HOLY WEEK OF LENT: HOLY TRIDUUM
HOLY SATURDAY OF THE EASTER TRIDUUM | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/19/holy-saturday-of-the-easter-triduum/
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ APRIL 19, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ELPHEGE, BISHOP AND MARTYR; SAINT EXPEDITUS, MARTYR AND SAINT TIMON, BISHOP AND MARTYR | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
Watch “EASTER VIGIL MASS PRESIDED OVER BY CARDINAL GIOVANNI BATTISTA RE” | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | APRIL 19, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/19/the-vatican-easter-vigil-holy-mass/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Holy Saturday of the Easter Triduum!
Holy Saturday calls us to pause and reflect on the mystery of salvation in motion. Let us not rush past the silence, for it is sacred. God’s greatest acts often begin unseen, hidden in the tombs of our despair. As we await the joy of Easter, may we embrace this quiet day with reverence, pondering the cost of love and the promise of resurrection. The darkness is not the end — it is the womb of new life.
We thank God for bringing us successfully to the end of our Lenten journey, a forty days long period of purification and reorientation of our lives, of more intense connection with God and renewal of our lives. This Jubilee Year of Hope invites us to reflect on the Gospel message of hope so that we can become people of hope in our world today. May God’s grace and mercy be with us all as we wait in anticipation for the resurrection of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ 🙏🏽
In silence, with special intention, we pray for all the victims of violent attacks, we particularly pray for victims of the recent mass shooting at the Florida State University. For all those who lost their lives, for their families and loved ones they left behind, may they find peace and comfort during this difficult time of loss.
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 peace. Amen 🙏🏽
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary on EWTN” | “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/2025/04/19/catholic-daily-mass-46/
DIVINE MERCY NOVENA: Novena in preparation for DIVINE MERCY SUNDAY. Good Friday is the first day of the Divine Mercy Novena. Novena begins, Friday, April 18, 2025, to Saturday, April 26, 2025, leading up to Divine Mercy Sunday on April 27, 2025 | DAY 2: Link ~ https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/17/divine-mercy-novena/
DAY 40: LENTEN PRAYERS AND REFLECTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/19/day-40-lenten-prayers-and-reflections/
Daily Saints and Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Holy Saturday, or Sabbatum Sanctum, is the final and most silent day of the Sacred Paschal Triduum. The Church mourns the death of Christ and waits in quiet hope for His Resurrection. No Mass is celebrated during the day, the altar remains bare, and the faithful are invited into prayerful stillness. After His death, Jesus’ body lay in the tomb while His soul, united to His divinity, descended to the realm of the dead to free the righteous. This mystery, known as the Harrowing of Hell, reveals Christ’s triumph even in death. Traditionally, Holy Saturday is marked by fasting, silence, and anticipation. It culminates in the Easter Vigil, the “mother of all vigils,” where light returns and we celebrate the Resurrection of the Lord. This day also belongs to the Blessed Virgin Mary, who waited in faith when all seemed lost. Her hope becomes our model as we remain with her, trusting in what is yet to come.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, as You rest in the tomb, teach me to wait with trust and silence. May my heart remain open to the hope of Your Resurrection. Mary, Mother of Hope, pray for me. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
[Direct link to the full article: HOLY SATURDAY, EASTER VIGIL | APRIL 19, 2025] https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/19/holy-saturday-of-the-easter-triduum/
DAILY REFLECTIONS WITH PHILOMENA | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Today, as we celebrate the Holy Week and Easter Triduum on this day holy saturday, we the Church commemorates three holy martyrs who bore courageous witness to Christ amid persecution and adversity. Saint Elphege (Patron of kidnap victims) (also known as Alphege or Aelfheah), Archbishop of Canterbury, laid down his life rather than see his people suffer further at the hands of invaders. Saint Expeditus (Patron of urgent causes, procrastinators, and expeditious solutions), though shrouded in mystery, is venerated as a martyr and a powerful intercessor in urgent causes and against procrastination. Saint Timon (Patron of deacons and cooks), one of the original seven deacons mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, served the early Church faithfully and sealed his ministry with the crown of martyrdom. Through their heroic sacrifices, we are inspired to pursue lives of selflessness, urgency in virtue, and steadfast love for the Church. May their lives and intercession stir in us a spirit of boldness in faith, compassion in leadership, and readiness to act in God’s will without delay. Amen. 🙏🏽
We thank God for the gift of life and for the gift of this day. May this season of Lent bring renewal in faith, deepening our journey through Lent and drawing us closer to Christ. May God’s grace guide and strengthen us every day, and may His grace and mercy be with us all during this final week of our Lenten journey. 🙏🏽
Daily Saints, Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Scripture Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/reflections/
LENT: | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/03/03/lent/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
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/
WORLD PRAYERS FOR POPE FRANCIS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/26/world-prayers-for-pope-francis/
PRAYER FOR POPE FRANCIS
“Loving God, we thank you for the unwavering faith and leadership of Pope Francis. As he recovers from his hospitalization, we humbly ask for your healing touch upon his body, your peace upon his mind, and your comfort for his spirit. Grant him strength, renewed energy, and a continued ability to serve your flock with compassion and wisdom. We entrust him to your loving care, and we pray that he may soon be restored to good health, if it be your will. Through Christ our Lord, Amen”🙏🏽
Honoring a Legacy of Service: The 10th Memorial Anniversary of Late Noble (Sir) Gabriel Louis Ihieje Opiepe (KSJI) | https://gliopiepehe.org/2025/04/12/honoring-a-legacy-of-service-the-10th-memorial-anniversary-of-late-noble-sir-gabriel-louis-ihieje-opiepe-ksji/
On this special feast day, as we continue the Holy Week 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 and celebrate their memorial anniversary today. We pray for our loved ones who have recently died, and we continue to pray for the repose of the gentle souls of all the faithful departed, may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls 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 🙏🏽
THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS’ MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL: For the use of the new technologies ~ Let us pray that the use of the new technologies will not replace human relationships, will respect the dignity of the person, and will help us face the crises of our times.
PRAYER OF THE MONTH ~ POPE FRANCIS: Lord, Good Father, as I look at the world and see men and women working in it and beautifying it, a great “Thank You!” springs from my heart. The action of Your Spirit among us encourages us to grow in the progress of science and technology in the service of human dignity for integral and inclusive human development. Because we know You desire the good of all, from the heart of Your Church, Your Son calls us to ensure that technology does not replace “person-to-person” contact, that the virtual does not replace the real, and that social networks do not replace social settings. Help us develop the ability to live wisely, to think deeply, to love generously, without losing heart, promoting scientific and technological growth that increasingly aligns with human development in responsibility, values, and awareness.
Amen 🙏🏽
(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/
A PRAYER TO WALK HUMBLY THROUGH LENT: Father, In Micah 6:8, You say, “O people, the LORD has told you what is good, and this is what he requires of you: to do what is right, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God.” Today we choose to walk humbly with You. We choose to live by Your Holy Spirit and to follow Your lead. Help us to hear You clearly, for we do not want to walk by pride or self-sufficiency, we want to walk with You. In Jesus’ name, Amen 🙏🏽
God of goodness and mercy, hear my prayer as I begin this Lenten journey with you. Let me be honest with myself as I look into my heart and soul, noticing the times I turn away from you. Guide me as I humbly seek to repent and return to your love. May humility guide my efforts to be reconciled with you and live forever in your abundant grace. Transform me this Lent, heavenly Father. Give me the strength to commit myself to grow closer to you each day. Amen 🙏🏽
LENTEN FAST AND ABSTINENCE (Lenten Fast and Abstinence regulations from the USCCB): Ash Wednesday and Good Friday are obligatory days of fasting and abstinence for Catholics. In addition, Fridays during Lent are obligatory days of abstinence.
For members of the Latin Catholic Church, the norms on fasting are obligatory from age 18 until age 59. When fasting, a person is permitted to eat one full meal, as well as two smaller meals that together are not equal to a full meal. The norms concerning abstinence from meat are binding upon members of the Latin Catholic Church from age 14 onwards
Members of the Eastern Catholic Churches are to observe the particular law of their own sui iuris Church. If possible, the fast on Good Friday is continued until the Easter Vigil (on Holy Saturday night) as the “paschal fast” to honor the suffering and death of the Lord Jesus, and to prepare ourselves to share more fully and to celebrate more readily His Resurrection. 🙏🏽
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today, Holy Saturday of the Holy Triduum, Easter Vigil | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Holy Saturday | Saturday, April 19, 2025
Reading 1, Genesis 1:1-2:2
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 104:1-2, 5-6, 10, 12, 13-14, 24, 35
Gospel, Luke 24:1-12
Reading 2, Genesis 22:1-18
[All the Easter Vigil Mass Readings below]
*Reading 1: Genesis 1:1—2:2 or Genesis 1:1, 26–31a
*Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 104:1–2, 5–6, 10, 12, 13–14, 24, 35 or Psalm 33:4–5, 6–7, 12–13, 20 and 22
*Reading 2: Genesis 22:1–18 or Genesis 22:1–2, 9a, 10–13, 15–18
*Reading 3: Exodus 14:15—15:1
*Responsorial Psalm: Exodus 15:1–2, 3–4, 5–6, 17–18
*Reading 4: Isaiah 54:5–14
*Reading 5: Isaiah 55:1–11
*Reading 6: Baruch 3:9–15, 32—4:4
*Reading 7: Ezekiel 36:16–17a, 18–28
*Epistle: Romans 6:3–11
*Gospel: Luke 24:1–12
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 24:1–12
*”Why do you seek the Living One among the dead? He is not here, but He has been raised.” ~ Luke 24:5–6
“At daybreak on the first day of the week the women who had come from Galilee with Jesus took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. They found the stone rolled away from the tomb; but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. While they were puzzling over this, behold, two men in dazzling garments appeared to them. They were terrified and bowed their faces to the ground. They said to them, “Why do you seek the living one among the dead? He is not here, but he has been raised. Remember what he said to you while he was still in Galilee, that the Son of Man must be handed over to sinners and be crucified, and rise on the third day.” And they remembered his words. Then they returned from the tomb and announced all these things to the eleven and to all the others. The women were Mary Magdalene, Joanna, and Mary the mother of James; the others who accompanied them also told this to the apostles, but their story seemed like nonsense and they did not believe them. But Peter got up and ran to the tomb, bent down, and saw the burial cloths alone; then he went home amazed at what had happened.”
In today’s Gospel reading, as dawn breaks on the first day of the week, the women come to the tomb with spices, prepared to care for a lifeless body—but instead, they encounter an empty grave and a stunning message: “He is not here, but He has been raised.” According to the Gospel of Luke, when the women discovered that the stone had been rolled away from the tomb and that the tomb was empty, ‘they stood there not knowing what to think’. They had come with great devotion to anoint the body of Jesus. To their amazement the closed tomb was open and the body of Jesus was not there. What were they to think? What were they to make of it all? The voice from the empty tomb interpreted for them this extraordinary discovery. ‘Why look among the dead for someone who is alive? He is not here; He has risen’. Jesus was alive not dead; the tomb could not contain the one who was the light of the world, the resurrection and the life. Jesus embodied God’s extraordinary love for humanity; such love cannot be buried; it is too powerful to be contained by a stone, no matter how large. Such love is too full of life to be contained by death. In the words of Paul’s first letter to the Corinthians, ‘love never ends’. Indeed, all authentic love continues into eternity. The one who is the fullest revelation of God who is Love endures beyond death. Because Jesus endures forever, because God’s love endures forever, we, who are the objects of that enduring love, will endure forever. God’s loving relationship with us need not be broken by death; all God asks is that we open ourselves to his love.
Because Jesus is risen, not only are we destined to live beyond death, but resurrection can happen in our lives here and now. As we struggle daily with suffering, weakness, and death in its various forms, we can experience the power of the risen Lord. With Saint Paul, we can say, ‘I can do all things in him who strengthens me’. The risen Lord journeys with us as he journeyed with the two disciples on the road to Emmaus. As He did for those two disciples, he can transform all our sad and tragic stories into stories of hope and new life. We always walk in the light of the risen Lord’s presence. We are an Easter people, not just tonight, but every night, every day of our lives.
Reflecting on the Gospel reading, when the women saw the empty tomb first, the Gospel says ‘they stood there not knowing what to think’. However, having heard the proclamation from the two heavenly messengers, they had a hopeful story to tell. Yet, when they told this story to the apostles, the Gospel says, ‘this story of theirs seemed pure nonsense’. Perhaps it is harder to believe in the good news of Easter than the good news of Christmas. It is only when the risen Lord appeared to the apostles and touched their lives personally, that they realized the women’s story was not nonsense. The risen Lord wants to touch each of our lives. If we allow Him to do so, then we too will realize that the Easter story, far from being nonsense, casts a marvellous light which allows us to see everything else, including death itself, with hopeful eyes. The Resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ turns the logic of the world upside down. What was expected to end in death becomes the beginning of eternal life. The women’s journey of grief becomes a mission of proclamation. Though perplexed and afraid, they do not keep silent. They run to tell the apostles, becoming the first witnesses to the Resurrection. Yet, their testimony is met with disbelief—just as our modern world often meets the Gospel with skepticism. Still, like Peter who ran to the tomb and marveled at what he saw, we are invited to wonder, to seek, and to believe. In this sacred moment, we are reminded that the Resurrection is not just about what happened to Jesus. It is also about what is now possible for us. Sin no longer has the final say. Death is not the end. Christ is alive—and He is inviting us to rise with Him into a new life marked by grace, joy, and courage.This Jubilee Year of Hope invites us to reflect on the Gospel message of hope so that we can become people of hope in our world today.
Reflecting on the first reading, the reading takes us back to the pivotal moment in the life of Abraham, when God asks him to sacrifice his beloved son Isaac. Abraham’s faith is tested to its limits, but in his obedience to God’s command, he receives a reward beyond measure. This story foreshadows the ultimate sacrifice of God’s only Son, Jesus Christ, and His willing submission to the Father’s will. Abraham’s faith serves as a powerful reminder for us to trust in God’s plan, even when it leads us into dark and difficult places. The near-sacrifice of Isaac is a symbol of God’s own sacrifice, offering His Son for the salvation of humanity. Just as Isaac was spared, so too are we spared through Christ’s death and resurrection.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, Psalm 104 praises God for His creation, for His mighty works that sustain life. It is a song of gratitude and recognition of God’s omnipotence and mercy. The Psalmist acknowledges how God’s hand guides and upholds the world, bringing forth life from the earth and ensuring its continuation. In the context of the resurrection, this Psalm takes on a deeper meaning: just as God sustains the earth, He also sustains the new life given to us through the resurrection of Jesus. It is through His power that we are renewed and given hope.
In Exodus, the Israelites are delivered from slavery through the parting of the Red Sea. They pass from death to life as God makes a way where there seems to be no way. The Israelites’ song of praise in response to their miraculous deliverance becomes a foretaste of the joy that the resurrection brings. Just as they crossed through the waters of the sea to freedom, so too are we brought to new life through the waters of baptism and the resurrection of Jesus. The resurrection is the ultimate deliverance, leading us from the slavery of sin into the freedom of the children of God.
In Isaiah, God speaks of a new covenant with His people, a covenant of peace and love that will never be shaken. This prophecy points to the restoration and redemption that Jesus’ resurrection brings to all of humanity. Through His sacrifice, the fractured relationship between humanity and God is restored. We are no longer rejected, but loved and embraced by the Father. This is the hope we receive from the resurrection: a hope that cannot be taken away, a peace that surpasses all understanding.
In this passage from Romans, Paul teaches us that through baptism, we are united with Christ in His death and resurrection. Just as Christ was raised from the dead by the glory of the Father, we too are called to live a new life. The resurrection of Jesus is not only a future promise but a present reality that empowers us to live according to God’s will. The power of the resurrection is at work in us, transforming us into new creations. As we reflect on this, let us ask ourselves: How is the resurrection transforming my life? How can I live more fully in the light of Christ’s victory over death? How can I embrace the victory of Christ’s resurrection in my daily life? In what areas of my life do I need to experience the transformative power of the resurrection? How can I share the joy of the resurrection with others?
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today on this this Easter Vigil Mass, all of us finally have reached the end of our Lenten journey, a forty days long period of purification and reorientation of our lives, of more intense connection with God and renewal of our lives. Now, on this very evening we celebrate the glorious Resurrection of Our Lord and Saviour, Jesus Christ, the Son of God, Who has suffered and died for us, bearing all the burdens and punishments that are due for our sins and wickedness. Through His Resurrection, He has shown us the great triumph that He had won over sin and death, showing us that they no longer hold dominion and power over us. And tonight we have finally come to the culmination of our long wait for salvation, and rejoicing together as one Church and holy people of God, we cry and sing out together, ‘Alleluia! Alleluia! Alleluia! Christ is Risen! Christ has conquered death!’ Therefore, we are also reminded that as Christians, as Pope St. John Paul II once famously said, that we are all Easter people, and Alleluia is our song. This means that all of us are called to live a truly holy and worthy lives, lives that are truly active, committed to God and missionary, full of compassion for one another and righteousness, justice and virtues in all of our actions throughout life. We must have the right disposition and attitude in life in order for us to be able to follow the Lord worthily in our lives. And just as the Israelites still continue their journey after crossing the sea out of Egypt, which is a symbolism and prefigurement of our baptism, therefore, baptism is not the end of our journey towards God, but rather, marks the new beginning in this journey we have towards God. Essentially, we are called to proclaim the Lord and His Resurrection, His Good News and salvation to the world. But in order to do this, we must first live our lives worthily as good and faithful Christians, and this is something that many of us have difficulty doing because we face so many obstacles, temptations and challenges in our daily lives. And this is why as we enter into this joyful Easter season, we have to renew our commitment and dedication to the Lord, in doing our best to live our lives worthily and to commit ourselves to a truly holy and blessed existence in God, in all of our actions, words and deeds, and in how we interact with others around us. We cannot be hypocrites who claim to believe in the Lord and yet act in the manner that is contrary to our faith and beliefs in God. That is why as we all enter into this joyous season of Easter, celebrating the Lord’s glorious Resurrection, let us all strive to commit ourselves to be ever more faithful and sincere in following our Risen Lord in everything that we say and do. Let the transformations and conversions that we have experienced during the Lenten season continue to bear their fruits through this time of Easter and beyond. May all of us be faithful and ever more courageous witnesses of Our Lord and His Resurrection, being good role models and inspirations to our fellow brothers and sisters, helping ever more people to come closer to God and His salvation. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and may our Risen Lord continue to bless us all and give us His light of Hope, and strengthen us in our resolve to follow Him wholeheartedly, now and always. Alleluia! Amen! 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, on this Holy Saturday, we await the joy of Your resurrection. Thank You for the hope that Your rising from the dead brings to our lives. We acknowledge the victory You won for us over sin and death. Help us to live in the power of Your resurrection, trusting in Your love and guidance. May we share this hope with others and live in the light of Your truth, now and forever. Amen 🙏🏽
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT ELPHEGE, BISHOP AND MARTYR; SAINT EXPEDITUS, MARTYR; AND SAINT TIMON, BISHOP AND MARTYR – FEAST DAY: APRIL 19TH: Today, the Church commemorates three holy martyrs who bore courageous witness to Christ amid persecution and adversity. Saint Elphege (Patron of kidnap victims) (also known as Alphege or Aelfheah), Archbishop of Canterbury, laid down his life rather than see his people suffer further at the hands of invaders. Saint Expeditus (Patron of urgent causes, procrastinators, and expeditious solutions), though shrouded in mystery, is venerated as a martyr and a powerful intercessor in urgent causes and against procrastination. Saint Timon (Patron of deacons and cooks), one of the original seven deacons mentioned in the Acts of the Apostles, served the early Church faithfully and sealed his ministry with the crown of martyrdom. Through their heroic sacrifices, we are inspired to pursue lives of selflessness, urgency in virtue, and steadfast love for the Church. May their lives and intercession stir in us a spirit of boldness in faith, compassion in leadership, and readiness to act in God’s will without delay. Amen. 🙏🏽
Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Elphege, Saint Expeditus, and Saint Timon, we pray for the Church, the clergy, persecuted Christians, the poor and needy, and all who are in urgent spiritual or material need. May their witness encourage us to love courageously, act promptly, and trust God completely. Amen. 🙏
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | April 19th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Elphege, Bishop and Martyr; Saint Expeditus, Martyr; and Saint Timon, Bishop and Martyr | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day/)
SAINT ELPHEGE, BISHOP AND MARTYR: Born of noble and virtuous parents in 10th-century England, Saint Elphege embraced the monastic life early and grew in holiness through silence, study, and service. He began as a monk in Deerhurst Abbey before becoming a hermit near Bath. His exemplary life led to his appointment as Abbot of Bath, and later, through the influence of Saint Dunstan, he became Bishop of Winchester.
In 1006, he was appointed Archbishop of Canterbury during a time of great unrest, as England suffered frequent attacks from Danish invaders. Known for his deep charity, Elphege fed the hungry and supported the afflicted, earning the love of the poor. When the Danes invaded Canterbury and demanded a ransom for the archbishop, Elphege refused to allow Church resources to be used. His captors beat and stoned him to death while he prayed for their forgiveness. His martyrdom on April 19, 1012 became a symbol of sacrificial leadership and pastoral courage.
PRAYER: O God, who crowned Saint Elphege with martyrdom for defending his flock, grant that we may imitate his compassion and stand firm in faith even when it costs us dearly. Through his prayers, may we care for the poor, speak truth with courage, and trust You in all things. Amen. 🙏
SAINT EXPEDITUS, MARTYR: Saint Expeditus is traditionally venerated as a Roman centurion who was martyred around the year 303 AD in Armenia for converting to Christianity during the Diocletian persecution. Though historical records are scarce and some suggest his name may have entered the martyrologies through a scribal error, devotion to Saint Expeditus spread widely, especially in times of urgent need.
He is revered as the Patron Saint of urgent causes, expeditious solutions, those struggling with procrastination, merchants, and navigators. Popular piety holds that when faced with the call to convert, the devil appeared to him in the form of a crow saying “Cras” (Latin for “tomorrow”). Expeditus responded with “Hodie!” (“Today!”), stamping out delay and choosing Christ immediately.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding his historical existence, his spiritual symbolism reminds us of the need to act promptly in response to God’s grace.
PRAYER: Saint Expeditus, faithful martyr and helper in urgent needs, intercede for us in our times of trial. May we, like you, respond with haste to God’s call and overcome all temptation to delay in doing good. Amen. 🙏
SAINT TIMON, BISHOP AND MARTYR: Saint Timon is one of the original seven deacons appointed by the Apostles in Acts 6:1–6 to ensure fair distribution of aid within the early Church. Full of the Holy Spirit, he served the poor and upheld justice among the believers. Tradition holds that Timon later became a bishop—possibly in Greece or Arabia—and preached the Gospel with fervor.
He faced hostility and persecution in his mission field, ultimately suffering martyrdom for his fearless proclamation of the truth. His faithfulness from service to sacrifice makes him a model for deacons, clergy, and lay ministers alike.
PRAYER: Heavenly Father, through the steadfast ministry of Saint Timon, You strengthened the foundations of the early Church. Help us to serve with humility, love others without discrimination, and remain faithful even when facing trials. Saint Timon, pray for us. Amen. 🙏
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF APRIL | MONTH OF HOLY EUCHARIST: April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to His Church. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity offering Himself as the Bread of Life. This month invites us to deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist, especially as we approach Holy Week and Easter, celebrating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper when He said, “Take and eat; this is My Body… Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the Covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). In receiving the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and His Church. It is the source of our strength and the culmination of our salvation, as Christ Himself said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” As we journey through Lent, we are called to renew our reverence for the Eucharist. During Holy Week, we remember that Christ instituted this sacrament on Holy Thursday, offering us a way to remain in union with Him. Let us take this opportunity to attend Mass regularly, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and reflect on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.
In this season of penance and reflection, may our devotion to the Eucharist strengthen our commitment to living as true disciples of Christ, leading us to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection.
O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! Lord Jesus, You have given Yourself to us in the Eucharist. May we receive You with reverence and love, and let Your grace transform us this Lenten season and always. Amen 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: On this sacred day of stillness and expectation, we turn to God with hearts full of trust and longing. We pray for the Church throughout the world, that she may be strengthened in her mission to proclaim the light of the Resurrection with boldness and joy. We remember those who serve the Church, especially bishops, priests, and deacons, asking that through the intercession of Saint Elphege, who gave his life in sacrificial love, and Saint Timon, faithful servant of the early Church, they may be renewed in courage and zeal. We lift up all who are burdened by delay, doubt, or indecision, that with the help of Saint Expeditus, they may find urgency in grace and clarity in action. As we recall Abraham’s great act of trust and the people of Israel’s journey through the sea, we pray for all who are tested in faith, that they may experience the mercy of God who always provides and leads to freedom. We also entrust to God those preparing to receive the Easter sacraments tonight, that they may be filled with the joy of rebirth and transformed by the power of the Resurrection. In a world that still groans in suffering, may this holy night bring hope to the despairing, light to the searching, and new life to all. 🙏🏽
LET US PRAY
Dearest Mother Mary, on that first Holy Saturday, you kept vigil for your Son. You allowed the divine gift of hope to grow within you, and you allowed that hope to be your strength in the midst of the horror of the Cross. Pray for me that I may ponder your beautiful heart this day so that I, too, may be filled with hope as I endure the challenges of this earthly life. Give me a heart of joyful anticipation as I await the grace of new life our Lord so deeply desires to bestow upon me. Mother Mary, pray for me. Jesus, I do trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord God of glory and mercy, on this day of sacred waiting, we unite our hearts with the Church around the world and with the silent tomb of our Lord. As we contemplate the mystery of death conquered and hope reborn, stir within us the living fire of faith. May the example of Saint Elphege’s courageous sacrifice, Saint Expeditus’s bold urgency, and Saint Timon’s steadfast service guide us in our walk with You. May we trust, like Abraham, wait like the Israelites, and rejoice like the women at the tomb. Let the silence of this day deepen our love for You, so that when the stone is rolled away, we may rise with Christ into the joy of new life. Amen 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary and Saint Joseph, Saint Elphege, Bishop and Martyr; Saint Expeditus, Martyr; and Saint Timon, Bishop and Martyr ~ Pray for us 🙏🏽
Thanking God for the gift of this day and the special gift of His Son our Lord Jesus Christ and praying for us all during this final days of the Holy week, may God, our Crucified Christ, Our most loving Saviour, be with us all as we journey through this Holy Week, that we may come to share ever more deeply in the mysteries of His Passion, His suffering, death and Resurrection… Amen. Praying for us all on this Holy Saturday as we wait in anticipation for the resurrection of our loving Savior, Jesus Christ. Have a blessed, safe and grace-filled Holy Saturday 🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
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