WEDNESDAY OF THE EIGHTEENTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: AUGUST 6, 2025
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD | MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARIA FRANCESCA RUBATTO, RELIGIOUS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and Memorial of Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-august-6th/ )
NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF THE ASSUMPTION: The 2025 Novena for the Assumption of Mary into Heaven is scheduled to begin today, Wednesday, August 6 and end on August 15. The novena is a prayer that commemorates the death of Mary and her assumption into Heaven, which is celebrated on August 15. Novena link below: https://www.virgosacrata.com/novena-to-our-lady-of-the-assumption.html
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | August 6, 2025 | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-daily-mass-151/
JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025: JUBILEE PRAYER | Link to the prayer of the Jubilee of Hope 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/08/the-jubilee-prayer/
Watch “Holy Mass with Pope Leo XIV | Jubilee of Youth 2025 | LIVE from Tor Vergata | August 3, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-from-the-vatican-welcome-mass-jubilee-of-youth-july-29-2025/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family and Happy Feast of the Transfiguration of our Lord Jesus Christ!
On this special Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, we thank the Lord for the gift of this day! During this month of August, we entrust our lives, our plans, our fears, and our dreams into God’s loving hands. We pray that this month will be filled with divine blessings, new opportunities, and the strength to overcome every challenge that may come our way.
PRAYER AND APPRECIATION FOR THE CLERGY AND RELIGIOUS:
“The elders who direct the affairs of the church well are worthy of double honor, especially those whose work is preaching and teaching” ~ 1 Timothy 5:17
“Now we ask you, brothers and sisters, to acknowledge those who work hard among you, who care for you in the Lord and who admonish you. Hold them in the highest regard in love because of their work. Live in peace with each other.” ~ 1 Thessalonians 5:12–13
We thank God for the gift of life and especially thank Him for blessing us all with the special gift of the Clergy, who have sacrificed their lives to serve in the Lord’s Vineyard.
We pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, all religious men and women, that they be sanctified in their ministry to God’s people. We thank them for their faithful, dedicated, and loving service to the people of God. Praying for God’s wisdom, knowledge, and good health of body and mind upon them. Amen 🙏🏽
With special intention for all Priests who are going through mental health challenges. May the good Lord heal them and grant them peace, and may our Blessed Mother Mary comfort them as they go through challenging times. May we, the faithful, also be instruments of God’s peace and comfort to them, offering our understanding and support in tangible ways. Amen 🙏🏽
We pray and celebrate with those marking birthdays, anniversaries, new jobs, weddings, and other joyful milestones this August. May this be a month of peace for the anxious, healing for the sick, comfort for the brokenhearted, and provision for the needy. As we walk through the days ahead, may the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ go before us, the love of God surround us, and the wisdom of the Holy Spirit guide every decision we make. May this month bring us closer to holiness, deeper in faith, and stronger in hope. In all things, may God’s name be praised. Amen🙏🏽
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” ~ Matthew 5:4
We remember in prayer all who began this journey of life with us but are no longer here, may their souls rest in perfect peace. Amen🙏🏽
We pray for the sick and dying. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died and we continue to pray for the repose of 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 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯️✝️🕯️✝️🕯️
“Precious in the sight of the Lord is the death of His Saints” ~ Psalm 116:15
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 & the Holy Spirit forever & ever. Amen🙏🏽
On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we continue to humbly pray for the well-being and safety of all parents, grandparents and the elderly. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world today. We continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of our children and children all over the world. We pray for all those who are marginalized in our society, the poor and the needy. We pray for the Church, the Clergy, our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, the Cardinals, Bishops, all Priests, that they be sanctified in their ministry to God’s people. We pray for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world suffering from political and religious unrest. May God protect us all and keep united in peace, love and faith. Amen 🙏🏽
Through the intercession of St. Joseph, we pray for all fathers, workers and all those who labour in this world. May the Lord bless the work of their hands and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of the Ordinary Time. Wishing us all and our loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and grace-filled month of July.🙏🏽
LIST OF ALL NOVENAS | Month of August | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/list-of-all-novenas-august/
COMMON CATHOLIC PRAYERS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/common-catholic-prayers/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Wednesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord | August 6, 2025
Reading 1: Daniel 7:9–10, 13–14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 97:1–2, 5–6, 9
Reading 2: 2 Peter 1:16–19
Gospel: Luke 9:28b–36
Gospel Reading: Luke 9:28b–36
“This is my chosen Son; listen to Him.”
“Jesus took Peter, John, and James and went up a mountain to pray. While he was praying his face changed in appearance and his clothing became dazzling white. And behold, two men were conversing with him, Moses and Elijah, who appeared in glory and spoke of his exodus that he was going to accomplish in Jerusalem. Peter and his companions had been overcome by sleep, but becoming fully awake, they saw his glory and the two men standing with him. As they were about to part from him, Peter said to Jesus, “Master, it is good that we are here; let us make three tents, one for you, one for Moses, and one for Elijah.” But he did not know what he was saying. While he was still speaking, a cloud came and cast a shadow over them, and they became frightened when they entered the cloud. Then from the cloud came a voice that said, “This is my chosen Son; listen to him.” After the voice had spoken, Jesus was found alone. They fell silent and did not at that time tell anyone what they had seen.”
In today’s Gospel reading, in the mount of transfiguration, the disciples had a memorable experience. They saw Jesus as they had never seen Him before, transfigured, His clothes dazzling white. As Peter says in today’s second reading, ‘We saw his majesty for ourselves’. They were captivated by the mystery of Jesus’ identity, ‘This is my Son, the beloved’. They saw that there was more to him than they had realized. That is why Peter said, ‘it is wonderful for us to be here’, to be here in this place. So often, there is more to the place we are in, and to the people we are with, than we realize. The transfiguration scene in the Gospels comes immediately after Jesus had spoken of Himself of the Son of Man who must undergo great suffering and be killed. Jesus and the disciples had just set out on the journey to Jerusalem, the city where Jesus would be crucified; it was the beginning of the way of the cross, the way to the cross. Shortly after they began that journey, three of the disciples have an extraordinary vision of Jesus in which they saw Him not as the suffering Son of Man but as the glorious Son of God. They were, in a sense, given a glimpse of what lay beyond the crucifixion and death of Jesus, a glimpse of the resurrection. Sometimes on our own faith journey, our own way of the cross even, we too can be given a glimpse of the resurrection. It might take the form of a consolation that we experience in prayer, or an act of love and kindness that someone shows us, or just a sense of the Lord’s presence as we go about our daily tasks, perhaps His presence in nature. We are journeying ultimately towards the Lord, journeying towards resurrection, but the risen Lord is also journeying with us, and every so often He will make His presence felt if we are alert and awake to Him, if, in the words of the Gospel reading, we try to listen to Him. We don’t yet see the Lord face to face; we only see Him with the eyes of faith. Yet, when we allow ourselves to see the Lord with the eyes of faith, especially in prayer, we will become a little more like Him. In his second letter to the Corinthians, Saint Paul makes the wonderful statement, ‘All of us, seeing the glory of the Lord as though reflected in a mirror, are being transformed into the same image from one degree of glory to another’. Our transformation, our transfiguration, can begin in this earthly life, if we can keep the Lord in view, constantly looking towards Him.
In our Gospel, we are drawn into the mystery of the mountain a place of revelation, prayer, and divine encounter. The Transfiguration is not only about glory but also about preparation. Jesus reveals His divine majesty, not to dazzle His disciples, but to strengthen them for the trials ahead. He speaks with Moses and Elijah not about miracles, but about His suffering and death. It reminds us that divine glory is deeply tied to the cross, and spiritual strength often comes not in comfort but in communion with God in our hardest moments. St. Peter’s response “Master, it is good that we are here” is both beautiful and human. In that moment of awe, he wants to remain on the mountaintop. But faith is not meant to stay enclosed in tents; it must descend the mountain and walk through Calvary before reaching Easter. God interrupts Peter’s enthusiasm with a simple but powerful command: “Listen to Him.” This is the heart of the Feast not merely seeing the glory of Christ but hearing and obeying His Word.
The first reading from Daniel offers a heavenly vision where the “Ancient One” is seated in judgment, and “One like a Son of man” comes to receive dominion, glory, and kingship. This prophecy finds its fulfillment in Christ, the glorified Son, whose reign is eternal. The dazzling Transfiguration is a glimpse of that dominion a kingship not of this world, but of heaven.
The Responsorial Psalm rejoices: “The Lord is king, the Most High over all the earth.” His justice, glory, and majesty are not distant abstractions but realities that draw us into praise. The Psalm, the vision in Daniel, and the voice on the mountain all echo one truth: Jesus is Lord, worthy of glory, reverence, and obedience.
In the second reading, Peter reflects on the very event we hear about in the Gospel the Transfiguration itself. He bears witness to its truth, not as myth or imagination, but as an event that confirmed everything the prophets had foretold. He invites us to hold on to the prophetic word like a lamp shining in the dark until the morning star, Christ, rises fully in our hearts.
As we reflect and meditate on words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we ask ourselves: Am I truly listening to Jesus in my daily life, or do I tune Him out amid the noise of the world? Do I seek the mountaintop experiences but resist following Him to the cross? How can I let the light of His glory transform my heart, especially when I walk through difficult seasons? Am I attentive to the Word of God like a lamp in the darkness, or do I let the flame grow dim? The Feast of the Transfiguration calls us to behold the glory of Christ not only in His majesty but in His mission. We are invited to be transfigured with Him by grace, to be made new in mind and heart, to shine with the light of Christ in a world covered in shadows. The glory we glimpse on the mountain is a foretaste of what is promised to the faithful. If we listen to Jesus, walk with Him, and let Him lead us even through the valley of suffering we will one day share in the fullness of His glory. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace as we continue to strive to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, You revealed Your divine glory to strengthen the hearts of Your disciples. Help us to listen to You with open hearts, even when Your path leads through suffering. May Your light transfigure our minds, renew our spirits, and prepare us for the journey ahead. Teach us to seek You in prayer, to trust You in trial, and to follow You always with faith and love. Shine in us, Lord, that we may reflect Your glory in the world. Amen. 🙏🏾
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD | MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARIA FRANCESCA RUBATTO, RELIGIOUS ~ FEAST DAY – AUGUST 6TH: Today, the Church celebrates the glorious Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, a profound moment on Mount Tabor where Christ revealed His divine glory to Peter, James, and John, foreshadowing His resurrection and glorification. On this same day, we also honor Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto (patron of Borgomasino, Italy, and pork butchers), a woman of heroic charity and missionary zeal, the first canonized saint of Uruguay. Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary, the transfigured Christ our Lord, and Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto, we lift our hearts in prayer for the Holy Father, the Church, vocations to the priesthood and religious life, persecuted Christians, and for the conversion of sinners. We remember the sick and the dying, especially those battling cancer and terminal illness, the poor and suffering, and all those enduring spiritual, physical, or emotional trials. May the light of Christ transfigure our lives and renew our world in peace and holiness. 🙏🏾
Saint (s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | August 6th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
(Direct link to the detailed history of Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord and Memorial of Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-august-6th/)
FEAST OF THE TRANSFIGURATION OF THE LORD: The Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, observed on August 6th, commemorates the moment when Jesus, accompanied by Peter, James, and John, ascended Mount Tabor and was transfigured before them. His face shone like the sun, His clothes became dazzling white, and He conversed with Moses and Elijah, representing the Law and the Prophets. This moment of divine revelation was crowned with the voice of God the Father: “This is my beloved Son, with whom I am well pleased; listen to Him” (Matthew 17:5).
This event is recorded in the three Synoptic Gospels and referenced by Peter in his epistle (2 Peter 1:16–19) as a moment of divine confirmation. The Transfiguration revealed Christ’s divine nature and offered a glimpse of the heavenly glory that awaits us. It prepared the apostles for the scandal of the Cross by reminding them of the Resurrection to come. It also marks the beginning of a 40-day period leading to the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross on September 14. The Transfiguration reminds us that glory follows suffering and that our journey with Christ requires both the cross and the crown. Historically, this feast gained prominence in the West in the 9th century and was extended to the universal Church by Pope Callistus III in 1457, following a miraculous Christian victory at Belgrade. In his 2006 Angelus address, Pope Benedict XVI described the Transfiguration as the “full manifestation of God’s light,” calling believers to emerge from darkness and become children of the light. Today, as we reflect on the radiant light of Christ, we are reminded of our own call to be transfigured by grace and to reflect His glory in a world overshadowed by sin and suffering.
PRAYER: Radiant Lord Jesus, on Mount Tabor You revealed the splendor of Your divinity. Shine Your light into our hearts and strengthen us to walk the path of the cross with courage and hope. May we always listen to Your voice and reflect Your glory in the world. Amen. 🙏🏾
SAINT MARIA FRANCESCA RUBATTO, RELIGIOUS (1844–1904): On this radiant feast, we also honor Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto, a humble servant of the poor, tireless missionary, and the founder of the Capuchin Sisters of Mother Rubatto Born Anna Maria Rubatto on February 14, 1844, in Carmagnola, Italy, she was the youngest of eight children. Her early life was marked by the loss of her father at age four and her mother at age nineteen. Despite receiving little formal education, her intellect, compassion, and deep faith quickly became evident. Anna Maria declined a comfortable marriage in fidelity to a vow of virginity she made as a child. Moving to Turin, she became the companion of a noblewoman, Marianna Scoffone, and dedicated her life to caring for the sick, teaching catechism, and serving the poor. After Scoffone’s death, Anna Maria’s life took a providential turn when she treated a young worker injured at a construction site for a new Capuchin convent. Her charity and spiritual maturity so impressed the community that she was invited to join them. She took the name Sister Maria Francesca of Jesus, and in 1885, she was appointed the first superior of the newly founded congregation.
Her heart burned with missionary zeal. In 1892, she crossed the Atlantic to establish houses in Uruguay, Argentina, and Brazil, enduring hardship and traveling long distances to support her sisters and serve the marginalized. She would make this transatlantic journey seven times over two decades, founding 18 Capuchin houses across continents. Known for her humility, fortitude, and maternal care for the poor, she died on August 6, 1904, in Montevideo, Uruguay, where she is buried. Pope Francis canonized her on May 15, 2022, making her the first canonized saint of Uruguay. Her life is a luminous example of how humble service, courageous leadership, and deep trust in God can bear eternal fruit.
PRAYER: O Lord of glory, on Mount Tabor You revealed Your radiant divinity and filled the hearts of Your disciples with awe. As we celebrate the Feast of the Transfiguration and the holy life of Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto, grant us the grace to listen to Your beloved Son and follow His path of love, sacrifice, and service. May we, like Saint Maria Francesca, live with simplicity, courage, and joy, bringing the light of Christ to the poor and forgotten. Transform us by Your grace that we may shine with Your glory and lead others to Your presence. Amen. 🙏🏾
Our Blessed Mother Mary, and Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾
GENERAL PRAYERS AND INTENTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/general-prayers-and-intentions/
Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/daily-reflections-and-prayer-links/
THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF AUGUST: For mutual coexistence. Let us pray that societies where coexistence seems more difficult might not succumb to the temptation of confrontation for ethnic, political, religious or ideological reasons.
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF AUGUST | MONTH OF THE IMMACULATE HEART OF MARY: August is dedicated to the Immaculate Heart of Mary, inviting us to reflect on her pure love, deep sorrow, and unwavering obedience to God. Her heart, aflame with charity and pierced by suffering, mirrors the life of Christ and calls us to follow Him more closely through her example. This month, the Church encourages us to console her sorrowful heart and grow in holiness through prayers like the Rosary, the Litany of the Immaculate Heart, and the First Saturday Devotion. Through Mary’s heart, we are led ever closer to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.
“O Immaculate Heart of Mary, be our refuge and the way that leads us to God.”
Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us and draw us into deeper love and trust in your Son. Amen🙏🏽
PRAYER INTENTIONS: On this Feast of the Transfiguration, when Christ’s divine glory was revealed on Mount Tabor, we lift up our hearts in hope and faith. We pray for the grace to listen attentively to Jesus, the beloved Son of the Father, and to be transformed by His light. May we not be discouraged by the crosses we bear, but walk with courage, knowing that suffering leads to glory. We remember all who feel overwhelmed in the storms of life may they experience the saving hand of Christ and the peace that comes from trusting Him. Through the intercession of Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto, who served the sick and poor with tender love, we pray for missionaries, religious communities, and all who care for the suffering. We lift up the Church, Pope Francis, and all who proclaim the Gospel. We pray for the sick, especially those battling terminal illness, and for those burdened by fear, isolation, or uncertainty. May the light of Christ transfigure our hearts, renew our families, heal our world, and lead us into deeper communion with God.
LET US PRAY
My transfigured Lord, You are glorious beyond imagination, and You revealed a small glimpse of this glory to Your disciples to help them trust You more fully. May I also trust in You more completely, knowing that all You have spoken to me is true. Please remove any doubt and fear in my life so that nothing keeps me from embracing Your holy will. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, in Your Transfiguration You revealed the glory that awaits all who follow You. Help us to keep our eyes fixed on You when life grows dark, to serve with compassion like Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto, and to walk in faith even when the path is steep. Transform our hearts, shine through our lives, and make us instruments of Your peace. Amen. 🙏🏾
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, and Saint Maria Francesca Rubatto ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽
Thanking God for the precious gift of this new day, and as we now enter the gentle rhythm of Ordinary Time, may our hearts remain open to the quiet working of the Holy Spirit who continues to guide, renew, and strengthen us each day. May this new month be filled with blessings, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ walks with us always. Alleluia! Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled Wednesday and fruitful week 🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | Global Missions Now Awards | https://youtu.be/gB31nuOFx0A?si=mSoZs-wiByhGs
North Texas Catholic Magazine | Dr. Philomena Ikowe – Life on Purpose (pages 44-45) | https://www.flipsnack.com/A9DFE877C6F/north-texas-catholic-magazine-mar-apr-issue-2025/full-view.html
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