Author: Resa

THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 30, 2024

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

On this Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 30, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 30, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 30, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 30, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday, October 30, 2024
Reading 1, Ephesians 6:1-9
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 145:10-11, 12-13, 13-14
Gospel, Luke 13:22-30

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ, CONFESSOR AND SAINT MARCELLUS THE CENTURION, AND HIS CHILDREN, MARTYRS – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 30TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez, Confessor and Saint Marcellus, the Centurion and His Children, Martyrs. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. We pray for the aged, the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏

SAINT ALPHONSUS RODRIGUEZ, CONFESSOR: St. Alphonsus (Alonso) Rodriguez (1532–1617) Jesuit Coadjutor, was a man whose humble occupation gave the world only glimpses of his extraordinary holiness. During his lifetime, Brother Alonso Rodriguez never became a priest, published a book, or advanced professionally. But writings discovered after his death revealed a true mystic, who attended to a rich spiritual life while he worked as a doorkeeper and porter. His coming to religious life was only through a string of crushing tragedies. St. Alphonsus Rodriguez was born in Segovia, Spain, during 1532, a son and third child of a wool merchant. He was prepared for his First Holy Communion by St. Peter Faber, one of the first Jesuits. He had originally begun to study to be a Jesuit from age 14, but when his father died St. Alphonsus had to leave school at the age of 14 and was obligated to take over the family business, which eventually failed. He married at the age of 26 and had three children, and was left a widower at the age of 31 when his wife died in childbirth. His wife and two of their children died by the time he was 31. In subsequent years he also lost his mother and the third child, he lost his shop and experienced misfortune. His turn toward a life of prayer and penance could not prevent the subsequent death of his third and last remaining child — nor the discouraging failure of his business. St. Alphonsus developed a life of prayer, intense piety, and rigorous penances, with a deep devotion to the Blessed Mother under her title of the Immaculate Conception. Without his wife and children, and having few prospects due to his lack of a higher education, the Spanish layman turned his thoughts to religious life. Even there, however, he faced difficulties.

In his early years, St. Alphonsus had met one of the first Jesuits, Bl. Peter Faber, and with his whole life in ruins, he developed an interest in joining the recently established Society of Jesus. As his desire for the religious life increased and his attempt to join the Jesuits as a late vocation, but his lack of education made him a poor candidate. To amend his deficiency he went back to school, while begging alms to support himself and enduring ridicule from his much younger classmates. St. Alphonsus’ lack of education prevented him from pursuing their course of priestly ordination, and he failed to acquire a diploma from the College of Barcelona despite attending for two years. The Jesuit Fathers in Valencia said he was unfit to join. But Alphonsus’ years of prayer had not been in vain: they were answered when a provincial of the society, sensing his dedication, finally admitted him to the Jesuits as a lay-brother after a long delay when he was nearly 40 years old. He was only a lay brother because he was found too old to study for the priesthood and too weak to take up a lay brother’s work but the Provincial boldly admitted him, remarking that he was receiving him for his holiness. The Provincial was proven this was the right call. A little while after his first vows St. Alphonsus was given a humble job, appointed a porter or door-keeper of the Jesuit college at Majorca and for the next forty six years he remained at the same post, a job which he served with dedication. It was patient, humble work for hours on end, daily walking up and down, taking messages of students, receiving visitors and guests and carrying their luggage, tracking down students or priests when they were needed, delivering messages, and distributing alms to the poor. While other Jesuits traveled the globe evangelizing whole nations, and undertook a vast reform of the Catholic Church throughout Europe, St. Alphonsus carried bags and ran errands for 46 years.

St. Alphonsus was an influence for good to the hundreds who met him. Students began to seek him out, realizing that their doorkeeper was a man of unusual wisdom and faith. Many people within the religious community, as well as many visitors, recognized his holiness and sought his advice and spiritual council. His Jesuit superiors started to take notice as well, and asked him to begin a private record of his life and thoughts. St. Alphonsus struck up a notable friendship with one young man, Peter Claver. St. Peter Claver became one of his disciples, and St. Alphonsus is credited for directing him in his mission to African slaves. St. Alphonsus advised him to volunteer for the South American missions. Following his advice, St. Peter Claver eventually catechized, baptized and spoke out for the rights of 300,000 slaves in South America. St. Alphonsus was known for his rigorous obedience and discipline, and for suffering from scrupulosity, temptations, and attacks from the devil. He took his final vows with the Jesuits at the age of 54. He continued to serve and even preach sermons into his 80’s. He is credited with popularizing the Little Office of the Blessed Virgin Mary, copies of which he stockpiled and distributed. He spent his time in quiet prayer and meditation, and towards the end he lost even his memory and could only say, “Jesus, Mary.” On October 31, 1617, surrounded by his Jesuit brothers, Saint Alphonsus died. After his death, his superiors examined the written records he had left behind describing his spiritual life. What they found was the life of a saint and mystic. His approach was simple: Christ was appearing in every person who appeared at the door; the task was to encounter God in any task. From this awareness, he proceeded to a life of contemplation akin to the renowned saints of his era (such as St. Ignatius or St. Teresa of Avila), whose grand achievements are better known. Brother Alphonsus (Alonso) Rodriguez was declared a saint in 1887. He is buried on the same island of Majorca where he answered the door and carried bags for five decades.

Saint Alphonsus (Alonso) Rodriguez, Confessor ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT MARCELLUS THE CENTURION, AND HIS CHILDREN, MARTYRS: St. Marcellus (A.D. 298) was born in Arzas of Galicia. A brave pagan, he entered upon the career of arms, hoping to gain a large fortune. He married a young lady named Nona and they were blessed with twelve children. Saint Marcellus was a valorous solider and was promoted to the charge of centurion; he had no thought for any advancement except the sort pertaining to his military life, when he heard the fervent preaching of a holy bishop of the church of Leon. He was converted with his entire family to the Christian religion. All of them except his wife would soon give their blood in honor of their Faith.

During the birthday of the Emperor Maximian Herculeus which was celebrated in the year 298 with extraordinary feasting and solemn rites, St. Marcellus refused to participate in the pagan offering ceremony. He threw away his arms and armour, and the vine-branch, which was the mark of his dignity and openly declared himself a Christian, a soldier of Jesus Christ, the eternal King and was condemned to death. Anastasius Fortunatus, the prefect of the legion, having learned the fact, commanded St. Marcellus to be cast into prison. After the feast, the prisoner was brought before the Prefect, who asked the reason for this conduct. St. Marcellus replied that it was his religion. Hereupon the Prefect declared that he would have to lay his case before Maximian and Caesar Constantius. The latter ruled over Gaul and Spain, and he was most favorable to the Christian. However, St. Marcellus was sent under a strong guard to Aurelian Agricolus, vicar to the Prefect of the praetorium, who was then at Tangier in Africa. When St. Marcellus admitted the truth of the accusation, he was condemned to death for the desertion and impiety. His condemnation led to the death of Saint Cassian who was the secretary or notary of the court. St. Cassian refused to record the sentence pronounced against the martyr, because of its injustice. He was immediately hurried to prison, and was beheaded in his turn on the 3rd of December. The children of Saint Marcellus imitated his constancy, and all lost their lives for the defense of the Gospel; three of the boys were hanged and then decapitated at Leon. Their pious mother bought back their bodies for money and buried them secretly; they were later transferred to a church built in their honor in the city of Leon. St. Marcellus died a martyr, he was beheaded on October 30, 298 at Tangiers, Morocco. He’s the Patron Saint of Conscientious Objectors.

PRAYER: Almighty, ever-living God, You enabled St. Marcellus to fight to the death for justice. Through his intercession enable us to bear all adversity and with all our strength hasten to You Who alone are life. Amen 🙏
 

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 13:22-30

“And people will come from the east and the west and will recline at the table in the Kingdom of God”

“Jesus passed through towns and villages, teaching as he went and making his way to Jerusalem. Someone asked him, “Lord, will only a few people be saved?” He answered them, “Strive to enter through the narrow gate, for many, I tell you, will attempt to enter but will not be strong enough. After the master of the house has arisen and locked the door, then will you stand outside knocking and saying, ‘Lord, open the door for us.’ He will say to you in reply, ‘I do not know where you are from.’ And you will say, ‘We ate and drank in your company and you taught in our streets.’ Then he will say to you, ‘I do not know where you are from. Depart from me, all you evildoers!’ And there will be wailing and grinding of teeth when you see Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob and all the prophets in the Kingdom of God and you yourselves cast out. And people will come from the east and the west and from the north and the south and will recline at table in the Kingdom of God. For behold, some are last who will be first, and some are first who will be last.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus is asked a question, ‘Will there be only a few saved?’ He doesn’t really answer that question directly. Instead, He uses the question an opportunity to issue a challenging call to those gathered about him, ‘Try your best to enter by the narrow door’. In this way he seems to be suggesting that speculating about how many will be saved is not helpful. Rather than engage in such idle speculation, we should strive to enter by the narrow door. It is easy to pass through a wide door. However, if we are to pass through a very narrow door, we need to be focused, we need to pay attention and zoom in on the door, as it were. By means of this image, Jesus is suggesting that taking and staying on the path that leads to life involves struggle and effort. There is a striving involved. However, it is not an anxious striving, because the Lord is drawing us through that door. The Lord is striving on our behalf. It is His wish that, in the words of the Gospel reading, people from east and west, from north and south, would get through that door and take their places at the feast in the kingdom of God.

In the Gospel, in stead of directly answering the question Jesus was asked, ‘Sir, will only a few be saved?’ Will the great banquet of eternal life be shared by only a few or by many?, He responded saying something about God and something about ourselves. He declares that the hospitality of God is ample and generous. At the feast in the kingdom of God, people will be present from north, south, east and west. This is not a select gathering; it is not a meal for the chosen few. People from every corner of the earth will be there. Jesus’ answer to the question, ‘Will only a few be saved?’ is ‘no’. However, Jesus also insists that the wonderful hospitality of God is not to be taken for granted; it should not breed complacency. We have to strive to enter by the narrow door, which will require effort on our part. Furthermore, we can’t just ramble up to God at a time that suits us, like the man in the parable who arrived at a house expecting to be let in when the owner and his family were all in bed with the door locked for the night. We need a greater sense of urgency than that. The effort we need to make, and the sense of urgency we need to have, however, does not make us anxious or fearful, because we know that God’s table is large and God’s heart is very hospitable, and the Lord is there to help us through the door if we turn to Him in our poverty.

Our first reading today is the continuation of the discourse from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful people of God in the city and region of Ephesus. In yesterday’s reading, St. Paul had told the faithful regarding Christian families and how everyone ought to play their part and roles, with great harmony and love, both for God and for everyone within their families. And today, we have the extension of this as the Apostle continued to tell the faithful that even in their own capacities, work and other areas outside their families and relatives, friends and circles, each and every one of them should still continue to obey God’s will and to do whatever He has taught them to do, to be truly loving and generous with one another. It is a reminder for all of us that as Christians we are all called and challenged to live a truly devout and committed life at all times, to be good and just, righteous and virtuous in our every actions and interactions with others whom we encounter in our daily living, no matter what the circumstances or occasions are, and no matter what capacity we are in. All of us must always strive to be the faithful bearers of our Lord’s love and truth, His Good News and teachings, manifested and made concrete in our midst through our own good and faithful Christian lives. How can we treat our fellow men and women with contempt and disdain, when the Lord Himself has treated us well and showed us all His mercy and love, when we erred and fell away from His grace.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, each and every one of us are presented with the reminders that all of us as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people should always strive to do our best to follow the Lord ever more faithfully at all times, to do what is good, worthy, right and just in our every words, actions and deeds. As Christians, it is important that we should always embody our faith in our every moments in life, to proclaim the Lord to everyone whom we encounter and interact with, and to be truly good and worthy beacons of His light and Good News in all of our respective communities in today’s world. As we reflect on the Sacred Scriptures, let us all therefore do our part so that we can continue to prioritise the Lord and all of His teachings and ways in our every moments in life, to be truly committed to a life that is focused not on our own selfish desires, ambitions, our pride, ego and greed, but rather on everything that God has shown and taught us through His Church and through the Scriptures He has passed down and revealed to us. Each and every one of us as Christians are called and reminded to be good examples and role models in our faith and how we live them, that through these, we may help more and more people to come ever closer to God and His grace, His salvation and eternal life. Let us all do our parts as members of the Body of Christ, the Church of God. May the Lord, our ever loving, compassionate and merciful God continue to help and guide us in our respective lives, and help us so that in everything that we do and in all of our whole lives, our interactions with each other, we will continue to strive to be good and faithful Christians, not just in words or appearances only, but also in everything that we do, in our every interactions and cooperations with each other, in how we genuinely show God’s love, His truth and hope to everyone whom we encounter in our lives, in each and every moments and opportunities provided to us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to be the great examples of our Christian faith and beliefs, and show them through our genuine and real actions, at all times, and may God continue to bless us all and strengthen us in our resolve and endeavours, our efforts to glorify Him at all times, by our faithful lives and examples, now and always. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My most merciful Lord, You and You alone can open the gates of Heaven to us, and You and You alone will do so only to those who have responded to Your holy will. Please open my eyes to any ways that I turn from You and remain lax in my spiritual journey. Give me the grace I need to see clearly and to respond to You with all my heart. Jesus, I trust in You~ Amen 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saint Alphonsus Rodriguez, Confessor and Saint Marcellus, the Centurion and His Children, Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 29, 2024

Greetings, and blessings beloved family. Happy Tuesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this speacial Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 29, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 29, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 29, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 29, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, October 29, 2024
Reading 1, Ephesians 5:21-33
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 128:1-2, 3, 4-5
Gospel, Luke 13:18-21

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT NARCISSUS, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 29TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Narcissus, Bishop of Jerusalem. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. We pray for the aged, the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill, those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏

SAINT NARCISSUS, BISHOP OF JERUSALEM: St. Narcissus (c. 99 – c. 216 A.D.) was an early patriarch of Jerusalem, a holy and esteemed priest of Greek origin who became the 30th bishop of Jerusalem in the year 180 A.D., about a century after the city’s destruction by the Romans. He was known as a miracle-worker, as well as for governing his diocese with vigor and discipline despite his advanced age, being in his 80th year when he was made bishop. Born toward the end of the first century, St. Narcissus was advanced in age when he was elected bishop of Jerusalem during the second century. Not much is known about St. Narcissus besides the fact that he was the bishop of Jerusalem and led a very holy life. His holiness inspired those under him to be holy as well.

In 195 A.D. St. Narcissus was part of a council of bishops who settled the date for the observance of Easter, deciding on Sunday and not the ancient Jewish Passover. St. Narcissus and Theophilus, bishop of Caesarea in Palestine, presided together over a council of the bishops of Palestine held at Caesarea around Easter. There it was decreed that the feast be kept always on a Sunday, and not continually with the Jewish Passover. He was a miracle worker. The bishop and historian Eusebius says the following miracle can be attributed to him: One year on Easter-eve the deacons did not have any oil for the lamps in the church, which was necessary at the solemn divine office on that day. St. Narcissus ordered those who had care of the lamps to bring him some water from the neighboring wells. This being done, he pronounced a devout prayer over the water. Then he bade them pour it into the lamps; which they did. The water was immediately converted into oil, to the great surprise of all the faithful. Some of this miraculous oil was kept there as a memorial at the time when Eusebius wrote his history.

Despite his reputation as a holy bishop, St. Narcissus drew opposition. The veneration of all good men for this holy bishop, however, could not shelter him from the malice of the wicked. Three incorrigible sinners, fearing his severity in the observance of ecclesiastical discipline, accused him of a terrible act and prayed that he might be cursed by God in punishment. The sinners swore that they were right, adding the following to their testimony and affirmed with violent oaths. “May I be burned alive if I am lying,” said the first. “May I be stricken with leprosy,” said the second. “May I be deprived of my sight,” said the third, if what they alleged was not the truth. Their accusations were false, however, and soon Divine Retribution called upon them. His enemies meanwhile were struck by the calamities that they wished upon him. The first was burnt in his house along with his whole family by an accidental fire in the night, the second was struck with a universal leprosy and the third, terrified by these examples, confessed the conspiracy and slander, and by the abundance of tears which he continually shed for his sins, lost his sight before his death.

Though vindicated, indeed few people at the time had believed the accusation brought against St. Narcissus who could not stand the shock of the bold calumny. This took a toll on the saint, and, forgiving his persecutors, St. Narcissus use the scandal as an excuse to leave Jerusalem and go into retreat to spend some time in solitude, to pray constantly without distraction, an ambition which he had long cherished. He retired from public life and lived as a hermit for many years. He spent several years undiscovered in his retreat, where he enjoyed all the happiness and advantage which a close conversation with God can bestow. During his absence, the neighboring bishops appointed a new pastor for his church until St. Narcissus returned. First Dius (or Pius), then Germanius, and then Gordius filled his see. St. Narcissus lived in such complete solitude that it was widely assumed that he had died, and his sudden return to Jerusalem had the same effect as if he had indeed come back from the dead. Upon his return, the faithful rejoiced and convinced him to once again undertake the administration of the diocese, which he did. As he reached extreme old age, he made St. Alexander his coadjutor. St. Narcissus continued to serve his flock, and even other churches, by his assiduous prayers and his earnest exhortations to unity and concord, as St. Alexander testifies in his letter to the Arsinoites in Egypt, where he says that St. Narcisus was at that time about one hundred and sixteen (116) years old. He died about the 216 AD, Aelia Capitolina. St. Narcissus is the Patron Saint of the aged and against insect bites. His feast day is October 29th.

PRAYER: God, You made St. Narcissus an outstanding exemplar of Divine love and the faith that conquers the world, and added him to the roll of saintly pastors. Grant by his intercession that we may persevere in faith and love and become sharers of his glory. Amen 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

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

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 13:18-21

‘When it was fully grown, it became a large bush”

“Jesus said, “What is the Kingdom of God like? To what can I compare it? It is like a mustard seed that a man took and planted in the garden. When it was fully grown, it became a large bush and the birds of the sky dwelt in its branches.” Again he said, “To what shall I compare the Kingdom of God? It is like yeast that a woman took and mixed in with three measures of wheat flour until the whole batch of dough was leavened.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks two parables, one featuring a man and the other featuring a woman. In these parables the Lord wanted to highlight and teach his disciples about the Kingdom of God, and He used the parable of the mustard seed and the parable of the measures of flour to highlight these ideas. Both parables suggest that something very small can produce effects far beyond what might have been expected. The farmer threw a mustard seed into his garden and from it grew a tree whose branches provide shelter for the birds of the air. A woman places a small piece of yeast in a batch of dough and the result is a leavened batch of bread which feeds several people. Jesus is saying that the kingdom of God is like that. God can work powerfully through the smallest of gestures. The little good that we do can have consequences far beyond our imagining. The small initiatives we take in the service of another can bear fruit that we could never have intended. The small step to reach out in love towards someone can launch a movement of love that we never anticipated. Jesus seems to be saying that the coming of God’s kingdom is not always about grand gestures. The coming of God’s kingdom, the doing of God’s will on earth as in heaven, is often to be found in what to an outside observer seems small and insignificant. Jesus is suggesting that God can work powerfully through the smallest gestures, when they reflect something of God’s Spirit. God is present in our world in and through our small acts of kindness, through our largely unnoticed actions of caring for one another. Jesus would say that even the giving of a cup of cold water has significance beyond our imagining. The eternal can be present in the simplest of gestures. Our daily efforts to be faithful to the Gospel in small ways can have consequences that would surprise us. The miracle of God is all around us, working through our smallest efforts at goodness, if we have eyes to see. In the course of His ministry the Lord did not usher in the kingdom of God in a blaze of glory. Rather in His day to day encounters with ordinary people He sowed seeds of the kingdom and eventually those seeds went on to produce a wonderful harvest. We are all called to sow seeds of the kingdom in the day to day circumstances of our lives; we are called to act out of the values of the kingdom in our daily encounters with others. In so doing we are sowing the seeds of a harvest beyond our imagining.

Our first reading today is the continuation of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city and region of Ephesus. The words of the Apostle reminded all the faithful in that area to remain truly faithful to God and His Law, His commandments and teachings, especially in today’s reading, which is about the matter of family and relationships, between that of husbands and wives in their respective families, and how they and the other members of the family ought to react and behave in their various interactions with one another, and how all of them as parts of the Christian community and in their own Christian families should live their lives and carry out their actions to be truly faithful in all things in following God’s path and commandments. At that time, the people of God and those who have embraced the Lord and His truth, His ways and teachings were living amidst many people whose ways were morally and spiritually corrupt, all those who allowed worldly vices and temptations to lead them astray from the path of virtue and righteousness. Hence, St. Paul told the faithful that they all ought to follow faithfully what the Lord Himself had told His disciples and passed through His Church, in all the rules and obligations that they ought to follow so that they may truly live a genuinely Christian way of living, in devoting their time and efforts to be good role models and examples for everyone around them, to show them how one ought to live as a follower of Christ and His teachings. St. Paul also pointed out how the faithful Christian family is just like the Church in its structure, function and dynamics, and indeed up to this very day, the family is still and is always the basic unit of the Church, and are like the bricks that make up the whole structure of the Body of Christ, that is the Church. Like the Church with the various diverse people making up its parts, thus the family with the various people inside it, be it the father, mother, husband, wife, child and even extended ones like grandparents and grandchildren, all these have to work in tandem and harmony, live and coexist with love and compassion, care and concern for one another, so that not only that the family will truly function and grow well, but also the whole Church as well. If our own families are broken and are divided against each other inside, we do not expect the Church to be vibrant and strong as well.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded that as Christians, each one of us must always cultivate good faith in the Lord and inculcate in each and every actions and parts of our lives good attitudes and behaviours in accordance to what the Lord Himself had told us to do, and then also provide good and suitable condition for us all to grow ever stronger and more vibrant in our faith in God. This has been highlighted throughout our Scripture passages today, and all of us are reminded to continue to do our best to live our daily lives as good and faithful Christians in each and every moments, and in every interactions and actions we carry out so that we and many others may grow ever stronger in faith and draw closer to the Lord. In order for us to grow in faith and to be ever closer to God, to be better Christians we will have to strive to provide the best conditions available so that we may nurture our faith in the Lord, especially within our families and among those who are close and dear to us, linking to what we have discussed earlier from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians. We should do this through constant and meaningful prayer life and practice, both personally and together within our families, our circles of friends and relatives, and more. We should also continue to show genuine love to one another, forgiving each other our mistakes and imperfections, our faults and flaws, our trespasses and sins. As Christians we must always be full of love and compassion, mercy and kindness just as Our Lord Himself has been full of these for us. Therefore, let us all continue to strive to grow in our faith in God, doing whatever we can so that by our lives and dedication to Him, we may always show good examples and be inspiration for everyone around us, teaching and showing all on how we should live our lives as Christians in all things. Let us all continue to nurture our faith and give ourselves the best condition that we may continue to be inspired to follow God at all times. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our path, and may He continue to bless us in all and everything that we say and do, in our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:*

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My glorious King, You desire that Your Kingdom grow far and wide through our efforts of love. Please do use me, dear Lord, to plant Your seeds of faith and charity every day. May I never tire of these apostolic endeavors and may I always take great delight in serving You and building Your Kingdom in every way I can. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saint Narcissus, Bishop of Jerusalem ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

THIRTIETH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 28, 2024

Greetings, and blessings beloved family. Happy Monday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this speacial Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles, we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 28, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 28, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 28, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 28, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday, October 28, 2024
Reading 1, Ephesians 2:19-22
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:2-3, 4-5
Gospel, Luke 6:12-16

SAINTS OF THE DAY: SAINTS SIMON AND JUDE, APOSTLES OF CHRIST, MARTYRS – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 28TH: Today, we celebrate together on this momentous day, the Feast of Our Lord’s Holy Apostles, and not just one but two of the Twelve Apostles, namely St. Simon and St. Jude, Holy Apostles of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ. Both Apostles followed the Lord and dedicated their lives and works to God, and they became for us great role models, examples and inspirations to follow, in how we should live our own lives. God had called them from their respective lives and pasts, to be His servants, and to do His will. Today as we rejoice in their memory and glory, let us all discern all that they had done for the greater glory of God. Both St. Simon and St. Jude encountered many challenges as well as opportunities and successes throughout their missions and works, as through their efforts, many came to know of the Lord and His truth, and many chose to accept Him as their Lord and Saviour. Just like that of the other Apostles, St. Simon and St. Jude laid the groundwork and firm foundations for the Church and the Christian faith. St. Simon and St. Jude nonetheless faced intense persecutions and challenges throughout their ministry and both were martyred for their faith. While traditions sometimes differed on the details of their martyrdom, what matters is that they remained true and faithful to God to the very end.

SAINT JUDE THADDEUS: St. Jude, also known as St. Jude Thaddeus (1st c.) was a blood relative of Jesus Christ and one of His Twelve Apostles. He was a brother of St. James the Lesser. According to Ancient writers, St. Jude preached the Gospel in Judea, Samaria, Idumaea, Syria, Mesopotamia, and Lybia. He was known for his preaching, healing, exorcisms, and his appearance was said to have closely matched that of Jesus’. According to Eusebius, he returned to Jerusalem in the year 62 and assisted at the election of his brother, St. Simeon, as Bishop of Jerusalem. St. Jude is the author of an epistle (letter) to the Churches of the East, in particular the Jewish converts, directed against the heresies of the Simonians, Nicolaites, and Gnostics. This Apostle is said to have suffered martyrdom in Armenia, which was then subject to Persia. The final conversion of the Armenian nation to Christianity did not take place until the third century A.D. St. Jude was the one who asked Jesus at the Last Supper why He would not manifest Himself to the whole world after His resurrection. Little else is known of his life, but legend claims that he visited Beirut and Edessa. St. Jude was beaten to death with a club, then beheaded post-mortem in 1st century Persia. His relics reside at Saint Peter’s in Rome, at Rheims, and at Toulouse, France. Saint Jude Thaddeus is not the same person as Judas Iscariot, who betrayed Our Lord and despaired because of his great sin and lack of trust in God’s mercy. St. Jude Thaddeus is invoked in desperate situations because his New Testament letter stresses that the faithful should persevere in the environment of harsh, difficult circumstances, just as their forefathers had done before them. Therefore, St. Jude is invoked as the Patron Saint of desperate situations, forgotten causes, hospital workers, hospitals, impossible causes, lost causes, and the diocese of Saint Petersburg, Florida. St. Jude also wrote the book of the Bible that bears his name. He is represented as bearded man holding an oar, a boat, boat hook, a club, an axe or a book. Nearly every image of him depicts him wearing a medallion with a profile of Jesus. He usually has a small flame above his head and he often carries a pen. We remember him October 28 in Roman Church, and June 19 in Eastern Church.

SAINT SIMON THE ZEALOT: St. Simon, also known as St. Simon the Zealot (1st c.) was also one of Jesus’ Twelve Apostles, but one of the most obscure. He earned his name for being zealous for the honor of Jesus, showing a holy indignation towards those who claimed Christ with their lips while dishonoring him with their manner of life. St. Simon is surnamed the Canaanean and also the Zealot, to distinguish him from St. Peter and from St. Simeon, the brother of St. James the Lesser. The Syro-Chaldaic expression “Canaanean” means the same as the Greek Zelotes, a title that is said to have been given to him on account of his great zeal, but, according to others, from his belonging to a sect (among the Jews) called Zealots. It is supposed that he suffered martyrdom in Persia. Little is known about the post-Pentecost life of St. Simon. According to history, after the Ascension of Jesus, towards the end of his life, it is believed that St. Simon preached in Egypt and then joined St. Jude to preach the Gospel in Persia, where they were both martyred in 65 A.D. Here, he was supposedly martyred by being cut in half with a saw, a tool he is often depicted with. However, the 4th-century St. Basil the Great says he died in Edessa, peacefully. St. Simon is the Patron Saint of Curriers; sawmen; sawyers; tanners. St. Simon the Zealot and St. Jude Thaddeus share a feast day on October 28th.

“Jude, a slave of Jesus Christ and brother of James, to those who are called, beloved in God the Father and kept safe for Jesus Christ: may mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.” ~ Jude 1:1-2

PRAYER: God, You made Your Name known to us through the Apostles. By the intercession of Sts. Simon and Jude, let Your Church continue to grow with an increased number of believers. Amen 🙏
 
NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: For Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases: Prayed anytime of year, but especially October 19–27 (a nine day novena) in preparation for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude on October 28. Pray the following each day for nine days in a row. This is the traditional Novena to Saint Jude and can be prayed any time of year:

Most holy Apostle Saint Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of. Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me, that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of Heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly: (Make any other personal requests now.)

May I and all people praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed Saint Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you. Amen 🙏

May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Saint Jude, pray for us and hear our prayers.
Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be Saint Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity. Amen 🙏

(Now pray the Our Father and Hail Mary.)

Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles of Christ and Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Feast of Saints Simon and Jude, Apostles | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 6:12-16

“From them Jesus chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles”

“Jesus went up to the mountain to pray, and he spent the night in prayer to God. When day came, he called his disciples to himself, and from them he chose Twelve, whom he also named Apostles: Simon, whom he named Peter, and his brother Andrew, James, John, Philip, Bartholomew, Matthew, Thomas, James the son of Alphaeus, Simon who was called a Zealot, and Judas the son of James, and Judas Iscariot, who became a traitor.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the two Saints, Simon and Jude, whose feast we celebrate today are listed among the twelve apostles chosen by Jesus. The choosing of the twelve was a key decision for Jesus. It is only St. Luke who tells us, as we read in today’s Gospel reading, that, before He chose the twelve, Jesus spent the whole night in prayer to God. This was a decision He prayed about; His choice of the twelve came out of His prayer. Indeed, St. Luke emphasizes that Jesus prayed before all the key moments of His life – just after His baptism, just before He set His face to go to Jerusalem, in the Garden of Gethsemane as He faced into His passion and death; on the cross just before His death. We will often find ourselves praying at important moments in our own lives too. At such moments, we recognize our need for guidance and strength from above. Our prayer at such moments does not necessarily mean that everything will work out perfectly for us. Although Jesus spent the whole night in prayer before He chose twelve from among the disciples, one of those twelve, Judas, went on to betray Him. Yet, we can be sure that our prayerful surrender to the Lord at such times will always create space for Him to work, even when things do not work out as we had hoped. The Lord who, according to our Gospel reading, prayed all night before calling the twelve, intercedes for us all so that we may true to our calling to become living stones in the holy temple of the church. We become living stones by allowing the Lord to reveal His loving presence in the world in and through our lives. Our calling is to allow our lives to be shaped by those foundations and that corner stone.

In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul the Apostle to the Church and the faithful in Ephesus, the Apostle told the faithful there about how they have all been made parts of the Church of God, becoming God’s holy people, having been called and chosen from the world to be truly beloved and holy in Him, and to share together the mission that God has entrusted to His Church, because all of them are part of this same one Church of God, as we all are as well. Too us all of us, God has entrusted the same missions which He has entrusted to His Apostles and His Church. In this Epistle, all of us as the disciples and followers of the Lord, we are all reminded that we are all as parts of the one Church of God have been made to be the Temples and Houses of God’s Holy Presence, as the Lord Himself has come into our midst, dwelling in us and giving us all the gift of His Holy Spirit, and through Him coming into us and dwelling within us, each and every one of us should always remember to keep ourselves truly holy and worthy of God by our actions and deeds, our contributions and efforts that mark as truly as those whom God had called and chosen. If we are idle in living our lives as Christians and if we do not do what we can do in order to follow the Lord and obey His commandments, then how can we be worthy part of the Temple of God, this one Church of God that is His Body? From the Sacred Scriptures, and through the actions that the Lord Himself had done, He has shown by His own examples, what each and every one of us as Christians should be doing in our own lives. Each and every one of us as Christians are called to do what God had entrusted to us to do, to commit ourselves wholeheartedly and to do His will, to show His love, compassion and kindness manifested through our own exemplary lives and actions, by each and every one of our loving actions towards our fellow brothers and sisters around us. All of us as Christians must always practice and show the love of God and embody His Good News and truth in everything that we say and do, in every opportunities and occasions, and that is how we take part in the efforts and works of the Church, which the Apostles had begun and which all of us ought to continue and carry on.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures on this special feast of Saints Simon and Jude, we reflect upon the lives and the works of these two Holy Apostles of the Lord. Let us all ponder upon what we ourselves as Christians have been called to do with our lives like that of the Apostles St. Simon and St. Jude. Both of them had dedicated themselves to the Lord, answered His call and committed themselves to do what they had been tasked and entrusted to do. And we have to realise that there are still a lot of things that the Apostles did which were still not yet completed. In fact, as time passes on, there are more and more opportunities and areas where we as Christians and the Church can contribute for the sake of many of the people out there still in need of God’s grace and love, His salvation and eternal life. As Christians, we must always emulate the examples of St. Simon and St. Jude, the other Apostles, and many other Saints, martyrs, and holy men and women of God in our own lives. Let us all hence be inspired and strengthened by their courage and faith and ask them for their intercessions that through their prayers and guidance, we may always be strengthened by God and empowered to remain faithful and committed to the Lord at all times.

May God be with us all His Church, His beloved people, and may each and every one of us be evangelising and faithful disciples of His, in the manner of the Holy Apostles, especially that of St. Simon and St. Jude. May the Lord continue to bless us all and guide us in our journey, and may He continue to empower and strengthen us in our path, so that we may always be strong regardless of the trials, challenges, hardships that may end up in our path. May all of us continue to live our lives worthily of the Lord, and continue to do what He has called us all to do, reminding ourselves that the works of the Apostles are far from done, and we, as the members of the Church, as parts of the same Body of Christ, we should do our best to proclaim God and His Good News to more and more people, not only by words but also through real action and commitment. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to open ourselves to the Lord in prayer, so that He, in turn, can touch our lives and shape them as God intends. May God bless us all in our every good deeds and endeavours, now and always. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:*

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My glorious Lord, You called these two ordinary men, Simon and Jude, to be Your Apostles. You filled them with Your grace, taught them with Your Word, and sent them forth to preach to the ends of the earth. Please also send me, dear Lord, to whomever You choose. Use me as Your instrument and help me to always remain faithful and zealous, reaching out to those in need, especially to those who lack faith and hope in their lives. Saints Simon and Jude, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saints Simon and Jude ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

THIRTIETH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR B)

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 27, 2024

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Starting, October 19th (Day 9). Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saint Jude on October 28th | Novena prayer and link below

Greetings, and blessings beloved family. Happy Sunday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 27, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 27, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 27, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 27, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Readings: Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) | October 27, 2024
Reading 1, Jeremiah 31:7-9
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 126:1-2, 2-3, 4-5, 6
Reading 2, Hebrews 5:1-6
Gospel, Mark 10:46-52

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Thirtieth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year B) | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 10:46–52

“Master, I want to see”

“As Jesus was leaving Jericho with his disciples and a sizable crowd, Bartimaeus, a blind man, the son of Timaeus, sat by the roadside begging. On hearing that it was Jesus of Nazareth, he began to cry out and say, “Jesus, son of David, have pity on me.” And many rebuked him, telling him to be silent. But he kept calling out all the more, “Son of David, have pity on me.” Jesus stopped and said, “Call him.” So they called the blind man, saying to him, “Take courage; get up, Jesus is calling you.” He threw aside his cloak, sprang up, and came to Jesus. Jesus said to him in reply, “What do you want me to do for you?” The blind man replied to him, “Master, I want to see.” Jesus told him, “Go your way; your faith has saved you.” Immediately he received his sight and followed him on the way.”

In today’s Gospel reading, a blind man, sitting at the side of the road, offered a prayer of petition to Jesus. He calls out in prayer to Jesus as Jesus was leaving Jericho to travel up to Jerusalem, ‘Son of David, have pity on me’. He may have been physically blind, but He saw Jesus with the eyes of faith, addressing Him with a title that was reserved for the long awaited Messiah. In his prayer, he didn’t speak politely to Jesus. According to the Gospel reading, he shouted at Jesus. He may have been blind but he had a voice and he was going to use it to connect with Jesus. The crowds around Jesus reacted to his shouting by giving out to him and trying to impose silence on him. Many people rebuked him and told him to keep quiet. They saw this man as a nuisance. In response, the man simply shouted all the louder. Here was someone who was totally focused on making contact with Jesus. He wasn’t going to be put off by people who were trying to put him in his place. He would allow no one to come between himself and Jesus. It was his desperate need that drove him to seek out the Lord with such single-minded determination.
Bartimaeus displays the kind of persevering, prayerful, courageous faith that we all need from time to time. This vulnerable person encourages us to keep seeking after the Lord, even when those around us try to discourage us from reaching the Lord. In various ways, the times in which we live can put pressure on us to hold back from expressing our faith in the Lord. We need something of the spirit of Bartimaeus today. He may have been weak in body, but he was strong in spirit. His faith in Jesus was stronger than the efforts of people to silence him.

Fortunately, Bartimaeus did not buy into the way other people saw him. He ignored the people who told him to keep quiet and he shouted all the louder, and in doing so he got a very different response from Jesus, ‘Call him here’. The very people who saw Bartimaeus as a nuisance were sent by Jesus to Bartimaeus to call him over. They were being invited to see Bartimaeus as Jesus saw him, not as a nuisance, but as a human being in need of help. Jesus’ way of seeing this man led to his being healed of his blindness. Bartimaeus inspires us to witness to our faith, when the pressure to keep our faith to ourselves is strong. Jesus’ response to the blind man’s cry was very different to the response of those around him. The Gospel reading says, ‘Jesus stopped’. He was heading for Jerusalem where he would suffer an even greater form of exclusion than Bartimaeus was presently experiencing. It was the most significant journey of Jesus’ life, and, yet, the persistent and courageous prayer of Bartimaeus stopped him in his tracks. The Lord always stops for us whenever we turn to him in our need. He doesn’t pass us by when we call upon him. Whereas the people around Jesus tried to silence the blind man, Jesus now instructs those same people to call him over. Rather than being an obstacle to this blind man’s efforts to reach Jesus, they are to bring him to Jesus. We all have a role to play in binging each other to the Lord. We are called to support one another’s journey to the Lord, especially in times when there are so many obstacles to faith in Him. Just as Jesus called Bartimaeus through those around him, he wants to call others through each one of us. Bartimaeus’ response to the Lord’s call is very striking, ‘throwing off his cloak, he jumped up and came to Jesus’. The energy and vigour that he displays is an outward expression of his deep faith. In throwing off his cloak, he was throwing off his most precious possession, the cloak that kept him warm at night and that he stretched out by day to receive the coins that kept him alive. We all need something of his vigour and energy as we seek to grow in our relationship with the Lord and in our response to his call. Jesus now addresses him in a very personal way, ‘What do you want me to do for you?’ The answer to that question may have been obvious, but Jesus gave him the opportunity to express his deepest desire in his own words. The Lord who stops for us whenever we cry out to him in prayer always invites us to give expression to what it is we truly want in our heart of hearts. The love in his heart is open and responsive to what is deepest in our own heart. Once Jesus healed Bartimaeus of his blindness, He invites him to go on his way. However, Bartimaeus doesn’t go on his way. Instead, he follows in Jesus’ way, along the road to Jerusalem. Having abandoned his most prized possession, he becomes a disciple, following in the way of the Lord. This is where his heartfelt prayer led him. It is where our own heartfelt prayer to the Lord will lead us too. Whenever we seek the Lord in prayer, with the determination of Bartimaeus, we too will be given the freedom and the strength to follow the Lord as his faithful disciple.

Today’s Gospel reading is inviting us to ask ourselves, ‘How do we see others?’ ‘Do we see them as the Lord sees them?’ The people we are tempted to see as nuisances may be those whom the Lord is calling to himself, and whom he is calling us to serve. Bartimaeus shouted loudly, according to the Gospel reading, and people who shout can easily be seen by others as nuisances. Yet, when it comes to personal well-being and the well being of others, shouting can be in order. Jesus had the capacity to look beyond the shouting of Bartimaeus to the heart of the man out of which the shouting came. This is the kind of seeing that we are all called to, a seeing that sees deeply, that looks beyond what might be an off-putting exterior to the struggle that is going on within the person. This kind of compassionate seeing has its own healing power. When we see as the Lord sees we become channels of his own healing and life-giving presence to others. That is an important dimension of our baptismal calling.

Our first reading today gives the words of assurance and comfort from the Lord Who was telling His people to have faith in Him and in His salvation because He would not forget about them and He would always care for all of them without exception, and He would show them His mercy and love, His compassion and passionate mercy, as He led them all to the right path and reconciliation with Him, by fulfilling everything that He has promised to them and to their forefathers, of the salvation that He has brought unto them all through the Messiah or the Saviour that He has revealed to them, that is none other than His own Beloved Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, through Whom the fullness of God’s love and power has been manifested in our midst.

In our second reading this Sunday, we are all reminded by the author of the Epistle to the Hebrews, of the role which our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God has taken up at the moment when He accomplished perfectly everything that God had planned in order to save us all mankind. It was the moment when He redeemed and freed all of us mankind from the slavery and domination by sin, evil and darkness, He has become our one and true, Eternal High Priest, the One Who bridged between us and God our loving Father and Creator, from Whom we have once been separated and sundered due to our disobedience and sins, our wickedness and evils. As our High Priest, Our Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour has gathered all of our prayers and needs, our petitions and sorrowful longing for God our loving Father, and He offered all of His prayer and ours together, as He united Himself to us and our humanity, while bearing up the heavy Cross of the burdens of our sins and wickedness, the punishments for all those evils and sins, which He does not have to bear for us, and we should have indeed faced the consequences of our faults and errors, and yet, our Lord willingly and lovingly, selflessly and kindly bore for us those punishments on our behalf, so that by His sufferings and by the breaking of His Most Precious Body and the outpouring of His Most Precious Blood, Christ our Lord may redeem us and lead us all to eternal life and true happiness in God.

For our sins and wickedness, our evils and the corruptions of the darkness around us are so great that no amount of offerings, sacrifices or prayers could have sufficed to atone for our many trespasses and sins, the combined weight of all of our sins and all the burdens of our punishments, except for the one and only worthy offering that is found only in Christ, Who is both our High Priest and also the Paschal Lamb, the Lamb of God, Who has been slaughtered for us on the Altar of His Cross at Calvary. That like the blood of the lamb having saved the Israelites in Egypt during the Passover, thus, through the Most Precious Blood of the Lamb of God, all of us are rescued and saved from the corruption of sin and death, and we have been washed clean by the Blood of the Lamb, made pure and worthy again of God.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded of the richness of God’s love and mercy, which He has always provided generously to us all, to remind all of us that we are truly beloved and precious in the eyes of God, without exception, and that all of us have the chance and the opportunity to seek full reconciliation and reunion with God, our loving Father and Creator, our Master and Lord, through everything that He had done for us in order to make all of these possible for us. He provided the path for us to return to Him and patiently gave us the guidance and help so that we may find our way and be restored to grace in Him. We are just like Bartimaeus, the blind man who has been healed by God. We may be physically well and have no issues with our eyes and vision, but like Bartimaeus, there is a part of us that is not whole and well, and for all of us, we all suffer from this affliction of sin, which had made us all spiritually unwell and unfit. The Lord is always ready to come and heal us, and to welcome us back to Him, just as He had done and reassured us all through His Son, and everything that He has done for us. But we must first have faith in Him, and seek Him like what Bartimaeus had done, to call on Him and to have the resolve and conviction to follow Him, to find Him and His love, His mercy and compassion. Let us all therefore renew our faith and commitment in the Lord, doing our best to seek Him and to centre our lives and existence on Him, to do our best to live our lives in the manner that He has shown and taught us to do. Let us no longer harden our hearts and minds against Him or resist His patient outreach and love towards us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord continue to love us all regardless of our rebelliousness and persistence in sin, and help us so that we may be touched and called to repent from all those sins, to change our lives so that from now on we may no longer dwell in sin, but come towards Him ever more faithfully at all times, seeking His mercy and compassion, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, but especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude on October 28th. Pray the following each day for nine days in a row. This is the traditional Novena to Saint Jude and can be prayed any time of year | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-to-st-jude–desperate-situations-and-hopeless-cases-305

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases ~ DAY 9

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly – (make your request here) – and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen 🙏

PRAYER: May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen 🙏

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen 🙏

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen 🙏

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity. (say this prayer, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now recommend to your kindness (name of patient) who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen 🙏

We thank God for the successful completion of the Novena to St. Jude.🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT FRUMENTIUS OF ETHIOPIA, BISHOP; SAINT ODRAN, ABBOT AND BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW OF VICENZA, BISHOP – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 27TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Frumentius of Ethiopia, Bishop; Saint Odran, Abbot and Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza, Bishop. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world.  We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏

SAINT FRUMENTIUS OF ETHIOPIA, BISHOP: St. Frumentius was called “Abuna” or “the father” of Ethiopia, he was sent to that land by St. Athanasius. St. Frumentius helped in a great capacity to bring Christianity to Ethiopia. He was born in Lebanon, and was shipwrecked in East Africa while voyaging on the Red Sea with St. Aedesius, possibly his brother. Only St. Frumentius and his brother, St. Aedeius, survived the shipwreck. They were taken to the king at Axum, Ethiopia, and became members of the court. Taken to the Ethiopian royal court at Aksum, they soon attained high positions. St. Aedesius was royal cup bearer, and St. Fruementius was a secretary. When the king died, the two brothers stayed on as part of the queen’s court. She permitted them to introduce Christianity to the country, as well as opening up trade between Ethiopia and the west.They introduced Christianity to that land.

When Abreha and Asbeha inherited the Ethiopian throne from their father, St. Frumentius went to Alexandria, Egypt, to convince St. Athanasius to send missionaries from Alexandria to Ethiopia and he was later consecrated as the bishop of Ethiopia. He converted many people to Christianity before his death in 380. St. Frumentius’ brother, Aedeius, was also canonized. He’s the Patron Saint of Ethiopia.

Saint Frumentius of Ethiopia, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT ODRAN, ABBOT: St. Odran, also known as Oran, is an Irish missionary. St. Oran or Odran, an Irish Abbot was born in Ireland and served as Abbot of Meath. He was one of the twelve who volunteered to accompanied St. Columba to Scotland as one of his companions (and blood relatives) to bring the faith to Iona, landing in Iona in 563 AD. He is said to have been the first to die on Iona. The group set out in 563 in a small wicker boat covered with leather and on the eve of Pentecost arrived at the island of Iona. St. Odran and his companions quickly set about building a monastery, which went on to become famous throughout the centuries. However, Odran soon became deathly ill and told St. Columba that he would be the first to die there under the Covenant of the Kingdom of God. Columba said to him: “I will gibe you that Kingdom.” Then he blessed Odran and went outside. While walking, Columba gazed upward and had a vision of Odran’s soul being taken to heaven by a band of Angels. Thus, St. Odran was the first of the Irish monks to give his life for the conversion of the people there.

According to Legend, suggests that the chapel which Columba began to build could not stand until someone was buried in the foundations. Odran consented to being buried alive, although some days later Columba uncovered his face to see his friend one last time and Odran tried to climb out of his grave, saying “There is no Hell as you suppose, nor Heaven that people talk about”. Shocked, Columba is said to have quickly obtained more soil to cover the body! St. Odhran died in an efforts to spread the faith in Ireland. St. Odran is said to have founded a monastery at Latteragh in Tipperary. His death occurred around 563. The oldest remaining church on Iona is dedicated to Saint Odran. The surrounding cemetery is called Reilig Odhráin in his memory. St. Odran is the Patron Saint of the parish of Silvermines, County Tipperary. He is regarded as the Patron of Waterford, Ireland, chosen by the Vikings as patron of the city of Waterford in 1096 and later chosen as patron of the diocese.

PRAYER: Lord, amid the things of this world, let us be wholeheartedly committed to heavenly things in imitation of the example of evangelical perfection You have given us in St. Odran the Abbot. Amen 🙏
 
BLESSED BARTHOLOMEW OF VICENZA, BISHOP: Bl. Bartholomew of Vicenza (1201-1270), also known as Bartholomew of Braganca or Breganza, was born to a noble family in Vicenza, Italy. While studying in Padua he entered the newly established Dominican Order as one of their first friars, receiving the habit from St. Dominic himself. Bartholomew quickly advanced to positions of prominence within the Order, becoming prior and then overseeing several convents. He was sent to preach against the heretics in Lombardy, and was so successful that in 1235 the Holy Father made him Master of the Sacred Palace (an office known as “The Pope’s Theologian”) a position which was first held by St. Dominic. In this role he also founded a military order of knights for the purpose of maintaining civil order and peace throughout Italy called the Order of the Knights of the Mother of God (or the Knights of St. Mary). He was later made bishop of Cyprus, and also served as papal legate and confessor to St. Louis King of France, who was then leading a crusade in the Holy Land. From this friendship Bartholomew received the gift of a relic of the True Cross and a thorn from the Crown of Thorns. When Bartholomew returned to his native Vicenza as the city’s bishop he built a church to house the precious relics called the Church of the Holy Crown. Bl. Bartholomew of Vicenza was an effective mediator between the factions and feuds of his day, even converting the leader of a heretical party back to the Catholic faith. His feast day is October 27th.

Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My healing Lord, by myself I am weak, a beggar and a sinner. My only hope is to cry out to You in my need and to do so with much zeal. Please do restore my sight, dear Lord. Heal me and help me to see You so that I can follow You wherever You lead. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saint Frumentius of Ethiopia, Bishop; Saint Odran, Abbot and Blessed Bartholomew of Vicenza, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled Sunday🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 26, 2024

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Starting, October 19th (Day 8). Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saint Jude on October 28th | Novena prayer and link below

Greetings, and blessings beloved family. Happy Saturday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 26, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 26, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 26, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 26, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Readings: Saturday, October 26, 2024
Reading 1, Ephesians 4:7-16
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 122:1-2, 3-4, 4-5
Gospel, Luke 13:1-9

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, but especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude on October 28th. Pray the following each day for nine days in a row. This is the traditional Novena to Saint Jude and can be prayed any time of year | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-to-st-jude–desperate-situations-and-hopeless-cases-305

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases ~ DAY 8

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly – (make your request here) – and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen 🙏

PRAYER: May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen 🙏

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen 🙏

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen 🙏

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity. (say this prayer, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now recommend to your kindness (name of patient) who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT EVARISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR AND SAINT RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF NARBONNE – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 26TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Evaristus, Pope and Martyr and Saint Rusticus, Bishop of Narbonne. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world.  We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏

SAINT EVARISTUS, POPE AND MARTYR: Pope St. Evaristus (1st century), also known as Aristus was the fifth Pope of the Holy Roman Catholic Church and was elected to succeed Pope St. Clement I in the See of Rome. During this time the Roman empire was ruled by Trajan. Pope Evaristus was the fifth bishop of Rome from c. 99 to his death c. 107. St. Evaristus was the son of a Greek Jew, originally from Bethlehem. According to the Liber Pontificalis, he was born to a family of Greek Jews in Bethlehem; His father was named Judah. He is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church,  the Eastern Orthodox Church and Oriental Orthodoxy. It is likely that he was the bishop of Rome when John the Apostle died, marking the end of the Apostolic Age.

According to tradition, Pope St. Evaristus, was known to have ordained seven deacons to help serve the faithful in Rome. Early scholars credit St. Evaristus with dividing the city of Rome into parishes, he divided the titles among the priests in the city of Rome and ordaining bishops, priests, and deacons to oversee them. In his first epistle, St. Evaristus wrote that seven ordained deacons should monitor the preaching of each bishop, to ensure the truth was being taught, on account of the style of truth. In his second epistle, he compared the bond between husband and wife to the relationship between a bishop and his diocese. Church tradition holds that Pope St. Evaristus died as a martyr at the same time as St. Ignatius of Antioch. Pope Saint Evaristus was buried on Vatican Hill near St. Peter. He is typically depicted with a sword, because he was decapitated, or with a crib, because he is said to be from Bethlehem from which his father emigrated. His feast day is October 26th.

SAINT RUSTICUS, BISHOP OF NARBONNE: St. Rusticus of Narbonne was a monk of the Lérins Abbey and bishop of Narbonne and Catholic saint of Gaul. Born at the start of the 5th century in Marseille, Rusticus, was the son of a Bishop named Bonosus. He became a popular preacher at Rome and then a monk at Lérins. When he had completed his education in Gaul, Rusticus went to Rome, where he soon gained a reputation as a public speaker, but he wished to embrace the contemplative life. He wrote to Jerome, who advised him to continue his studies, commending him to imitate the virtues of St. Exuperius of Toulouse and to follow the advice of Proculus, then Bishop of Marseille. Thus Rusticus entered the Lérins Abbey. In 427, St. Rusticus was ordained at Marseilles, and on October 3, 430 was consecrated Bishop of Narbonne. He was present at the First Council of Ephesus in 431. With all his zeal, he could not prevent the progress of the Arian heresy which the Goths were spreading abroad; there is evidence that an Arian rival bishop was established in Narbonne. The siege of Narbonne by the Goths in 436 and dissensions among the Catholics so disheartened him that he wrote to Pope Leo I, renouncing the bishopric, but St. Leo dissuaded him (Epistle CLXVII).

St. Rusticus then endeavored to consolidate the Catholics. In 444–448, he rebuilt the church in Narbonne dedicated to Saint Genès of Arles, which was burned in 441;  in 451, he assisted at the convocation of forty-four bishops of Gaul and approved St. Leo’s letter to Flavian, concerning Nestorianism; he was present also at a Council of Arles, with thirteen bishops, to decide the debate between Theodore, Bishop of Fréjus, and the Abbey of Lérins. He was one of the twelve bishops who assembled to elect Ravennius bishop of Arles in 449, a letter from Ravennius to Rusticus, proves the high esteem in which he was held. St. Rusticus’ own letters are lost, with the exception of the one to St. Jerome and two others to St. Leo, written either in 452 or 458. In time, his people became split by Arianism spread by the invading Goths as well as by inner dissension arising from a synod convoked by the Saint himself in 458. At one point, St. Rusticus was so overwhelmed that he sought to leave his post and lead a quiet life with God. Hence, he asked Pope Leo the Great to allow him to resign. Instead of doing so, the Pope encouraged him to persevere and sent him a letter about governing a diocese. Rusticus remained at his post and did the Lord’s work. The holy Bishop built a cathedral, was esteemed by his brother Bishops, and attended the Synod of Arles, which approved Leo the Great’s condemnation of Nestorianism. This heresy preached that Christ had two personalities and two natures and that Mary was the Mother of the human nature alone. St. Rusticus died on October 26, 461.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You made St. Rusticus a leader of the Church to inspire Your people with his teaching and example. Through his intercession, grant that we may venerable him as our teacher and protector and experience the sweetness of Your mercy. Amen 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Saturday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 13:1-9

“If you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!”

“Some people told Jesus about the Galileans whose blood Pilate had mingled with the blood of their sacrifices. He said to them in reply, “Do you think that because these Galileans suffered in this way they were greater sinners than all other Galileans? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did! Or those eighteen people who were killed when the tower at Siloam fell on them— do you think they were more guilty than everyone else who lived in Jerusalem? By no means! But I tell you, if you do not repent, you will all perish as they did!” And he told them this parable: “There once was a person who had a fig tree planted in his orchard, and when he came in search of fruit on it but found none, he said to the gardener, ‘For three years now I have come in search of fruit on this fig tree but have found none. So cut it down. Why should it exhaust the soil?’ He said to him in reply, ‘Sir, leave it for this year also, and I shall cultivate the ground around it and fertilize it; it may bear fruit in the future. If not you can cut it down.’”

In today’s Gospel reading, the Lord Jesus speaks to His disciples and the people who were gathered to listen to Him where He addressed their questions about the recent events and misfortunes that happened to some of the people who perished during the uprising in Galilee, as well as in the collapse of the Tower in Shiloh, where several people also died. He told them all that they did not die and perish because of them being sinners, as everyone are equally sinners before God, and no one deserved to die more than any other person, not because one sinned more than the other, and then they were deemed or judged to deserve their death in that manner. Jesus told them a parable of a fig tree in a vineyard that seems as good as dead. It has failed to bear fruit for three successive years. The reaction of the owner of the vineyard seems quite reasonable; have the fig tree cut down because it is only taking up space that could be used for vines. However, the owner’s worker who looks after the tree had a different perspective. He looked at the apparently useless fig tree and he saw the possibility that it could still bear fruit. He persuaded the owner of the vineyard that the fig tree should be given a fourth year. He was all on for giving it every possible chance, not just time, but tender loving care in the form of fertilizer. He had a more generous vision of the fig tree, a more hopeful vision. He felt all was not lost; there was still time for the fig tree to come good. The parable may be saying that this is the way the Lord looks upon us. When the Lord looks on us He sees not just what we have failed to do in the past but what we are capable of doing in the future. He looks on us with generous and hopeful eyes. That is the way we are to look at each other and, indeed, at every situation in life. Like the worker in the vineyard, we need to be patient, to be prepared to wait, and to be able to see beneath the unpromising surface to the faint signs of new life that may be there. The parable in today’s Gospel is an image of how the Lord relates to us. He is slow to give up on us even when the signs are not promising. He will continue to pour His grace into our lives; He will do all He can to ensure that our lives bear fruit, the rich fruit of the Holy Spirit. We have a part to play; the Lord cannot work in our lives despite us. Yet, the parable assures us that the Lord’s efforts on our behalf will always far exceed whatever efforts we might make. As St. Paul says, grace abounds, and even when sin abounds, grace abounds all the more. The Lord never gives up on us and all He needs is a little opening in our hearts for His investment to bear rich fruit.

In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city and region of Ephesus, the Apostle spoke of the many gifts, talents, blessings and opportunities which He has provided to each and every one of us, His people, and how every one has their own unique calling and mission in life, in different areas and situations, and each and every one of us have been given these so that we may make good use of them to grow ever stronger, more faithful, more committed and dedicated as those whom God had called and chosen, as His beloved and holy people, All of those things have been given to us with the intention for us to learn to walk faithfully and with real commitment in the path that the Lord has led us to walk through, to be truly exemplary and committed in our lives as Christians, at all times. By His coming into the world, the Lord has shown us all His perfect love and has also bestowed on us this great grace, sending unto us the Holy Spirit, through Whom the whole world has received the rich gifts of Wisdom, truth and love of God, manifesting in all of us, in the various gifts and talents that we have received. God has not intended for everyone to receive the same gifts as He wants us all to make good use of our diverse and unique gifts to build up the Church and Kingdom of God and to strengthen one another in our respective roles and parts, by which we can contribute to the overall good efforts and works of the Church, to benefit more and more people that we may encounter in our journey throughout our daily lives.
What we are also reminded is that no one of us should think that we are better than others by virtue of our calling and ministry. Some people would think that they are better simply because they are part of the ordained ministry, being bishops or priests, but this is not the case, as to each and every members of the faithful, God has given unique gifts and vocations, and each one of them are equal in virtue, value and honour to each other, and should indeed not be compared or used for justification for prejudice or discrimination. Each and every vocations in the Church come along with their respective unique challenges and difficulties, as well as rich fruits and wonders, and they help and complete each other in fulfilling God’s works and missions.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded clearly that as Christians, as God’s followers and as those whom He had called and chosen as His own, each and every one of us must always do our best at every time to make good use of every gifts, blessings and all the things which He has provided and blessed us with. We should not be ignorant of the many things that we can do with all that God had bestowed upon us and blessed us with, the many opportunities that He had provided to us. Through all these we are in fact called to be active collaborators with God in how He carried out His loving actions towards our less fortunate brethren, and through our actions and efforts, based and grounded in our Christian faith, we may touch the lives of so many people. We are called to reflect on the lives of the Saints, Holy men and women, particularly the Saints we celebrate today. Let us all keep in mind our important roles as members and parts of the Church, that we must always be active and contributing in all of our efforts and works, to obey and follow the will of God at all times. We should strive to always be humble in listening to the Lord Who has called us to follow Him, and trust in Him wholly, faithfully and with commitment, doing whatever we can so that by our every actions, words and deeds, and by our every contributions, we may truly proclaim Him ever more wonderfully to all the people whom we encounter in our respective communities, to lead by example with our own holy and worthy lives. May the Lord our most loving God continue to guide us and strengthen us in faith so that we may always be willing to do our best and to do our part to contribute to the good works of God’s salvation through His Church.
May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and through our every moments in life, let us all continue to inspire everyone and all of us fellow Christians in our journey towards God, helping each other to persevere through the difficult challenges and obstacles that we may have to face in our way. Amen 🙏🏽

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My laboring Lord, You never cease to work diligently to cultivate the soil of my soul so that the seeds of Your mercy will grow and produce the good fruit You desire to come forth from my life. Please give me the grace I need to be faithful to a daily life of prayer, a practice of penance and a search for Your holy Word. Transform me, dear Lord, and bring forth the good fruit of Your holy Kingdom in my life. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saint Evaristus, Pope and Martyr and Saint Rusticus, Bishop of Narbonne ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and relaxing weekend🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 25, 2024

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Starting, October 19th (Day 7). Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saint Jude on October 28th | Novena prayer and link below

Greetings, and blessings beloved family. Happy Friday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 25, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 25, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 25, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 25, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Reading: Friday, October 25, 2024
Reading 1, Ephesians 4:1-6
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 24:1-2, 3-4, 5-6
Gospel, Luke 12:54-59

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, but especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude on October 28th. Pray the following each day for nine days in a row. This is the traditional Novena to Saint Jude and can be prayed any time of year | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-to-st-jude–desperate-situations-and-hopeless-cases-305

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases ~ DAY 7

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly – (make your request here) – and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen 🙏

PRAYER: May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen 🙏

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen 🙏

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen 🙏

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity. (say this prayer, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now recommend to your kindness (name of patient) who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF THE SIX WELSH MARTYRS AND THEIR COMPANIONS; SAINTS CHRYSANTHUS AND DARIA; SAINTS CRISPIN AND CRISPINIAN AND SAINT GAUDENTIUS OF BRESCIA, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 25TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of the Six Welsh Martyrs and their Companions; Saints Chrysanthus and Daria; Saint Crispin and Crispinian and St. Gaudentius of Brescia, Bishop. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for shoemakers, cobblers and all workers. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world.  We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏

THE SIX WELSH MARTYRS AND THEIR COMPANIONS: The Welsh Martyrs are the priests, St. Philip Evans and St. John Lloyd, St. John Jones, St. David Lewis, St. John Roberts, and the teacher, St. Richard Gwyn, and 34 English companions who were executed for their Faith during the Catholic persecution in England and Wales from 1535-1679. The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales were selected from among the hundreds of Catholics who gave their lives for the faith during the dark days of persecution in England. The Forty were canonized by Pope Paul VI on October 25, 1970. Six of the Forty were Welsh and celebrated this day as a feast in Wales. These six comprised of a married man, a Franciscan, a Benedictine, two Jesuits and a diocesan priest. The rest of the forty were English martyrs and celebrated on May 4.

St. Richard Gwyn was born about 1537 in Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire. He was a teacher and a married man. He and his wife, Catherine, had six children. He was executed at Wrexham on October 15, 1584. St Richard Gwyn is the Protomartyr of Wales.

St. John Jones, OFM was born at Clynog Fawr, Caernarvonshire around the year 1530. He entered the Franciscan Convent at Greenwich and, at its dissolution in 1559, he went to the Continent and was professed at Pontoise, France. He died for the Faith at Southwark on July 12, 1598. At his execution, he had to wait an hour because the hangman had forgotten to bring the rope!

St. John Roberts, OSB, born at Trawsfynydd, Merionethshire, was the first prior of St Gregory’s, Douai. He was sent upon the English Mission in December 1602, arriving in England in April 1603. He was probably the first monastic to enter England since the Reformation. He was executed at Tyburn on December 10, 1610.

St. Philip Evans, SJ was born in Monmouth in 1645. He entered the Society of Jesus on September 7, 1665. He was ordained at Liege and sent upon the English Mission in 1675. He diligently and joyfully served the area of South Wales for four years before his arrest at the house of Christopher Turberville at Sker, Glamorganshire on 4th December 1678. He was martyred at Cardiff on July 22, 1679. He was thirty-four years old.

St. John Lloyd was Brecon born and studied at Ghent and Valladolid. He was ordained a priest at Valladolid in 1653. He returned to Wales and labored in Brecon and Monmouthshire for 24 years. In November of 1678, he was captured at a house at Penllyn, Glamorganshire. He and St Philip Evans shared a cell at Cardiff Castle until their martyrdom at Cardiff on July 22, 1679.

St. David Lewis was born in 1616 at Abergavenny, Monmouthshire. He attended the local Grammar school where his father, Morgan Lewis, was headmaster. Ordained in 1642, David entered the Jesuit novitiate in 1645. He returned to Wales and, based at the Cwm, he served the Catholics of the area for 34 years. He was arrested at Llantarnam on 17th November 1678 and martyred at Usk on August 27, 1679. St David Lewis was the last Welsh martyr.

The Six Welsh Martyrs and their Companions ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINTS CHRYSANTHUS AND DARIA. MARTYRS: A husband and wife who carried on an active apostolate among the noble families of Rome during the third century. When they were denounced as Christians, they underwent various tortures with great constancy, and they were buried alive in a sandpit in the year 283. Daria received baptism through the efforts of her husband Chrysanthus. In Rome, they were instrumental in bringing many to the faith, for which cause they were cruelly martyred. Chrysanthus was sewn inside an ox’s hide and placed where the sun shone hottest. Taken to a house of ill-fame, Daria was protected by a lion while she passed the time in prayer. Finally, both were buried alive in a sand-pit and thereby together gained the crown of martyrdom. They were buried in the Jordan cemetery on the Via Saleria, Rome; at the same site were buried sixty-two soldiers who died as martyrs and also a group of faithful who had gathered together for the holy Sacrifice on the anniversary of saints’ deaths but were cut down by the enemies of Christ. Patron Saint of Eissel, Germany; Salzburg, Austria.

Saints Chrysanthus and Daria, Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINTS CRISPIN AND CRISPINIAN, MARTYRS: Sts. Crispin and Crispinian (d. 286 A.D.) were brothers, believed to be twins, from a noble Roman family who evangelized Gaul in the middle 3rd century. They  died in the persecution of Diocletian by the sword. They were Christians and went as missionaries into Gaul (present-day France). Taking the Apostle St. Paul as their example, they earned their living through a trade, dividing their time between ministry and work. Their craft was shoe-making, and because they asked little pay for their shoes they were loved and esteemed by all. Sts. Crispin and Crispinian used their work as an opportunity to share the Christian faith with the pagans they encountered, and many were converted through their witness. They worked from Soissons, preached in the streets by day and made shoes by night. The group’s charity, piety and contempt of material things impressed the locals, and many converted in the years of their ministry. During the persecution of the Roman Emperor Diocletian they were denounced as Christians and brought before the co-emperor, Maximanus Herculius. The emperor tried to persuade them to abandon their faith with promises and threats, but to no effect. The brothers were then given over to the governor who was notorious for his cruelty. They were stretched on the rack, their flesh was cut, and awls were driven under their fingernails. They were then thrown into a river with a millstone tied to their necks, but they both miraculously survived and swam back to shore. They were caught and finally beheaded. They were martyred in Rome in 286 by torture and beheading, under emperor Maximian Herculeus, being tried by Rictus Varus, governor of Belgic Gaul and an enemy of Christianity. A great church was built at Soissons in the 6th century in their honor; Saint Eligius ornamented their shrine. St. Crispin’s day has been immortalized by Shakespeare’s Henry V speech before the Battle of Agincourt in 1415. St. Crispin and Crispinian are the patron saints of shoemakers, saddlers, and tanners.
Patron Saint of Cobblers; glove makers; lace makers; lace workers; leather workers; saddle makers; tanners; weavers. Their feast, known as St. Crispin’s Day, is October 25th.

Saints Crispin and Crispinian, Martyrs ~ Pray for us 🙏

SAINT GAUDENTIUS OF BRESCIA, BISHOP: St. Gaudentius was born at Brescia, Italy about the middle of the 4th century, and was Bishop of Brescia from 387 until 410. He was a theologian and author of many letters and sermons. St. Gaudentius was educated under St. Philastrius, Bishop of Brescia, whom he terms his “father”. After earning a reputation for sanctity, he travel to the East where he gained even more fame. He was the successor of Saint Philastrius. He studied under Saint Philastrius, Bishop of Brescia, Italy. He preached throughout Italy and in the East, respected wherever he went for his oratory and leading the Christian life. When Philastrius died near the end of the 4th century, the people of Brescia chose St. Gaudentius as their bishop. He was consecrated by Saint Ambrose of Milan in 387. St. Gaudentius was a powerful preacher and wrote many pastoral letters, and ten of his twenty-one have survived and come down to us, offering ample testimony to this fact. He governed his See with prudence and humility, inspiring his flock to imitate the Divine Master. In 405, the Saint was sent with two other delegates by Pope innocent I and the Emperor Honorius to the East to defend St. John Chrysostom before Arcadius. However, the party was prevented from reaching Arcadius and never formally interceded for John; the three men were shipped back home on a vessel so unseaworthy that it almost sank and had to be left at Lampsacus. Subsequently, st. John wrote St. Gaudentius a letter of thanks for his efforts even though they had not borne fruit. This saintly man died about 410 of natural causes and was called by Rufinus: “the glory of the Doctors of the age in which he lives”.

PRAYER: God, Light and Shepherd of souls, You established St. Gaudentius as Bishop in Your Church to feed Your flock by his word and form it by his example. Help us through his intercession to keep the faith he thought by his word and follow the way he showed by his example. Amen 🙏
 
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 12:54-59

“You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time?”

“Jesus said to the crowds, “When you see a cloud rising in the west you say immediately that it is going to rain–and so it does; and when you notice that the wind is blowing from the south you say that it is going to be hot–and so it is. You hypocrites! You know how to interpret the appearance of the earth and the sky; why do you not know how to interpret the present time? “Why do you not judge for yourselves what is right? If you are to go with your opponent before a magistrate, make an effort to settle the matter on the way; otherwise your opponent will turn you over to the judge, and the judge hand you over to the constable, and the constable throw you into prison. I say to you, you will not be released until you have paid the last penny.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus criticizes His contemporaries for not knowing how to interpret the times in which they were living. The contemporaries were good at interpreting the signs in the sky, and recognizing the weather that was coming, but they were not so good at interpreting the times in which they lived and recognizing that someone greater than Solomon, greater than Jonah, was standing among them. We can all fail to interpret the signs of the time in that sense. We can fail to recognize the Lord who stands among us and who calls out to us in and through the various circumstances of our lives. To recognize the Lord among us and to hear his voice we need eyes that see and ears that hear. We need to develop a kind of contemplative attitude, an attentiveness of mind and heart. We also need an expectant faith, a faith that fully expects the Lord to be present wherever we find ourselves, a faith that expects the Lord to speak a word that addresses our own particular situation in life. We pray for that contemplative attitude and expectant faith today. The Gospel reading calls on all of us to interpret the signs of the Lord’s presence in all our lives, and to discern what the Lord is asking of us and calling us towards. The Lord has some purpose for our lives and there is always an urgency about that purpose; the Lord looks for our response in the here and now. We need to be alert, ready and keen, in response to that sense of urgency that the Lord feels in our regard.

In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city and region of Ephesus, we continue to hear the same exhortation which St. Paul had made to the faithful there regarding how they all ought to continue to follow the Lord faithfully in the manner that he himself has taught and shown them, and to remain united as one, just as he highlighted in today’s passage, reminding them of their one common baptism, the same Church and Body that they all belong to, the one united Church of God that they should all keep together, and not to be divided by the many sources of divisions that are often around us all, which threaten the unity of the Church and the salvation of souls among other things. At that time, there were strifes, distrust and disunity among the early faithful especially between the Jewish converts and those who came from the non-Jewish origins, or the Gentiles, with some of the former often seeing themselves as superior to those who did not follow the Jewish laws, rules and customs. They claimed that those who did not follow the fullness of the strict Jewish laws, practices and customs could not have a share in God’s grace and Presence, but St. Paul and the other Apostles definitively opposed this view and false idea, reminding all the faithful to remain true to the path that the Lord has shown them and not to follow the excesses of the way of how the Pharisees had practiced and observed the Law, which the Lord Himself had criticised earlier on. In their preoccupation to follow the Law, in all of its rituals and details, all the extensive restrictions and rigid ways, those people had forgotten the true meaning and intention of the Law of God, which was never meant to oppress, restrict or make the people’s livelihood and circumstances difficult. Rather, the Law of God was always meant to teach and show the people, all of us mankind on how to love the Lord and to follow Him, He Who is Love, as God is Love, and this great love which God has for us therefore brought Him to teach us all His Law, which had been meant to show us all how we can love Him ever more perfectly, and then show that same generous and genuine love in our own actions and interactions, in loving our fellow brothers and sisters around us.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded through them that each and every one of us as Christians must always live our lives in each and every moments, in every day living to the best of our abilities, to do what the Lord has shown and taught us to do so that our lives and works may truly be worthy of God, and that we may truly be inspirational and exemplary in our own actions, words, deeds and all the things we have, so that many more people may come to know the Lord through us and our examples, and hopefully by our inspiration we may continue to lead more and more people to follow the Lord as well. We are all reminded to keep the Lord at the very centre and focus of our whole lives, our existence and our every actions and deeds. And we have also been reminded to keep the unity in our Church and Christian community, to remain firmly united in love and to remain rooted in God in all things. We should not allow our pride, ego, ambition, desires and attachments for worldly glory to distract and tempt us away from God and lead us to be divided and torn in our unity in the One Church of God. We should always work towards strengthening the unity of our love and actions, so that we may draw ever closer to God and His holy Presence, all united in our common love for God and our generous love for each other. May the Lord, our ever loving God and Father continue to bestow upon us His strength and encouragement so that we can always remain firmly faithful in Him at all times, and may He continue to help us to preserve the unity in the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church, in the one united Body of Christ. May all of us also strive to be good and active contributors in our respective ministries and calling in life, to do what we can to proclaim the Lord and His salvation to more and more people, by becoming holy and worthy beacons of God’s light and grace, His love and compassion in our own communities, now and always. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to be faithful to the Gospel in small ways which can have consequences that would surprise us. May the Lord bless us always and our every endeavours, and may He bless and strengthen our families, that we may always be committed to God and to one another, and be filled with love, the love of God, always and evermore. Amen🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My most merciful Judge, You desire that I listen to Your holy Word, revealed through Scripture, so as to receive Your most merciful conviction of my sin. I pray that I will be open to always hear all that You desire to say to me so that I can respond with generosity and trust, reconciling with You and others continually through my journey in life. Enliven my conscience with Your holy Word, dear Lord. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; The Six Welsh Martyrs and their Companions; Saints Chrysanthus and Daria; Saint Crispin and Crispinian and St. Gaudentius of Brescia, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and relaxing weekend🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 24, 2024

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Starting, October 19th (Day 6). Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saint Jude on October 28th | Novena prayer and link below

Greetings, and blessings beloved family. Happy Thursday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 24, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 24, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 24, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 24, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Reading: Thursday, October 24, 2024
Reading 1, Ephesians 3:14-21
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 33:1-2, 4-5, 11-12, 18-19
Gospel, Luke 12:49-53

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, but especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude on October 28th. Pray the following each day for nine days in a row. This is the traditional Novena to Saint Jude and can be prayed any time of year | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-to-st-jude–desperate-situations-and-hopeless-cases-305

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases ~ DAY 6

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly – (make your request here) – and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen 🙏

PRAYER: May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen 🙏

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen 🙏

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen 🙏

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity. (say this prayer, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now recommend to your kindness (name of patient) who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET, BISHOP AND SAINT MAGLOIRE, ABBOT – FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 24TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop and Saint Magloire, Abbot. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable in our communities and around the world. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world.  We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏

SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET, BISHOP: St. Anthony Mary Claret (1807–1870) the founder of the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary was born in Spain in 1807, the same year Napoleon invaded the country. He was the fifth of eleven children and like his father, he was a weaver by trade. He took up his father’s trade of weaving before entering the priesthood. In his spare time, he studied Latin, and at the age of 22, he entered the seminary, and was ordained a priest in 1835. After five years, he began to give missions and retreats all over Catalonia. He served as a parish priest with a missionary’s zeal for the salvation of souls. He often preached multiple sermons in a single day, traveled to preach parish missions and retreats for the clergy, and heard confessions for hours on end. His labors were rewarded by many people returning to a fervent practice of the Catholic faith, especially as a result of his meek and gentle manner. He preached and worked in the missions for 10 years and seeing the success and the people’s need for salvation, to increase his apostolic efforts in 1849 he founded the Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary, known today as the Claretians to continue this work on a wider scale. Shortly thereafter, in that same year, he was consecrated Archbishop of Santiago de Cuba from 1849-1857. Finding the diocese in a deplorable spiritual condition, he quickly initiated vigorous reform measures, one of which was the establishment of the Teaching Sisters of Mary Immaculate.

While he was Archbishop, he successfully reformed the clergy and the laity. His great reforms of the neglected diocese, both ecclesiastically and socially, were so sweeping and effective that his life was threatened. In 1857, St. Anthony was recalled back to Spain and made chaplain and confessor to the queen, Queen Isabella II. This position made it possible for him to continue his mission work by preaching and publishing. Here he oversaw his congregation, published a few books and his tireless and fruitful priestly work continued. He established a museum, library, schools, and a laboratory, also helping to revive the Catalan language. He also founded a major Catholic publisher in Spain, and wrote or published hundreds of books. St. Anthony spread devotion to the Blessed Sacrament and the Immaculate Heart of Mary, and was so opposed in his efforts that he was severely persecuted and eventually exiled to Paris in 1868, along with the Spanish queen, by the Spanish revolutionary enemies of religion. He took part in the First Vatican Council, his wisdom and sanctity being evident to all, before suffering a stroke and dying in exile in France. After Vatican I, the archbishop sought refuge at a Cistercian monastery in France, where he died in 1870. He was canonized in 1950 by Pope Pius XII. During his life St. Anthony Marie Claret had the gift of prophesy and reading of consciences, in addition to performing many miracles. A resplendent light was also observed to shine from his face as he offered the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass. He’s the Patron Saint of Catholic press; Claretians; Missionary Sons of the Immaculate Heart of Mary; weavers; savings banks; foundations. His feast day is October 24th.

PRAYER: God, You strengthened St. Anthony Mary with wondrous love and patience in evangelizing the people. Through his intercession, enable us to seek those things that are Yours, and to labor in Christ for the good of our fellowmen. Amen 🙏

SAINT MAGLOIRE, ABBOT: St. Magloire was born in the early 500s. His mother was a Welsh Princess, his father a Breton nobleman. From the age of 5 he studied at the monastery at Llantwit Major under the tutelage of St Illtud. After his ordination he was made Abbot of a monastery at Lammeur in Brittany, where he governed with prudence and holiness for 52 years. He is traditionally given to be a cousin of Saint Samson of Dol, and his successor as bishop of Dol at the end of the seventh century. He remained there for only two or three years, and then after receiving instructions from a visiting angel, he resigned his post to Budoc, and in 565 withdrew to the island of Sark where he established a community of 62 monks. He died about the year 575. Several miracles are attributed to St Magloire. He’s credited with introducing Christianity to Sark and as such has been adopted as the Patron Saint of the island. His feast day is October 24th.

Saint Magloire, Abbot ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Thursday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel (USA) Luke 12:49-53

“I have not come to establish peace but division”

“Jesus said to his disciples: “I have come to set the earth on fire, and how I wish it were already blazing! There is a baptism with which I must be baptized, and how great is my anguish until it is accomplished! Do you think that I have come to establish peace on the earth? No, I tell you, but rather division. From now on a household of five will be divided, three against two and two against three; a father will be divided against his son and a son against his father, a mother against her daughter and a daughter against her mother, a mother-in-law against her daughter-in-law and a daughter-in-law against her mother-in-law.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus declares ‘I have come to bring fire to the earth, and how I wish it were blazing already!’ Jesus came to bring the fire of God’s love, a fire that conveys God’s warmth, but also burns away whatever is not of God. Jesus suffered because that fire of God’s love was burning so powerfully within Him. It was because He was on fire with God’s love that He was crucified by those who found that fire too dangerous and challenging. Jesus refers to the suffering that awaits Him using the image of a baptism He has still to receive, a baptism of fire, a baptism of suffering. That fire burning within Him gave rise to divisions, even within families, as some people were drawn to it and others were repelled by it. We stand on the far side of Jesus’ baptism, His passion and death. Something of the fire of the Spirit has taken hold in our own lives. This fire of the Spirit was given to us at great cost, the cost of Jesus’ passion and death. There is an onus on us, therefore, to keep that fire of the Spirit burning in our hearts. We need to keep praying, ‘Come Holy Spirit, fill our hearts, and kindle in us the fire of your love’. Jesus wants the fire of God’s love that He brought to the earth to burn within each of us. If that fire does burn within us, it will sometimes bring us suffering, just as it brought suffering to Jesus.

Our first reading today is the continuation of the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful in the city and region of Ephesus, the Apostle kept on reminding the faithful there of the love of God and how all these have been manifested through Christ, His Son, Our Lord and Saviour. God has never given up on us despite everything that we have done in disobeying Him and being stubborn in our attitude and constant refusal to follow His path. God has always been patient in reaching out to us and in attempting to help us, guiding us so that we may find the right path towards Him. And through His Son, He has shown us all the sure path to eternal life, by His perfect obedience to His Father’s will and by His love for us. St. Paul reminded all of the faithful that through the ever enduring and patient love that God has always had for each and every one of us, we have been truly fortunate to receive the great grace of His love and blessings, His strength and power through the gift of the Holy Spirit that He has bestowed upon us, the gift of life and all the opportunities and other wonderful things and opportunities that we have been given. Therefore, it is important that each and every one of us, as God’s holy and beloved people, we must be truly appreciative of this fact, and be grateful for all of those things we have received, and then strive to be good and worthy of God, to be truly faithful as Christians, to be full of love both for God and for our fellow brothers and sisters around us, as we all should be.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all called to keep in mind our faith in the Lord and how our lives all should be focused and centred on Him, and in everything that He has presented to us, in the love and generosity, all the kindness and mercy that He has always shown us, and at the same time we are also reminded of the kind of challenges and obstacles that we may encounter in our path as faithful Christians, because of the opposition that may arise from all those who refuse to listen to the Lord and acknowledge Him, which may lead to friction and conflict in our lives, and yet, we should not give up our faith easily because of all those. We are called to reflect on the exemplary lives lives of the Saints and Holy men and women, particularly the live and ministry of St. Anthony Mary Claret who continued to inspire many people, and touched the lives of many as he continued to minister faithfully to them and to bring more and more people closer to God. His inspiration and examples, his dedication to God which he carried on until the end of his life should inspire us all as well, in how we should live our lives faithfully and with faith, so that our own lives and examples may truly be good and worthy of those whom God had called and chosen, to be called as Christians, as God’s holy and beloved people. Let us all hence continue to centre and focus our lives on the Lord, and let us continue to do our best so that our whole lives may truly proclaim the Lord, His truth and love, His Good News and truth, by our every actions, just as St. Anthony Mary Claret and our many other holy predecessors had done. May the Lord continue to strengthen our faith and love for Him, and help us to persevere through the many challenges and trials, obstacles and persecutions that we may have to face in the midst of our faithful journey towards Him. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to call on the Lord and expect to experience His liberating presence any day of the week, at any time of the day or night. May God bless us always in all things, and bless our every efforts and endeavours. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My purifying Lord, You deeply desire to set my heart and soul on fire with the transforming mercy of Your love. Please give me the grace I need to permit You to kindle this fire of love in my heart so that it will truly become blazing and all-consuming. May this blaze ignite me in the inner depths of my heart so that You will shine brightly in my life, bringing forth the warmth of Your love into our world. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; St. Anthony Mary Claret, Bishop and Saint Magloire, Abbot ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 23, 2024

FEAST OF THE HOLY REDEEMER

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Starting, October 19th (Day 5). Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saint Jude on October 28th | Novena prayer and link below

Greetings, and blessings beloved family. Happy Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time!

On this special Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 23, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 23, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 23, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 23, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Reading: Wednesday, October 23, 2024
Reading 1, Ephesians 3:2-12
Responsorial Psalm, Isaiah 12:2-3, 4, 5-6
Gospel, Luke 12:39-48

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, but especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude on October 28th. Pray the following each day for nine days in a row. This is the traditional Novena to Saint Jude and can be prayed any time of year | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-to-st-jude–desperate-situations-and-hopeless-cases-305

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases ~ DAY 5

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly – (make your request here) – and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen 🙏

PRAYER: May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen 🙏

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen 🙏

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen 🙏

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity. (say this prayer, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now recommend to your kindness (name of patient) who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST OF THE HOLY REDEEMER AND THE MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN OF CAPISTRANO, PRIEST ~ FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 23RD: Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Holy Redeemer and the Memorial of Saint John of Capistrano, Priest. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are mentally and physically ill, and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏

FEAST OF THE HOLY REDEEMER: The feast of the Holy Redeemer is in honor of the graces and benefits of the Redemption. It was instituted at Venice, Italy in 1576 in thanksgiving for the cessation of a plague that broke out in Venice which in a few days carried off thousands of victims. To avert this scourge the Senate vowed to erect a splendid temple to the Redeemer of mankind, and to offer therein each year on the third Sunday of July public and solemn services of thanksgiving. Scarcely had the plague ceased when they began to fulfil their vow. The church was designed by the famous Andrea Palladio, and the corner-stone was laid by the Patriarch Trevisan on May 3, 1577. The celebrated painters Paolo Veronese and Jacopo Tintoretto decorated the interior. The church was consecrated in 1592, and, at the urgent solicitations of Pope Gregory XIII, placed in charge of the Capuchin Fathers. The feast has been observed in Venice for more than three centuries with great solemnity and is now found only in the special calendar of some dioceses and religious orders and is celebrated with proper Mass and Office either on the third Sunday of July or on October 23rd.

“The Redeemer of man, Jesus Christ, is the center of the universe and of history.” (John Paul II, Redemptor Hominis) Jesus Christ redeems believers from all forms of sinful bondage and oppression through His death and resurrection. The price of that redemption, His death, represents a ransom paid to secure the freedom of those held in bondage to sin. “I know that my Redeemer lives” (Job 19:25). “I the Lord am your Savior and your Redeemer” (Is 49:26). “He has borne our grief, and carried our sorrows” (Is 53:4). The Redeemer, Jesus Christ, who is alive by the power of His Resurrection, brought us eternal life. We are redeemed through His life, death and Resurrection. He brought peace through a different kind of justice—love, gentleness, simple living, understanding and communion. He, the Redeemer of man, worked with His human hands, thought with a human mind, acted with a human will, and with a human heart He loved. He, the Son of the living God, speaks to people as Man. It is His life that speaks, His humanity, His fidelity to the truth, His all-embracing love, His death on the Cross, that speaks of His suffering and abandonment. He alone satisfied the Father’s eternal love. Redemption was accomplished in the paschal mystery, leading through the Cross and death to Resurrection. Therefore, the Redemption of the world is a tremendous mystery of love and the renewal of creation, a deepest root, the fullness of justice in a human Heart—the Heart of the First-born Son. The Church never ceases to relive Jesus’ death on the Cross and His Resurrection, which constitute the content of the Church’s daily life. She unceasingly celebrates the Eucharist, finding in it the fountain of life and holiness, the efficacious sign of grace and reconciliation with God, and the pledge of eternal life. The Church lives his mystery, draws unwearyingly from it and continually seeks ways of bringing this mystery of her Master and Lord to humanity—to the peoples, the nations, and every individual human being. “For I decided to know nothing among you except Jesus Christ and him crucified” (1Cor 2:2). The Redemption is the fundamental principle of Church’s life and mission.

The Cross on Calvary, through which Jesus Christ, a Man, “leaves” this world, is a fresh manifestation of the eternal fatherhood of God. This revelation of the Father and outpouring of the Holy Spirit, which stamp an indelible seal on the mystery of the Redemption, explain the meaning of the Cross and death of Christ. The God of creation is revealed as the God of Redemption, “for our sake (God) made Him (the Son) to be sin who knew no sin”. This revelation of love is also described as mercy; and in man’s history this revelation of love and mercy has taken a form and a name: that of Jesus Christ. In the human dimension of the mystery of the Redemption man finds again the greatness, dignity and value that belong to his humanity. In the mystery of the Redemption man becomes newly “expressed” and, in a way, is newly created. Jesus Christ is the stable principle and fixed center of the mission that God Himself has entrusted to man. We all have to share in this mission and concentrate all our forces on it. This mission seems to encounter greater opposition nowadays than ever before. The mystery of the divine “economy” is linked with salvation and grace gained by the Cross. It was not without reason that Christ said that “the kingdom of heaven has suffered violence, and men of violence take it by force” (Lk 16:8). Titular Feast of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Divine Redeemer

PRAYER: Eternal Father, to conquer death and bring us back to life, You made your only Son Redeemer of mankind. May we ever remember your kindness, cling to you with unfailing love, and so enjoy the benefits of your Redemption. Grant this prayer through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son. Amen 🙏

SAINT JOHN OF CAPISTRANO, PRIEST: St. John of Capistrano (1385-1456) was a Franciscan priest whose life included a political career, extensive missionary journeys, efforts to reunite separated Eastern Christians with Rome and a historically important turn at military leadership. St. John was born in 1385 at Capistrano in the Italian Province of the Abruzzi. His father was a German knight and died when he was still young. After the death of his father, his mother sent him to study law in Perugia where he rose to prominence. St. John became a lawyer and achieved great success as a lawyer and was appointed governor of Perugia at age 26. He was an upright leader who refused bribes and corruption. When war broke out between Perugia and Malatesta in 1416, St. John tried to broker a peace. Unfortunately, his opponents ignored the truce and St. John became a prisoner of war. He was imprisoned while attempting to negotiate a peace treaty, this gave him opportunity to assess the direction of his life and the state of his soul. After having a vision of St. Francis of Assisi, on the death of his wife, St. John left the world and entered religious life as a Franciscan friar, the order of Friars Minor. He was ordained and began to lead a very penitential life, he resolved to embrace poverty, chastity, and obedience with the Franciscans. Abandoning his possessions and social status, St. John joined the religious order in October 1416. He found a mentor in Saint Bernardine of Siena, known for his bold preaching and his method of prayer focused on the invocation of the name of Jesus. Taking after his teacher in these respects, John began preaching as a deacon in 1420, and was ordained a priest in 1425. St. John became a disciple and taught theology by Saint Bernadine of Siena and together the two worked to reform the Franciscan order. St. John successfully defended his mentor from a charge of heresy made against his way of devotion, though he found less success in his efforts to resolve internal controversy among the followers of St. Francis.

The world at the time was in need of strong men to work for salvation of souls. Thirty percent of the population was killed by the Black Plague, the Church was split in schism and there were several men claiming to be pope. As an Itinerant priest, throughout Italy, Germany, Bohemia, Austria, Hungary, Poland, and Russia, St. John preached to tens of thousands and established communities of Franciscan renewal. St. John preached for the salvation of souls, combating the heresies of his day, and winning many souls away from schism and heresy. Merchants would suspend their business as great crowds gathered to hear him preach in the public squares. He was also known as a healer, and many of the sick were brought to him to be cured. He reportedly healed the sick by making the Sign of the Cross over them. A succession of popes entrusted important matters to St. John, including the effort to reunite Eastern and Western Christendom at the Ecumenical Council of Florence. St. John was frequently used as an ambassador by the Holy See which allowed him to preach across the Holy Roman Empire, earning him the name “Apostle of Europe.” He also wrote extensively, mainly against the heresies of the day. He was successful in reconciling heretics. Drawing immense crowds in his missionary travels throughout Italy, St. John also found success as a preacher in Central Europe, where he opposed the Hussites’ error regarding the nature and administration of the Eucharist. After Constantinople fell to Turkish invaders in 1453, Pope Nicholas V sent John on a mission to rally other European leaders in defense of their lands. Nicholas’ successor Pope Callixtus III was even more eager to see the Christian world defend itself against the invading forces. When the Sultan Mehmet II sought to extend his territorial gains into Serbia and Hungary, St. John joined the celebrated general Janos Hunyadi in his defense of Belgrade. St. John, at the age seventy, was commissioned by Pope Callistus II to preach and lead a crusade against the invading Turks. Marching at the head of 70,000 Christians, and led the charge of the Christian army under a banner monogrammed with the Holy Name of Jesus, to which he had a great devotion, urging the crusaders to invoke the name of Jesus for success in battle. The victory of the Christian army was attributed to his efforts when he gained victory in the great battle of Belgrade against the Turks in 1456. The priest personally led a section of the army in its historic victory on August 6, 1456. Neither St. John nor the general, however, would survive long past the battle. Three months later weakened by the campaign against the Turks, Hunyadi became sick and died soon after the victory at Belgrade. St. John survived to preach Janos Hunyadi’s funeral sermon; but his own extraordinary life came to an end after a painful illness, he died in the field a few months later on October 23, 1456, but his army delivered Europe from the Moslems. St. John of Capistrano was canonized in 1724. He’s the Patron Saint of chaplains; jurists; judges; military chaplains and lawyers. His feast day is October 23rd.

PRAYER: Lord, You raised up St. John to console Your people in their distress. Keep us always safe under Your protection and preserve Your Church in unending peace. Amen. Saint John of Capistrano, Priest ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Wednesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 12:39-48

“Much will be required of the person entrusted with much”

“Jesus said to his disciples: “Be sure of this: if the master of the house had known the hour when the thief was coming, he would not have let his house be broken into. You also must be prepared, for at an hour you do not expect, the Son of Man will come.” Then Peter said, “Lord, is this parable meant for us or for everyone?” And the Lord replied, “Who, then, is the faithful and prudent steward whom the master will put in charge of his servants to distribute the food allowance at the proper time? Blessed is that servant whom his master on arrival finds doing so. Truly, I say to you, he will put him in charge of all his property. But if that servant says to himself, ‘My master is delayed in coming,’ and begins to beat the menservants and the maidservants, to eat and drink and get drunk, then that servant’s master will come on an unexpected day and at an unknown hour and will punish the servant severely and assign him a place with the unfaithful. That servant who knew his master’s will but did not make preparations nor act in accord with his will shall be beaten severely; and the servant who was ignorant of his master’s will but acted in a way deserving of a severe beating shall be beaten only lightly. Much will be required of the person entrusted with much, and still more will be demanded of the person entrusted with more.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus calls on us to stand ready because the Son of Man is coming at an hour we do not expect. Jesus tells His disciples a parable about a burglar who breaks through the wall of a house at an hour nobody expects; the master arrives home at a time when his irresponsible servant is not expecting him. Jesus indicates that there can be the element of the unexpected in His relationship with us and ours with Him. The Son of Man comes at an hour we do not expect. We may be inclined to relate that to the hour of our death; sudden and unexpected death is certainly a reality. However, more may be being referred to than that. The Son of Man comes to us in the course of our lives; His daily coming in the midst of life can also be unexpected. The Lord may call us to do something we had never thought about; He may take us down a path we might never have gone down if left to ourselves. The Lord can come to us through unexpected people, through people we would never think of as the Lord’s messengers. The Gospel reading suggests that when it comes to the Lord, we can expect the unexpected. As Isaiah says, His ways are not our ways, His thoughts are not our thoughts. He is always the God of surprises and that requires us to be alert and attentive to His many unexpected comings.

In the Gospel, Jesus speaks of the faithful and wise steward who remains faithful to the task given to him by his master and is faithfully working away at it when the master returns after being away on a journey. We are all called to be faithful and wise stewards in that same sense. We are to remain faithful to our calling, to our task of living the Gospel day in and day out. Faithfulness was what characterized the ministry of Jesus. He was faithful to the work God gave Him to do, even though it meant His crucifixion. He was faithful to the disciples he had chosen, even though they let him down and abandoned him when he most needed them. According to Luke in his Gospel, he was faithful even to His enemies, healing the ear of one of those who came to arrest Him and praying on the cross for those responsible for His crucifixion. In a variety of ways, Jesus showed himself to be the Faithful One. His faithfulness can inspire and empower something of the same level of faithfulness in us. Like St. Paul, we want to be able to say at the end of our lives, ‘I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith’.

In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Church and the faithful people of God in Ephesus, the Apostle reiterated the universal nature of God’s ever generous and bountiful love, which He has always shown to us all, to every one of His beloved children, regardless of whether they were Jews or not. At that time, we must understand the context of the situation in the early Church, as significant parts of the early Christian converts were from the Jewish people, including even some of the Pharisees that had many of its members often criticising and opposing the Lord, and who also held a rather exclusivist and supremacist view on who deserved God’s salvation and grace. There were at the same time many converts and believers from among the non-Jewish people, the Gentiles, namely the Greeks, Romans and the many local people in Ephesus and elsewhere. St. Paul the Apostle spent a lot of time and effort to evangelise and reach out to the non-Jewish people, to dialogue with them and to introduce Christ and His teachings and truth, His Good News and love for everyone. He was also always supportive of the cause of the Gentiles against the excesses of those converts from the more conservative and hardline Pharisees, who had also made attempts to impose strict Jewish customs, rules and requirements on all the faithful, which was completely unnecessary, and the Apostle was especially critical of those who claimed that obedience and observance of those customs, rites and practices were essential and prerequisite for salvation. Instead, St. Paul kept on reiterating the true teachings and Good News of Christ against all those falsehoods, reaching out to many more people to proclaim God’s salvation.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded again just as we had been yesterday, to be ever more vigilant in each and every moments of our lives so that we may truly follow His path and embrace all the love which He has shown us. God’s great and ever patient and generous love has always been shown to all of us, His beloved children, regardless of our background, identity and groups, and we must realise that all of us are equally beloved by God and dear to Him. He has provided us the various means to lead us all back to Him, and opened the path for us to return to the life everlasting and true happiness that He has intended for us all to enjoy, to get away from the darkness and sin which had separated us all from Him. Today as we all discerned from the words of the Sacred Scriptures and from the life and examples of the Holy men and women and Saints, particularly the Saints we celebrate today, St. John of Capestrano and all the other Saints. We are all reminded to do our best at all times, to be ever faithful and committed to Him, exemplary and inspirational to one another in our own words, actions and deeds, in each and every things that we do in life, we will always be the beacons of God’s light, His Good News, His love and truth, and all the things which He has shown us. We should never think that our actions and words, our deeds and interactions, no matter how small, may have no effect or impact on others around us. They can be either good and worthy of God, or wicked and unworthy, and it is up to us to decide how we are to live our lives, and how we are to act and to do things even in the smallest things that we do. May the Lord, our ever loving and compassionate God and Father, our Lord and Master, continue to love us all most generously and help us all to come towards Him with great faith and dedication, now and always. May He continue to strengthen us with the resolve to do His will, to do what is right, just and worthy according to His will, that we may help one another to come and reach the Lord, through each and every things we do in life, to help more and more people to come towards the Holy Presence of God, to be forgiven and reconciled with Him together with us. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with us always, and may He empower and strengthen each and every one of us, in our every day moments, and may He bless our every efforts and good works in glorifying His Name, now and always. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My ever-present Lord, You do come to me day and night, speaking to me, inspiring me, and leading me. Please fill me with the gift of holy vigilance so that I will always be prepared to meet You and hear Your holy voice. May I learn to build a habit of responding to You always. And may I especially be prepared for that glorious moment when I am blessed to see You face-to-face. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Our Holy Redeemer, have mercy on us and  Saint John of Capistrano ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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

TWENTY-NINTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ OCTOBER 22, 2024

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Starting, October 19th (Day 4). Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saint Jude on October 28th | Novena prayer and link below

Greetings, and blessings beloved family. Happy Tuesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time and Happy Feast of Saint John Paul II!

On this special Feast day, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint John Paul II and the other Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We continue to pray for the safety and well-being of our children and for peace in our family and the whole world.

May our Blessed Mother Mary Intercede for all those in pain and sorrow. We particularly pray for those mourning the loss of a loved one who recently passed away and the souls in Purgatory. 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 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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 🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN on YouTube” | October 22, 2024 |

https://www.youtube.com/live/rA6KbYhbkrU?si=ewJWzykGQ847hcER

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | October 22, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | LIVE Basilica of St. Mary Major | October 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | October 22, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| October 22, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” oùn YouTube |

https://youtu.be/QAZKMbwZrEQ

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) |

Today’s Bible Reading: Tuesday, October 22, 2024
Reading 1, Ephesians 2:12-22
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 85:9-10, 11-12, 13-14
Gospel, Luke 12:35-38

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Novena to Saint Jude is prayed for Desperate Situations and Desperate Cases—especially for an end to war and terrorism. Prayed anytime of year, but especially October 19–27th in preparation for the Feast of Saints Simon and Jude on October 28th. Pray the following each day for nine days in a row. This is the traditional Novena to Saint Jude and can be prayed any time of year | https://www.ewtn.com/catholicism/devotions/novena-to-st-jude–desperate-situations-and-hopeless-cases-305

NOVENA TO SAINT JUDE: Desperate Situations and Hopeless Cases ~ DAY 4

Most holy Apostle, St. Jude, faithful servant and friend of Jesus, the Church honors and invokes you universally, as the patron of difficult cases, of things almost despaired of, Pray for me, I am so helpless and alone. Intercede with God for me that He bring visible and speedy help where help is almost despaired of. Come to my assistance in this great need that I may receive the consolation and help of heaven in all my necessities, tribulations, and sufferings, particularly – (make your request here) – and that I may praise God with you and all the saints forever. I promise, O Blessed St. Jude, to be ever mindful of this great favor granted me by God and to always honor you as my special and powerful patron, and to gratefully encourage devotion to you.
Amen 🙏

PRAYER: May the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus be adored, and loved in all the tabernacles until the end of time. Amen 🙏

May the most Sacred Heart of Jesus be praised and glorified now and forever. Amen 🙏

St. Jude pray for us and hear our prayers. Amen 🙏

Blessed be the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Blessed be the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Blessed be St. Jude Thaddeus, in all the world and for all Eternity. (say this prayer, followed by the Our Father, Hail Mary, and Glory Be)

Dear Apostle and Martyr for Christ, you left us an Epistle in the New Testament. With good reason many invoke you when illness is at a desperate stage. We now recommend to your kindness (name of patient) who is in a critical condition. May the cure of this patient increase his/her faith and love for the Lord of Life, for the glory of our merciful God. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN PAUL II, POPE; SAINT MARY SALOME AND SAINT MELLO OF CARDIFF, BISHOP – FEAST DAY: OCTOBER 22, 2024: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint John Paul II, Pope; Saint Mary Salome and Saint Mello of Cardiff, Bishop. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for God’s Divine Grace and Mercy upon us all. We pray for peace, love, justice and unity in our marriages, our families and our world. We pray for the poor, the needy and the most vulnerable. We pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are sick with the coronavirus, mental illness and those suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. We pray for all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, for vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world…. Amen🙏

SAINT JOHN PAUL II, POPE: Pope St. John Paul II  (1920 – 2005) is considered one of the most well-known pontiffs in recent history, and is most remembered for his charismatic nature, his love of youth and his world travels, along with his role in the fall of communism in Europe during his 27-year papacy. Pope St. John Paul II was born Karol Józef Wojtyla on May 18, 1920, in the Polish town of Wadowice, a small city 50 kilometers from Krakow. He was the youngest of three children born to Karol Wojtyla and Emilia Kaczorowska. Pope John Paul II had lost his mother, father and older brother before his 21st birthday. His mother died in 1929. His eldest brother Edmund, a doctor, died in 1932 and his father, a non-commissioned army officer died in 1941. A sister, Olga, had died before he was born. He was baptized on June 20, 1920 in the parish church of Wadowice by Fr. Franciszek Zak, made his First Holy Communion at age 9 and received his Sacrament of Confirmation at 18. He was a vibrant, athletic, and intelligent child. His deeply religious father played an important role in his spiritual formation after his mother’s death when he was 8 years old. Upon graduation from Marcin Wadowita high school in Wadowice, St. John Paul II enrolled in Krakow’s Jagiellonian University in 1938 and was in a school for drama. His promising academic career at Krakow’s Jagiellonian University was cut short by the outbreak of World War II. He studied literature, poetry, and theater before his studies were interrupted by the Nazi invasion of Poland in 1939. The Nazi occupation forces closed the university in 1939 and young Karol had to work in a quarry (1940-1944) and then in the Solvay chemical factory to earn his living and to avoid being deported to Germany. While working in a quarry and a chemical factory, he enrolled in an “underground” seminary in Kraków. In 1942, aware of his call to the priesthood, he began courses in the clandestine seminary of Krakow, run by Cardinal Adam Stefan Sapieha, archbishop of Krakow. At the same time, Karol Wojtyla was one of the pioneers of the “Rhapsodic Theatre,” also clandestine. After the Second World War, he continued his studies in the major seminary of Krakow, once it had re-opened, and in the faculty of theology of the Jagiellonian University. He was ordained to the priesthood by Archbishop Sapieha in Krakow on November 1, 1946. Shortly afterwards, Cardinal Sapieha sent him to Rome where he worked under the guidance of the French Dominican, Garrigou-Lagrange and earned a doctorate in theology. He finished his doctorate in theology in 1948 with a thesis on the subject of faith in the works of St. John of the Cross (Doctrina de fide apud Sanctum Ioannem a Cruce). At that time, during his vacations, he exercised his pastoral ministry among the Polish immigrants of France, Belgium and Holland. In 1948 St. John Paul II returned to Poland and was vicar of various parishes in Krakow as well as chaplain to university students. The short assignment as assistant pastor in a rural parish preceded his very fruitful chaplaincy for university students. This period lasted until 1951 when he again took up his studies in philosophy and theology. In 1953 he defended a thesis on “evaluation of the possibility of founding a Catholic ethic on the ethical system of Max Scheler” at Lublin Catholic University. Later he became professor of moral theology and social ethics in the major seminary of Krakow and in the Faculty of Theology at Poland’s University of Lublin. On July 4, 1958, Communist officials allowed him to be appointed titular bishop of Ombi and auxiliary of Krakow by Pope Pius XII, and was consecrated September 28, 1958, in Wawel Cathedral, Krakow, by Archbishop Eugeniusz Baziak. On January 13, 1964, he was appointed archbishop of Krakow by Pope Paul VI, who made him a cardinal three years later on June 26, 1967 with the title of S. Cesareo in Palatio of the order of deacons, later elevated pro illa vice to the order of priests. Besides taking part in Vatican Council II (1962-1965) where he made an important contribution to drafting the Constitution Gaudium et spes, Cardinal Wojtyla participated in all the assemblies of the Synod of Bishops. He attended all four sessions of Vatican II.

Cardial Wojtyla was elected Pope by the Cardinals at the Conclave of October 16, 1978 and he took the name John Paul II. He was the first non-Italian Pope in 455 years. On October 22nd, the Lord’s Day, he solemnly inaugurated his Petrine ministry as the 263rd successor to the Apostle. His pontificate is one of the longest in the history of the Church. He was head of the Catholic Church for 27 years (between 1978 and 2005), being the second-longest serving Pope in modern history after Pope Pius IX. On May 13, 1981 he was shot and severely wounded. In 1983 he visited Mehmet Ali Agca, who had attempted to assassinate him, in prison. Pope John Paul II became a spiritual protagonist in two global transitions: the fall of European communism, which began in his native Poland in 1989, and the passage to the third millennium of Christianity. He also instituted the annual February 2 “World Day of Consecrated Life”, the February 11 “World Day of the Sick” and at the same time his care for the family was expressed in the World Meetings of Families, which he initiated in 1994 and a World Meeting of Families every three years. Welcoming hundreds of thousands of young people to the Vatican for a special Palm Sunday celebration in 1984, has become the “World Youth Day”. His love for young people brought him to establish the World Youth Days. The 19 WYDs celebrated during his pontificate brought together millions of young people from all over the world. He promoted ecumenical and interfaith initiatives, especially the 1986 “Day of Prayer for World Peace” in Assisi. Pope John Paul II successfully encouraged dialogue with the Jews and with the representatives of other religions, whom he several times invited to prayer meetings for peace, especially in Assisi. Driven by his pastoral solicitude for all Churches and by a sense of openness and charity to the entire human race, Pope John Paul II exercised the Petrine ministry with a tireless missionary spirit, dedicating it all his energy. He made 104 pastoral visits outside Italy and 146 within Italy. As bishop of Rome he visited 317 of the city’s 333 parishes. He had more meetings than any of his predecessors with the People of God and the leaders of Nations. More than 17,600,000 pilgrims participated in the General Audiences held on Wednesdays (more than 1160), not counting other special audiences and religious ceremonies [more than 8 million pilgrims during the Great Jubilee of the Year 2000 alone], and the millions of faithful he met during pastoral visits in Italy and throughout the world. We must also remember the numerous government personalities he encountered during 38 official visits, 738 audiences and meetings held with Heads of State, and 246 audiences and meetings with Prime Ministers. He visited 129 countries, making him one of the most well-traveled world leaders in history. During his time as Holy Father he gave a multitude of important contributions to the Church including his teaching on the Theology of the Body, his emphasis on the Universal Call to Holiness, and his strong devotion to the Virgin Mary. He is also known as the “Pope of the Family.” He’s s often referred to as Saint John Paul the Great by many Catholics. He earned this title not just by being a religious figure, but by significantly improving the Catholic Church’s relations with the Orthodox Church, Islam, Judaism and the Anglican Communion. His dream was to create a religious alliance between all denominations. His dream was to create a religious alliance between all denominations. His exceptional apostolic zeal, particularly for families, young people and the sick, led him to numerous pastoral visits throughout the world. Among the many fruits which he has left as a heritage to the Church are above all his rich Magisterium and the promulgation of the Catechism of the Catholic Church as well as the Code of Canon Law for the Latin Church and for the Eastern Churches.

Under his guidance the Church prepared herself for the third millennium and celebrated the Great Jubilee of the year 2000 in accordance with the instructions given in the Apostolic Letter Tertio Millennio adveniente. The Church then faced the new epoch, receiving his instructions in the Apostolic Letter Novo Millennio ineunte, in which he indicated to the faithful their future path. With the Year of the Redemption, the Marian Year and the Year of the Eucharist, he promoted the spiritual renewal of the Church. He gave an extraordinary impetus to Canonizations and Beatifications, focusing on countless examples of holiness as an incentive for the people of our time. He celebrated 147 beatification ceremonies during which he proclaimed 1,338 Blesseds; and 51 canonizations for a total of 482 saints. He made Thérèse of the Child Jesus a Doctor of the Church. He considerably expanded the College of Cardinals, creating 231 Cardinals (plus one in pectore) in 9 consistories. He also called six full meetings of the College of Cardinals. He organized 15 Assemblies of the Synod of Bishops – six Ordinary General Assemblies (1980, 1983, 1987, 1990, 1994 and 2001), one Extraordinary General Assembly (1985) and eight Special Assemblies (1980,1991, 1994, 1995, 1997, 1998 (2) and 1999). His most important Documents include 14 Encyclicals, 15 Apostolic Exhortations, 11 Apostolic Constitutions, 45 Apostolic Letters. He promulgated the Catechism of the Catholic Church in the light of Tradition as authoritatively interpreted by the Second Vatican Council. He also reformed the Eastern and Western Codes of Canon Law, created new Institutions and reorganized the Roman Curia. As a private Doctor he also published five books of his own: “Crossing the Threshold of Hope” (October 1994), “Gift and Mystery, on the fiftieth anniversary of my ordination as priest” (November 1996), “Roman Triptych” poetic meditations (March 2003), “Arise, Let us Be Going” (May 2004) and “Memory and Identity” (February 2005).

In the last years of his life, Pope John Paul II suffered from Parkinson’s disease and was forced to cut back on some of his activities. In the light of Christ risen from the dead, on Saturday, April 2, 2005, at 9.37 p.m., the eve of the Second Sunday of Easter or the vigil of Sunday in albis or Divine Mercy Sunday, which he had instituted, while Saturday was drawing to a close and the Lord’s Day was already beginning, the Octave of Easter and Divine Mercy Sunday, the Church’s beloved Pastor, Pope John Paul II, departed this world peacefully for the Father. From that evening until April 8th, date of the funeral of the late Pontiff, more than three million pilgrims came to Rome to pay homage to the mortal remains of the Pope. Some of them queued up to 24 hours to enter St. Peter’s Basilica. After his solemn funeral was celebrated on April 8, 2005, in Saint Peter’s Square, he was buried in the crypt of Saint Peter’s Basilica. On April 28, the Holy Father Benedict XVI announced that the normal five-year waiting period before beginning the cause of beatification and canonization would be waived for John Paul II. The cause was officially opened by Cardinal Camillo Ruini, vicar general for the diocese of Rome, on June 28 2005, and Pope John Paul II was beatified May 1, 2011 by Pope Benedict XVI, his immediate successor and for many years his valued collaborator as Prefect for the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. The canonization Mass for Blessed Popes John Paul II and John XXIII, was celebrated by Pope Francis (with Pope Emeritus Benedict XVI), on April 27,  2014 in St. Peter’s Square at the Vatican City. In an April 24 message sent to the Church in Poland, Pope Francis gave thanks for the great “gift” of the new Saint, saying of Pope St. John Paul II that he is grateful, “as all the members of the people of God, for his untiring service, his spiritual guidance, and for his extraordinary testimony of holiness.” Pope St. John Paul II is the Patron Saint of Polish-Ukrainian Reconciliation; World Meeting of Families 2015; World Youth Days. His feast day is October 22nd.

PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, who in the Pope St. John Paul II, gave to the whole world the shining example of a good shepherd, grant that, through his intercession, we may with joy spread abroad the fullness of Christian charity. Through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen 🙏
 
QUOTES OF SAINT JOHN PAUL II, POPE:
☆”Faith leads us beyond ourselves. It leads us directly to God.”
☆”Do not be afraid to take a chance on peace, to teach peace, to live peace. Peace will be the last word of history.”
☆”There is no true peace without fairness, truth, justice, and solidarity.”
☆”Social justice cannot be attained by violence. Violence kills what it intends to create.”
☆”I plead with you, never, ever give up on hope, never doubt, never tire, and never become discouraged. Be not afraid.”
☆”Let us remember the past with gratitude, live the present with enthusiasm, and look forward to the future with confidence.”
☆”Let science tell us what and how. Let religion tell us who and why.”
☆”Confession is an act of honesty and courage – an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to the mercy of a loving and forgiving God.”
☆”Stupidity is also a gift of God, but one mustn’t misuse it.”
☆”We are all one family in the world.”

SAINT MARY SALOME: St. Mary Salome was the wife of Zebedee and the mother of apostles James the Greater and John the Evangelist, the “sons of Zebedee.” May have been a cousin of the Blessed Virgin Mary. One of the “three Marys,” the holy women who ministered to Jesus during his earthly ministry, and may have accompanied him on his travels. She witnessed Christ’s death on the cross, His entombment, and His resurrection. Mark mentions St. Salome as one of the women who came to anoint the body of Jesus on the morning of the Resurrection. One Gospel story that shows Jesus and Salome has her asking Jesus what places her sons will have in His Kingdom. Jesus responds that it is the Father who assigns places in the Kingdom and that James and John will have to follow His own example of humility and sacrifice to earn places there. Legend says that after the Resurrection she went to Veroli, Italy and spent the rest of her life there spreading the Good News.

Saint Mary Salome, Pray for us 🙏

SAINT MELLO OF CARDIFF, BISHOP: Saint Mello of Cardiff  (229-314) is listed as Mallonous, Mellouns, and Melanius. He was an early 4th-century Bishop of Rotomagus (now Rouen) in the Roman province of Secunda Provincia Lugdunensis (now Normandy in France). He was the first bishop of Rouen, France. A native of Cardiff, Wales. He was converted while in Rome and sent to France as a missionary by Pope St. Stephen.

Saint Mello of Cardiff, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Tuesday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time | Memorial of Pope St. John Paul II | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 12:35-38

“Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival”

“Jesus said to his disciples: “Gird your loins and light your lamps and be like servants who await their master’s return from a wedding, ready to open immediately when he comes and knocks. Blessed are those servants whom the master finds vigilant on his arrival. Amen, I say to you, he will gird himself, have them recline at table, and proceed to wait on them. And should he come in the second or third watch and find them prepared in this way, blessed are those servants.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the Lord told His disciples and all the people to be always prepared and ever ready at all times, using the comparison to the return of a master to his household, property and servants right after a wedding or function that he was attending, which could not be predicted and anticipated precisely. The Lord used that example to compare to our own situation, representing the Lord our God as the Master, while all of us are the servants in this world, and as the Lord Himself has promised and assured us all, He will return once again in glory, as we all believe, to judge all the living and the dead, and to usher in the eternal kingdom of glory and happiness that He has brought into our midst. No one knows exactly when this will happen, other than the fact that it will certainly happen. Therefore, it is a very important reminder for us all to live our lives with genuine faith in God and to continue to do our best to practice love in each and every actions of our daily living moments. We should always do our best to proclaim the Lord through our every actions, deeds and interactions in life, in our every words and dealings with those who are around us, and in how we live our lives embodying the faith we have in Christ. Each and every one of us should continue to walk in the path of God’s grace, and also follow the great examples set by our holy predecessors, all of whom have spent many times and moments in difficulties and tribulations, enduring various challenges for the Lord, but they remained truly faithful and committed to Him because they remember the great love and examples which He Himself has shown us through His Son.

We are called to be alert to the Lord’s coming and His presence. It is a call to be faithful, to be found attentive to the Lord, whenever the Lord comes and knocks. We think of the Lord coming at the end of our lives, but there is a sense in which the Lord comes and knocks on the door of our lives every day. In the book of Revelation the risen Lord says, ‘Behold I stand at the door and knock’. The Lord comes to us in and through the people and events that make up our day. If we are attentive and alert to the Lord’s daily coming, we will be alert to his coming to us at the end of our lives. There is an extraordinary reversal of roles in the Gospel reading. The Lord who finds his servants faithfully watching and waiting becomes their servant, putting an apron on himself, sitting his servants down at table, and waiting on them. It would have been unheard of in that culture for a master to behave like a servant towards his servants, treating them effectively as if they were the master. Jesus is saying to us that if we are faithful to him, if we are attentive to the various ways that He comes and knocks on the door of our lives, He will serve us in ways that will amaze us. In giving to the Lord, we will receive from him in greater abundance. The image of a master serving his servants would have seemed completely incongruous to Jesus’ contemporaries. It simply wasn’t done. Yet, as Isaiah the prophet had said many hundreds of years earlier, ‘God’s ways are not our ways’. Jesus is the one who gives expression to God’s ways, in what He says and what He does. Jesus is declaring that if we remain faithful, if we keep the flame of faith alive in our hearts, then He will serve us in ways that will surprise us. The servants in the parable did not forget their master simply because he was away for a time. They kept him in mind; they were as mindful of him as if he were physically present. In return they experienced his unconventional generosity. If we keep the Lord in mind in all we say and do, even during those times when He seems remote from us, we too will know His loving service.

In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Ephesians, the Apostle spoke of how God has reconciled us all to Himself, through the actions of His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, through Whom God had embraced our human nature and existence, entering into our world to reach out to us and to show His love for us, which He has always generously provided for us, and which He has endeavoured to make tangible and approachable to us through His Son. God has always loved us, His beloved children, which He has kept on doing all throughout time despite our frequent and constant disobedience against Him. He has always kept on His promises and love, giving us assurances, one after another through His many prophets and messengers, and eventually, by the sending of His Son. Through all that Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, had done, we have been called to reconciliation and reunion with our loving God and Father, as His most loving and selfless sacrifice, offering and gift for us from the Cross, at the moment of His Passion and death, has become for us the source of Hope and Joy, the assurance and promise of everlasting life and total liberation from the dominion and power of darkness, sin and all the evils which had ruled over us and dominated us all these while. As the Lord Himself has shown us His love so generously and so wonderfully through Christ, His Son, let us all therefore have truly firm faith and conviction to follow Him wholeheartedly and devoutly, not allowing ourselves to be swayed by temptations or fears in our path in life, in journeying towards Him and following Him.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded of the need for all of us to seek the Lord, His love and compassionate mercy, at all times, and for us all not to be afraid to come towards Him, as God is and has always been full of mercy and compassion, wanting each and every one of us to be reconciled and reunited with Him. We must never be afraid because through His Son, Our Lord has opened for us the path to eternal life and true happiness with Him, and what we all now need is for us to embrace this love and mercy, and we have to answer Him calling each and every one of us in the depths of our hearts. We must always be prepared for the Lord Who can come at any time for us, and we may have to reckon our lives and actions, and account for everything that we have done and whatever it is that we have failed to do. We are called to reflect on the lives of the Holy men and women and Saints, especially the Saints we celebrate today, Pope St. John Paul II, Pope, Saint Mary Salome and Saint Mello of Cardiff, Bishop. As we reflect on the life of Pope St. John Paul II, and also from the words of the Sacred Scriptures, let us all therefore ponder upon the great love of God which all of us have had the privilege of receiving so that we may continue to live our lives faithfully in God’s Presence. Let us all continue to dedicate ourselves and our every moments in life with great faith and strive to glorify the Lord ever more by our exemplary lives and actions, following in the good examples that Christ Himself has shown us, and as His Saints, like Pope St. John Paul II had done. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and the Lord be with us and bless us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, now and always. Amen 🙏🏽

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF OCTOBER:

MONTH OF THE HOLY ROSARY: The Catholic Church designates and dedicate October as the Month of the Holy Rosary. During this month the faithful venerate the Blessed Virgin Mary especially under her title of Our Lady of the Rosary, and make special effort to honor the Holy Rosary with group recitations and rosary processions. The Lady of the Rosary honors a large battle between the Catholic Church and the Muslim caliphate of the Ottoman Empire. This battle, in the Gulf of Patras, near Greece, took place in the 16th century, on October 7, 1571. St. Dominic de Guzman, the founder of the Order of Preachers, is the Saint to whom Our Lady famously appeared and gave the prayers of the Holy Rosary to assist him as a spiritual weapon in combating heresy and leading souls back to the one, true Catholic faith. Our Blessed Mother Mary ~ Pray for us 🙏

THE MYSTERIES OF THE ROSARY: Until about the 15th century hundreds of mysteries were part of the Rosary devotion then the 15 mysteries that we know today were definitively fixed as “the Mysteries of the Rosary.” Pope John Paul II, in his encyclical, Rosarium Virginis Mariae, in 2002 added the five Luminous Mysteries.

Through the meditations of the complete Rosary one recalls and has impressed on his mind, the Popes tell us, “the chief mysteries of the Christian religion,” “the mysteries of our Redemption,” “the great mysteries of Jesus and His Mother united in joys, sorrows, and triumphs.” The twenty mysteries are divided into four equal groups, known as “The Joyful,” “The Sorrowful,” “The Glorious,” and “The Luminous Mysteries.”

PRAYER OF ST. LOUISE DE MONTFORT: O Jesus living in Mary, come and live in Your servants, in the spirit of Your holiness, in the fullness of Your might, in the perfection of Your ways, in the truth of Your virtues, in the communion of Your mysteries. Subdue every hostile power, the devil, the world and the flesh, in the strength of Your Spirit, for the glory of Your Father, Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/overviews/months/10_1.cfm

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF OCTOBER – FOR A SHARED MISSION: We pray that the Church continue to sustain in all ways a Synodal lifestyle, as a sign of co-responsibility, promoting the participation, the communion and the mission shared among priests, religious and lay people.

https://www.usccb.org/prayers/popes-monthly-intentions-2024

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

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

During this Ordinary Time, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, Nigeria, the Middle East, for an end to the current war in Israel-Palestine, and the Ukraine-Russia conflicts and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World. Amen 🙏🏾

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of the Ordinary Time, through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our children and children all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being, we particularly pray for those who have no one to care for them and those who are terminally ill, we pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray for all mothers, wives, those going through challenges in their marriages, Victims of verbal and spousal abuse, and we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. For all widows and widowers. And we continue to pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy, and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for Vocation to the Priesthood and Religious life. We particularly pray for all Youths and all Seminarians. 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. Amen 🙏

Let us pray:

My most merciful Lord, I thank You for the countless ways throughout my life that You have spoken to me, calling me to fulfill my mission of faith and love in this world. I commit to You, this day, to always remain vigilant and attentive to You every time You call. Use me, dear Lord, so that I may bring the light of Your saving Gospel to a world in need. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Most Sacred Heart of Jesus and Most Precious Blood of Jesus, have mercy on us. Our Blessed Mother Mary; Saint John Paul II, Pope; Saint Mary Salome and Saint Mello of Cardiff, Bishop ~ Pray for us 🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day 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. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

Daily Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org

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