TUESDAY OF THE FIFTH WEEK OF EASTER
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MAY 20, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-20th/)
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | May 20, 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-77/
Greetings and blessings, dear beloved family. Happy Tuesday of Fifth Week of Easter!
May this week be filled with peace, joy, and the renewed hope that comes from Christ’s Resurrection. 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 🙏🏽
The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. As we continue to rejoice in the victory of Christ’s Resurrection, we give heartfelt thanks to God for the gift of life and for bringing us safely into the month of May. May this Easter season renew our strength, deepen our faith, and fill our hearts with the peace of the Risen Lord. May our Mother Mary continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter. Wishing us all and our loved ones a joyful, blessed start to the month. Amen 🙏🏽
A PRAYER FOR OUR HOLY FATHER, POPE LEO XIV
Almighty God, we thank You for the gift of our new Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV. Grant him wisdom, courage, and humility as he leads the Church in truth and love. May the Holy Spirit guide his every word and action, and may he be a bridge of unity for all nations. Through the intercession of Mary, Queen of Peace, strengthen him in his mission to proclaim Christ to the world. Amen 🙏🏽
Heavenly Father, You have raised Your servant, Pope Leo XIV, to the Chair of Saint Peter. Pour out Your abundant blessings upon him. Through him, guide Your pilgrim Church along the path to Heaven. Grant him wisdom to discern Your will, Courage to fulfill it, And charity to shepherd Your people with the Heart of Christ. In this time of transition, Bring peace to troubled hearts, Joy to those who suffer, And hope to the despairing. May he be a faithful successor to Peter, A humble servant of Your Word, And a fearless herald of Your Divine Mercy and Truth. Strengthen him with the grace of the Holy Spirit, That he may lead the Church in unity, holiness, and fidelity. We entrust him to the maternal care of the Blessed Virgin Mary, And to the prayers of all the saints. Through Christ our Lord. Amen 🙏🏽
We thank God for the successful celebration of the Inauguration Holy Mass for Pope Leo XIV. May the Holy Spirit guide him as he shepherds the faithful, and may his pontificate be a source of renewal and unity for the Church. Amen 🙏🏽
MEET THE NEW POPE: Pope Leo XIV | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-from-st-peters-square-white-smoke-habemus-papam/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
PRAYER FOR THE SOUL OF POPE FRANCIS: With the passing of Pope Francis, let us continue to pray for the eternal repose of his soul. Merciful and loving God, We entrust to You our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis. May he rest in the light of Your presence, where suffering and sorrow are no more, and every tear is wiped away. Comfort all who mourn his passing and raise up shepherds who will continue to guide Your Church in humility and love.
Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May his gentle soul and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏🏽
Daily Reflections with Philomena | Prayer for the Soul of Pope Francis | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/precious-in-the-sight-of-the-lord-is-the-death-of-his-saints-psalm-11615/
On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, particularly Saint Joseph, Patron of the sick and dying, we pray for the sick and dying and all those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. We pray for our loved ones who have recently died, especially for our Holy Father, POPE FRANCIS, all those who died today, and all the faithful departed may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯
“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their labors for their good deeds go with them.” ~ Rev 14:13
PRAYER FOR THE DEAD: In your hands, O Lord, we humbly entrust our brothers and sisters. In this life, you embraced them with your tender love; deliver them now from every evil, and bid them eternal rest. The old order has passed away: welcome them into paradise, where there will be no sorrow, no weeping or pain, but fullness of peace and joy with your Son and the Holy Spirit forever and ever. Amen 🙏🏽
Still rejoicing in the light of the Resurrection, the Church honors today Saint Bernardine of Siena (Patron of advertisers, public relations personnel, gamblers, and those suffering from respiratory ailments), a fiery Franciscan missionary whose preaching revived the Catholic faith across 15th-century Italy. Through the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Bernardine of Siena, we pray today for all suffering from terminal illnesses especially those battling respiratory diseases and cancer. We also lift up in prayer the poor and the needy, those struggling with gambling addictions, and all who work in advertising, communication, evangelization, and public relations. May the Holy Spirit empower them to proclaim the truth with love, integrity, and wisdom.
DAILY REFLECTIONS WITH PHILOMENA | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Daily Saints, Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Scripture Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/reflections/
Watch “HOLY MASS ON THE JUBILEE OF THE SICK AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS | Presided by H.E. Most Rev. Rino Fisichella | Live from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican | April 6, 2025” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/06/holy-mass-on-the-jubilee-of-the-sick-and-healthcare-workers/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries | Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/holy-rosary-for-peace-with-pope-francis/
Please find below links to the websites for Daily Reflections, Foundation and interesting topics and articles about our Catholic faith and doctrines | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/daily-reflections-and-prayer-links/
PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
A PRAYER FOR PEACE : Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen 🙏🏽
Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter (Year C) | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Tuesday of the Fifth Week of Easter | May 20, 2025
Reading 1, Acts 14:19-28
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 145:10-11, 12-13, 21
Gospel, John 14:27-31a
Gospel Reading ~ John 14:27–31a
“My peace I give to you”
“Jesus said to His disciples: “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give it to you. Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid. You heard me tell you, ‘I am going away and I will come back to you.’ If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father; for the Father is greater than I. And now I have told you this before it happens, so that when it happens you may believe. I will no longer speak much with you, for the ruler of the world is coming. He has no power over me, but the world must know that I love the Father and that I do just as the Father has commanded me.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus promises the gift of peace to His followers. He immediately goes on to contrast the peace He gives with the peace the world gives. In the time Jesus lived and in the time John’s Gospel was written, the Pax Romana, the Roman peace, was being heralded and praised throughout the empire. This peace that Rome brought was the fruit of conquest and oppression. This peace which the world of the time gave is not the peace that Jesus gives. The Lord’s peace is not the fruit of conquest, but is what Paul would call the fruit of the Spirit. It is the peace which comes to those whose lives are led by the Spirit and shaped by the Spirit. The primary fruit of the Spirit is love. Love and peace are dimensions of the one fruit of the Spirit. When we love with the Lord’s love then we will know His peace and we will become channels of that peace to others.
Reflecting further on today’s Gospel, Jesus offers a parting gift to His disciples a gift only He can give: peace. But this peace is not like the world’s fleeting peace; it is the deep, abiding peace that springs from trust in God and the certainty of His promises. As Jesus prepares to enter His Passion, He is not shaken. His words, “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid,” are not empty comfort they are rooted in divine truth. He knows the darkness that is coming, and yet, He remains steadfast, grounded in His love for the Father and His mission of redemption. The peace He gives is not the absence of suffering, but the assurance of God’s presence within it. This peace empowers us to stand firm, even when the world shakes around us. The Gospel also reminds us that Jesus’ departure His Passion, Death, Resurrection, and Ascension is not a loss but a victory. He says, “If you loved me, you would rejoice that I am going to the Father.” This heavenly perspective calls us to look beyond our own fears and pain, and to see with the eyes of faith. Jesus is fulfilling the Father’s will, and in doing so, He is glorified. His obedience, even unto death, reveals the depth of His love. In a world where peace is often superficial and conditional, Jesus offers a peace rooted in divine love and truth a peace that no ruler, no hardship, no fear can take away.
In the First Reading, we witness the resilience and unwavering faith of St. Paul. After being stoned and left for dead, he rises and continues to preach the Gospel with Barnabas. Their journey is not one of comfort or success by worldly standards, but one of perseverance and bold witness. They proclaim, “It is necessary for us to undergo many hardships to enter the Kingdom of God.” This is not meant to discourage us, but to prepare us to remind us that discipleship involves courage, endurance, and trust. Paul and Barnabas also build up the local communities, appointing leaders and entrusting them to the Lord with prayer and fasting. They show us that the Church grows not just through individual effort, but through communal faithfulness and divine grace.
Their return to Antioch is marked by celebration not of their own achievements, but of what God had done through them: “He had opened the door of faith to the Gentiles.” This line is striking. It reminds us that every conversion, every step of faith, is ultimately the work of God’s grace. Our role is to be faithful instruments speaking, witnessing, encouraging but always remembering that it is God who opens hearts and doors. The mission of the Church, like that of Paul and Barnabas, is to proclaim the Gospel boldly, suffer courageously, and rejoice in what God is doing in every soul He touches.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm today—Psalm 145—is a hymn of thanksgiving that lifts our eyes to the majesty of God’s kingdom. “Your friends make known, O Lord, the glorious splendor of your kingdom.” The psalm reflects the universality and timelessness of God’s reign: “Your kingdom is a kingdom for all ages, and your dominion endures through all generations.” This connects powerfully with the first reading, where Paul and Barnabas bring the Gospel to new peoples and new lands. It reminds us that the kingdom of God transcends cultures, languages, and generations. It is a kingdom built not by force, but by love, service, and truth. The psalmist’s prayer, “May my mouth speak the praise of the Lord,” also echoes Jesus’ command to witness to His love in the world. Every word of praise, every act of mercy, every step in faith contributes to making God’s kingdom more visible on earth. In our families, communities, parishes, and even in the quiet of our hearts, we are called to be heralds of this kingdom living witnesses of a peace and love that the world cannot give.
Am I open to receiving the peace that only Christ can give, especially in moments of fear and uncertainty? In what ways do I try to control outcomes rather than trust in the will of the Father? Do I listen to Jesus’ words and allow them to strengthen my faith when trials arise? How can I be a bearer of Christ’s peace to others in my family, workplace, or community? Like Paul and Barnabas, do I encourage others in faith, even through personal hardships?
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are remunded that peace is not the absence of trouble but the presence of Christ in our lives. We are not promised ease, but we are assured of grace, guidance, and the companionship of the Risen Lord. Like the early disciples, we too must walk through trials and proclaim the Gospel with perseverance. Christ’s peace is the armor we wear and His love is the mission we carry. Let us choose today to trust more deeply, love more sacrificially, and encourage others with the peace we ourselves have received. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace and let our lives be living signs that God is truly among us. Amen. 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, You offer us a peace the world cannot give deep, lasting, and rooted in trust in the Father. Calm our troubled hearts and free us from fear. Strengthen us to follow You with courage, even when we face hardships. Teach us to love as You have loved, to speak peace where there is conflict, and to bring hope to the discouraged. Fill us with Your Spirit, that we may persevere with joy and draw others to Your kingdom through lives of faithful witness. Amen🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 20TH: Still rejoicing in the light of the Resurrection, the Church honors today Saint Bernardine of Siena (Patron of advertisers, public relations personnel, gamblers, and those suffering from respiratory ailments), a fiery Franciscan missionary whose preaching revived the Catholic faith across 15th-century Italy. Through the powerful intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Bernardine of Siena, we pray today for all suffering from terminal illnesses especially those battling respiratory diseases and cancer. We also lift up in prayer the poor and the needy, those struggling with gambling addictions, and all who work in advertising, communication, evangelization, and public relations. May the Holy Spirit empower them to proclaim the truth with love, integrity, and wisdom.
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | May 20th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Bernardine | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-20th/)
SAINT BERNARDINE OF SIENA, PRIEST: Born in 1380 in Siena, Italy, to a noble family, Bernardine Albizeschi was orphaned early and raised by his devout aunt, Diana. Even as a child, Bernardine showed a deep compassion for the poor and a fervent love for God. By the age of 17, he had embraced fasting and voluntary poverty. During a devastating plague in 1400, he and twelve companions took over the care of the sick in a Siena hospital, risking their lives to serve others. Though the plague did not affect him, the exhaustion left him bedridden for months.
After recovering, Bernardine discerned a call to religious life and joined the Franciscan Order of Strict Observance in 1403. Embracing a life of radical poverty, penance, and prayer, he later became a powerful preacher, moving crowds across Italy with his fiery sermons on conversion, justice, and the mercy of God. Often likened to Saint Paul, Bernardine rekindled the faith of entire cities. His eloquence and holiness drew tens of thousands to public squares, and his words transformed hearts and reconciled enemies.
Saint Bernardine was especially known for his devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus. He promoted reverence for the sacred name and designed the symbol IHS (the first three letters of Jesus’ name in Greek) encircled by rays of light a symbol still used today. Despite facing accusations of heresy, which Pope Martin V disproved, he continued preaching fearlessly. He declined three offers to become a bishop, choosing instead to fulfill his missionary calling.
In 1438, he was elected Vicar General of the Franciscans and revitalized the Order. His health declined in 1444 while preaching in Aquila, Italy. He died on Ascension Eve, May 20, 1444, as his fellow friars chanted, “Father, I have manifested Your Name to men.” He was canonized just six years later in 1450. At the time of his death, the once small group of friars had grown to over 4,000. Saint Bernardine remains a radiant example of fearless evangelization, passionate love for Christ, and total dedication to the Church.
“Whenever the divine favour chooses someone to receive a special grace, or to accept a lofty vocation, God adorns the person chosen with all the gifts of the Spirit needed to fulfil the task at hand.”
— Saint Bernardine of Siena
PRAYER: Saint Bernardine of Siena, holy preacher of Christ’s name, we ask your intercession today. Pray for all who suffer from respiratory illnesses and terminal diseases. May they find healing and hope in the love of Jesus. Intercede for evangelists, communicators, and all who proclaim God’s Word in public life. May they speak with clarity, truth, and charity. Help us, like you, to seek first the Kingdom of God, to love the poor, and to glorify the name of Jesus in all that we do. Amen. 🙏🏽
O God, who gave the Priest Saint Bernardine a great love for the holy Name of Jesus, grant, through his merits and prayers, that we may be ever aflame with the spirit of Your love. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Bernardine ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS’ MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY: For Working Conditions ~ Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfilment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
PRAYER FOR THE MONTH OF MAY ~ POPE FRANCIS: For Working Conditions ~ Jesus, You knew work in this world, and You understand its hardships and joys… Hear our prayer today. Working is a human trait… Work is sacred… The beauty of the earth and the dignity of work were meant to be united… The earth becomes beautiful when man works… Lord, You see that we believe this with conviction, but we desire even more for it to become a reality among us.
We are saddened when people can’t find work and lack the dignity of bringing bread to their home. Give us the light of your Spirit, open our hearts, do not let indifference overcome us.
Help us recover the gift of universal brotherhood. We ask for a heart as big as Jesus’s so we can embrace the call to work to give dignity to people and families.
Amen 🙏🏽
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY | MONTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and our spiritual Mother. This month invites the faithful to draw closer to Mary through prayer, reflection, and imitation of her virtues especially her humility, obedience, purity, and unwavering faith. As the first and most perfect disciple of Christ, Mary leads us gently but firmly to her Son. Throughout Church history, May has been a time to honor Mary with special devotions such as the Rosary, May Crownings, Marian processions, and prayers like the Litany of Loreto. The Church teaches that Mary, assumed body and soul into Heaven, intercedes for us as Queen of Heaven and Mother of the Church. During this month, we are called to renew our relationship with her and seek her maternal care in our joys, sorrows, and needs. Mary said “yes” to God’s plan with total trust: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her faithful surrender encourages us to say “yes” to God’s will in our own lives. As we meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary and contemplate her role in salvation history, we grow in our love for her and our desire to follow Christ more closely.
In this beautiful month of blooming flowers, may our hearts also blossom with deeper devotion to the Mother of our Savior. Let us bring her our prayers, our homes, and our lives, asking her to accompany us with her love and protection.
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
Hail Mary, full of grace! Teach us to love Jesus as you loved Him. Cover us with your mantle of mercy, and help us to walk always in the light of your Son. Amen 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: Let us pray for the grace to be courageous witnesses of Christ in a world often marked by fear, doubt, and confusion. May we, like Saint Bernardine of Siena, boldly proclaim the name of Jesus in our words and actions. We pray for evangelists, missionaries, and all who spread the Gospel that they may be strengthened by the peace Christ gives, not as the world gives. May the troubled and anxious find comfort in the words of today’s Gospel: “Do not let your hearts be troubled or afraid.” We also pray for those rebuilding their lives after hardship, just as Paul and Barnabas encouraged the early Christians to persevere through trials. May God renew their strength and bless their journey.
LET US PRAY
My Lord of true peace, You and Your holy will are the only path to the deepest fulfillment of all of my desires in life. When I make poor choices that lead to disorder and confusion, help me to turn to You with all my heart. Please unmask any deception I struggle with and give me the strength I need to seek You and Your peace alone. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
O God of peace and truth, You sent Your Son to calm our fears and fill us with lasting peace. Grant us hearts that do not waver in the face of trouble, and minds fixed on Your promises. Through the example of Saint Bernardine, may we speak Your name with reverence and spread Your light with joy. Kindle in us a missionary spirit, like Paul and Barnabas, to strengthen others in faith. Let our lives echo Your goodness, and our days be marked by trust in Your providence.
We make this prayer through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
Thanking God for the precious gift of this new day, for the gift of our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV and the immeasurable love shown through His Son, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. As we continue to rejoice in the glory of the Resurrection, may our hearts remain open to the peace and hope that flow from His victory over sin and death. During this joyful Easter season, we pray that our loving Savior will deepen our faith and draw us closer to the mystery of His Passion, death, and Resurrection. May we walk in the light of His risen life, renewed in spirit and overflowing with grace. Praying for us all and our loved ones today and we pray for journey mercies for all those traveling during this Easter season. As we embrace the blessings of this new month, may God’s abundant grace continue to shower upon us, filling our hearts with peace, joy, and hope in His Resurrection. May this Tuesday be filled with blessings, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ is truly risen! Alleluia! Have a blessed, safe, and grace-filled Tuesday and joyful Fifth Week of Easter!🙏🏽