaster. Give courage and resolve to those on the front lines. Keep them safe and successful in their efforts. Command the winds and the flames to obey You, Lord, as You once calmed the stormy seas. Pour the water of Your grace upon these destructive fires. Stay them with Your powerful hand. Angels of God, come to the aid of those most in need of God’s mercy. Protect them, guide them, and reveal to them God’s holy will. St. Florian, patron of firefighters, pray for those bravely battling the flames. St. Michael the Archangel, defend them in their peril. Saints in Heaven, we beseech your prayer. Intercede for those most in need. From this tragedy and chaos, bring hope and peace. Turn sorrow into compassion. Turn confusion into faith. Turn despair into divine hope. We place all our trust in You, Most Merciful God, knowing that You will bring forth new life and healing from the ashes of this trial. May Your name be glorified now and forever. Amen” 🙏🏽

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/

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, on this feast of the Presentation of the Lord, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints, we humbly pray for all those who are sick, for sick children, the mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for an end to war, political and religious unrest. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families. We pray for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. For God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and 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 through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen. For all widows and widowers. We continue to pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits… Amen. We pray for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. Please let us continue to pray for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏽

Let us pray:

My compassionate Lord, You consoled this grieving father and instilled within him the gifts of faith and hope. Please also speak your command of love to me, calling me to trust in You no matter what I struggle with in life. May I always have faith in You and never fall into despair or fear. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Mother Mary, Saint Joseph of Leonessa; Saint Joan of Valois and Saint Andrew Corsini ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this new year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all as during this Ordinary Time. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled and fruitful week. Amen🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 3, 2025

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES [Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th ~ Novena prayer below]

Greetings beloved family and Happy Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time!

Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr and Saint Ansgar, Bishop. Two great and Holy men, whose lives can be great source of inspiration and hope for us all to follow in our own lives and journeys of faith. St. Blaise, was a well-known physician, and today revered a Patron Saint of physicians, animals, veterinarians, and also over throat sickness and diseases, and the special blessing associated to him, the Blessing of Throats by St. Blaise is a popular and well-known tradition of the Church. Through the intercession of St. Blaise, we humbly pray for all those who are sick, we particularly pray for those suffering from diseases of the throat and terminal diseases and for protection of all people. We ask this through Christ our Lord…. Amen🙏

We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES [Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th | Novena praye | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | “Angelus with Pope Francis, from the Vatican | February 3, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/04/catholic-daily-mass-2/

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/

DAILY REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

On this Special Feast Day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, St. Blaise and St. Ansgar, and all the Saints, may they intercede for our children, children all over the world, the sick and us all. Amen. St. Blaise, Bishop, and St. Ansgar, Bishop and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

Today, we continue to pray for the victims of the recent plane and helicopter crash last week Wednesday evening near Washington, DC and the Medical transport jet crash in Philadelphia last week Friday night. Our thoughts and prayers are with all the victims, their families and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time. May their gentle soul and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏🏽

NOVENA IN HONOR OF OUR LADY OF LOURDES [Novena Starts: February 2nd; Feastday: February 11th]

NOVENA PRAYER: Most Holy Mother Mary, at Lourdes you asked us to do penance and to pray for the conversion of sinners. Obtain for each of us the grace of true repentance. Help those for whom we pray, and especially those who most need God’s mercy. Your Divine Son so loves every soul that He gave His life to pay the price for our redemption. Help us to return His love by making the sacrifices needed to keep his commandments. Most Holy Mother you offered your Divine Son to the Eternal Father when you presented Him in the temple; offer us to the Father as your other children; watch over us and guide us. Blessed Mother, obtain for me the grace I most need, and especially these favors that I ask in this Novena, if they be in keeping with God’s will. Amen.
O Immaculate Virgin Mary, preserved from the slightest stain of sin, and enriched with all the treasures of divine grace, I thank you for the many blessings I have received through your most powerful intercession. You know my needs, my trials, my sufferings. Mother of mercy, I beseech you to hear my prayer, and to obtain for me of your Divine Son the favors I seek in this Novena. (Here make your requests.)

THE MEMORARE: Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to thy protection, implored thy help, or sought thy intercession, was left unaided. Inspired with this confidence, I fly unto thee, O Virgin of Virgins, my Mother; to thee I come, before thee I stand, sinful and sorrowful; O Mother of the Word Incarnate, despise not my petitions, but in thy mercy hear and answer me. Amen 🙏🏽(Add your daily Rosary)

Our Lady of Lourdes, Pray for us 🙏🏽
Saint Bernadette, Pray for us 🙏🏽

Novena to Our Lady of Lourdes Link | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/02/novena-to-our-lady-of-lourdes/

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT BLAISE, BISHOP AND MARTYR AND SAINT ANSGAR, BISHOP – FEAST DAY ~ FEBRUARY 3RD: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop and Martyr and Saint Ansgar, Bishop. Through the intercession of St. Blaise, we humbly pray for all those who are sick, we particularly pray for those suffering from diseases of the throat and terminal diseases and for protection of all people. We ask this through Christ our Lord…. Amen🙏

SAINT BLAISE, BISHOP AND MARTYR: St. Blaise (d. 316 A.D.) was born into a wealthy Christian family in Armenia. He was trained as a physician before becoming a priest, and was finally ordained a Bishop of Sebaste in Armenia. He is one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers. Saint Blaise devoted the earlier years of his life to the study of philosophy, and afterwards became a physician. In the practice of his profession he saw so much of the miseries of life and the hollowness of worldly pleasures, that he resolved to spend the rest of his days in the service of God. From being a healer of bodily ailments, he became a physician of souls. When a wave of Christian persecution began, God instructed St. Blaise to hide in a desert cave, then he retired for a time, by divine inspiration, to a cavern where he remained in prayer. While he was in hiding, birds miraculously brought him food and sick men came to him to be healed. He lived in a cave on Mount Argeus and was a healer of men and animals. According to legend, sick animals would come to him on their own for help, but would never disturb him at prayer. Agricola, governor of Cappadocia, came to Sebaste to persecute Christians. His huntsmen went into the forests of Argeus to find wild animals for the arena games, and found many waiting outside St. Blaise’s cave. Discovered in prayer, St. Blaise was arrested, and Agricola tried to get him to recant his faith. While in prison, St. Blaise ministered to and healed fellow prisoners, including saving a child who was choking on a fish bone. Saint Blaise’s protection of those with throat troubles apparently comes from a legend that a boy was brought to him who had a fishbone stuck in his throat. The boy was about to die when Saint Blaise healed him. This led to the blessing of throats which takes place on St. Blaise’s feast day.

St. Blaise was eventually martyred, he thrown into a lake to drown, he stood on the surface and invited his persecutors to walk out and prove the power of their gods; they drowned. When he returned to land, he was martyred by being beaten, his flesh torn with wool combs (which led to his association with and patronage of those involved in the wool trade), and then beheaded in about the year 316. At the execution site he prayed aloud to God for his persecutors, and asked that in the future those who would invoke him might be aided, as he had been permitted to assist them during his lifetime. Our Lord appeared to him and said in a voice which all bystanders heard, that He granted his prayer. Since that time his intercession has often been effectually solicited, especially in cases of all kinds of throat problems. St. Blaise has been extremely popular for centuries in both the Eastern and Western Churches and many cures were attributed to him, notably that of a child who was suffocating through a fish bone being caught in his throat. In 1222 the Council of Oxford prohibited servile labour in England on his feast. He is invoked for all throat afflictions, and on his feast two candles are blessed with a prayer that God will free from all such afflictions and every ill all those who receive this blessing. St. Blaise is a Patron Saint of throat diseases; goiters; coughs; whooping cough; healthy throats; choking, wild animals, builders, infants,,physicians; veterinarians; wool-combers; wool weavers; builders; carvers; construction workers; stonecutters;  animals; Against wild beasts; Dalmatia; Dubrovnik.

It is customary in many places to bless the throats of the faithful with two candles tied together with a red ribbon to form a cross. The rite of the blessing of throats may take place before or after Mass. The priest or deacon in giving the blessing of the throat places the candles around the throat of the faithful as they seek the blessing, using the following prayer: “Through the intercession of St. Blaise, bishop and martyr, may God deliver you free from every disease of the throat, and from every other disease. In the name of the Father and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. R. Amen.”🙏

PRAYER: Lord, hear Your people through the intercession of St. Blaise, Your Martyr. Help us to enjoy peace in this life and find a lasting refuge in the next. Amen🙏

SAINT ANSGAR, BISHOP: St. Ansgar (801- 865), also known as Anskar, Anschar or Oscar, was Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen in the northern part of the Kingdom of the East Franks. St. Ansgar became known as the “Apostle of the North” because of his travels (Scandinavia, specifically of Denmark and Sweden) and the See of Hamburg received the missionary mandate to bring Christianity to Northern Europe. St. Ansgar was the son of a noble Frankish family, born near Amiens (present day France) on September 8, 801. After his mother’s early death, St. Ansgar was brought up from childhood and educated at the  Benedictine monastery of Old  Corbie in Picardy and later became a monk there and Abbot of New Corbie in Westphalia. According to the Vita Ansgarii (“Life of Ansgar”), when the little boy learned in a vision that his mother was in the company of Blessed Mary, mother of Jesus, his careless attitude toward spiritual matters changed to seriousness. The vision became His main life motivator. In 822, St. Ansgar became one of many missionaries sent to found the abbey of Corvey (New Corbie) in Westphalia, where he became a teacher and preacher. A group of monks including St. Ansgar were sent further north to Jutland with the king Harald Klak, who had become newly converted to Christianity and received baptism during his exile. With Harald’s downfall in 827 and St. Ansgar’s companion Autbert having died, their school for the sons of courtiers closed and St. Ansgar returned to Germany without noticeable success. Then in 829, Sweden asked for Christian missionaries, the Swedish king Björn at Hauge requested missionaries for his Swedes, King Louis sent St. Ansgar, now accompanied by friar Witmar from New Corbie as his assistant. St. Ansgar preached and made converts, particularly during six months at Birka. At Sweden, St. Ansgar built the first Christian Church there.

In 831, St. Ansgar was recalled and he returned to Louis’ court at Worms and appointed to the Archbishopric of Hamburg-Bremen. He received the mission of evangelizing pagan Denmark, Norway and Sweden. The King of Sweden decided to cast lots as to whether to admit the Christian missionaries into his kingdom. St. Ansgar offred the issue to the care of God, and the lot was favorable. St. Ansgar was consecrated as a bishop of Hamburg in November 831, with the approval of Gregory IV. Before traveling north once again, he traveled to Rome to receive the pallium directly from the pope’s hands, and was formally named legate for the Scandinavian missions in northern lands. Funds for the northern apostolate stopped with Emperor Louis’s death in 840, his empire was divided and St. Ansgar lost the abbey of Turholt, which Louis had given to endow St. Ansgar’s work. Then in 845, the Danes  unexpectedly raided Hamburg, destroying all the church’s treasures and books. After thirteen years’ work in Hamburg, St. Ansgar saw it burned to the ground by invading Northmen; Sweden and Denmark returned to paganism. St. Ansgar now had neither see nor revenue, and many helpers deserted him. The new king, Louis’ 3rd son, Louis the German, did not re-endow Turholt to St. Ansgar, but in 847 he named the missionary to the vacant diocese of Bremen, where St. Ansgar moved in 848 and was made Archbishop of Bremen. In 854, he was entrusted with the organization of the hierarchy in the Nordic countries. In 854, he returned to Denmark, converted Erik, King of Jutland, and helped mitigate the horrors of the slave trade. Pope Nicholas I approved the union of the two dioceses of Bremen and Hamburg in 864. St. Ansgar’s biographers remark that he was an extraordinary preacher, a humble and ascetical priest. He was devoted to the poor and the sick, imitating the Lord in washing their feet and waiting on them at table. He died peacefully at Bremen, Germany on February 3, 865 (aged 63), without achieving his wish to be a martyr. Sweden became pagan again after his death and remained so until the coming of missionaries two centuries later. He had enough frustrations to become a saint and he did. Patron Saint of: Denmark; Scandinavia; Sweden.

PRAYER: Saint Ansgar, you persevered in difficult times to bring the faith to a pagan land. You saw success and then failure, glory and then disappointment. Your work did not outlast you, but pleased God nonetheless. May we see our work as our duty, and our vocation as God’s will, even when the fruit of our labor is harvested by someone else, or not at all ~  Amen🙏

Saint(s) of the Day | February 3rd | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday, February 3, 2025
Reading 1, Hebrews 11:32-40
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 31:20, 21, 22, 23, 24
Gospel, Mark 5:1-20

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 5:1-20

“Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”

“Jesus and his disciples came to the other side of the sea, to the territory of the Gerasenes. When he got out of the boat, at once a man from the tombs who had an unclean spirit met him. The man had been dwelling among the tombs, and no one could restrain him any longer, even with a chain. In fact, he had frequently been bound with shackles and chains, but the chains had been pulled apart by him and the shackles smashed, and no one was strong enough to subdue him. Night and day among the tombs and on the hillsides he was always crying out and bruising himself with stones. Catching sight of Jesus from a distance, he ran up and prostrated himself before him, crying out in a loud voice, “What have you to do with me, Jesus, Son of the Most High God? I adjure you by God, do not torment me!” (He had been saying to him, “Unclean spirit, come out of the man!”) He asked him, “What is your name?” He replied, “Legion is my name. There are many of us.” And he pleaded earnestly with him not to drive them away from that territory. Now a large herd of swine was feeding there on the hillside. And they pleaded with him, “Send us into the swine. Let us enter them.” And he let them, and the unclean spirits came out and entered the swine. The herd of about two thousand rushed down a steep bank into the sea, where they were drowned. The swineherds ran away and reported the incident in the town and throughout the countryside. And people came out to see what had happened. As they approached Jesus, they caught sight of the man who had been possessed by Legion, sitting there clothed and in his right mind. And they were seized with fear. Those who witnessed the incident explained to them what had happened to the possessed man and to the swine. Then they began to beg him to leave their district. As he was getting into the boat, the man who had been possessed pleaded to remain with him. But Jesus would not permit him but told him instead, “Go home to your family and announce to them all that the Lord in his pity has done for you.” Then the man went off and began to proclaim in the Decapolis what Jesus had done for him; and all were amazed.”

Today’s Gospel reading is a story of how Jesus transformed a very disturbed man. He was probably the most disturbed person in the whole Gospel story. Our Gospel reading today is a continuation from Saturday’s reading from the Gospel of Mark. There Jesus calmed the storm at sea and calmed the panic of His own disciples. According to the Gospel, Jesus went to the region of the Gerasenes beyond the Jordan River, as Jesus and His disciples reach land they are met with another storm, this time a storm of the human spirit. Jesus and His disciples encountered a man who had been possessed by evil spirits, and forced to wander off in the wilderness away from the community because of his condition, and he was greatly feared by everyone because of the demons that were in him. This man was so disturbed that people had him chained so that he couldn’t harm himself or others. He had also been banished to the local graveyard, to the tombs. He was living among the dead, cut off from the living. When Jesus came within sight of him, he addressed Jesus very aggressively, ‘What do you want with me, Jesus Son of the Most High God?’ His destructive strength came from his anger, and his anger was a sign of how damaged and broken he was. Yet, Jesus did not run from him, as others did. He absorbed his anger and then healed his brokenness. Despite the aggressive nature of the possessed man, God showed His power and might, His authority and dominion over all those evil spirits, who called themselves ‘Legion’ because they were numerous in number. God told them to leave the man behind and not to trouble them anymore. Those evil spirits, which many others had feared and fled from, had to obey the Lord and His commands, although they tried to negotiate with Him, asking Him to allow them to leave the man for the herd of pigs that were there nearby the location. And thus, that was how the Lord cast out those army of demons out of the possessed man, healed and made him whole once again, which therefore allowed him to return once again to the community. The people who heard of the miraculous occasion were astonished and even fearful, seeing such a great sign and miracle occurring before them, and the man who had once been possessed by the many evil spirits having been freed from his possession by those demons. All these showed us how the Lord is there for us, by our side, and not even an army of demons can stop Him, because He is Lord and Master over all things, and even all those demons and evil spirits had to obey Him, to stay away from us, His beloved ones. That is why if we are encountering hardships and challenges, we should not be easily deterred or brought down by fear, because the evil ones are indeed always ready to strike at us especially when we are not vigilant and when we lack confidence and faith in the Lord. When our faith in Him wavers and when we allowed them to tempt us and enter into our hearts and minds, that is how we falter and fall in our journey towards Him, and end up in miserable state of sin, in danger of damnation and destruction with those evil spirits, who are more than happy to see us share their fate.

The Lord’s response to the possessed man was not to chain him up but to release him, to release him not only from his chains but from the spirit that left him so disturbed. We have an image here of how the Lord works. He works to free people from all that diminishes and dehumanizes them. This is not only the Lord’s work, but it is also the work of the church, the work of His followers, our work. That work of helping people to live a freer and fuller life is work we are called to engage in each day of our lives. If we are to engage in that work of the Lord, we need to open up our own lives to the Lord’s healing and life-giving presence. It is always as broken people in need of the Lord’s healing that we engage in His work of healing the broken. When the townspeople saw him in the company of Jesus, he was ‘in his full senses’. The story reminds us that Jesus never runs away from us, no matter how unapproachable we may be to others. He comes to us as we are, sometimes in our brokenness and anger, and, if we are open to His coming, He can calm the storm that might be raging within us, just as He calmed the storm at sea. The risen Lord is always entering our personal storms to give us a share in His strength, which is a life-giving strength that empowers us to become the person He is calling us to be.

In our first reading today from the Epistle to the Hebrews, the author of this Epistle speaks to the Jewish community referring to the examples of God’s providence, help and guidance to His people, how He had called, chosen and empowered His servants, those famous figures like Samuel, David and others in the Old Testament, who have been blessed and strengthened by God, ordinary people who were sinners and imperfect, and yet, by the Lord’s guidance and strength, had been empowered to do great and wonderful things, which mankind alone cannot do by themselves. This passage is an important reminder for us all that we are never alone in our journey and struggles in life, and we must always keep our hope and faith in the Lord at all times, no matter what the circumstances are. And at the same time, sufferings, hardships, obstacles and challenges are always in our path, and we will always likely be encountering these in our journey, as we must never forget that whatever the Lord has taught and shown us, His way and path are often in contradiction to the ways promoted by the world. That is why if we continue to embark on this journey and remaining faithful to God throughout, we may be persecuted and face challenges just as the Lord Himself had been rejected and oppressed by the world. And yet, we must remain firm in our faith because God will give us the strength and the courage needed for the journey, and if we trust in Him, we will eventually share in His glorious inheritance and be freed from all those hardships, persecutions and challenges. It will not be an easy journey for us to be faithful Christians, to be good and worthy disciples and followers of the Lord. But with God and by His guidance and help, everything is truly possible. We must also not fear those that can only harm the body, our physical self, existence and material in this world, but cannot touch our eternal soul, which belongs to God alone. But if we choose to abandon the Lord and allow sin to continue to corrupt us and leading us down the path of ruin, then by ignoring or rejecting God’s mercy and generous love, we will be judged and condemned by those same sins and wickedness that we have committed, and by the corruptions that have marred the sanctity of our souls, which God had intended to be holy and worthy of Him.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded of the reality of hardships, persecutions and the challenges that each and every one of us as Christians may encounter in our journey of faith as the disciples and followers of the Lord. We must remember that despite all these difficulties, we must remain firm in our faith in the Lord and do not easily be discouraged or disheartened, dissuaded or prevented from finding our way towards Him. This is because the Lord is always by our side, journeying with us and guiding us, and He will provide us with whatever we need along the journey, and it is in Him alone that we can confide, and He alone can overcome the forces of darkness and evil, just as we have heard from our Sacred Scripture today. We are called to put our trust and faith in the Lord, and also through the lives and works of the Saints and Holy men and women, particularly St. Blaise and St. Ansgar, whom we celebrate today. From the examples of these great men, St. Blaise and St. Ansgar, and from what we have Sacred Scripture readings today, let us all therefore be reminded that we should always put our trust and faith fully in the Lord, and commit ourselves to whatever missions, works and calling that the Lord has entrusted to us. We should not be afraid or fearful of the challenges and trials that we may have to encounter in our path, but like St. Blaise and St. Ansgar, we should continue to push on forward with genuine and strong faith in the Lord, knowing that God will always be by our side, journeying and guiding us throughout our journey in life, now and always. Let us all therefore do our best so that in each and every moments of our lives, we may continue to live ever more worthily in God’s Presence, and to come ever closer to the Lord. Let us all therefore come to the Lord, asking Him to help and guide us, and strengthen and encourage us in our path, so that in everything that we say and do, we will continue to glorify God, and that like St. Blaise and St. Ansgar before us, we may be the shining examples of our faith, commitment and love for God. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to remain strong in our faith and may the Lord bless us in our every good efforts, endeavours and works, and may He guide us all through our lives, through our darkest moments, that we may always remain strong in Him, always. Let us all renew our commitment and our desire to follow Him and to glorify Him, proclaiming His Good News and truth to all the people, now and forevermore. Amen🙏🏽

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY | MONTH OF THE HOLY FAMILY The month of February is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Family. Between the events which marked Christmas and the beginning of Christ’s public life the Church has seen fit to recall the example of the Holy Family for the emulation of the Christian family.
The Feast of the Presentation (February 2) or Candlemas forms a fitting transition from Christmas to Easter. The small Christ-Child is still in His Mother’s arms, but already she is offering Him in sacrifice.
The Saints that we will focus on this month and try to imitate are:
St. Blaise and St. Ansgar (February 3); St. Agatha (February 5); St. Jerome Emiliani and St. Josephine Bakhita (February 8); St. Scholastica (February 10); Our Lady of Lourdes (February 11); Sts. Cyril and Methodius (February 14); Seven Founders of the Orders of Servites (February 17); St. Peter Damian (February 21); Chair of St. Peter (February 22) and St. Polycarp (February 23). The Optional Memorial of Polycarp (February 23), is superseded by the Sunday Liturgy.

From Feast to Fast: Though the shortest month of the year, February is rich in Liturgical activity. It contains a feast (Presentation of our Lord) that bridges two other seasons (Christmas and Easter). The Feast of the Presentation of the Lord on February 2nd harkens back to the Christmas mystery of Light except that now, Christ, the helpless babe, is “the Light of Revelation to the Gentiles who will save His people from their sins.” Candles, symbolizing Christ our Light, will be carried in procession this day, as will be the Paschal candle during the Easter Vigil Liturgy. In addition, the faithful may receive in February two of the four major public sacramentals that the Church confers during the liturgical year: blessed candles and the blessing of throats. “The Light of Revelation” shines more brightly with each successive Sunday of Ordinary Time, until its magnificence–exposing our sinfulness and need for conversion–propels us into the penitential Season of Lent. We prepare to accept the cross of blessed ashes on Ash Wednesday, falls on March 5, 2025, marking the beginning of the Lenten season and plunge ourselves into anticipating the major exercises of Lent–fasting, prayer, almsgiving–laying our thoughts and prayers on the heart of our Mother Mary. She, who offered her Son in the temple and on the Cross, will teach us how to deny ourselves, take up our cross daily, and follow after her Son. 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12539

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF FEBRUARY – FOR VOCATIONS TO THE PRIESTHOOD AND RELIGIOUS LIFE | Let us pray that the ecclesial community might welcome the desires and doubts of those young people who feel a call to serve Christ’s mission in the priesthood and religious life.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2025 (See also http://www.popesprayerusa.net/.)

For the repose of the gentle souls of the recent plane crashes and 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 abors 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🙏

PRAYER FOR THE VICTIMS OF WILDFIRES AND DISASTERS: We continue to pray for the victims of the current wildfires in the United States (Los Angeles, California and other parts of the country) and victims of natural disasters across the world. We especially pray for those that have lost their lives and their families and loved ones.

“Most Merciful God, Be “our refuge and our strength, an ever-present help in distress” (Psalm 46:1). You created us and sustain us by Your almighty power. Your mercy knows no bounds. At this time of great suffering, we entrust all victims of the wildfires to You. Comfort them, fill them with Your grace, and provide for their needs. We entrust all who have died to Your merciful Heart. Cleanse them of their sins and welcome them into Your heavenly Kingdom. Give wisdom and prudence to those managing this disaster. Give courage and resolve to those on the front lines. Keep them safe and successful in their efforts. Command the winds and the flames to obey You, Lord, as You once calmed the stormy seas. Pour the water of Your grace upon these destructive fires. Stay them with Your powerful hand. Angels of God, come to the aid of those most in need of God’s mercy. Protect them, guide them, and reveal to them God’s holy will. St. Florian, patron of firefighters, pray for those bravely battling the flames. St. Michael the Archangel, defend them in their peril. Saints in Heaven, we beseech your prayer. Intercede for those most in need. From this tragedy and chaos, bring hope and peace. Turn sorrow into compassion. Turn confusion into faith. Turn despair into divine hope. We place all our trust in You, Most Merciful God, knowing that You will bring forth new life and healing from the ashes of this trial. May Your name be glorified now and forever. Amen” 🙏🏽

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/

PRAYER INTENTIONS: We thank God for blessing us all with the gift of His precious son, on this feast of the Presentation of the Lord, may we be saved by the name of our Savior Jesus Christ! May the good Lord grant us His grace during this Ordinary Time as we continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saints Blaise and Ansgar on this feast day, we humbly pray for all those who are sick, we particularly pray for those suffering from diseases of the throat. We also pray for sick children, the mentally and physically ill, strokes, heart diseases, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. May God restore them to good health and grant them His Divine healing and intervention. May our Mother Mary comfort them, may the Angels and Saints watch over them and may the Holy Spirit guide them in peace and comfort during this challenging time. We pray for an end to war, political and religious unrest. We pray for the safety and well-being of us all and our families. We pray for peace, love and unity in our families, our marriages and our divided and conflicted world. For God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for torture victims, the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and 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 through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen. For all widows and widowers. We continue to pray for the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Francis, Cardinals, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, all religious, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life. For those consecrated to God by the vows of chastity, poverty and obedience that they may seek to live their baptismal promises more intensely and have the grace to persevere in their commitment to the Lord and serve with open hearts and willing spirits… Amen. We pray for the Church, for persecuted christians, for all the innocent who suffer violence due to political or religious unrest, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world. Please let us continue to pray for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏽

Let us pray:

My most powerful Lord, I offer to You, this day, the person whom I call to mind who is most in need of Your redeeming grace. May I never lose hope in Your ability to transform their life, to forgive their sins and to bring them back to You. Use me, dear Lord, to be an instrument of Your mercy, so that they will come to know You and experience the freedom You so deeply desire that they receive. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Blaise and Saint Ansgar ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽

Thanking God for the gift of this new year and praying for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world and for God’s Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all as we begin this Ordinary Time. Wishing all of us a most blessed, safe, healthy, prosperous, fruitful and grace-filled New Year and week ~ Amen 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖