Author: Resa

SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

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

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time!

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

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

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 23, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 23, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 23, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) | https://youtu.be/vVc782kcDds

Today’s Bible Readings: Thursday, May 23, 2024
Reading 1, James 5:1-6
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 49:14-15, 15-16, 17-18, 19-20
Gospel, Mark 9:41-50

Today, we enter once again into the season of Ordinary Time, which will continue until the end of this current liturgical year in November this year. Please let us all continue to pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DEI ROSSI, PRIEST; SAINT JULIA OF CORSICA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR; SAINT JANE (JOAN) ANTIDE THOURET, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT WILLIAM OF ROCHESTER, MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 23RD Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint John Baptist Dei Rossi, Priest; Saint Julia of Corsica, Virgin and Martyr; Saint Jane (Joan) Antide Thouret, Religious and Saint William of Rochester, Martyr. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, particularly pray for those who are terminally ill and those suffering from pathologies of the hands and the feet. We pray for the poor and the needy all over the world. We continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world🙏

SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DEI ROSSI, PRIEST: St. John Baptist Dei Rossi (1698 -1764) known as the “The Apostle of the abandoned” was was an Italian Roman Catholic priest. He was born Giovanni Battista de’ Rossi on February 22, 1698 at Voltaggio, Italy. St. John received an excellent education and was ordained in 1721. Shortly thereafter he was afflicted with epilepsy and devoted his ministry to the poor of the Campagna. For the nest forty years he performed labors that would have taxed the strength of a robust man. He served as the canon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin after his cousin, who was a priest serving there, died. He was a popular confessor despite his initial fears that his epileptic seizures could manifest in the Confessional. St. John Rossi opened a hospice for homeless women not long after his ordination, and he became known for his work with prisoners and ill people, to whom he dedicated his entire ecclesial mission.

St. John ministered to the sick and poor in St. Gall, the night hospice for paupers founded by Celestine III, and in the hospital of the Trinity. Early in the morning and late every night he sought out the cattle-drivers and teamsters in the Roman market, gaining their confidence, instructing them, and preparing them for the Sacraments. Another class of people to whom his pity was extended comprised the homeless women and girls who wandered around begging or walked the streets by night. With the pittance he received in Mass stipends he rented a house behind St. Gall and housed them there. As an assistant priest John spent many hours hearing confessions, especially of the poor and unlearned. On succeeding to the canonry of St. Mary in Cosmedin in 1735, he turned over all income to charitable causes and lived most frugally. He was given the unusual faculties of hearing confessions in any demand for parish missions. Often, he preached five and six times a day in churches, chapels, convents, hospitals, barracks and prisons. Such extraordinary zeal and labor eventually took its toll and Saint’s health broke down. He retired from the hospital of the Trinity, which he had so often frequented, and died of a stroke on May 23, 1764. Since he died without a penny, this “Hunter of souls” was buried at the expense of the hospital. He was “The Apostle of the abandoned.”  He’s the Patron Saint of Voltaggio. He was canonized in 1881 by Pope Leo XIII.

PRAYER: Dear St John, you drew people to Jesus through the sacrament of confession. Help me to seek the healing of this sacrament…Amen.🙏

Almighty, eternal God, You dedicated the joy of this day to the glorification of St. John. Mercifully grant that we may always strive to retain and complete by our works that Faith which he continually proclaimed with unwearying zeal… Amen🙏

SAINT JULIA OF CORSICA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: St. Julia, also known as Saint Julia of Carthage, was born in Carthage to a noble family. In 616, the city was conquered by the Vandals and she was captured by the Genseric and sold as a slave to the pagan merchant in Syria, Eusebius. In the most mortifying employments of her station, by cheerfulness and patience she found a happiness and comfort which the world could not give. Whenever she was not employed in household affairs, her time was devoted to prayer and reading books of piety. St. Julia’s beauty, her faithfulness, and abilities as a hard worker proved her worth to her master. Her master, who was charmed with her fidelity and other virtues, thought proper to take her with him on one of his voyages to Gaul. In 620, while traveling to France, Eusebius stopped at a pagan festival. When he reached the northern part of Corsica, he cast anchor and went ashore to join the pagans of the place in an idolatrous festival. Julia was left at some distance, because she would not be defiled by the superstitious ceremonies, which she openly spurned. The governor of the island, Felix, a bigoted pagan, asked who this woman was who dared to insult the gods. The merchant informed him that she was a Christian, and that all his authority over her was too weak to prevail upon her to renounce her religion; nonetheless, he found her so diligent and faithful he could not part with her.

The Governor tried to make Julia sacrifice to their gods but she refused. He even offered to buy her from Eusebius. The governor offered him four of his best slaves in exchange for her. But the merchant, Eusebius replied, “No; all you are worth will not purchase her; for I would lose the most valuable thing I have in the world rather than be deprived of her or lose her.” So while the inebriated merchant, Eusebius was asleep, the governor Felix attempted to compel her to sacrifice to his gods. He offered to procure her liberty if she would comply. The Saint made answer that she was as free as she desired to be, as long as she was allowed to serve Jesus Christ. The pagan, offended by her undaunted and resolute air, in a transport of rage caused her to be struck on the face, and the hair of her head to be torn off. Finally he ordered her to be hanged on a cross until she expired. St. Julia was kidnapped, tortured and crucified by governor Felix. Certain monks from the isle of Gorgon transported her relics there, but in 763 the king of Lombardy transferred them to Brescia, Italy at a Benedictine Abby where her memory is celebrated with great devotion. She’s the Patron Saint of torture victims, pathologies of the hands and the feet, Corsica, France, Brescia and Livorno, Italy.

PRAYER: Jesus, owing to Your death on the cross and Your resurrection, the faithful have a hope for eternal life that lets them boldly counter life hardships. Let the example of Saint Julia be a motivation for us to stay by You forever. You live and reign for ages and ages. Amen. Saint Julia of Corsica, Virgin and Martyr  ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT JANE (JOAN) ANTIDE THOURET, RELIGIOUS: St. Jane also known as Joan Antide or Jeanne-Antide Thouret (1765-1826) was a French Roman Catholic professed religious and the founder of the Thouret sisters. She was a Sister of Charity who worked tirelessly for the faith amidst persecution during the French Revolution. St. Jane Thouret’s life was one of service to children and the ill across France in schools and hospitals – some of which her order established. This active apostolate did not cease when the French Revolution forced her into exile in both Switzerland and the Kingdom of Prussia. St. Jane was born in Sancey, France in the diocese of Besançon on November 27, 1765 to a poor family. Her pious mother died when she was 16 years old. The Saint took on many family responsibilities and cared for younger brothers and sisters. After many hesitations, St. Jane’s father permitted her to enter the Congregation of the Daughters of Charity of Saint Vincent de Paul (Vincentian Sisters) in Paris in 1787 at the age of 22. She worked in various hospitals caring for the sick, until the Revolution in France brought about the dispersion of the Congregations when many religious and priests were killed. She was ordered to abandon her religious habit and return home to a secular life in 1792, but refused and fled the authority; she was struck so violently that she remained for eight months between life and death.

In 1793 she finally returned from Paris to her native village of Sancey on foot, begging her bread; there she cared for the sick and opened a small school for girls on August 15, 1797 until she was forced to flee when times were growing ever more difficult. Sister Thouret again had to depart, this time journeying to Switzerland, where she assisted a French priest who had gone into exile with a few members of his little community. Again she cared for the sick; but the entire group was forced to move once again and go to Germany. She fled to Germany before returning again to Switzerland two years later to the village of Landeron in Switzerland. There she met the Vicar General of Besançon, and he asked her to found a school and a hospital in that city. On August 11, 1799 the foreseen school was opened at Besançon, she founded  a new congregation in Besançon called the Institute of the Daughters of St. Vincent de Paul (Thouret’s Sisters). With a few novices the Foundress began work in France again. The community eventually expanded into France and Italy. She wrote a rule for her Daughters of Saint Vincent de Paul, as she called them to distinguish them from the larger group, the Sisters of Charity, of whom they were independent. The Congregation’s members multiplied, as did their works; in 1802 they were given the direction of a house of detention at Bellevaux, sheltering more than 500 prisoners. They opened schools in eastern France and Switzerland. The foundress was invited to go to Naples to take on the direction of a hospital and initiate other works; she accepted this invitation in 1810. She remained in Naples until 1818, obtaining from Pope Pius VII the approval of her Institute in 1819. Problems arising in Besançon caused her many sufferings, when the new bishop there desired to maintain the Community under diocesan authority. Saint Joan Antide died in Naples on August 24, 1826 of natural causes, having left for her Sisters many examples of heroic virtue. She was canonized in 1934 by Pope Pius XI, who invited the French nation to exult with joy on seeing its crown enriched by a new flower of holiness. She’s the Patron Saint of Sisters of Divine Charity.

Saint Jane (Joan) Antide Thouret, Religious ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT WILLIAM OF ROCHESTER, MARTYR: St. William of Rochester (d. 1201), also known as St. William of Perth, was a Scottish saint born in Perth, Scotland and martyred in England. He was a wild youth who matured into a devoted man of God. He became a baker, and out of his charity he would always set aside bread to feed the poor. One day, while walking into the church for Mass, he found an abandoned baby boy on the church steps. He adopted the child, raised him, and taught him his trade. Years later St. William made a vow to visit the sacred sites of Our Lord’s life on a pilgrimage to the Holy Land, along with his adopted son. The two set out on their journey. While traveling through England his son deceived him, slit his throat, and stole the money he had saved for their pilgrimage. St. William’s abandoned body was discovered and mourned over by a mentally deranged woman. She made a crown of flowers and placed it on the head of St. William’s murdered corpse, then afterwards put the garland on her own head. Upon doing this, she was immediately cured of her mental illness. The local monks learned of this miracle and carried St. William’s body to the Rochester cathedral to give him the proper burial of a saint. His shrine later attracted many pilgrims. St. William died in 1201, Rochester, United Kingdom and Canonized in 1256 by Pope Alexander IV. St. William of Rochester is the Patron Saint of adopted children. His feast day is May 23rd.

Saint William of Rochester, Martyr ~ Pray for us🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Thursday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/052324.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 9:41-5

“It is better for you to enter into life with one hand, than with two hands to go into Gehenna”

“Jesus said to his disciples: “Anyone who gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, amen, I say to you, will surely not lose his reward. “Whoever causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it would be better for him if a great millstone were put around his neck and he were thrown into the sea. If your hand causes you to sin, cut it off. It is better for you to enter into life maimed than with two hands to go into Gehenna, into the unquenchable fire. And if your foot causes you to sin, cut if off. It is better for you to enter into life crippled than with two feet to be thrown into Gehenna. And if your eye causes you to sin, pluck it out. Better for you to enter into the Kingdom of God with one eye than with two eyes to be thrown into Gehenna, where their worm does not die, and the fire is not quenched. “Everyone will be salted with fire. Salt is good, but if salt becomes insipid, with what will you restore its flavor? Keep salt in yourselves and you will have peace with one another.”

In today’s Gospel reading, at the beginning of the Gospel, Jesus speaks to His disciples, ‘If anyone gives you a cup of water to drink because you belong to Christ, then I tell you solemnly, he will most certainly not lose his reward’. Jesus is reminding us that the smallest gesture of kindness towards someone has enormous value in the sight of God. We can sometimes get discouraged because we may feel that we are not doing enough. Yet, Jesus is suggesting that God does not measure success in the way that the world tends to measure success. The love which is the fruit of the Holy Spirit can express itself in ways that are seemingly small and insignificant by normal human standards. Today’s Gospel reading encourages us never to underestimate the significance and life-giving impact of even the smallest of loving gestures. If the Lord can work powerfully through the young boy’s few loaves and fish, feeding a multitude with them, He can work powerfully through our own gestures of loving kindness, no matter how small they are.

According to the Gospel reading, Jesus speaks about stumbling blocks. He is very critical of those who are a stumbling block to the faith of others, those who undermine and weaken other people’s faith. He issues a warning against leading others astray, leading them away from God. Part of our baptismal calling is to nurture the faith of one another; to do the opposite is considered by Jesus to be a very serious matter indeed. He moves on from how people can be a stumbling to others in their relationship with God to how we can be a stumbling block to ourselves. The hand, the foot, the eye can be a stumbling block to our own relationship with the Lord. When Jesus says, ‘if your eye should cause you to sin, tear it out’, He does not intend to be taken literally. It is simply a striking image to bring home the seriousness of what he is saying. The positive calling of the Gospel reading is that every aspect of our embodied existence is to serve and nurture our relationship with the Lord. Our calling is to give our whole selves to the Lord and to His way, to gather up all the elements that go to make us up and point them all in the one direction, the direction of the Lord and his will for our lives.

In our first reading today, from the Epistle of St. James, the Apostle continued to speak against the wickedness of those who have allowed themselves to be swayed by the temptations of worldly ambitions and glory, those who have allowed the allure of wealth and worldly possessions to lead them to bring about actions that hurt others around them. Many people throughout time and history had acted in manner that bring about suffering and hardships to others, through exploitation and manipulation of those who were weaker, so that those who acted in this selfish and wicked manner could enrich and empower themselves at the cost of those people whom they had stepped on amidst their pursuit for power, riches and worldly glory. It was against all those people and all those temptations that St. James the Apostle had been speaking out about, an important reminder for all the faithful not to be corrupted by wealth, power and glory that they end up committing things that are against God’s ways and teachings. Too often throughout time and history mankind had been swayed by all those worldly temptations and end up benefitting from the sufferings of others, or even purposefully causing harm to others just so that one could gain profit and benefit to oneself from such heinous and selfish action. St. James also reminded the faithful that all those worldly things and ambitions ultimately would come to nothing as none of those things would last forever or remain amidst the passing of time and none would also bring their worldly wealth and glory beyond the world. That is why he urged the faithful people of God not to follow that same path to ruin and damnation. He reminded the people that if they allowed themselves to be swayed in such a manner, they would be in serious danger as the temptations of wealth, worldly glory and ambitions are indeed slippery slope that many had found hard to escape from, and if we are not careful, we may find ourselves in a most precarious situation, falling ever deeper into the traps of sin and evil that lead us into our destruction. This is not what the Lord wanted to happen to us, and this is what we all should always be wary of, as we continue to live our lives in our world today. We should also remind one another not to live in such a wicked manner.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded to always be vigilant against the temptations of the world. We must always be careful as the evil one and all of his forces are always ever ready to strike at us with all their might, as they are looking for the opportunity to snatch us away from God and His salvation, trying to pull us into our destruction and downfall through the various worldly temptations and desires, just as they had done many times to us and our predecessors in the past. We must keep in mind that each and every one of our actions, words, deeds, interactions and all that we say and do, all will be held accountable by the Lord our God, at the time of our reckoning. The Lord has given us all many opportunities and means for us to do what He has taught us to do in our lives, to resist the temptations of worldly pleasures and evils, and to embrace once again the path of His grace and love. With our bodies, all the means and blessings that He has given us, He wants us to use them for good and worthy purposes. All these things are not themselves evil, be it money, material possessions and other things in life which we have, as they can be used either good or evil uses and purposes. There are a lot of good things that we can do with whatever blessings which we have received, as well as evil things, and the choice is ours on what we want to do with them. Unfortunately, it was our excessive and unhealthy attachments to those worldly goods and things which had led to us falling into the traps of the evil one, losing our sight on the light and truth of God. Therefore, having heard of the reminders from both the Lord Himself and from St. James the Apostle, let us all continue to live our lives from now on with ever greater love and commitment to the Lord. Let our lives by the inspiration and strength to everyone all around us, to be the beacons of the light of God and His Good News to all the people of all the nations. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the good Lord continue to bless us all in our endeavours and efforts, and may He empower each and every one of us to always be faithful to His path, to shun evil and wickedness in our lives and to be worthy Christians at all times. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we begin 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. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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:

Most merciful Lord, You desire that all of Your children come to the full revelation of Your truth and mercy. Please use me as You choose to reach out to those who struggle with their faith and need to be treated with the utmost care. May I never be a stumbling block to them but always be a bridge to You and Your abundance of grace. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint John Baptist De Rossi, Saint Julia, Saint Jane (Joan) Antide Thouret and Saint William of Rochester ~ 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 and for vocations to  priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

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

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

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

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

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 22, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 22, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 22, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday, May 22, 2024
Reading 1, James 4:13-17
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 49:2-3, 6-7, 8-10, 11
Gospel, Mark 9:38-40

Today, we enter once again into the season of Ordinary Time, which will continue until the end of this current liturgical year in November this year. Please let us all continue to pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World🙏

SAINT OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT RITA OF CASCIA, RELIGIOUS ~ MAY 22ND: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Rita of Cascia and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our world. We pray for all parents and all marriages, especially pray for those marriages going through challenges and spouses who are abused in their marriages, we pray for peace, love and harmony and God’s divine intervention.🙏

SAINT RITA OF CASCIA, RELIGIOUS: St. Rita of Cascia (1381-1457) an Italian widow and Augustinian nun venerated as a saint is referred to as, “a disciple of the Crucified One” and an “expert in suffering” by late Pope John Paul II. She is known in Spain as “La Santa de los impossibiles” (the saint of the impossible), St. Rita has become immensely popular throughout the centuries. She is invoked by people in all situations and stations of life, since she had embraced suffering with charity and wrongs with forgiveness in the many trials she experienced in her life: as a wife, widow, a mother surviving the death of her children, and a nun.

St. Rita of Cascia was born Margherita Lotti in 1381 at Spoleto, Italy during an era of violent strife between cities and warring family tribes. As a child she repeatedly requested to enter the convent, but instead her parents arranged her marriage to a rich, ill-tempered, and violent man. He became physically abusive, in anger he often mistreated his wife, yet she met his cruelty with kindness and patience. He taught their children his own evil ways. St. Rita tried to perform her duties faithfully and to pray and receive the Sacrament frequently. During her eighteen years of marriage she bore two sons whom she loved deeply. After many years of persistent prayer she eventually won her husband over to greater civility and kindness. After nearly twenty years of marriage, St. Rita’s husband was stabbed by an enemy but before he died he repented because St. Rita prayed for him. When he was murdered, her sons plotted a bloody vendetta against the culprits. St. Rita labored to guide her children into forgiveness, without success. She earnestly prayed that God would change her sons’ murderous intentions, or allow them to die rather than commit a mortal sin. God heard St. Rita’s prayers, and soon both of her sons became ill and died and St. Rita was alone in the world. Prayer, fasting, penances of many kinds, and good works filled her days. St. Rita was then free to join the convent, however, she was rejected due to her family’s connection with the local violence. She finally obtained entry only after much prayer, humility, patience, and perseverance. She asked the intercession of Sts. Augustine, Mary Magadalene and John the Baptist. St. Rita joined an Augustinian community of religious sisters at Cascia in Umbria, where she lived the last 40 years  of her life and was known both for practicing mortification of the flesh and for the efficacy of her prayers and service to the people of Cascia. St. Rita’s life in the convent was marked by heroic charity and penance as she closely united herself and her life of deep suffering to Christ. In a life-long and terrible malady her patience, cheerfulness, and union by prayer with almighty God, never failed her. Sister Rita had a great devotion to the Passion of Christ. “Please let me suffer like You, Divine Savior, “ she said one day while praying before the Crucifix and suddenly one of the thorns from the crucifix struck her on the forehead. She mystically received the mark of a thorn on her forehead (stigmata) from Jesus’ Crown of Thorns. It left a deep wound that did not heal and that caused her much suffering for the rest of her life. In the last 15 years of her life, the stigmata-like thorn wound that she received in answer to her prayers made her more profoundly conformed to the passion of the Lord Jesus. St. Rita was bedridden for the last four years of her life, consuming almost nothing except for the Eucharist.

St. Rita died of tuberculosis at the age of 70 on May 22, 1457. St. Rita was canonized by Pope Leo XIII on 24 May 1900. Her feast day is celebrated on May 22nd. At her canonization ceremony, she was bestowed the title of Patroness of “Impossible Causes” and hopeless circumstances because of her difficult and disappointing life. Through her trials God used her in remarkable ways. In many Catholic countries, St. Rita came to be known as the patroness of abused wives and heartbroken women. Her incorrupt body remains in the Basilica of Santa Rita da Cascia. Various miracles are attributed to her intercession, and she is often portrayed with a bleeding wound on her forehead, which is understood to indicate the partial stigmata. She’s the Patron Saint of Lost, impossible causes and hopeless circumstances, sickness, wounds, sterility, abuse victims, loneliness, marital problems, abuse, widows, mothers, difficult marriages, parenthood, the sick, bodily ills and wounds.

On the 100th anniversary of her canonization in 2000, Pope John Paul II noted her remarkable qualities as a Christian woman: “Rita interpreted well the ‘feminine genius’ by living it intensely in both physical and spiritual motherhood.”

PRAYER: Father in heaven, You granted to St. Rita a share in the Passion of Your Son. Give us courage and strength in time of trial, so that by our patient endurance we may enter more deeply into the Paschal Mystery of Your Son. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today, Wednesday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time | Memorial of St. Rita of Cascia, Religious | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 9:38-40

Whoever is not against us is for us

“John said to Jesus, “Teacher, we saw someone driving out demons in your name, and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow us.” Jesus replied, “Do not prevent him. There is no one who performs a mighty deed in my name who can at the same time speak ill of me. For whoever is not against us is for us.”

In today’s Gospel reading, from the Gospel of St. Mark, the Lord and His group encountered a person who was driving out demons by using His Name, and the disciples complained about the person to the Lord, Who told them that they should not go against the person, or make complaints, as in the end, if the person was doing good works of the Lord, in accordance to the manner that God had done and taught us all, then all those works are equally valid and worthy, and God may have indeed called the person to do His will too, without us knowing about it. What is significant from this event is that the Lord made it clear that salvation is truly meant for everyone, even if not necessarily those belonging to the group, as there might be cases and occasions when there are people whom not by their fault or deliberate action, not fully belonging to the group of the Lord’s followers. Back then, the disciples of the Lord must have been jealous and unwilling to let the others to have the same gifts, abilities and opportunities to do what they themselves had been entrusted to do. Essentially, the attitude and actions of the disciples were based on worldly desires and jealousy, and that was wrong. This is therefore a reminder to each and every one of us that we should not allow all sorts of worldly temptations, our ego and pride, our desires for pleasure and for worldly things to sway our decisions and distract us in our path towards God. We must always be resolute in our efforts to resist those temptations and pressures, which are usually always ever present around us, so that we may continue to walk faithfully in God’s path and be the worthy and ever faithful bearers of God’s truth and Good News at all more. We can be partners in mission with those who are ‘not one of us’ in the strict sense. In these times we need the generous vision that Jesus displays in today’s Gospel reading rather than the much narrower one displayed by His disciples. Through our lives and examples, we should always strive to proclaim the Lord to everyone whom we encounter in our journey throughout life.

In today’s first reading, from the Apostle St. James in his exhortation to the faithful people of God, told those who’re making all sorts of plans for the future, ‘You never know what will happen tomorrow… the most you should say is, “If it is the Lord’s will, we shall still be alive to do this or that”’. St. James told them all that they must not be so busy worrying and preparing for their plans in the world, with all their preoccupations and all the busy things they carried out to prepare for the next day, for the next week, the next month, and even for the next few years. All these things can prevent us from truly following the Lord faithfully and wholeheartedly, as they may end up dragging us down the path of the pursuit of worldly ambitions, fame and glory. When we focus so much on our lives in this world and our desires for all sorts of worldly goods and matters, it is easy for us to get distracted and to abandon our faith in God, as we may end up putting our trust more in those worldly things and attachments that we have, such as money, wealth, possessions, worldly pleasures, glory, fame among many other things. Throughout history, it has been proven that many in the Church and among the faithful fell into the path of evil and wickedness because they gave in to those temptations, even those high in position within the Church, corrupted by the worldly desires and temptations. We need to keep growing more fully into the Lord’s generous vision and way of being.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded that as Christians, God’s people and followers, we must always strive to put our faith and trust in the Lord above all the other things, and we must not let ourselves to be swayed or distracted by the many temptations of worldly glory, ambitions and desires, all of which can lead us astray and bring us away from the path of God’s righteousness and grace. If we allow ourselves to be swayed by those temptations, we may end up falling into the path towards eternal damnation and destruction. Through the examples and commitment showed by all the Saints. Holy men and women, especially St. Rita of Cascia, who we celebrate today, we can see how we can also commit ourselves so that we can continue to live worthily in the path that the Lord has shown us, by distancing ourselves from worldly ambitions and pursuits, and placing our focus in life on the Lord and on doing His will rather than pursuing glory and greatness, which as we have seen from the life of the Saints like St. Rita of Cascia, to be rather pointless, meaningless and futile, and which often lead us only down the path of destruction and damnation instead of the path of righteousness and virtue. May the Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our journey, and may He continue to bless us all, empowering us to live faithfully as His good and devout servants, proclaiming His Good News and salvation to everyone. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord bless our every good efforts and endeavours, and may He guide us always in our paths through life, now and always. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we begin 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. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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:

Lord of power and might, You accomplish countless good through the generosity and fidelity of Your people. You constantly use all who follow You to bring forth Your will. Please use me, dear Lord, as an instrument of Your will, and help me to always rejoice in the ways that You bring Your grace forth through others. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Rita of Cascia, Religious ~ 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 and for vocations to  priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

SEVENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 21, 2024

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

Watch ” Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN on YouTube | May 21, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 21, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 21, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 21, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 21, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, May 21, 2024
Reading 1, James 4:1-10
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 55:7-8, 9-10, 10-11, 23
Gospel, Mark 9:30-37

Today, we enter once again into the season of Ordinary Time, which will continue until the end of this current liturgical year in November this year. Please let us all continue to pray for the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed and for peace in our families and throughout our divided and conflicted World🙏

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS AND SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 21ST – Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest and Martyr and Companions, Martyrs and Saint Eugene de Mazenod. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary  and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the repose of the souls of the faithful departed. May they rest in peace with our Lord Jesus Christ 🙏 We pray for all families, particularly pray for dysfunctional families, we pray for peace, love and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world and for the poor and needy. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, especially for all Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. We continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world🙏

SAINT CHRISTOPHER MAGALLANES, PRIEST AND MARTYR AND COMPANIONS, MARTYRS: “Long live Christ the King and the Virgin of Guadalupe!” This was the slogan of the “Cristero” uprising in the 1920’s against the anti-Catholic government of Mexico which had instituted and enforced laws against the Church in an absurd attempt to eradicate the Catholic faith in Mexico, even going so far as to ban all foreign clergy and the celebration of Mass in some regions. Beginning in 1911, Mexico underwent a revolution, which brought to power a government that was, to say the least, strongly anticlerical. As a result, this event inaugurated a bitter struggle between the civil authorities and the Catholic Church, which had aided the people of Mexico from the 16th century. The authorities wanted to impose a Mexican Church on the country, replacing Catholic Bishops with schismatic prelates. To attain that goal, they mounted a full-sale campaign of terror against the Church. The government expelled foreign missionaries and closed schools and seminaries. Eventually even churches were closed, priest became hunted men, and Catholics were warned to renounce the Church and Christian worship.

This persecution gave rise to the growth of the Catholic Action Movement, which fought against the government’s repression. Over the period from 1915 to 1937 its members like Christopher Magallanes and twenty-four companions chose to die rather than give up their faith, like Blessed Miguel Agustin Pro, S.J. (November 23). These Martyrs included twenty-two priests and three laymen: Manuel, David, and Salvador who died with their parish priest, Luis Batis. St. Christopher Magallanes erected a seminary in Totatiche and he and his companions secretly preached and ministered to the faithful during the presidency of Plutarco Calles (1924-1928). The last words heard spoken by St. Christopher Magallanes were from his cell, when he shouted, “I am innocent and I die innocent. I forgive with all my heart those responsible for my death, and I ask God that the shedding of my blood serve the peace of our divided Mexico”.  These Martyrs died because of their membership in the Cristero movement in different places and at different times by shooting or hanging, throughout eight Mexican states, with Jalisco and Zacatecas having the largest number. Fifteen of the Martyrs were slain in Jalisco, four in Zacatecas, and one each in Chihuahua, and Morelos. All endured torture before their deaths, most of which occurred by firing squads. What bound them together was their championing of the Faith in the face of death. These great warriors of God, the Cristero Martyrs were beatified on November 22, 1992, by Pope John Paul II and canonized on May 21, 2000, by the same Pontiff.

PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, You kept St. Christopher and his Companions faithful to Christ the King even to undergoing martyrdom. Through their intercession grant that we may persevere in professing the true Faith and always heed the commands of Your love. Amen🙏

SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD, BISHOP: St. Eugene de Mazenod (1782-1861),  a French aristocrat and Bishop was born Charles-Joseph-Eugène de Mazenod on August 1, 1782, Aix-en-Provence, France, in southern France to a noble family. When he was eight years of age his family was forced to flee the turmoil of the French Revolution and seek political asylum in Italy. Leaving their possessions behind, as refugees in Italy, they were poor and the family struggled financially as they relocated from city to city. A sympathetic priest took it upon himself to educate Eugene and stir in him a love for God. The family returned to France when Eugene was twenty. They were distressed to find a dramatically altered society, and their social status no greater than ordinary citizens. The family was also plagued with in-fighting which culminated in divorce, a rarity at the time. While Eugene’s father remained in Italy, Eugene’s mother fought to regain the family’s former possessions. She also attempted to force Eugene to marry a wealthy heiress. St. Eugene, deeply affected by how the Revolution had decimated the Church in France, decided to enter the seminary instead. After his ordination he sought out other zealous priests and together they went as missionaries into the countryside villages, calling themselves the “Missionaries of Provence,” which was later approved by the pope as the “Oblates of Mary Immaculate.” The Congregation of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate founded by St. Eugene de Mazenod in 1815 was to evangelize the poorest populations of Provence that were being neglected. He then sent his missionaries to proclaim the Gospel in America, South Africa and Asia.

St. Eugene was later appointed Vicar General of Marseilles and, in 1836, Bishop of this same diocese. He did much work in restoring his diocese by building and repairing churches, doubling the number of priests, and bringing in religious communities. In his city, rapidly developing at the time, he created numerous parishes, built new churches and installed new Religious Institutes. — Cardinal Bernard Gantin. He also worked to weaken the government’s monopoly on education, and supported the rights of the Holy See. Until his death on May 21, 1861 at Marseille, France, he was at the service of his people with an extraordinary pastoral charity, nourished by an intense interior life. St. Eugene de Mazenod was Beatified on October 19, 1975 &  April 19, 1976, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope Paul VI and Canonized on  December 3, 1995 & June  3,1996, St. Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City by Pope John Paul II. St. Eugene de Mazenod is the Patron Saint of dysfunctional families. His feast day is May 21st.

“I wish I could pass my life at the foot of the holy tabernacles in which our adorable Saviour dwells.” ~ Saint Eugene de Mazenod

NOVENA TO SAINT EUGENE DE MAZENOD
[The Novena is to be prayed on 9 consecutive days.]           
                             
PRAYER TO ASK FOR A SPECIAL FAVOR

God our Father, by the grace of the Holy Spirit, you called St. Eugene de Mazenod to gather priests and brothers as Missionary Oblates of Mary Immaculate to announce the Gospel especially among the poor and neglected. May we ourselves be inflamed with his zeal for announcing the Gospel of Jesus Christ our Savior and receive through his intercession the special graces of vocations to the Oblate way of life, and for those we ask for at this time. [Mention your intention(s) here and Say 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary and 1Glory Be] Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏

NOVENA PRAYERS TO SAINT EUGENE

St. Eugene, Patron Saint of Dysfunctional Families, come to the aid of all families who suffer brokenness, misunderstanding, separation or divorce. You know well these difficulties and trials because of the separation and divorce of your own parents. May all who suffer these family hard-ships seek your intercession to discern more clearly how the Light of Jesus Christ can help them in the midst of their darkness and despair. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen🙏

God our Father, we thank you for having called Saint Eugene de Mazenod to follow Christ the Savior and Evangelizer. Through his intercession help us to reach out with the healing touch of Christ who calls us to holiness and to Mission. May we be build communities which are signs of your presence, and share the Good News of salvation with all peoples. For this we dedicate ourselves, through Christ our Lord.

Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Share with us your love for Christ. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Help us to stand firm in goodness. Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Be with us in all our efforts. Amen🙏 [Say 1 Our Father; 1 Hail Mary and1 Glory Be]

Saint Eugene, By your example, touch me to see Jesus in others, to help those in need, and to have the courage to do God’s will. I ask you to intercede on my behalf for a special need. May God, through your intercession, guide me to accept the difficulties in my life and to work toward a happy and healthy solution. May I accept God’s will in my life with strength and love. I ask this through His Son Jesus Christ. Amen🙏

God our Father, you filled Eugene de Mazenod, your bishop, with apostolic virtue in the evangelization of the people. Fill our hearts with the same fervor that we may dedicate ourselves to the service of the Church and the salvation of all. We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, forever and ever. Amen🙏

Saint Eugene de Mazenod, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

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

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 9:30-37

“The Son of Man is to be handed over. Whoever wishes to be first, shall be last of all”

“Jesus and His disciples left from there and began a journey through Galilee, but he did not wish anyone to know about it. He was teaching His disciples and telling them, “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men and they will kill Him, and three days after His death the Son of Man will rise.” But they did not understand the saying, and they were afraid to question Him. They came to Capernaum and, once inside the house, he began to ask them, “What were you arguing about on the way?” But they remained silent. For they had been discussing among themselves on the way who was the greatest. Then He sat down, called the Twelve, and said to them, “If anyone wishes to be first, he shall be the last of all and the servant of all.” Taking a child, He placed it in their midst, and putting his arms around it, he said to them, “Whoever receives one child such as this in my name, receives me; and whoever receives me, receives not me but the One who sent me.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus announces to His disciples that the day is drawing near when He will be delivered into the hands of men and put to death; He will become one of the least. Jesus told them the prediction and premonition of what He Himself would have to endure, betrayal, persecution, arrest and eventually suffering and death, which all happened during the time of His Passion and Crucifixion at Calvary. In response, the disciples immediately begin to argue among themselves as to which of them is the greatest. It is hard to imagine a more incongruous response to what Jesus has just said to them. Their concern about which of them is the greatest, as to who stands where in the pecking order, is a very human preoccupation. However, it is certainly not the preoccupation of Jesus. To convey His preoccupation, Jesus takes a little child, a symbol of the least in that culture, someone without status, position or influence, and he identifies himself fully with the child. Anyone who welcomes one such child welcomes me, He says. Jesus was great in God’s eyes, yet on the cross he was the least of the least. The message of Jesus is that true greatness, greatness in God’s eyes, tends to be at odds with what the world considers greatness. In the Gospel reading, while His disciples were looking for status and honour, Jesus looked to do the will of God, even though that would mean a lack of all status and honour, the most dishonourable death the ancient world could devise. As Jesus sat down and called the twelve to Him to correct their mindset, so we all need to be called by the Lord to have our own mindset, our own values, purified and reformed so that we carry within ourselves what St. Paul calls the mind of Christ. During this season, we are called to strive to put on the mind of Christ more fully.

In our first reading today from the Epistle of St. James, the Apostle in his exhortation to the faithful people of God reminded them all that as Christians they should always remember that they must always live their lives centred on God, and they should not allow themselves to be swayed by the desires, temptations, squabbles and conflicts of the world, which many of the faithful at that time fell prey to, causing the Apostles like St. James, St. Paul and others to grieve over how fellow Christian brothers and sisters were quarrelling with one another over worldly ambitions and matters, which they should not have done in the first place. St. James reminded the faithful that they should be people of the Spirit, and not to follow the path of the flesh and the world, as their wrong motives, ambitions and desires are stumbling blocks that could prevent them from attaining true righteousness in God, and not only that, but their squabbles and quarrels were also unbecoming of them being Christians, who were supposed to be filled with God’s love, as Christ had taught all of them to love one another generously and tenderly, and not to be at each others’ throats over worldly matters, attachments and desires as they had done at that time. St. James also reminded all of the faithful to distance themselves therefore from all sorts of vile things, impurities and corruptions from the world, from any sorts of wicked attachments and ambitions, the many temptations that could cause them to fall deeper and deeper into the path of sin and causing scandal for the Church and for their faith, besmirching the good and Holy Name of God in their pursuit for worldly glory and achievements. That is why St. James reminded all of the faithful, including all of us, to resist the temptations of worldly glory and ambition, to restrain our ego, pride and desires, and to be humble at all times, seeking to purify ourselves from all the corruptions of sin and evil.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, as we embark on the journey of faith, continuing on from our celebrations and festivities throughout the Easter season earlier on, and entering into this time of the Ordinary Season, we must remind ourselves that each and every one of us as Christians have been called to be good role models and inspirations for one another, in how we live our lives and in what we say and do, in how we interact with one another in our respective communities and places, so that by our lives, our actions, words and deeds we may indeed show that we truly belong to the Lord, at all times. Through the examples of those holy martyrs and Saints we have been shown how we all should live our lives as Christians, by putting emphasis and focus not on ourselves and our own selfish desires, but rather on the Lord and His will. Each and every one of us as Christians ought to do our best in our lives to be good role models and inspirations, in how we live, so that our lives truly showcase our faith in the Lord, to be full of love just as the Lord our God is ever full of love for us. We are all called to love our fellow brothers and sisters, to do what we can so that we can continue to touch the lives of others around us, reaching out especially to those who are suffering and facing difficulties and challenges in life. May the Lord continue to help and strengthen us in our faith, and may He help us to walk ever more faithfully in His path, living our lives with genuine love and care for our fellow brothers and sisters, seeking not worldly glory, power, fame, riches and ambitions, but instead striving to do as best as we can to lead others to the path of the Lord, to proclaim His truth and Good News to more and more people we encounter in our respective lives. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the good Lord bless us all in our every good efforts and endeavours, and encourage us through the good examples of His Saints, like the courageous St. Christopher Magallanes and his companions in martyrdom. Amen 🙏

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we begin 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. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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 dearest Mother, you stood by your Son with unwavering fidelity and love. You cared for Him, nurtured Him and never left His side. I also am your dear child. I thank you for your loving fidelity toward me and open my heart to the grace of your Son that you bestow upon me throughout life. Help me to be more attentive to your motherly care and to daily grow in gratitude for your presence in my life. Mother Mary, pray for us. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Christopher Magallanes and Companions, Martyrs and Saint Eugene de Mazenod, 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 and for vocations to  priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful week🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 8, 2024

THE FEAST OF THE APPARITION OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter!

We thank God for the  gift of life and for the gift of the new month of May. The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. May she continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | May 8, 2024” |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 8, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 8, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 8, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 8, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Reading 1, Acts 16:22-34
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 138:1-2, 2-3, 7-8
Gospel, John 16:5-11

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

THE FEAST OF THE APPARITION OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL; SAINT DESIDERATUS, BISHOP; SAINT ARSENIUS, DEACON AND MONK; SAINT ACHATIUS, MARTYR AND SAINT VICTOR MAURUS, MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 8TH: Today, we celebrate the Feast of the Apparition of St. Michael the Archangel; Saint Desideratus, Bishop; Saint Arsenius, Deacon and Monk; Saint Achatius, Martyr and Saint Victor Maurus, Martyr. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for our Holy Father, Pope Francis, the Bishops, the Clergy and all those who preach the Gospel. We pray for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life, for seminarians, for the Church, for all youths, for persecuted christians and for the conversion of sinners and Christians all over the world. We also pray for the sick and dying, we particularly pray for those who are suffering from the coronavirus disease, cancer, severe headaches and those who are terminally ill. We pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. We pray the poor and needy and all over the world. And on this Mother’s day through the intercession of our Blessed Mother, we pray for all mothers, expectant mothers and all those who act in the capacity of a mother in any manner. May God bless us all…Amen🙏

THE FEAST OF THE APPARITION OF SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL: The feast commemorates an apparition of St. Michael on the summit of Monte Gargano, in Italy on the Adriatic coast, and the dedication of the sanctuary built on the site of the apparition.

According to tradition, St. Michael the Archangel appeared to an Italian bishop in 493 and consecrated a nearby cave. This became known as the Sanctuary of Monte Sant’Angelo sul Gargano, more commonly referred to as Monte Gargano. It is one of the oldest shrines dedicated to St. Michael and was the center of Christian pilgrimages.

St. Michael said to the bishop, “I am the archangel Michael, and I have chosen to dwell in that place on earth and to keep it safe.” When they arrived to consecrate the cave, St. Michael said, “It is not necessary that you dedicate this church that I myself have consecrated with my presence.”

PRAYER TO SAINT MICHAEL THE ARCHANGEL: St. Michael the Archangel, Defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray And do thou, O Prince of the Heavenly Host By the power of God Cast into hell Satan, and all evil spirits Who prowl about the world Seeking the ruin of souls…Amen🙏

SAINT DESIDERATUS, BISHOP: He was the son of a wealthy couple from Soissons, France, who spent all their time and possessions in helping the poor.  They were a good influence on Desideratus, and his brothers, Desiderius and Deodatus.  All three became saints.  King Clotaire made Desideratus Secretary of State.  He was a holy man and lived a holy life despite the splendors of the royal court.  He was a good influence on the King. He wanted to retire to a monastery, but the King reminded him to put the peoples welfare before his own.  He became Bishop of Bourges and during that time he was known as a peacemaker and wonderworker.  He was a member of the Fifth Council of Orleans and the Second Council of Auvergne. He attended several councils that condemned Nestorianism and Eutychianism, was reputed to have performed miracles and was known for his peace making abilities. He died May 8, 550.

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

SAINT ARSENIUS, DEACON AND MONK: The Monk Arsenius the Great was born in the year 354 at Rome into a pious Christian family, which provided him a fine education and upbringing. Having studied the secular sciences and mastered to perfection the Latin and Greek languages, the Monk Arsenius acquired profound knowledge, combined with a pious and virtuous life. His deep faith impelled the youth to leave his preoccupation with the sciences and choose service to God. When he entered into the ranks of the clergy at one of the Roman churches, he was then elevated to the dignity of deacon. Saint Arsenius, while still living in the palace, prayed to God, saying, Lord, show me the way, how I can be saved. And a voice came to him, saying, Arsenius, flee men, and you will be saved. He, having withdrawn to the solitary life, prayed again, saying the same thing. And he heard a voice saying to him, Arsenius, flee, be silent, be still. For these are the root of sinlessness.

PRAYER: God, You called St. Arsenius to seek Your Kingdom in this world through the pursuit of perfect charity. Grand that we may be strengthen by his intercession and advance in the way of love with joyful hearts… Amen🙏

SAINT ACHATIUS, MARTYR: A Fourteen Holy Helper. Saint Achatius is reckoned among the Holy Helpers who, as a Roman soldier, died for Christ. Achatius was a native of Cappadocia and as a youth joined the Roman army during the reign of Emperor Hadrian, attaining the rank of captain. One day, when leading his company against the enemy, he heard a voice saying to him, “Call on the God of Christians!” He obeyed, was instructed, and received Baptism. Filled with zeal, he henceforth sought to convert also the pagan soldiers of the army. When the emperor heard of this, Achatius was thrown into prison, then placed on the rack, bound to a post and scourged, because he refused to offer sacrifice to the idols. When all these tortures availed nothing, he was brought before the tribune Bibianus. Eventually, Flaccius, the proconsul of Thracia, who imprisoned him for five days, and meanwhile read the records of his former trials, then he ordered him to be beheaded. Achatius suffered death for Christ on May 8, 311. He’s Patron Saint against headaches and at the time of death’s agony.

PRAYER: O GOD, Who didst fortify Thy holy Martyr Achatius with constancy and trustful reliance on Thee in death; grant us through his intercession at the hour of our death to be free from all anxiety and victorious in our last combat with the enemy. Through Christ our Lord…Amen🙏

SAINT VICTOR MAURUS, MARTYR: St. Victor Maurus (d. 303 A.D.), also known as Victor the Moor and Victor of Milan, was born in Mauretania (North Africa) in a Christian household. He later relocated to Milan, Italy, as a soldier of the Praetorian Guard that served Roman Emperor Maximian during his persecution of Christians. Although Victor was a Christian since childhood, this fact was not widely known until he destroyed an altar to a pagan god. The Emperor, infuriated, had Victor imprisoned and starved for six days. The Emperor then gave him every chance to recant his faith, including offering him riches, but Victor refused each attempt. He was then tortured mercilessly, unless he would offer sacrifice to the gods, by being stretched on the rack and having molten lead poured over his body. Victor remained steadfast and boldly proclaimed his faith in Christ, declaring that the Roman gods were demons. Finally the saint was beheaded on May 8 in the year 303 A.D. The Emperor refused him burial so that wild beasts would consume his body. However, after six days the body was discovered untouched with two beasts guarding it at the head and foot. The local bishop then received permission to bury the body. A church was later erected over Victor’s grave and many miracles occurred there. St. Victor’s feast day is May 8th.

Saint Victor Maurus, Martyr ~ Pray for us🙏

PRAYER INTENTIONS:* During this season of Easter, 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. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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, with special intention for those Seminarians who will be ordained into Priesthood. 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🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Wednesday of the Sixth Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ John 16:12-15

When the Spirit of truth comes, he will guide you to all truth

“Jesus said to His disciples: “I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now. But when he comes, the Spirit of truth, he will guide you to all truth. He will not speak on his own, but he will speak what he hears, and will declare to you the things that are coming. He will glorify me, because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you. Everything that the Father has is mine; for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples that when the Spirit of Truth comes, He will lead them to the complete truth. The complete truth is always beyond us and it is the Holy Spirit who will lead us there. We are all seekers after truth, the truth about ourselves, the truth about other people, the truth about our world, the truth about God. In John’s Gospel Jesus says, ‘I am the truth’. Jesus is the truth in that He throws a penetrating light on all of reality, on our lives as human beings, on our world, on God. When Jesus tells His disciples that the Spirit of truth will lead them to the complete truth, He is really saying that the Holy Spirit will lead them to Himself, to Jesus. As Jesus says in that Gospel reading, ‘all He tells you will be taken from what is mine’. That is the role of the Holy Spirit in all our lives, to lead us towards the complete truth, who is Jesus, the Word made flesh. John’s Gospel suggests that we cannot make our way to Jesus on our own. We need the help of the Spirit that Jesus sends to make our way to Him. We need to surrender to the Paraclete if we are to really know Jesus, if we are to really grasp Him with our mind, our heart and our soul. That is why the prayer, ‘Come Holy Spirit’, should never be far from our lips and our hearts. As we approach the feast of Pentecost, we ask the Spirit to renew our relationship, our friendship, with the Lord, and, so lead us to the complete truth.

In our first reading today, from the Acts of the Apostles, we are reminded by what St. Paul told the people of Athens, to those who were assembled in the Areopagus, the area of public discourse and discussion, regarding the nature of the pagan worship then carried out by the Greeks in general and the people of Athens in particular. St. Paul came to Athens bringing the Good News of Christ, our Lord and Saviour, as he revealed unto those people Who the Lord really truly is. He compared how the people were irrational and folly in their belief in the pagan gods and idols, in their trust and worship of beings that came out from our awe of the nature’s wonders, which were merely reflections of the glory of the true Creator and Master of all things. According to our first reading, the town council of Athens on the Areopagus that St. Paul preached to were enlightened pagans. He took his cue from an altar he noticed that was inscribed, ‘To an Unknown God’. He proceeded to tell them that this unknown God had made himself known in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. As Christians, we recognize Jesus as the one who has made God known. In the words of the first chapter of the Gospel of John, ‘No one has ever seen God. It is God, the only Son, who is close to the Father’s heart, who has made him known’. As we come to know Jesus, we come to know God. Yet, we never come to know Jesus fully in this life. We are always on a journey towards knowing Him. This knowing Jesus, which we never fully attain in this life, is not so much an intellectual knowing as a knowing of the heart, a knowing that is the fruit of love. We are always on the way towards that kind of knowing of Jesus. That is why Jesus says in the Gospel reading that when the Spirit of truth comes, He will lead us to the complete truth. If Jesus makes God known to us, the Holy Spirit makes Jesus know to us. He leads us to the complete truth, to Jesus who said of Himself, ‘I am the truth’. Every day, the Holy Spirit works to take us on this journey towards Jesus, the complete truth, if we allow Him. It is the Holy Spirit who makes the love of Jesus tangible for us, and it is the Holy Spirit who moves us towards that love of Jesus which brings us to know him ever more fully.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are all reminded to remain true to our faith in the Lord, the One and only true God, Who reigns over all things and is the Source of all things, and hence, He alone is worthy of worship and adoration. As Christians, each one of us are called to be the faithful disciples of the Lord, in doing everything we can to glorify the Lord by our lives, and to proclaim His truth and Good News to more and more people among the nations. All of us are called to entrust ourselves to the Lord more, that is to allow Him to lead us and guide us in our path, helping us all to remain firmly faithful in all of our works and deeds, in our every day living and in our every interactions with each other so that we may be good and dedicated beacons of His light and truth. May the Risen Lord, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, our most loving God and Good Shepherd, be with us always, be with His Church, and may the Holy Spirit be our inspiration, strength and guide. May the Lord bless our every works and good efforts for His greater glory, and may He help us all to persevere through all the hardships and challenges that we may have to face in this world. May He, the One and only True God, shine the light of His truth and love to the whole of this darkened world. And may God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may the Lord be glorified through us and our actions, and may He be with us always and guide us in our lives, from now and henceforth, leading ever more souls to Himself. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

God of all truth, You, Your wisdom, Your love and all of Your glorious attributes are infinite in nature and are beyond my complete comprehension. As I humble myself before these holy truths, dear Lord, please bestow upon me the Holy Spirit, the Spirit of Truth, so that I may open my mind more fully to You by Your grace. May the process of deep discovery be one of great joy and become for me a process that continues into eternity. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Michael the Archangel; Saint Desideratus, Saint Arsenius,  Saint Achatius and Saint Victor Maurus ~ Pray for us🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for His Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all and for vocations to  priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful Sixth Week of Easter!🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 7, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter!

We thank God for the  gift of life and for the gift of the new month of May. The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. May she continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | May 7, 2024” |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 7, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 7, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 7, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 7, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday, May 7, 2024
Reading 1, Acts 16:22-34
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 138:1-2, 2-3, 7-8
Gospel, John 16:5-11

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ROSA VENERINI, RELIGIOUS AND BLESSED GISELE, WIDOW ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 7TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint  Rosa Venerini, Religious and Blessed Gisele, Widow. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the poor and the needy, we pray for all mothers and women all over the world, we pray for their health, safety and well-being. We also pray for all youths and all teachers that they may be good examples to their students.🙏

SAINT ROSA VENERINI, RELIGIOUS: St. Rosa (February 9, 1656 – May 7, 1728) also known as St. Rose, recently-canonized Italian educator who founded Catholic schools for girls and young women during the late 17th and early 18th centuries. Saint Rosa Venerini lived consumed by two great passions: passion for God and passion for the salvation of souls. She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI on October 15, 2006, who spoke in his canonization homily of her courageous work for “the spiritual elevation and authentic emancipation of the young women of her time.” Her work is continued today by the “Venerini Sisters.”

St. Rose Venerini was born in the central Italian city of Viterbo on February 9, 1656, she was the daughter of an accomplished pious doctor, Goffredo, who raised four children with his admirable wife,  Marzia. At the age of seven she made a vow to consecrate her life to God. However, tjis resolution was tested during her adolescence. She was later conflicted between her vow and living in the world. At the age of 20 she knew she must make a decision between marriage and the cloister, the only two options available to women of her day, both of which she esteemed. After much prayer and suffering she entered a monastery. St. Rosa briefly joined a Dominican women’s community during 1676, but returned home to comfort her mother after her father, Goffredo’s unexpected death. One of Rosa’s brothers, Domenico, also died at age 27. Her mother, Marzia was heartbroken and died within months. In the wake of these family crises, St. Rosa invited local women to her home to pray the Rosary in a group. However, she was soon dismayed by the deficiencies she saw in their education and religious formation. This eye-opening experience shaped Rosa’s future, pointing her toward her ultimate vocation in the field of teaching. In 1685, with the help of two friends and the approval of her local bishop, Rosa opened Italy’s first public school for girls. It was supported by some Church and state officials, though others resisted an educational model that was, for its time, unconventional. Many of these critics were silenced by the school’s clear success in uplifting the character of young women. St. Rosa left Viterbo and founded ten schools in the Diocese of Montefiascone between 1692 and 1694. She also trained a local successor, the future Saint Lucia Filippini. Only after several years, and one disappointing failed attempt, did Rosa manage to start a school in Rome, during 1713. Three years later, Pope Clement XI paid a visit accompanied by eight cardinals. Witnessing the work of Rosa Venerini’s teachers, the Pope personally thanked her, declaring: “With these schools you will sanctify Rome.”

The acceptance of Rosa’s work also increased her daily responsibilities. Governors and cardinals asked her to open schools in their areas. She undertook difficult journeys for the sake of her work, while maintaining a strong prayer life that kept her oriented toward God’s will in all of her undertakings. Spiritual direction from Jesuit priests helped her to combine an active apostolate with a life of contemplative prayer. She cultivated a close daily relationship to God while working to found over 40 schools. Over the course of her life she opened 40 schools across Italy dedicated to the education and promotion of women for the uplifting and ennobling of society. St. Rosa Venerini’s last illness came to an end during the evening of May 7, 1728 at the age of seventy-two. Her religious congregation, known in Italian as the “Maistre pie Venerini,” maintains an international presence. After having made its contribution to the Italian immigrants to the USA from 1909 and in Switzerland from 1971 to 1985, the Congregation extended its apostolic activity to other lands: India, Brazil, Cameroon, Romania, Albania, Chile, Venezuela and Nigeria. “Educate to save” became her motto. Her feast day is May 7th. 

PRAYER: O God, who raised up blessed Rose Venerini in your Church to show others the way of salvation, grant us, by her example, so to follow Christ the master, that we may come with our neighbor into your presence. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever… Amen🙏

BLESSED GISELE, WIDOW: Blessed Gisele also known as Gisela of Hungary or Gisele, Gizella of Bavaria (c. 985 – May 7, 1065) was the first queen consort of Hungary by marriage to Stephen I of Hungary, and the sister of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor. Blessed Gisele was given in marriage to St. Stephen of Hungary in 1008. She bore his a son, who went on to become St. Emeric, and fully supported him in his work of evangelization. Blessed Gisela had great influence on the conversion of the Hungarians. After the death of her husband, Blessed Gisele retired to the Benedictine Abbey of Niederburg (later becoming its Abbess) and spent her time in prayer and self-denial until her death on May 7, 1065.

PRAYER: God, You inspired Blessed Gisele to strive for perfect charity and so attain Your Kingdom at the end of her pilgrimage on earth. Strengthen us through her intercession that we may advance rejoicing in the way of love… Amen🙏

PRAYER INTENTIONS: During this season of Easter, 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. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle soul of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, 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🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Tuesday of the Sixth Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reading ~ John 16:5-11

For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you

“Jesus said to his disciples: “Now I am going to the one who sent me, and not one of you asks me, ‘Where are you going?’ But because I told you this, grief has filled your hearts. But I tell you the truth, it is better for you that I go. For if I do not go, the Advocate will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you. And when he comes he will convict the world in regard to sin and righteousness and condemnation: sin, because they do not believe in me; righteousness, because I am going to the Father and you will no longer see me; condemnation, because the ruler of this world has been condemned.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus, on the night before He died, addresses Himself to the sadness of the disciples. They are sad because they have heard Him talk about going away. On this evening, full of foreboding, they sense that He is referring to His imminent death. We always experience sadness when someone who has been significant for us, someone we have loved and valued, is taken from us in death. We need to grieve the loss of our loved ones. Yet, Jesus wants to bring some light into the sadness, the darkness of spirit, of His disciples. He does so by assuring them that, in going from them, He will be able to do something for them that He would not otherwise be able to do. In returning to the Father, He will be able to send them the Advocate, the Paraclete, the Holy Spirit. In and through this Spirit, Jesus will be present to His disciples in a new and very intimate way, and He will be present in this manner not just to His disciples gathered with Him that evening but to all future disciples, including us all. Jesus’ death and His resurrection from the dead leads to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit upon us all, and, in and through the Spirit, Jesus is within us and among us. That same Spirit is with us in all our dark and difficult times, in all our times of painful loss. The Spirit assures us of the Lord’s loving presence at such moments, so that even in our sadness we can experience something of that joy which is the fruit of the Spirit.

Our first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, gives an account how St. Paul and St. Silas, one of his partners in missionary works across the Mediterranean region, faced great trouble in Philippi in the then Roman Greece, as they were despised by the slave owners of the region, who found their messages of Christian hope and emancipation, of the coming of the Lord’s help and assistance, and the equality between all mankind a truly dangerous one, as that had turned more and more of their own slaves into the Christian faith, and not few among those slave owners must have thought that there was a chance that the slaves might even turn against their own masters or disobey them because of the teachings of the Christian missionaries. Sts. Paul and Silas were put in prison after they were flogged and made to suffer, and they suffered, although not for long, because the Lord was always with all of His disciples, and He would aid and help them in their time and hour of need, according to His will. It was not the time for St. Paul or St. Silas yet to suffer prison for a long time or martyrdom back then, and hence, an earthquake happened, which broke open their prison and made many others to be free as well. The jailor was so afraid of the repercussions of what had happened, that he almost took his own life if not for the intervention from the two disciples, who convinced him not to do so. And not just that, the jailor and his whole family was even convinced and became members of the Church, gotten baptised because of this event. In a sense, the occasion of the earthquake was truly very symbolic indeed. As it did not just physically broke the chains holding the disciples, but also that of the many other people that were imprisoned with them. And with regards to the jailor himself and his whole family, this represented the breaking of the chains of sin and evil that had held them up, dominated them and kept them from the salvation in God. The Lord was not just protecting His faithful ones, but He even used the opportunity to open up the doors to more people who came to believe in Him because of the misfortune that had faced His disciples, and what was a hard time for the disciples of the Lord, became even yet another opportunity for the salvation of more souls.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, all of us are encouraged and strengthened by the words and the stories of how the Lord had guided, protected and provided for His people in their hour of need. We are constantly being reminded again and again, that the Lord is always with us, by our side, guiding and helping us to go through the journey of our lives, as we follow Him faithfully and as we walk in His presence, carrying out His will and doing our part as Christians, that is as those whom God had called and chosen, and all of us who have accepted Him as our Lord, Saviour and King. Each and every one of us are truly fortunate because all the great love that God has always shown us. Let us all hence turn towards the Lord, our most loving God with renewed conviction and faith. Let us all embrace the Lord with renewed dedication and commitment to Him, and let us strive to seek Him and to walk down the path that He has shown us, embracing the love and compassion that He has always given us all these while. Let us be strengthened with hope and be encouraged by the examples of the Holy Apostles and disciples of the Lord. Let us not easily be disheartened especially if we faced hardships and persecutions by the world, oppressions and challenges from those who disagree with us and refuse to believe in the Lord like us. Instead, let us all make use of every opportunities to allow the Lord to lead and guide us ever more, as we continue walking down the path that He has led us all into. May the Risen Lord, our Saviour, Jesus Christ, our most loving God and Good Shepherd, be with us always, be with His Church, and may the Holy Spirit be our inspiration, strength and guide. May the Lord bless our every works and good efforts for His greater glory, and may He help us all to persevere through all the hardships and challenges that we may have to face in this world. And may God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and bless us all in our every good works and endeavours, for His greater glory, now and always. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

My dear Jesus, You prepared Your disciples for the new life of grace that they would receive after Your death and Resurrection. Though fearful and uncertain, they embraced the new life You called them to live, and You did marvelous things through them. Please open my heart to the full embrace of my vocation and any changes that You desire for my life. I say “Yes” to You, my Lord, and pray that You work powerfully through me by the Holy Spirit. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Rosa Venerini, Religious and Blessed Gisele, Widow ~ Pray for us sinners🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for His Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all and for vocations to  priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful Sixth Week of Easter!🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

SIXTH WEEK OF EASTER

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 6, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Monday of the Sixth Week of Easter!

We thank God for the  gift of life and for the gift of the new month of May. The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. May she continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | May 6, 2024” |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 6, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 6, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday, May 6, 2024
Reading 1, Acts 16:11-15
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 149:1-2, 3-4, 5-6, 9
Gospel, John 15:26-16:4

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

FEAST OF SAINT JOHN BEFORE THE LATIN GATE; SAINT EVODIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP; SAINT DOMINIC SAVIO, CONFESSOR; SAINT PETER NOLASCO, FOUNDER AND BLESSED EDWARD JONES AND ANTHONY MIDDLETON, MARTYRS ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 6TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint John before the Latin Gate, Saint Evodius of Antioch, Bishop, Saint Dominic Savio, Confessor;  Saint Francis de Laval, Bishop, Saint Peter Nolasco, Founder and Blessed Edward Jones and Anthony Middleton, Martyrs. 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 also pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, for all youths and Christians all over the world🙏

SAINT JOHN BEFORE THE LATIN GATE: St. John before the Latin Gate (95 A.D.), a tradition mentioned by St. Jerome, which goes back to the second century, says St. John the Apostle was taken to Rome under the Emperor Domitian and plunged into a cauldron of boiling oil; by a striking miracle he came out safe and sound from this torture. A church dedicated in honor of St. John was built near the Latin Gate, the spot referred to by the tradition.

In the year 95, Saint John the Evangelist, the only surviving Apostle, who was governing all the churches of Asia Minor (present-day Turkey), was apprehended at Ephesus and sent in chains to Rome. The Emperor Domitian did not relent at the sight of the venerable old man, but condemned him to be cast into a cauldron of boiling oil. The martyr doubtless heard, with great joy, this barbarous sentence; the most cruel torments seemed to him light and agreeable because he hoped they would unite him forever to his divine Master and Saviour. But God accepted his will and crowned his desire; He conferred on him the honor and merit of martyrdom while suspending the operation of the fire, just as He had formerly preserved the three children from injury in the Babylonian furnace. The seething oil was changed for him into an invigorating bath, and the Saint came out more refreshed than when he had entered the cauldron.

The glorious triumph of Saint John happened just beyond the gate of Rome called the Latina. A church which ever since has borne this title was consecrated there, in memory of the miracle. Domitian saw this miracle without deriving the least advantage from it, remaining hardened in his iniquity. Nonetheless, he contented himself afterwards with banishing the holy Apostle to the little island of Patmos. Saint John returned to Ephesus during the mild reign of Nerva (96-98), who during his short imperial government lasting one year and four months, merely labored to restore the faded luster of the Roman Empire.

Reflection. Saint John suffered above the other Saints a martyrdom of love, being a martyr and more than a martyr, at the foot of the cross of his divine Master. All Our Lord’s sufferings were by love and compassion imprinted in his soul, and thus shared by him. O singular happiness, to have stood under the cross of Christ! O extraordinary privilege, to have suffered martyrdom beside Jesus, and been eye-witness of all He did or endured! If nature revolts within us against suffering, let us call to mind those words of the divine Master to Saint Peter: Now thou knowest not why, but thou shalt know hereafter. (John 13:7)

SAINT EVODIUS OF ANTIOCH, BISHOP: St. Evodius was one of the seventy-two disciples of Christ, and Catholic tradition has always held that he was the first bishop of Antioch after St. Peter. However, we are not sure in what year he assumed the position. As bishop of Antioch, he was the first to coin the word “Christian” to refer to the disciples of Jesus. He probably died between the years 64-67, when he was then succeeded by St. Ignatius of Antioch. Saint Evodius of Antioch, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT DOMINIC SAVIO, CONFESSOR: St. Dominic Savio (1842-1857) was only fifteen when he died but he had already attained a high degree of sanctity. A pupil of the great St. John Bosco who loved him like a son, St. Dominic organized the Company of the Immaculate Conception to help St. John in running the Oratory. Though St. Dominic’s life was one of poverty, work, and suffering, it was filled with the cheerfulness and joy of sanctity. This model for youths once wrote to a friend: “Here we make sanctity consist in being joyful all the time and in faithfully performing our duties.” St. Dominic Savio was born in Riva di Chieri, Italy, on April 2, 1842. He looked so frail and weak on the morning of his birth that his father rushed him that same evening to the parish church for Baptism. But St. Dominic survived and began serving Mass when he was five years old, one of his greatest joys. He was often seen at five o’clock in the morning in front of the church on his knees in rain or snow, waiting for the doors to be opened. When, at the age of seven, he made his First Holy Communion, he formed the motto, “Death, but not sin!”,  the resolution to die rather than sin, as he had frequently expressed his determination and ambition to become a Saint. The village pastor at Mondonio, recognizing in Dominic a soul of predilection, arranged to have him enter Don Bosco’s Oratory at Turin. Don Bosco soon noted Dominic’s consuming quest for sanctity, and pointed out to the boy that the path to holiness is not necessarily among hair shirts and tortures of the flesh, but in the cheerful bearing and offering of each day’s small crosses. Steering the lad away from artificial practices, his loved master showed him that for a soul avid of penance, there is a superabundance to be had for the taking, through acceptance of the monotony and tribulations inseparable from the perfect fulfillment of the duties of one’s state of life.

After a few months of life in the environment of the Oratory and under the saintly care of Saint John Bosco, Dominic’s soul was fired with the zeal of his master, whose rule of life, Give me souls, Lord; You take the rest, the boy adopted for his own. Following the example of Don Bosco, who in season and out of season sought those souls wherever they were to be found, Dominic also went after them in his own little world. In the Oratory he founded and directed the Immaculate Conception Sodality, a group of boys who by prayer, word and example carried on an apostolate among their classmates and proved to be of valuable assistance to Don Bosco in his work. On one occasion Dominic broke up a vicious duel with stones. Standing between the boy-duelists with dramatic suddenness, he flashed a crucifix and said: This is Friday. Today Christ died for love of us. Can you look at Him and still hate each other? When Dominic’s health began to fail he was forced to leave the Oratory. Don Bosco and the boys were very sorry to see him leave; he had been a good friend to all.

Don Bosco said of him: His cheerful character and lively disposition made him extremely popular even among those boys who were no great lovers of their faith. His death at his home on March 9, 1857, was sweet and peaceful. As he was dying, he burst out into an ecstatic exclamation, ”Oh, what a beautiful sight I see!” Saint Dominic Savio is the youngest Confessor in the Church’s calendar of saints, and stands out as a hero of school-boy virtue, the shining model of holiness. St. Dominic was Beatified on March 5, 1950 by Pope Pius XII and Canonized on June 12, 1954 by Pope Pius XII. He’s the Patron Saint of choirboys, choristers the falsely accused, and juvenile delinquents. St. Dominic Savio’s feast is now celebrated on May 6th (formerly celebrated on March 9th)

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

SAINT FRANCIS DE LAVAL, BISHOP: Saint Francis-Xavier de Montmorency-Laval (1623-1708) was one of eight children born to one of France’s most illustrious families. He learned his piety from his mother, and like his namesake desired to become a priest and missionary. This dream was realized when he was appointed by Pope Alexander VII to be the first Apostolic Vicar of New France (Canada). His territory covered all of what is now Canada and the central section of what would become the United States, an enormous frontier which he undertook as a great spiritual work. He landed in Quebec in 1659 when the population was just 500 people. He supported the missions, built a cathedral to the Immaculate Conception, taught devotion to Our Lady under this title, founded a seminary and an industrial school, and began the first Catholic school system in Canada. In all seasons he made long and perilous journeys by land and water to minister to his flock. When Quebec became a diocese he was consecrated as Canada’s first bishop. He fought the sinister alcohol trade to the Indian tribes by having it outlawed within his territory and excommunicating those involved with it. He converted and baptized an Iroquois chief who then became a promoter of the Christian faith and won other converts among the local tribes. St. Francis de Laval was a man known for his great influence and holiness of life. His feast day is May 6th. Saint Francis de Laval, Bishop ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT PETER NOLASCO, FOUNDER: St. Peter Nolasco (1189-1256) was born at Mas-des-Saintes-Puelles, Languedoc, today’s France in 1189 to Bernard Nolasque, but later settled in Barcelona, Spain. After taking part in the Crusades against the Albigensians, he used his inheritance to free Christian prisoners held by the Moors. He later founded the Order of Our Lady of Mercy (Mercedarians) beginning in 1218 devoted to ransoming Christians. One night while St. Peter Nolasco was praying, the Blessed Virgin appeared (1228) and told him how greatly pleased she and her divine Son would be if a religious order were established in her honor for the express purpose of delivering Christians held in bondage by the infidels. In compliance with her wish, St. Peter, together with St. Raymond of Penafort and James I, King of Aragon, founded the Order of Our Lady of Mercy for the ransom of captives. Besides the usual vows, all members were required to take a fourth, one by which they bound themselves to become captives of the pagans, if necessary, to effect the emancipation of Christians.

On one occasion Peter Nolasco ransomed 400 at Valencia and Granada; twice he traveled to Africa as “the Ransomer,” not without peril to his own life; and records show that through his personal efforts a total of 890 Christians regained their liberty. He died on May 6, 1256, Valencia, Spain with these words from Psalm 110 on his lips: The Lord has sent redemption to His people. Saint Peter Nolasco, Founder ~ Pray for us🙏

BLESSED EDWARD JONES AND ANTHONY MIDDLETON, MARTYRS: Bl. Edward Jones from Wales and Anthony Middleton from Yorkshire, were both educated at the Douai College in Rheims. They became priests and were sent to the English mission in the time of Elizabeth II. Middleton was the first to arrive in England, in 1586, and pursued the ministry for some time without being discovered, helped considerably by his youthful appearance and slight stature. Jones followed, in 1588, and quickly became known by the English Catholics as a devout and eloquent preacher.

The two men of God were hunted down and captured with the aid of spies posing as Catholics, and they were hanged before the very doors of the houses in Fleet Street and Clerkenwell where they were arrested. Their trial is regarded as full irregularities; the reason for the summary justice dispensed to them was spelled out in large letters: “For treason and foreign invasion.” After offering their death for the forgiveness of their sins, the spread of the true Faith, and the conversion of heretics, they died on May 6, 1590.

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

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

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

Gospel Reading ~ John 15:26-16:4a

“The Spirit of truth will testify to me”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “When the Advocate comes whom I will send you from the Father, the Spirit of truth who proceeds from the Father, he will testify to me. And you also testify, because you have been with me from the beginning. “I have told you this so that you may not fall away. They will expel you from the synagogues; in fact, the hour is coming when everyone who kills you will think he is offering worship to God. They will do this because they have not known either the Father or me. I have told you this so that when their hour comes you may remember that I told you.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples that after He takes His leave of them they are to become His witnesses. Although Jesus will no longer be in the world in an embodied form, in another sense He will be in the world in an embodied form in and through His disciples who will be His witnesses. That remains our calling today as the Lord’s disciples, to witness to Him so that He can be present in the world in an embodied form through us. In our Gospel reading Jesus highlights two reasons why the disciples will be able to witness to Him. One reason is the Holy Spirit, because the chief witness to Jesus is the Holy Spirit and the Holy Spirit witnesses to Jesus in and through the lives of the disciples. It is the Holy Spirit who enables us and empowers us to be the Lord’s witnesses. Another reason why the disciples can be the Lord’s witnesses is that they have been with Him from the beginning, from the time of His baptism. Only those who have been with Jesus can witness to Him. We have not been with Jesus in the sense that the first disciples have, but if we are to witness to Jesus we need to be with Him in prayer. We need to be present to Him prayerfully if the Holy Spirit is to witness to Him through our lives.

Our first reading today gives an account of St. Paul’s visit to the city of Philippi to preach the gospel there. Philippi is in the eastern part of Greece today. This was the first time the Gospel was preached in what we would call today the continent of Europe. It was a very significant moment in the spread of the Gospel from Jerusalem. According to our reading, a group of women were among the first to hear St. Paul’s preaching of the Gospel on the European mainland, and one of them, a woman called Lydia from Thyatira, a dealer in expensive purple cloth, opened her home to Paul while he preached the Gospel in Philippi. This God-fearing lady, Lydia became a believer, and her whole entire household were baptised in the Lord. More and more believers came to follow the path of the Lord, and more gave themselves to be baptised, growing the early Church from a very small community in the very beginning into a rapidly burgeoning assembly of the faithful, spreading from cities and towns, from place to place. As Lydia had received the gift of the Gospel from St. Paul, in that way she showed gratitude to him. According to the Gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples to expect hostility because of their faith in him and their witness to that faith. St. Paul himself experienced a great deal of hostility because of his witness to his faith in Jesus. Yet, every so often, he also experienced great support and kindness from people like Lydia. St. Paul needed people like Lydia who supported his mission. Lydia knew what it meant for her concretely, showing hospitality to Paul. The Lord will also make clear to us what it might mean for us concretely to give from what we have received. We all need such people on our faith journey. We need the support of one another, especially in the times we are in. The supportive faith presence that Lydia was for St. Paul, we are all called to be for one another. As Jesus promised to send the Advocate, the Holy Spirit, to help his disciples in their witnessing to him in the Gospel. Lydia was a channel of that Holy Spirit to St. Paul and we are called to be channels of that Holy Spirit to one another, so that we can all be encouraged in our efforts to follow the Lord as His witnesses in the world.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, all of us are called and reminded to follow the Lord wholeheartedly and dedicate ourselves to His works and ministry, and all that He has entrusted to all of us to do in our lives. Each and every one of us have been called to be good and faithful Christians in all things, to be role models and exemplary in our lives and actions so that we may be beacons of God’s light, truth and love in our various communities, proclaiming His Good News and truth to all the people all around us. That is what we have been called to do as Christians, and we will do well to heed this calling and to do what the Lord has commanded us to do, and to live our lives to the best of our abilities, in walking down the path that God has shown us. May the Risen Lord, Jesus Christ, our Saviour, King and Good Shepherd be with us always and be with His Church, that each and every one of us may ever be empowered, encouraged and strengthened to live our lives worthily as Christians, to be worthy beacons of God’s light, truth and love at all times. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace, may He bless us all and bless our every endeavours, our every good works for the greater glory of His Name. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

Most glorious Jesus, You promised to send upon Your disciples and also upon me the Holy Spirit, the Advocate and Spirit of Truth. Holy Spirit, I welcome You into my life and offer myself to You without reserve to be used to give testimony to the Truth. Please do use me, my God, and touch many lives through me. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen 🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint John before the Latin Gate, Saint Evodius, Saint Dominic Savio, Saint Peter Nolasco and Blessed Edward Jones and Anthony Middleton, Martyrs ~ Pray for us sinners🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for His Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all and for vocations to  priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful Sixth Week of Easter🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

SIXTH SUNDAY OF EASTER (YEAR B)

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 5, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Sixth Sunday of Easter!

We thank God for the  gift of life and for the gift of the new month of May. The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. May she continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter🙏

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | May 5, 2024” |

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 5, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 5, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 5, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 5, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Sixth Sunday of Easter, Year B, May 5, 2024
Reading 1, Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Reading 2, First John 4:7-10
Gospel, John 15:9-17

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Sixth Sunday of Easter (Year B), Sunday, May 5, 2024
Reading 1, Acts 10:25-26, 34-35, 44-48
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 98:1, 2-3, 3-4
Reading 2, First John 4:7-10
Gospel, John 15:9-17

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Sixth Sunday of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Gospel Reflection ~ John 15:9–17

“No one has greater love than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends”

“Jesus said to his disciples: “As the Father loves me, so I also love you. Remain in my love. If you keep my commandments, you will remain in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and remain in his love. “I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and your joy might be complete. This is my commandment: love one another as I love you. No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends. You are my friends if you do what I command you. I no longer call you slaves, because a slave does not know what his master is doing. I have called you friends, because I have told you everything I have heard from my Father. It was not you who chose me, but I who chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit that will remain, so that whatever you ask the Father in my name he may give you. This I command you: love one another.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says to His disciples, ‘I call you friends’. The disciples represent us all. What Jesus says to them, He says to each one of us. We probably have many images of Jesus. The image of Jesus in today’s Gospel reading is that of a friend. He offers Himself to us as a faithful friend. He says that He reveals His friendship for us in two ways. Friends trust one another enough to share what is deepest in their hearts. In our Gospel reading, Jesus says He has done just this with us all, ‘I have made known to you, everything I have learnt from my Father’. What was deepest in Jesus’ heart was His relationship with God, His Father, and He has shared that relationship with us. In the words of the second reading, He has revealed God to be Love. He hasn’t simply spoken to us about God’s love but has given expression to God’s love in His whole way of life and, especially, in His death. Like a trusting friend, Jesus has opened up His heart, God’s heart, to us. There is a second way in which Jesus says He reveals his friendship for us. A faithful friend will go the extra mile for us. They will make sacrifices for us, not because of some sense of duty, but just out of the love they have for us. They will stand by us to the end because it is what they want to do in their heart of hearts. Jesus has made the ultimate sacrifice for us. In the Gospel reading He says, ‘A man can have no great love than to lay down his life for his friends’. Jesus revealed the depth of His friendship for us by laying down His life for us. His great mission in life was to reveal God’s love to us, and He was faithful to that mission even though He paid for that faithfulness with His life. In laying down His life for us, He showed the extent and depth of His friendship for us. This Sunday, we are invited to hear those words of Jesus as addressed to each of us personally, ‘I call you friends’. His friendship is His incredible gift to us, and it is a gift He will never take back. He is the ultimate and supreme ‘faithful friend’.

Jesus also says in the Gospel reading that He has befriended us in this complete way, ‘so that my own joy may be in you and your joy be complete’. The gift of true friendship is a blessing which always brings us joy. A faithful friend is one of the great joys of life. Jesus Himself knew the joy of God His Father’s friendship. By befriending us, He wants us to share in His joy. By loving us as God loves him, he wants us to know a joy that nothing in this world can give us, a joy that is complete. We can seek happiness in all kinds of places, but true joy, a joy that is deeply rooted and lasting, is found when we open ourselves up to the gift of the Lord’s faithful friendship. We will only fully experience the joy Jesus speaks about in eternal life when we will be fully opened up to God’s love, but here and now Jesus wants us to begin to experience this joy by receiving the gift of His friendship. We can sometimes struggle to receive this gift of the Lord’s faithful love, just as at the Last Supper Peter struggled to allow Jesus to wash his feet. ‘Never’, he said, ‘you shall never wash my feet’. Yet, the Lord keeps offering us this gift in the hope we will receive it or, in the words of the Gospel reading, that we will remain in His love, His friendship. The Lord’s friendship is faithful, it remains, but He needs us to remain in h
His friendship, to remain in His love, if His friendship is to be fully alive in us. The primary way we remain in His loving friendship, Jesus says, is by allowing His faithful love to flow through us and embrace the lives of others. We are to love one another as He loves us, to find ways of befriending one another as He has befriended us. Jesus poured out on us the love He received from God is Father, and we are to pour out on others the love we receive from Jesus. When this happens, then our joy will be complete.

Our first reading this Sunday from the Acts of the Apostles details the experiences of St. Peter the Apostle, who went to the town and region of Joppa which was by the Mediterranean coast, where he encountered a Roman centurion named Cornelius who was well respected by the local community and his family, in which prior to that he experienced a vision from the Lord Who showed him all sorts of food and animals which the Jewish laws and customs had considered to be unclean, and how the Lord told St. Peter to eat of those, which initially he refused to do because those were unclean according to the old Jewish customs and laws. The Lord told St. Peter that whatever He had deemed to be clean, should not be deemed as unclean. This was in fact a premonition of what St. Peter would soon encounter in his journey in Joppa as he encountered Cornelius and his family, and saw the great faith which they had in the Lord, the honour they showed to the Lord and His Apostles, and how they were willing to embrace God and His truth. However, at that time, the common perception among the Jewish people, especially those among the Pharisees was that the non-Jewish people, also known and called collectively as Gentiles, consisting of mainly the Romans and the Greeks, the Egyptians and other people of the region, all of them were commonly seen and considered as pagans and unworthy of God, and as recorded in the Gospels, this went to the extent that associating or going to the house or residence of a Gentile would render one unclean according to the Jewish laws and customs. However, the Lord revealed that His grace and love, His mercy and compassion are extended towards everyone, and all the Gentiles have also been called and led into God’s love, as He sent to them the Holy Spirit, the same Spirit that He has sent to all of His Apostles and disciples. This was the testimony which St. Peter himself presented to the whole assembly of the faithful as they discerned and debated on what they ought to do regarding the believers who came from among the non-Jewish origins. We heard how the Holy Spirit descended upon the converts from among the Gentiles, as they received the same gifts that the Apostles had received, and hence, we heard how St. Peter baptised all those among the Gentiles who had been called by God and embraced Him as their Lord and Saviour.

In our second reading this Sunday from the Apostle St. John in his Epistle directed to all the faithful people of God reminding them all of the truth of God’s loving nature, and how He loves every one of His beloved children and people, and manifesting this great and most generous love for us in His Son, Jesus Christ Our Lord and Saviour, the perfect example and manifestation of His eternal and ever-present love for each and every one of us. It is the same love which He has shown us all most generously, and which the Lord Himself said that God truly loved the world and all of us so much that He has given us all His only begotten Son, Jesus Himself, to be the bearer of God’s love and salvation for all of those who are truly precious to Him. The love of God has been manifested in the flesh, and became tangible, approachable and reachable to us all. While once God was transcendent and far beyond our ability to comprehend Him and His love, but through His Son, all of us have received the assurance of His ever enduring love for us, and we have received from Him the perfect gift of His love and commitment to everything which He has promised to us since the very beginning of time. By the actions which the Lord Jesus had done, in His ministry and works in our midst, in His revelation of God’s truth and love, in explaining the Law and commandments that God had bestowed on us, out of His ever constant and enduring love, and ultimately, by His own perfect and most loving sacrifice on the Cross, each and every one of us have received through Christ the assurance of life eternal.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures this Sunday, the Sixth Sunday of Easter, all of us are reminded yet again of why we celebrate most joyfully during this time and season of Easter, that is because the Lord has shown His love, kindness and compassion towards each and every one of us, and manifested that perfect and most wonderful love in His Son, Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, through Whom He has shown us all His ever enduring love and compassion, as He constantly reached out to us with great patience and ever-enduring care, seeking to reunite us with His loving Father and our Creator. God has indeed been so generous with His love and compassion that we should always be grateful and be reminded of His ever present love in our midst. Let us all as Christians always be full of God’s love and commit ourselves ever more to the Law and commandments which He had taught and shown us, so that by our every actions, words and deeds, and by our way of life, we will show everyone we encounter and meet in life, how we should truly live our lives so that we may truly be worthy of Our loving God, our Lord and Creator. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with us always, and be with His Church, and may He continue to show us His ever generous love, just as we too share His love with one another, now and always. Amen 🙏

SAINTS OF THE SAINTS: MEMORIAL OF SAINT GOTHARD,  BISHOP; SAINT JUDITH (JUTTA) OF PRUSSIA, RELIGIOUS; SAINT ANGELUS OF JERUSALEM,  PRIEST AND MARTYR AND BLESSED CATERINA CITTADINI, RELIGIOUS ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 5TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Gothard,  Bishop; Saint Judith (Jutta) of Prussia, Religious; Saint Angelus of Jerusalem, Priest and Martyr and Blessed Caterina Cittadini, Religious. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, we particularly pray for those who are suffering from cancer and other terminal diseases. We pray for God’s Divine healing upon them. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for the youths, 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🙏

SAINT GOTHARD,  BISHOP: St. Gothard (960 – May 5, 1038 AD), also known as Gothard or Godehard the Bishop, was a German abbot and archbishop, who helped foster the development of Hildesheim and who played an important role in the imperial campaign to reform and reorganize the Bavarian church. St. Gothard was born in the Bavarian village of Reichersdorf about 960. St. Gothard was educated by the Canons of that area and showed so much promise that he attracted the attention of Archbishop Frederick of Salzburg. He became a priest and in 990 when the Benedictine Rule was restored to the Abbey of Heidr-Altaich he received the monastic habit. He became Prior and eventually Abbot of the Abbey. There was such good discipline under St. Gothard that the Emperor, St. Henry II, entrusted him with the reform of other monasteries. Over the course of twenty-five years he formed nine Abbots for various houses, and when St. Bernward died in 1022, St. Gothard was made Bishop of Hildesheim in his place, despite his pleas of age and lack of suitable qualifications.

In typical fashion, this dedicated servant of God set about reforming his diocese with all the vigor of a young man. He built and restored churches, fostered education, especially in the Cathedral school, established order throughout the diocese, and erected a hospice for the poor and sick at the edge of Hildesheim. St. Gothard died on May 5, 1038. The pass and railroad tunnel from Switzerland into Italy takes its name from this Saint in whose honor the nearby hospice for travelers and its chapel were dedicated. He was Canonized in 1131, Rheims by Pope Innocent II. He is the Patron Saint of travelling merchants; invoked against fever, dropsy, childhood sicknesses, hailstones, the pain of childbirth, and gout; invoked by those in peril of the sea.

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

SAINT JUDITH (JUTTA) OF PRUSSIA, RELIGIOUS: St. Judith of Prussia (13th c.), also known as St. Jutta, Jutta of  Kulmsee, Jutta of Thuringia and Jutta of Sangerhausen, was a German aristocrat who became a hermit on the frontier of Prussia and is honored as the patron saint of that region. St. Judith was born to a wealthy family in Thuringia in what is now Germany. She desired to model her life after another noble saint from her country, St. Elizabeth of Hungary, who lived in the previous century. St. Judith married young at the age fifteen to a man of equal rank, and together they raised a family. She had several children, all of whom embraced a religious life, in various Orders. Despite their great wealth, St. Judith desired that they should live in a simple way and share their fortune generously with the poor. Her husband was at first displeased with her because he desired a lifestyle according to their means and rank. However, Judith persevered and eventually won him over to join her in a life of greater humility and piety.

St. Judith’s husband later died while on a pilgrimage to Palestine, the Holy Land, leaving St. Judith to raise her children alone. Once her children were grown, St. Judith rid herself of her costly clothes, jewelry, and other possessions and joined the Third Order of St. Francis. She committed herself to serving the poor and the sick, especially lepers for which she incurred mockery due to her noble rank in society. She was favored with visions. In the final years of her life she relocated to Prussia to live as a hermitess in a simple hut. There she spent her days in prayer and penance for the conversion of the pagan Prussians. After she died many miracles occurred at her grave, and she became the Patron Saint of Prussia, in Eastern Germany. Her feast day is May 5th.

Saint Judith (Jutta) of Prussia, Religious ~ Pray for us🙏

SAINT ANGELUS OF JERUSALEM,  PRIEST AND MARTYR: St. Angelus of Jerusalem (1185-1220), priest, martyr, hermit, mystic, reformer, thaumaturge, missionary, convert from Judaism and a professed Priest of the Order of the Brothers of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel. He is also known as St. Angelus of Sicily and St. Angelo. St Angelus was born in Jerusalem to a Jewish family in 1145 and died by being stabbed to death in 1220 at Licata, Sicily.  His mother converted to Christianity and Angelo, along with his twin brother John, were Baptised and converted along with her. His parents died while he was in his childhood and the Patriarch Nicodemus oversaw their education until the twins turned eighteen. He and his brother John entered the Carmelites then, at the Saint Anne convent near the Golden Gate to commence their novitiate. They were well learned and already spoke Greek, Latin and Hebrew. When he was twenty-six, Angelo was Ordained in Jerusalem and travelled throughout Palestine. Various miraculous cures were attributed to him as he travelled. His “Acta” tells us that he sought to avoid fame and when he was becoming known for his miracles, he withdrew from society to a hermitage to avoid the pilgrims who were following him. St. Angelus withdrew to a hermitage on Mount Carmel, until he was instructed by Christ in a vision, to leave Mount Carmel for Italy to preach against the Albigensians, Bulgars and other heresies.

He set off on a Genoese ship on April 1, 1219 and stopped first in Messina before heading off to Civitavecchia before he ended up in Rome to meet with the pope. The friar preached in the Basilica of Saint John Lateran while in Rome where he met both Saint Francis of Assisi and Saint Dominic. He foretold that Francis would receive the stigmata while Francis foretold his premature death. From there he was a guest of the Basilians in Palermo where he was for about a month, before preaching in Agrigento for over a month before settling in Licata. He had healed seven lepers and the ailing Archbishop of Palermo Bernardo de Castanea while in Palermo. He settled on the Sicilian island though his fame as a wonderworker caused crowds to flock to him. He also had success in converting some Jews though most Jews in Palermo came to despise him for this since he himself was once Jewish. He wanted to convert a Knight named Berenger. Catholic tradition states that Berenger was living in incest and that St. Angelo convinced the knight’s companion to leave him. Berenger became enraged and arranged to have him attacked and murdered, in front of the Church of Saints Filippo and Giacomo in Licata. He didn’t die from the attack until four days after the attack and during that time, he prayed for his assassin and asked the civil authorities to pardon him. He showed the ultimate in forgiveness, setting an example for all those that he preached to. He was buried at Saints Filippo and Giacomo Church. His sepulchre at Licata quickly became a site of Pilgrimage. The Carmelites venerated him as a saint from 1456 and Pope Pius II Canonised him in 1459. His relics were translated to a new Church in Licata, Saint Maria del Carmine. It was through St Angelo’s intercession that the plague in the Kingdom of Naples was halted.

Saint Angelus of Jerusalem, Priest ~ Pray for us🙏

BLESSED CATERINA CITTADINI, RELIGIOUS: Bl. Caterina Cittadini was an Italian Roman Catholic religious from Bergamo who established the Ursuline Sisters of Saint Jerome Emiliani. The order was dedicated to the education of girls in Bergamo and in the surrounding areas and has since expanded outside of the Italian nation. Bl. Caterina was a daughter of Giovanni Battista and Magherita Lanzani. Her mother died when Caterina was seven, and her father abandoned the girl and her younger sister Giuditta. They were accepted and grew up at the orphanage of the Conventino of Bergamo. There she developed a strong faith, a big sister’s sense of responsibility, and a devotion to Our Lady and Saint Jerome Emiliani. The sisters left the orphanage in 1823 to live with their cousins Giovanni and Antonio Cittadini, both parish priests at Calolzio, Italy. Caterina became a teacher at a girl‘s public school in Somasca in 1824. The sisters felt a call to the religious life; their spiritual director recommended that they should stay in Somasca, and become the basis of a new congregation.

In 1826 the sisters rented a house in Somasca, bought and furnished a building, and in October opened a boarding school for girls. Bl. Caterina taught religion, managed the school, and instituted the oratory style of education for her girls. Word of her success spread, attracting more students. The sisters established another “Cittadini” private school in 1832, and another in 1836. Giuditta directed these new schools until her sudden death in 1840. Bl. Caterini’s cousin, Father Antonio Cittadini, died in 1841, followed quickly by her spiritual director from the orphanage. The rapid succession of tragedy ruined Bl. Caterina’s health, and she fell gravely ill, but was cured through the intercession of Saint Jerome Emilani. Bl. Caterina quit her public teaching position in 1845 to manage the schools, care for the orphans, and guide the three companions who help her. To help organize the work and lives of her companions, she wrote the beginnings of a new rule similar to that of religious orders. In 1850 she obtained permission to build a private oratory to keep the Blessed Sacrament at her boarding school. In 1851 she applied for approval of her new religious family. In 1854 her bishop encouraged her work, and told her to write the rules of the new order; her first attempt, based on the Constitution of the Ursulines of Milano was rejected. A second attempt was accepted on September 17, 1854 under the title Orsoline Gerolimiane (Ursuline Sisters of Somasca). On December 14, 1857, six months after her death, the bishop of Bergamo gave his approval; the order achieved papal recognition on July 8, 1927. The order’s mandate is to teach, and to care for the abandoned; today they work in Italy, Switzerland, Belgium, Brazil, Bolivia, India, and the Philippines. Bl. Caterina died on May 5, 1857 in Somasca, Bergamo, Italy of natural causes.

Blessed Caterina Cittadini, Religious ~ Pray for us🙏

Let us pray:

My God and true Friend, You offer me everything in life. You offer me Your perfect love, given fully and without reserve. I pray that I will reciprocate that depth of love and offer to You all that You deserve. I offer You my love, worship and obedience, dear Lord. May this mutual love form a bond that will never end. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Gothard; Saint Judith (Jutta) of Prussia; Saint Angelus of Jerusalem and Blessed Caterina Cittadini ~ Pray for us sinners🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for His Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all and for vocations to  priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful Sixth Sunday of Easter and Week 🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖

FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 4, 2024

Greetings, beloved family and Happy Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter!

We thank God for the  gift of life and for the gift of the new month of May. The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. May she continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter🙏

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 4, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | May 4, 2024” |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 4, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 4, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 4, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Friday, May 3, 2024
Reading 1, First Corinthians 15:1-8
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:2-3, 4-5
Gospel, John 14:6-14

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

MEMORIAL OF SAINT FLORIAN, MARTYR AND THE FORTY MARTYRS OF ENGLAND AND WALES ~ FEAST DAY – MAY 4TH: Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Florian, Martyr (He is invoked against danger from fire or water) and The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Saint Florian and all the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for all Firefighters and all those who are faced with life threatening situations, we pray for their protection, safety and well-being. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saints Philip and James, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are terminally ill. We pray for all Pharmacists, for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, for all Christians, for the poor and needy and for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and all over the world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, for the Church, for the youths, 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🙏

SAINT FLORIAN, MARTYR: St. Florian (C. 250-304 A.D.) was born in the third century in what is present day Austria. He became a commander in the Roman army. One of his duties was leading the firefighting brigade. St. Florian was a Christian during a time of persecution of Christians. He served during the reign of Emperor Diocletian about 304, who violently persecuted Christians. St. Florian was secretly a Christian and was known for miraculously saving a town from being destroyed by fire; after praying to God for help, he extinguished a raging fire with a single bucket of water. Word reached the Emperor that Florian was not enforcing the ban against Christianity in his territory. He was put under investigation and was discovered to be a Christian.

St. Florian refused to participate in the persecutions the army was ordered to do. He also refused to offer sacrifices to the Roman gods. He was then condemned to be tortured and executed for his Christian faith. When Florian’s beliefs became known it was suggested that he be burned to death as many Christians were during that time. St. Florian stated that he would climb to Heaven on the flames of the funeral pyre which was made for him. The soldiers then decided to use a different method to execute him. Refusing to recant, St. Florian was then flogged and flayed alive, scourged, and martyred. A large stone was tied around his neck and he was set on fire before being thrown into the Ennis River to drown. His body was later recovered, and brought to the Augustinian Abbey of St. Florian near Linz. Later, the body was transferred to Rome. In 1138, Pope Lucius III gave some of the Saint’s relics to King Casimir of Poland and to the Bishop of Krakow. Today his relics are venerated at a church named for him in Kraków, Poland. Devotion to this Saint grew throughout Central Europe. Many miracles of healing are attributed to his intercession, and he is invoked against danger from fire or water. He’s the Patron Saint of Firefighters, brewers, Chimney Sweeps, Soap boilers, protector from fire, floods, battles, drowning victims, Upper Austria, Linz, Austria; Kraków, Poland, Chimneysweeps.

PRAYER: God of power and mercy, through Your help St. Florian has overcome the tortures of his passion. Help us who celebrate his triumph to remain victorious over the wiles of our enemies…Amen🙏

Prayer to Saint Florian for Firefighters (Recited for Firefighters)

Oh, Almighty God, whose great power and eternal wisdom embraces the universe, watch over all Firefighters. Protect them from harm in the performance of their duty to fight fire, save lives, and preserve property. We pray, help them to keep our homes and all buildings safe day and night. We recommend them to Your loving care because their duty is dangerous. Grant them Your unending strength and courage in their daily assignments. Dear God, protect these brave persons. Grant them Your Almighty protection and unite them safely with their families after duty has ended… Amen🙏

THE FORTY MARTYRS OF ENGLAND AND WALES: The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales are a group of Catholic, lay and religious, men and women, executed between 1535 and 1679 for treason and related offences under various laws enacted by Parliament during the English Reformation. The individuals listed range from Carthusian monks who in 1535 declined to accept Henry VIII’s Act of Supremacy, to seminary priests who were caught up in the alleged Popish Plot against Charles II in 1679. Many were sentenced to death at show trials, or with no trial at all. They are to be differentiated from the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales. Fifty-four were beatified in 1886; nine were beatified in 1895; and 137 more received beatification in 1929. The first wave of executions came with the reign of King Henry VIII and involved persons who did not support the 1534 Act of Supremacy and dissolution of the monasteries. Carthusian John Houghton and Bridgettine Richard Reynolds died at this time. In 1570 Pope Pius V, in support of various rebellions in England and Ireland, excommunicated Queen Elizabeth, absolving her Catholic subjects of their allegiance to her. The crown responded with more rigorous enforcement of various penal laws already enacted and passed new ones. The made it high treason to affirm that the queen ought not to enjoy the Crown, or to declare her to be a heretic. “An act against Jesuits, seminary priests, and such other like disobedient persons”, the statute under which most of the English martyrs suffered, made it high treason for any Jesuit or any seminary priest to be in England at all, and a felony for any person to harbor or aid them. All but six of the forty had been hanged, drawn and quartered, many of them at Tyburn.

The martyrs are: St. John Almond; St. Edmund Arrowsmith; St. Ambrose Barlow; St. John Boste; St. Alexander Briant; St.  Edmund Campion; St. Margaret Clitherow; St. Philip Evans; St. Thomas Garnet; St. Edmund Gennings; St. Richard Gwyn; St. John Houghton; St. Philip Howard; St. John Jones; St. John Kemble; St. Luke Kirby; St. Robert Lawrence; St. David Lewis; St. Anne Line; St. John Lloyd; St. Cuthbert Mayne; St. Henry Morse; St. Nicholas Owen; St. John Payne; St. Polydore Plasden; St. John Plessington; St. Richard Reynolds; St. John Rigby; St. John Roberts; St. Alban Roe; St. Ralph Sherwin; St. Robert Southwell;  St. John Southworth;  St. John Stone; St.John Wall; St. Henry Walpole; St. Margaret Ward; St. Augustine Webster; St. Swithun Wells; St. Eustace White

Following beatifications between 1886 and 1929, there were already numerous martyrs from England and Wales recognised with the rank of Blessed. The bishops of the province identified a list of 40 further names; reasons given for the choice of those particular names include a spread of social status, religious rank, geographical spread and the pre-existence of popular devotion. The list of names was submitted to Rome in December 1960. In the case of a martyr, a miracle is not required. For a martyr, the Pope has only to make a declaration of martyrdom, which is a certification that the Venerable died voluntarily as a witness of the Faith or in an act of heroic charity for others. The Archbishop of Westminster, then Cardinal William Godfrey, sent a description of 24 seemingly miraculous cases to the Sacred Congregation. Out of 20 candidate cases for recognition as answered prayers, the alleged cure of a young mother from a malignant tumor was selected as the clearest case. In light of the fact that Thomas More and John Fisher, belonging to the same group of Martyrs, had been canonized with a dispensation from miracles, Pope Paul VI, after discussions with the Sacred Congregation for the Causes of Saints, considered that it was possible to proceed with the Canonization on the basis of one miracle. Pope Paul VI granted permission for the whole group of 40 names to be recognised as saints on the strength of this one miracle. The canonization ceremony took place in Rome on October 25, 1970. In England, these martyrs were formerly commemorated within the Catholic Church by a feast day on October 25th, which is also the feast of Saints Crispin and Crispinian, but they are now celebrated together with all the 284 canonized or beatified martyrs of the English Reformation on 4 May. In Wales, the Catholic Church keeps October 25th as the feast of the Six Welsh Martyrs and their companions. The Welsh Martyrs are the priests Philip Evans and John Lloyd, John Jones, David Lewis, John Roberts, and the teacher Richard Gwyn.[9] The companions are the 34 English Martyrs listed above. Wales continues to keep May 4th as a separate feast for the beatified martyrs of England and Wales.

PRAYER: Merciful God, who, when thy Church on earth was torn apart by the ravages of sin, didst raise up men and women in England who witnessed to their faith with courage and constancy: give unto thy Church that peace which is thy will, and grant that those who have been divided on earth may be reconciled in heaven and be partakers together in the vision of thy glory; through Jesus Christ thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, ever one God, world without end. Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Saturday of the Fifth Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050424.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ John 15:18-21

“You do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world”

“Jesus said to His disciples: “If the world hates you, realize that it hated me first. If you belonged to the world, the world would love its own; but because you do not belong to the world, and I have chosen you out of the world, the world hates you. Remember the word I spoke to you, ‘No slave is greater than his master.’ If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you. If they kept my word, they will also keep yours. And they will do all these things to you on account of my name, because they do not know the one who sent me.”

In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus tells His disciples on the night before He was crucified that they can expect the same hatred from the world that He Himself has experienced. In that regard, as in others, He remarks that a ‘servant is not greater than his master’. In many parts of our world today, Christians are being persecuted. St. John’s Gospel speaks about God’s love for the world. God so loved the world that He sent His only Son. In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus speaks about the world’s hatred for Him and for His followers. In St. Luke’s Gospel Jesus calls on His disciples to love their enemies and to do good to those who hate them. The Gospels suggest that Jesus was realistic about the hostility that would come His own way and the way of His followers. Yet, He wanted His followers to relate to the world not on the basis of how the world relates to them but on the basis of how God and Jesus relate to the world. In the Gospel reading Jesus says, ‘A servant is not greater than His master’. That can be read in two ways. One way is, ‘if the master experienced hostility so will the servants’. The other way is, ‘if the master washed the feet of the servants, including the feet of Judas, the one who betrayed him, the servants must do likewise; they must reveal the love of God to others regardless of how they relate to them’. That saying of Jesus, ‘a servant is not greater than his master’ gives us much to ponder. It is only with the help of the Holy Spirit that we can be like the master in every respect.

In our first reading today from the Acts of the Apostles, St. Luke, the author gives us a strong sense of the early church being guided by the Holy Spirit. St. Paul and his companions travelled through the countryside of the Roman province of Galatia, having been told by the Holy Spirit not to preach the word in the Roman province of Asia, both provinces being in modern-day Turkey. The Spirit would not allow them to cross into the province of Bithynia either, so, instead, they came to the city of Troas, on the North West coast of modern-day Turkey. There St. Paul experienced the prompting of the Spirit once more in the form of a vision in which a person from Macedonia in Northern Greece called on St. Paul and his companions to come over and help them. Luke was showing that the Holy Spirit was guiding the early church, especially the missionary journeys of Paul. We can be confident that the Holy Spirit continues to guide the church today. The church is not just a human organization, a kind of religious multi-national corporation. Yes, it has elements that are typical of any world-wide organization. It is a human institution. More fundamentally, however, the church is a spiritual reality. The risen Lord, through the Spirit, is present in the church, shaping it and guiding it. The church cannot be shaped by opinion polls. It can only be shaped by the Lord and His Spirit. Sometimes, as Jesus says in the Gospel reading today, this will put the church into conflict with the prevailing culture, ‘if they persecuted me, they will persecute you too’. The church is in the midst of the world, but it is not of the world. As Jesus declares in the Gospel reading, ‘you do not belong to the world’. The really important question for the church is not, ‘what do people think of us?’ but ‘what is the Lord saying to us’ or ‘Where is the Spirit leading us?’ Answering those questions requires prayerful discernment from us all.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are reminded that as Christians, each and every one of us have been called from the world and chosen to be God’s own beloved people, as we have embraced His love and truth, His salvation and assurance of eternal life for all of us. All of us as His beloved and holy people have been called and expected to live our lives worthily of God, that we may do our very best in proclaiming His truth and love in our respective communities, in every opportunities and responsibilities entrusted to us. Each and every one of us as Christians have been called to be those who are truly exemplary and inspirational in our lives and actions so that by our every actions, words and deeds, we may continue to inspire and touch the lives of many others around us. Each and every one of us have been entrusted with the gifts, abilities and opportunities which the Lord had provided to us and blessed us with. With these comes the responsibilities and calling through which we should commit ourselves in even the smallest ways that we will always continue to show the Lord’s Good News and truth, His love and ways to everyone whom we encounter and interact with. We should always strive to be the bearers of God’s truth and be good and worthy role models for one another. Like that of the Apostles and the disciples of the Lord before us, who have inspired us with their exemplary lives and actions, we should ourselves therefore be good and worthy disciples and followers of the Lord as well, in living our own lives led and strengthened by the Holy Spirit. May the Risen Lord continue to be with us and guide us in all of our journey and efforts throughout life. May He continue to strengthen our resolve to live our lives worthily of Him and to endure all sorts of trials, challenges and tribulations, so that despite whatever it is that we may need to face in our lives, we will always be strong and inspired to follow His path, and the examples of the holy men and women who had gone before us, so that by our lives and perseverance, our own faith and commitment, more and more may come to believe in the Lord as well and be saved through God’s light and salvation. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and bless each one of us in our every endeavours and good works and may He be with His Church, now and always. Amen🙏

Let us pray

My persecuted Lord, You endured the hatred and ridicule of many who were engulfed by the false values of the world. I pray that I may share not only in Your life of love and mercy but also in Your strength during the times that I also endure the world’s hatred. I commit myself to You and pray that You continually take me out of the world and bring me close to Yourself. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Florian, and The Forty Martyrs of England and Wales ~ Pray for us sinners🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for His Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all and for vocations to priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful Fifth Week of Easter🙏

FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 3, 2024

Greetings beloved family and Happy Friday of the Fifth Week of Easter!

We thank God for the  gift of life and for the gift of the new month of May. The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. May she continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter🙏

Watch “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 3, 2024 |

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN | May 3, 2024” |

Pray “Holy Rosary from Lourdes, France” | May 3, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 3, 2024 |

Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy | from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | May 3, 2024 |

Pray “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteriels VIRTUAL🌹JOYFUL🌹LUMINOUS🌹SORROWFUL🌹GLORIOUS” on YouTube |

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

Today’s Readings: Friday, May 3, 2024
Reading 1, First Corinthians 15:1-8
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 19:2-3, 4-5
Gospel, John 14:6-14

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY: MONTH OF OUR LADY: In addition to the myriad feast days honoring Our Lady under her many titles and virtues, the entire month of May is especially given to her praise. In the words of Pope Paul VI, May is “a month which the piety of the faithful has long dedicated to Mary, the Mother of God … For this is the month during which Christians, in their churches and their homes, offer the Virgin Mother more fervent and loving acts of homage and veneration; and it is the month in which a greater abundance of God’s merciful gifts comes down to us from our Mother’s throne.”

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2024: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY – FOR THE FORMATION OF RELIGIOUS AND SEMINARIANS: We pray that religious women and men, and seminarians, grow in their own vocations through their human, pastoral, spiritual and community formation, leading them to be credible witnesses to the Gospel.🙏

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

PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:

Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!

We have tried so many times and over so many years to resolve our conflicts by our own powers and by the force of our arms. How many moments of hostility and darkness have we experienced; how much blood has been shed; how many lives have been shattered; how many hopes have been buried… But our efforts have been in vain. Now, Lord, come to our aid! Grant us peace, teach us peace; guide our steps in the way of peace. Open our eyes and our hearts, and give us the courage to say: “Never again war!”; “With war everything is lost”. Instill in our hearts the courage to take concrete steps to achieve peace. Lord, God of Abraham, God of the Prophets, God of Love, you created us and you call us to live as brothers and sisters. Give us the strength daily to be instruments of peace; enable us to see everyone who crosses our path as our brother or sister. Make us sensitive to the plea of our citizens who entreat us to turn our weapons of war into implements of peace, our trepidation into confident trust, and our quarreling into forgiveness. Keep alive within us the flame of hope, so that with patience and perseverance we may opt for dialogue and reconciliation. In this way may peace triumph at last, and may the words “division”, “hatred” and “war” be banished from the heart of every man and woman. Lord, defuse the violence of our tongues and our hands. Renew our hearts and minds, so that the word which always brings us together will be “brother”, and our way of life will always be that of: Shalom, Peace, Salaam! Amen🙏

During this Easter season, please let us all continue to pray for peace all over the world, particularly in Africa, 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 🙏

On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate our risen Lord, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we pray for the Clergy and religious as they serve in the Lord’s Vineyard. We also pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to remember our beloved, we pray for the repose of their gentle souls and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ… Amen 🙏 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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🙏

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

FEAST OF SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES, APOSTLES ~ FEAST DAY ~ MAY 3RD: Today, we celebrate the Feast of two of the twelve Apostles of Jesus, Saints Philip and James, Apostles. Saints Philip and James are linked on this feast because they shared the patronage of an ancient Roman basilica, known today as the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome. Both were martyred in the 1st century. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and Saints Philip and James, we humbly pray for the sick and dying, especially those who are terminally ill. We pray for all Pharmacists, for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, for all Christians, for the poor and needy and for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and all over the world. Every life is a gift. We pray for God’s deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We pray for the souls in Purgatory and the repose of the gentle souls of our beloved family members who recently passed away and the souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. 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. For vocations to the priesthood and religious life, 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🙏

SAINTS PHILIP AND JAMES THE LESSER, APOSTLES: Today, the Church celebrates the Feast of not just one but two of the great Apostles of the Lord, namely that of St. Philip and St. James, two of the Twelve Apostles, part of the innermost circle and closest collaborators of our Lord Jesus Christ’s ministry and work. Both of them like that of the other Apostles and disciples of the Lord, went through many hardships and trials, and went from places to places to proclaim the Good News of the Lord, delivering the truth and love of God to more and more people who have not yet heard of Him or known Him. They laboured for many years in distant lands and in foreign places, among foreigners and others so that many more may come close to the salvation in God. Through their efforts and hard work, many have come close to the Lord and found the path to His grace, and not few followed in the footsteps of the Apostles. Sts. Philip and James are linked on this feast because they shared the patronage of an ancient Roman basilica, known today as the Church of the Twelve Apostles in Rome. Both were martyred in the 1st century.

SAINT PHILIP: St. Philip was born in Bethsaida in Galilee and was one of the 12 Apostles that Jesus called the day after St. Peter and St. Andrew. The Apostle Philip was one of Christ’s first disciples, called soon after his Master’s baptism in the Jordan. The fourth Gospel of St. John gives the following detail: “The next day Jesus was about to leave for Galilee, and He found Philip. And Jesus said to him: Follow Me. Now Philip was from Bethsaida, the town of Andrew and Peter. Philip found Nathanael, and said to him: We have found Him of whom Moses in the Law and the Prophets wrote, Jesus the Son of Joseph of Nazareth. And Nathanael said to him: Can anything good come out of Nazareth? Philip said to him: Come and see” (John 1:43ff). After receiving the Holy Spirit, immediately, Philip began to preach the Gospel, in Scythia and Phrygia, converting great numbers to the faith, finding his friend Nathaniel and telling him that Jesus was the one whom Moses and the other prophets had foretold. According to tradition, St. Philip was then a married man, and he had several daughters, three of whom reached eminent sanctity. Like the other Apostles, St. Philip left all things to follow Christ. His name is frequently mentioned in the Holy Gospels.

St. Philip is eighth in the Apostolic list of the Roman Canon; in the Synoptic Gospels he is named after the two groups of brother, Peter and Andrew, James and John (Matt 10:3; Mark 3:18; Luke 6:14). In St. John (I:43-44), we read that he was called after St. Peter to follow Jesus, and the Gospel adds he was of Bethsaida, as were Andrew and Peter. Philip introduced Nathaniel, who we know as the Apostle Bartholomew to Jesus (cf. St. Bartholomew). This same Gospel of St. John mentions Philip once again (John 14:9), in the passage, read at Mass, which serves also as the Antiphon of the Alleluia and for the Communion: “Philip, he that sees Me sees the Father also”; elsewhere (John 12:21) it tells us that certain Gentiles wishing to see Jesus had recourse to Philip, and in chapter 6 Jesus says to Philip, before the multiplication of the loaves, “Whence shall we buy bread, that these may eat?” These little incidents, though they tell us nothing about St. Philip’s inner life, show us that in the intimate companionship of the Apostles he played a distinct part. The Breviary story tells us that he evangelized Phyrgia, and that, at Hierapolis, he was fastened to a cross, crucified and then stoned at Hierapolis, in Phrygia. It adds that his relics, with those of St. James, were taken to Rome and placed in the Basilica of the Twelve Apostles. This church was once one of the most venerated in Rome. It corresponds to the famous church of Byzantium called the Apostoleion or Church of the Apostles. St. Julius I (341-352_ erected it, Pelagius I (556-561) rebuilt it, and finally John III (561-574) dedicated it to the memory of all the Apostles, especially SS. Philip and James, whose relics were enshrined therein. St. Philip is the Patron Saint of pastry chefs, Hatters, jockeys and horsemen, Uruguay, Luxembourg.

PRAYER: O Saint Philip, chosen disciple of the Lord, who brought Nathaniel to Christ, who most zealously preached thy Lord, Jesus Christ, and out of love to Him willingly gave thyself to be nailed to the cross, and put to death, obtain, I beseech thee, for me, and for all men, grace with zeal to bring others to the practice of good works, to have a great desire after God and His truths, and, in hope of the eternal blissful contemplation of God, to bear patiently the adversities and miseries of this life…Amen🙏

SAINT JAMES THE LESSER: James the Lesser is called “Lesser” because he was younger than the other Apostle by the same name, James the Great. St. James was the son of Alpheus (also known as Cleophas), the brother of Saint Jude. St. James the less was related in some way to Jesus, a cousin of Our Lord, whom he is said to have resembled. His mother Mary was either a sister or a close relative of the Blessed Virgin, and for that reason, according to Jewish custom, he was sometimes called the brother of the Lord. After Jesus’ Ascension into heaven, he became the head of the Church in Jerusalem. He was the first Bishop of Jerusalem. Saint Paul tells us that he was favored by a special apparition of Christ after the Resurrection. (I Corinthians 15:7) On the dispersion of the Apostles among the nations, Saint James remained as Bishop of Jerusalem, where the Jews held in such high veneration his purity, mortification, and prayer, that they named him the Just. He governed that church for 30 years before his martyrdom. Hegesippus, the earliest of the Church’s historians, has handed down many traditions of Saint James’s sanctity.

Saint James was a celibate Nazarite consecrated to God; he drank no wine and wore no sandals. He prostrated himself so long and so often in prayer that the skin of his knees was hardened like a camel’s hoof. It is said that the Jews, out of respect, used to touch the hem of his garment. He was indeed a living proof of his own words, The wisdom that is from above is first of all chaste, then peaceable, modest, ready to listen, full of mercy and good fruits. (James 3:17) He sat beside Saint Peter and Saint Paul at the Council of Jerusalem. When Saint Paul at a later time escaped the fury of the Jews by appealing to Caesar, the people took vengeance on James. One day, being requested to preach against Christ, he publicly proclaimed Him to be the Messiah, in Whom men were bound to believe, at which the Jewish priests became so enraged and crying out, The just one has erred! stoned him to death. They threw him down from a pinnacle of the temple, cast stones upon him, and finally killed him outright with a fuller’s rod. During his martyrdom he prayed for his persecutors in the same words pronounced by Jesus: Heavenly Father, forgive them, they know not what they do. He was martyred in the year 62. St. James the Lesser is the Patron Saint of Apothecaries; druggists; dying people; Frascati, Italy; fullers; milliners; Monterotondo, Italy; pharmacists; Uruguay.

PRAYER: O Saint James, who lived so temperately and strictly, who, like thy master, prayed so earnestly and constantly for thy tormentors, I beseech thee that thou wouldst procure us from Jesus grace, after thy example, to live sober and peniteptial lives, and to worship God in spirit and in truth. Obtain for us, therefore, the spirit with which thou didst write thine epistle, that we may follow thy doctrine, be diligent in good works, and, like thee, love and pray for our enemies…Amen🙏

Lord God, You give us joy every year on the feast of Your Apostles Sts. Philip and James. Through their prayers let us share in the Passion and the Resurrection of Your only-begotten Son and help us merit the eternal vision of Your glory… Amen🙏

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Bible Readings for today, Feast of Saints Philip and James, Apostles | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/bible/readings/050324.cfm

Gospel Reading ~ John 14:6-14

“Have I been with you so long and you still do not know me?”

“Jesus said to Thomas, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me. If you know me, then you will also know my Father. From now on you do know Him and have seen Him.” Philip said to Him, “Master, show us the Father, and that will be enough for us.” Jesus said to him, “Have I been with you for so long a time and you still do not know me, Philip? Whoever has seen me has seen the Father. How can you say, ‘Show us the Father’? Do you not believe that I am in the Father and the Father is in me? The words that I speak to you I do not speak on my own. The Father who dwells in me is doing his works. Believe me that I am in the Father and the Father is in me, or else, believe because of the works themselves. Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever believes in me will do the works that I do, and will do greater ones than these, because I am going to the Father. And whatever you ask in my name, I will do, so that the Father may be glorified in the Son. If you ask anything of me in my name, I will do it.”

In today’s Gospel reading, the words of Philip to Jesus, ‘Lord, let us see the Father and we shall be satisfied’, might well resonate with us. Perhaps we too sense that we will really only be satisfied when we see God, or, in other words, when we are in Heaven. Yet, Jesus replies to Philip that God the Father whom he longs to see he already sees in Jesus, ‘to have seen me is to have seen the Father’. The Lord told His disciples that He has indeed come from the Father, showing them all the fullness of God’s love and truth to them, and seeing Him is in truth the same as having seen God in His fullness of glory and love. That is because He was indeed the Love of God made manifest and perfect in this world, incarnate in the flesh as the Son of God and as the Son of Man. In those words, Jesus is letting us all know that He has already begun to satisfy our deepest longings, our longing for God. Jesus has shown us the face of God in Himself, in His life, death and resurrection. As we grow in our relationship with Jesus we will already begin to see the face of God and the Heaven for which will become a present reality, to some extent. Jesus is reminding St. Philip and all of us that we have already been given a great deal. What we need to do is to appreciate what we have been given, to experience the presence of God in the person of Jesus who is with us always until the end of time; He is with us in His word, in the Sacraments, especially the Eucharist, and in each other. God has not hold back from us even His own most beloved Son, but sending Him into our midst so that all of us may experience the fullness of God’s love manifested in the flesh, as He appeared before us as the Son of Man, born of His blessed mother Mary, becoming the tangible expression of God’s ever generous love and grace. Through Christ His Son, God wants us all to experience the fullness of His love, and He wants us all to pass that love to more and more people we encounter in our own lives.

Our first reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians, describes the testimony of faith that St. Paul delivered to the faithful in the city of Corinth, reminding them all to pass on the truth, knowledge and the wisdom of God’s truth which they had received from the hands of the Apostles and the other missionaries. St. Paul shared with them how he himself has received the same truth and teachings from the Apostles, who shared and passed on to him the truth about what happened in the Lord’s ministry, in everything that He had done for the sake of the salvation of the whole world. St. Paul himself did not witness everything that had happened but he received the same truth from the hands of the other Apostles and also through the wisdom and inspiration from the Holy Spirit. The Apostles have been called and chosen to bring the Good News of the Lord to the nations, and in the case of St. Paul, while he himself never journeyed together with the Lord and His group, and in fact was an ardent and overzealous persecutor of Christians in his early moments, but this did not prevent the Lord from calling St. Paul and making him to be one of His greatest missionaries, proclaiming the message of His truth to more and more people that had not yet known Him and had not yet heard His words of truth and experienced His love. St. Paul hence shared to the people of God, the faithful in Corinth that each and every one of them ought to be missionary and evangelising as well, in committing their lives and works to the glorification of God and the proclamation of His truth and salvation. St. Paul lists James as one of those to whom the risen Lord appeared and then to all the Apostles. On this feast day, we celebrate and mark the great memories of these two wonderful saints, the Holy Apostles of Our Lord, St. Philip and St. James, we are all called to reflect on ourselves and on our own calling in life. Each one of us as Christians are disciples and followers of the Lord, and we are all called to the same mission that the Lord has entrusted to His Apostles. The Lord has given to us the mission to reach out to more people among the nations, that we may be the genuine witnesses of His truth, love and resurrection among all the people of God. We are the ones to be the beacons of God’s light in our respective communities today.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, each and every one of us are reminded that we should walk in the footsteps of the Holy Apostles. We are all reminded to do our best to serve the Lord by our every contributions, even to the smallest and seemingly least significant actions we do. For it is by our combined works and efforts that God will extend His reach and works ever more gloriously among His people. Let us all spend more time in building up our relationship with God and in deepening our understanding of our faith, so that we may be truly inspirational to all those who witness our lives and works. Let us walk in the path of the Apostles and do whatever we can to proclaim the Lord in each and every moments of our lives. Let us all therefore be inspired by the dedication and examples showed by the Holy Apostles, St. Philip and St. James, and be strengthened and inspired to walk in the same path that they had walked. Let us all turn towards the Lord faithfully and dedicate ourselves to Him thoroughly, doing our very best to be faithful missionaries and evangelisers of our Christian faith, not just through mere words only, but also through genuine actions and works, in doing God’s will and obeying His Law and commandments, becoming true shining beacons of the Light of Christ in the midst of our community. May the Lord continue to be with us always and may He empower each one of us to walk in His presence at all times. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, bless us always and grant us His grace in our every efforts and good works, now and forevermore. St. Philip and St. James, Holy Apostles and devout servants of God, pray for us all. Amen🙏

Let us pray:

My divine and personal Lord, it is the deepest desire of Your Sacred Heart to know me and to love me. Fill my heart with this same desire so that I will not only know You, dear Lord, but also the Father in Heaven. Heavenly Father, I thank You for Your perfect love and pray that I may open myself to that love more fully each and every day. Saints Philip and James, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You ~ Amen🙏

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Philip and James, Holy Apostles of the Lord ~ Pray for us sinners🙏

Thanking God for the gift of this day and praying for His Divine Mercy and Grace upon us all and for vocations to priesthood and consecrated life. Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fruitful Fifth Week of Easter 🙏

Blessings and Love always, Philomena💖