MONDAY OF THE TWELFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 23, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ETHELDREDA (AUDREY), VIRGIN; SAINT MARY OF OIGNIES, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT JOSEPH CAFASSO, PRIEST | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Etheldreda, Saint Mary of Oignies, and Saint Joseph Cafasso | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-june-23rd/ )
DAY SIX: NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS | Novena dates: June 18–26, 2025. The Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart is June 27, 2025 | Novena links and prayers below | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/novena-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | June 23, 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-mass23/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family!
Today is Monday of the Twelfth week in Ordinary Time.
On this special feast day we pray for all those who are marginalized in our society, the poor and the needy. We pray for justice, peace and love in our 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 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 🙏🏽
We thank God for the gift of life and, we lift up in prayer all who celebrate their birthdays, anniversaries, graduations, and all those marking special milestones in June. May the Lord bless and favor them abundantly, guide their steps, and grant them joy, peace, and good health of body and mind. 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 June🙏🏽
AN EFFICACIOUS NOVENA TO THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS
DAY SIX
Attributed to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Saint Padre Pio recited this novena every day for all those who requested his prayers.
This novena can be prayed any time of year or, as did Padre Pio, perpetually throughout the year. However, it is traditionally prayed for nine days prior to the Solemnity of the Most Sacred Heart.
Pray all prayers below every day during the novena
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Prayer One:
O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, ask and you will receive, seek and you will find, knock and it will be opened to you.” Behold I knock, I seek and ask for the grace of… (name your request here)
Our Father…; Hail Mary…; Glory Be to the Father…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Amen 🙏🏽
Prayer Two:
O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, if you ask anything of the Father in my name, he will give it to you.” Behold, in your name, I ask the Father for the grace of… (name your request here)
Our Father…; Hail Mary…; Glory Be To the Father…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Amen 🙏🏽
Prayer Three:
O my Jesus, you have said:
“Truly I say to you, heaven and earth will pass away but my words will not pass away.” Encouraged by your infallible words I now ask for the grace of… (name your request here)
Our Father…; Hail Mary…; Glory Be to the Father…
Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Amen 🙏🏽
Concluding Prayer:
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, for whom it is impossible not to have compassion on the afflicted, have pity on us miserable sinners and grant us the grace which we ask of you, through the Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, your tender Mother and ours.
The Hail Holy Queen (The Salve Regina)
Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor banished children of Eve;
to you we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary. Pray for us O most holy Mother of God, That we may be worthy of the promises of Christ.
St. Joseph, foster father of Jesus, pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽
Optional Litany to the Sacred Heart
By St. Margaret Mary Alacoque
Hail, Heart of Jesus, save me!
Hail, Heart of my Creator, perfect me!
Hail, Heart of my Savior, deliver me!
Hail, Heart of my Judge, grant me pardon!
Hail, Heart of my Father, govern me!
Hail, Heart of my Spouse, grant me love!
Hail, Heart of my Master, teach me!
Hail, Heart of my King, be my crown!
Hail, Heart of my Benefactor, enrich me!
Hail, Heart of my Shepherd, guard me!
Hail, Heart of my Friend, comfort me!
Hail, Heart of my Brother, stay with me!
Hail, Heart of the Child Jesus, draw me to yourself!
Hail, Heart of Jesus dying on the Cross, redeem me!
Hail, Heart of Jesus in all your states, give yourself to me!
Hail, Heart of incomparable goodness, have mercy on me!
Hail, Heart of splendor, shine within me!
Hail, most loving Heart, inflame me!
Hail, most merciful Heart, work within me!
Hail, most humble Heart, dwell within me!
Hail, most patient Heart, support me!
Hail, most faithful Heart, be my reward!
Hail, most admirable and most worthy Heart, bless me!
Lord Jesus,
let my heart never rest until it finds You,
who are its center, its love, and its happiness.
By the wound in Your heart,
pardon the sins that I have committed
whether out of malice or out of evil desires.
Place my weak heart in Your own divine Heart,
continually under Your protection and guidance,
so that I may persevere in doing good
and in fleeing evil until my last breath.
Amen 🙏🏽
Novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/novena-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Monday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time | Monday, June 23, 2025
Reading 1, Genesis 12:1-9
Responsorial Psalm, Psalms 33:12-13, 18-19, 20, 22
Gospel, Matthew 7:1-5
Gospel Reading ~ Matthew 7:1–5
“Remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye”
“Jesus said to his disciples: “Stop judging, that you may not be judged. For as you judge, so will you be judged, and the measure with which you measure will be measured out to you. Why do you notice the splinter in your brother’s eye, but do not perceive the wooden beam in your own eye? How can you say to your brother, ‘Let me remove that splinter from your eye,’ while the wooden beam is in your eye? You hypocrite, remove the wooden beam from your eye first; then you will see clearly to remove the splinter from your brother’s eye.”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus calls us to examine our own hearts before we pass judgment on others. He uses a striking image, a wooden beam versus a splinter to show how easy it is to overlook our own flaws while highlighting the faults of others. The Lord is not condemning discernment but warning against hypocrisy and pride. True charity begins with humility. When we allow God to heal and purify our inner vision, we become more compassionate, more merciful, and better equipped to accompany others on their spiritual journey. Jesus reminds us that the measure we use for others will be used for us, urging us to approach each person with gentleness, not condemnation. A healthy awareness of our own failings and weaknesses can make us hesitate before we are overly judgmental of others. When Jesus says ‘do not judge’, He is saying, ‘do not condemn’. We sometimes have an obligation to condemn what people do, their actions and behaviour. Yet, we are not to condemn the person. Jesus could be critical of people’s behavior without condemning the person. He continued to relate to the person as someone loved by God. In spite of what they may have done, He continued to call them to become the person God desired them to be. That is how the risen Lord continues to relate to us all. Even when we have sinned, He continues to love us. The way the Lord relates to us is how He wants us to relate to each other. St. John’s Gospel declares that ‘God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that the world might be saved through Him’. If that is how God is with the world of human beings, it is also how we are to be with each other.
In the society we live in today, people tend to rush to judgement very quickly. When some damning report is issued there is an immediate search for people to blame. It can be very easy for those who have never been in a particular situation to blame others for their actions in that situation. Condemning others can come all too easy to us. The Gospel reading today suggests that Jesus was very aware of that. He warns against rushing to premature judgement, ‘do not judge and you will not be judged’. Perhaps Jesus was more aware than we are of the danger that in judging others we can easily get it very wrong. He understood that our limited vision can make it very difficult for us to judge fairly. Our limited vision comes from the many failings in ourselves. That seems to be the point of the humorous image in the second part of the Gospel reading. We cannot attempt to take a splinter out of the eye of someone else while all the time we have a plank in our own eye. We need to attend to the plank in our own eye first. We need to put our energies into renewing ourselves rather than condemning others. Only then can we begin to see as the Lord sees.
In the first reading, we witness the beginning of Abram’s journey of faith. At seventy-five years old, he is called to leave everything familiar to him in his homeland, kin, and comforts for a future that God alone holds. Abram’s obedience becomes the foundation of God’s covenant with His people. This passage is a powerful reminder that God often asks us to take steps of faith without knowing all the details. Trusting God’s promises means surrendering our security and saying yes, even when the road ahead is unknown. Just like Abram, we are called to be a blessing in the places God sends us.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “Blessed the people the Lord has chosen to be His own.” This psalm celebrates the faithfulness of God toward those who revere Him. It reminds us that God sees, protects, and sustains those who place their hope in Him. Even in times of famine or trial, His love remains steady. The psalmist’s words encourage us to trust not in human strength but in the kindness and providence of the Lord, who is our help and our shield.
Reflecting on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are called to ponder on the Scriptures. Am I quick to judge others without first examining my own heart? Where might God be calling me to take a leap of faith, like Abram? Do I trust in His promises even when they’re not fully clear? Have I allowed pride or fear to blind me to my own need for growth? And am I willing to let God reshape my inner vision so I can love others more gently and truthfully? Today’s Word invites us to embark on a journey of inner transformation. Like Abram, we are called to step out in faith, trusting that God’s promises will unfold as we obey. And like the disciples of Christ, we must begin by clearing the beams from our own eyes before we can lovingly help others. Let us be a people who choose humility over pride, trust over fear, and grace over judgment. As we move forward in our daily lives, may we walk with hearts open to God’s direction, eyes purified by truth, and hands ready to bless others with compassion. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and let us journey by stages, just as Abram did, knowing that every step in faith brings us closer to God’s eternal promise.🙏🏽
Lord God, help me to walk humbly before You and others. Teach me to recognize my own weaknesses and seek Your healing grace before pointing out the flaws in others. Strengthen my faith like Abram’s, so I may follow You wherever You lead. May Your love be the measure of all my thoughts and actions, and may I trust in Your providence through every trial. Amen. 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ETHELDREDA (AUDREY), VIRGIN; SAINT MARY OF OIGNIES, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT JOSEPH CAFASSO, PRIEST ~ FEAST DAY: JUNE 23RD: Today, the Church honors three remarkable saints: Saint Etheldreda (Audrey), Virgin (Patroness of those with throat and neck ailments), Saint Mary of Oignies, Religious (Patroness of women in labor and against fevers), and Saint Joseph Cafasso, Priest (Patron of prisoners and prison chaplains). These holy witnesses, each in their own way, reveal how deep intimacy with God leads to a life of heroic virtue and radical love. Through their intercession and the maternal care of our Blessed Mother, we lift up in prayer all those suffering from chronic illness, throat and neck diseases, seizures, and terminal cancers. We pray for expectant mothers, those longing for the gift of children, and the poor and vulnerable. We remember all those behind prison walls and those who serve them in mercy. We entrust to God the intentions of priests, religious, and seminarians, praying for a holy renewal in the Church. May peace reign in our homes, may justice flourish in our communities, and may we be inspired by these saints to live with courage, humility, and love. Amen. 🙏🏽
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | June 23rd https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
( Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Etheldreda, Saint Mary of Oignies, and Saint Joseph Cafasso | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-june-23rd/ )
SAINT ETHELDREDA (AUDREY), VIRGIN: Saint Etheldreda (also known as Audrey) was born around 636 in Suffolk, England, the daughter of King Anna of East Anglia. A woman of deep holiness from a young age, she made a vow of perpetual virginity, which she miraculously upheld through two politically arranged marriages. Her first husband honored her vow, but her second, King Egfrid of Northumbria, later sought to break it. With the help of Saint Wilfrid, Audrey fled to pursue religious life. After years of obedience and formation, she founded the Abbey of Ely, a double monastery for men and women, where she served as abbess until her death. Known for her austere life, humility, and penance, she saw her sufferings especially a painful neck tumor as reparation for youthful vanity. She died in 679 and was venerated widely across England. Her incorrupt body, discovered 17 years after her death, testified to her purity and sanctity. She is the patron saint of those suffering throat and neck conditions.
PRAYER: O God, who raised up Saint Etheldreda to shine in virginity and perseverance, grant that we who honor her today may, by her prayers, live with purity of heart and unwavering faith. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINT MARY OF OIGNIES, RELIGIOUS: Born in Nivelles, Belgium, in 1167, Mary of Oignies embraced a life of holiness from childhood, rejecting vanity and worldly pleasures. Though married at 14, she and her husband chose to live in chastity and used their home as a refuge for lepers and the poor. She devoted herself entirely to prayer, penance, and caring for the sick, especially outcasts. Saint Mary was known for her gift of tears, deep ecstasies, spiritual insights, and mystical experiences. She was guided by visions of Saint John the Evangelist and her guardian angel and often knew the inner state of those who came to her. In her later years, she lived as a recluse in a hermitage near the Augustinian priory in Oignies, offering her life for souls in purgatory and spiritual seekers. She died on June 23, 1213, surrounded by heavenly peace and joy. She is the patroness of women in labor and those suffering from fevers.
PRAYER: Lord Jesus, You revealed Your merciful love through the life of Saint Mary of Oignies. Through her intercession, draw us into deeper prayer and compassionate service, that we may carry the burdens of others in love. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINT JOSEPH CAFASSO, PRIEST: Saint Joseph Cafasso was born in 1811 near Turin, Italy, and despite a spinal deformity, pursued the priesthood with zeal and brilliance. Known as the “Priest’s Priest,” he became a renowned teacher of moral theology, spiritual director, and confessor. One of his most beloved protégés was Saint John Bosco, whom he mentored and inspired to begin his work with at-risk youth. Father Cafasso spent his days preaching in prisons, comforting the condemned, and advocating for humane treatment. He guided over 60 men to repentance and peaceful death, earning the name “Priest of the Gallows.” His compassion and calm courage won the hearts of many, and his spiritual writings and example inspired countless vocations. He died in 1860, and Saint John Bosco preached his funeral. He is the patron saint of prisoners, prison chaplains, and those who minister to the forgotten.
PRAYER: God of mercy, who filled Saint Joseph Cafasso with a burning love for the outcast and the imprisoned, make us instruments of Your compassion. Through his intercession, grant us the courage to serve the least and the lost with gentleness and hope. Amen. 🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Etheldreda, Saint Mary of Oignies, and Saint Joseph Cafasso ~ 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 JUNE: That the world might grow in compassion. Let us pray that each one of us might find consolation in a personal relationship with Jesus, and from his Heart, learn to have compassion on the world.
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JUNE | MONTH OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS: June is dedicated to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, a powerful sign of Christ’s love and mercy. His Heart, pierced and crowned with thorns, burns with compassion for all humanity. This devotion calls us to return love for love to console His Heart and make reparation for sin and indifference. Rooted in the revelations to St. Margaret Mary Alacoque, the Church invites us this month to deepen our trust in Jesus, especially through First Friday devotions, the Litany of the Sacred Heart, and acts of consecration. His words echo in our hearts: “Learn from me, for I am gentle and humble of heart” (Matthew 11:29).
The Sacred Heart shows us what true love looks like patient, humble, and self-giving. In a world often cold and restless, we find peace and healing in His Heart.
“Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in You”
O Sacred Heart of Jesus, teach us to love as You love. Fill our hearts with compassion, mercy, and a deep desire to follow You. Amen 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: On this day, as we reflect on God’s call to Abram and Christ’s command to judge with humility, we pray for hearts that are obedient, trusting, and free from pride. May we respond to the Lord’s invitation to leave behind what is familiar and walk by faith into His promises. Through the intercession of Saints Etheldreda, Mary of Oignies, and Joseph Cafasso, we lift up all who are discerning major life decisions, especially those seeking clarity in vocation, family life, or ministry. We pray for healing for those suffering from throat and neck illnesses, fevers, seizures, and all who are terminally ill. We entrust to God all women in labor, those longing for the gift of children, and those experiencing spiritual dryness or inner wounds. We remember those imprisoned, especially the forgotten and abandoned, and we pray for the priests, chaplains, and religious who serve the poor, the sick, and the imprisoned with compassion. May we be slow to judge and quick to show mercy, forgiving one another as God has forgiven us.
LET US PRAY
My merciful Lord, You and You alone are the true Judge. Only You judge with mercy and justice. Give me the grace I need to abandon my own self-righteous judgmentalness so that I will be free to love You and to love others with my whole heart. Free me from the burden of these sins, dear Lord, so that I can more easily see Your goodness in others and rejoice in Your presence in their lives. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord God, You who called Abram into the unknown and made him a blessing to the nations, teach us to walk by faith, trusting in Your promises. Help us to examine our hearts before we speak or judge, and to remove the beams in our own eyes with honesty and humility. Through the prayers of Saint Etheldreda, may we live in purity and fidelity; through Saint Mary of Oignies, may we grow in compassion and intercession; and through Saint Joseph Cafasso, may we serve with mercy and courage, especially among the least and the lost. Fill us with Your kindness, shield us with Your grace, and make us instruments of Your peace. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Etheldreda, Saint Mary of Oignies, and Saint Joseph Cafasso ~ Pray for us🙏🏽
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 week 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 and fruitful Monday and Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time🙏🏽
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 Missons Now Awards |
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