MEMORIAL OF SAINT HENRY II, EMPEROR; SAINT ANACLETUS, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT MILDRED, RELIGIOUS; SAINT CLELIA BARBIERI, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT EUGENIUS, BISHOP

FIFTEENTH SUNDAY IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: JULY 13, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT HENRY II, EMPEROR; SAINT ANACLETUS, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT MILDRED, RELIGIOUS; SAINT CLELIA BARBIERI, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT EUGENIUS, BISHOP | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Henry II, Saint Anacletus, Saint Mildred, Saint Clelia Barbieri, and Saint Eugenius | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-july-13th/)

This Sunday, July 13, Pope Leo XIV returns to Castel Gandolfo to celebrate Mass at the historic Pontifical Parish of St. Thomas of Villanova. A live broadcast from the scenic hills outside Rome — a moment of prayer, closeness, and tradition as the Pope gathers with the local faithful during the heart of summer.

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | July 13, 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-127/

Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

Today is Sunday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time! We give thanks to God for the gift of life and the grace to see this month. During this month of July, may the Precious Blood of Jesus cover and protect us, heal our wounds, and strengthen our faith. We pray for all those celebrating their birthdays, anniversaries, new beginnings, and special moments in this month of July. May God’s blessings overflow in their lives. May this month bring peace to troubled hearts, direction to the lost, comfort to the grieving, and strength to the weary. In all things, may His will be done and His name be glorified. Amen🙏🏽

PRAYER FOR VICTIMS OF NATURAL DISASTERS: We join our prayers to the prayers of others throughout the world, for the victims of natural disasters which have brought destruction and disaster to so many countless lives. We particularly pray for the victims of the recent flooding in Central Texas, may God restore what was lost and console all those who are grieving, injured, or have lost loved ones. Eternal rest grant unto those who lost their lives and let perpetual light shine upon them. Amen 🙏🏽

On this special feast day, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we humbly 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 🙏🏽

We continue to 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 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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 🙏🏽

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 July | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/list-of-all-novenas-july/

COMMON CATHOLIC PRAYERS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/common-catholic-prayers/

Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Sunday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Year C) | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings for the Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Year C) | July 13, 2025
Reading 1: Deuteronomy 30:10–14
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 69:14, 17, 30–31, 33–34, 36–37 or Psalm 19:8–11
Reading 2: Colossians 1:15–20
Gospel: Luke 10:25–37

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 10:25–37

“Who is my neighbor?; Which of these three… was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise”

“There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Him and said, “Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law? How do you read it?” He said in reply, “You shall love the Lord, your God, with all your heart, with all your being, with all your strength, and with all your mind, and your neighbor as yourself.” He replied to him, “You have answered correctly; do this and you will live.” But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus, “And who is my neighbor?” Jesus replied, “A man fell victim to robbers as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho. They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead. A priest happened to be going down that road, but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. Likewise a Levite came to the place, and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side. But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him was moved with compassion at the sight. He approached the victim, poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them. Then he lifted him up on his own animal, took him to an inn, and cared for him. The next day he took out two silver coins and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction, ‘Take care of him. If you spend more than what I have given you, I shall repay you on my way back.’ Which of these three, in your opinion, was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?” He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.” Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.”

In today’s Gospel reading, an expert in the Jewish law puts a question to Jesus, ‘What must I do to inherit eternal life?’ Here was a question whose horizon was both this earthly life and the life beyond. The lawyer was asking, ‘What must I do now in this life to be sure of life beyond death?’ This is one of those fundamental questions that are asked, in one shape or form, in all of the great religious traditions. Yet, it is a very practical question, ‘What must I do?’ Being the good teacher that he was, Jesus pushed the lawyer to try and answer his own question, ‘What is written in the law? What do you read there?’ The lawyer’s own Jewish tradition contained the answer to the question that he was asking. However, the answer he found there generated yet another question that he again put to Jesus, ‘And who is my neighbor?’ This second question the lawyer asks is just as probing and thought-provoking as the first question.

In day to day speech we tend to use the term ‘neighbor’ in a restricted way. Our neighbours are those who live alongside us. We consider ourselves fortunate to have good neighbours, people who will keep an eye on the house when we are away or to whom we can turn if we need help. We know the value of having good neighbours. We may also know the misfortune of having what are often referred to as neighbours from hell. Very likely, the lawyer who asked Jesus the question, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ would have understood the term ‘neighbour’ in a broader sense, as referring to all other members of God’s people, the Jewish people. The command to ‘love your neighbour as yourself’ was probably understood in that way originally. In response to that second question of the lawyer, Jesus speaks the parable of the Good Samaritan, one of the most striking of all Jesus’ parables. Having spoken that parable, Jesus gets to ask a question of His own. He asks the lawyer, ‘which of these three, do you think, proved himself a neighbour to the man who fell into the brigands hands?’ Jesus was asking, ‘Which of the three was a neighbour?’ This is a different question to the one asked by the lawyer, ‘Who is my neighbour?’ Jesus is subtly suggesting to him that the more important question is, ‘What does it mean to be a neighbour?’ That is the question which is answered by Jesus’ parable. The Samaritan exemplifies what it means to be a neighbour. The neighbour is someone who gives himself or herself to the person in need, whoever that person is, without counting the cost. In a sense, Jesus is saying to the lawyer, the true neighbour never asks the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ The Samaritan in the story who came upon the broken body of the Jew by the roadside did not pause to ask ‘Is this the neighbour I am now being asked to love?’ He simply did what was needed for this broken and vulnerable human being. In the words of the parable, the Samaritan ‘was moved with compassion’, and the compassionate heart does not discriminate between neighbour and non-neighbour. The Samaritan is an image of Jesus Himself, who, as the second reading tells us, is an image of God. Jesus, as God incarnate, is the compassionate one who befriends the broken, whoever they are, regardless of their race or creed. This is what it means to be a neighbour. The true neighbour does not make distinctions between people; the true neighbour does not consider some people more worthy of compassionate service than others. The true neighbour does not ask the question ‘Who is my neighbour?’ because he or she considers every human being as potentially a neighbour. It is to such indiscriminate loving compassion that today’s parable calls all of us.

In the Gospel, as Jesus recounts the Parable of the Good Samaritan in response to the legal scholar’s question about eternal life, the scholar knows the law well: to love God with all his heart, soul, strength, and mind, and to love his neighbor as himself. But he seeks to narrow the scope of “neighbor,” perhaps hoping to justify selective compassion. Jesus, however, expands the boundaries with a striking story one in which the expected religious figures, a priest and a Levite, walk past a wounded man, while a Samaritan considered an outsider and even an enemy stops and shows mercy. The lesson is clear: true love of neighbor transcends boundaries of race, religion, or convenience. Mercy is not optional; it is the mark of a disciple. Jesus concludes not with a theological explanation, but with a command: “Go and do likewise.” This is the challenge of love in action.

In the today’s first reading, Moses reminds the people that God’s commandments are not distant or impossible; they are already close on their lips and in their hearts. The Word of God is not a hidden mystery reserved for the elite, nor is it something unreachable, as if one had to climb the heavens or cross the sea to obtain it. It is near and accessible, inviting obedience rooted in love. In a world where people often search far and wide for purpose or spiritual meaning, this passage invites us to return inward to God’s voice already speaking within us. We need only to listen and act. God’s law is not a burden; it is life-giving truth meant to be lived in ordinary moments. He asks us not just to believe, but to carry out His word with sincerity of heart and soul.

Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “Turn to the Lord in your need, and you will live.” This psalm is the cry of the afflicted seeking God’s mercy. It expresses raw, honest emotion anguish, desperation, and hope yet ends in confident praise. “See, you lowly ones, and be glad!” is a call to every heart burdened by pain, rejection, or poverty of spirit. It echoes the beatitude: “Blessed are the poor in spirit.” The psalmist glorifies God not because circumstances are ideal, but because God is good, just, and attentive to the lowly. The psalm reassures us that God hears, that He does not spurn the poor, and that He will rebuild what is broken.

In today’s second reading, Saint Paul offers one of the most beautiful Christological hymns in all of Scripture, presenting Jesus as the image of the invisible God and the firstborn of all creation. Everything visible and invisible was made through Him and for Him. Christ is not just another messenger or prophet; He is the fullness of God, the one who holds all things together. As the head of the Church, He reconciles all creation through the blood of His Cross. In a fractured and chaotic world, this passage reminds us that Jesus is the center. In Him, we find unity, purpose, and peace. When we feel overwhelmed or insignificant, we can look to Christ the One who not only created us, but also died to restore us and be reminded of our eternal worth and destiny.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are called to ponder on the Scriptures.
The question, “Who is my neighbor?” is very profound! Am I like the Good Samaritan, willing to be inconvenienced to care for others especially those I might find difficult to love? Who have I passed by this week, physically or emotionally, when I could have offered help? Do I limit the idea of “neighbor” to only those who look, think, or live like me? Have I made the Word of God part of my daily choices, or do I treat it as something distant and theoretical? When I feel small or powerless, do I remember that all things my life included are held together in Christ? Can I trust that my acts of mercy and love, however hidden or small, are part of His plan of reconciliation? Today’s readings urge us not only to know God’s Word, but to live it to allow it to transform our hearts and flow outward in compassion. Like the Good Samaritan, we are called to respond to suffering not with avoidance or excuses, but with mercy. The path to eternal life is not mysterious or far away; it begins with the decision to love in action, in truth, and in sacrifice. Let us not delay or complicate what God has already made clear. His commandment is close, already written in our hearts. So today, let us choose to listen, to forgive, to serve, and to love boldly remembering that when we act with mercy, we mirror the face of Christ to the world. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace and may our faith be seen not only in what we profess, but in how we live and love each day. 🙏🏽

Lord Jesus, You have shown us that love of neighbor is not just a feeling, but a way of life. Help us to carry Your Word in our hearts and to put it into action through deeds of mercy, compassion, and courage. Strengthen our resolve to stop, see, and serve those in need, even when it’s inconvenient or uncomfortable. May Your Spirit guide our hands and soften our hearts, that we may live as true neighbors to all. Amen. 🙏🏽

MEMORIAL OF SAINT HENRY II, EMPEROR; SAINT ANACLETUS, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT MILDRED, RELIGIOUS; SAINT CLELIA BARBIERI, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT EUGENIUS, BISHOP~ FEAST DAY: JULY 13TH: Today, we honor a remarkable assembly of saints: Saint Henry II, Emperor (Patron of childless people and those with disabilities); Saint Anacletus, Pope and Martyr (one of the earliest successors of Saint Peter); Saint Mildred, Religious (a gentle abbess known for her piety and miracles); Saint Clelia Barbieri, Religious (the youngest founder of a religious order and patroness of catechists and the ridiculed); and Saint Eugenius, Bishop (a courageous leader who stood firm during Arian persecution). Through their lives of heroic virtue, fidelity in suffering, and unwavering trust in God, we lift up our prayers today for couples struggling with infertility, for those unjustly persecuted, for the sick and dying, and for the strengthening of the Church in times of division and distress. May their witness deepen our trust in God’s plan and embolden our response to His call. 🙏🏽

Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | July 13th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/

SAINT HENRY II, EMPEROR: Saint Henry II (972–1024), Duke of Bavaria, King of Germany, and later crowned Holy Roman Emperor, was a ruler guided by profound faith and justice. Though raised amid political strife, he was shaped spiritually by Saint Wolfgang and long considered a vocation to the priesthood before discerning his path in leadership. With his holy wife, Saint Cunigunde, he ruled with integrity, built churches and monasteries, and gave generously to the poor. Known for his chastity, wisdom, and humility, he sought always to align his reign with God’s will. Even in illness, he remained steadfast, desiring at one point to retire into monastic life. He was canonized in 1146.
Patron of: the childless, physically challenged, Benedictine Oblates, and those rejected by religious orders.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You guided Saint Henry to govern with justice and holiness. Through his intercession, may we place Your kingdom first in all we do and live with trust and generosity. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT ANACLETUS, POPE AND MARTYR: Saint Anacletus, also known as Cletus, was the third successor of Saint Peter and led the Church during a time of violent persecution under Emperor Domitian. He ordained many priests, established early Roman parishes, and emphasized the sacredness of public ordination and apostolic succession. Known for his wisdom, courage, and tireless encouragement to persecuted Christians, he died a martyr’s death and was buried near Saint Peter. His steadfast leadership helped strengthen the early Church amid trial.

PRAYER: Saint Anacletus, you served the Church with courage and faith under persecution. Pray for our leaders, that they may shepherd God’s people with boldness and compassion. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT MILDRED, RELIGIOUS: Saint Mildred, an English royal turned abbess, was a model of humility, patience, and miraculous holiness. As a young woman, she endured harsh trials at the Abbey of Chelles, including being cast into a burning oven but miraculously emerged unharmed. Upon returning to England, she served as abbess of Minster-in-Thanet, known for her charity to the poor and her deep prayer life. Her legacy of compassion and healing lived on for centuries through her relics and the miracles associated with them.

PRAYER: Gentle Saint Mildred, teach us the value of humility, perseverance, and holy courage. May we, like you, serve the Lord with gentleness and strength. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT CLELIA BARBIERI, RELIGIOUS: Saint Clelia Barbieri, born in 1847, is the youngest founder of a religious congregation in Church history. Despite poverty and personal loss, she radiated holiness from a young age and founded the Little Sisters of the Mother of Sorrows at just 21. She died of tuberculosis at 23, yet her spirit lives on, especially through the mysterious phenomenon of her voice being heard in her religious communities even after death. Canonized by Pope John Paul II, she continues to inspire young people to serve with joy and simplicity.
Patron of: Catechists, Little Sisters of the Mother of Sorrows, and those mocked for their piety.

PRAYER: O Saint Clelia, radiant with youthful holiness and courage, inspire us to serve the poor and teach the faith with joyful love. May your voice echo in our hearts as we proclaim Christ. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT EUGENIUS, BISHOP: Saint Eugenius was elected Bishop of Carthage during a volatile time when Arianism divided the Church. Despite bans, imprisonment, and multiple exiles under Vandal rule, he refused to close the Church’s doors to anyone seeking Christ. His faithful leadership, stirring letters, and willingness to suffer for the faith earned him the love of his people and the admiration of even his enemies. He died in exile in France in 505, his legacy preserved in the lives he touched and the miracles at his tomb.

PRAYER: Brave Saint Eugenius, shepherd of truth in an age of heresy and persecution, pray for all who suffer for the faith today. Strengthen us to stand firm in Christ’s truth. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Henry II, Saint Anacletus, Saint Mildred, Saint Clelia Barbieri, and Saint Eugenius ~ 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 JULY: For formation in discernment. Let us pray that we might again learn how to discern, to know how to choose paths of life and reject everything that leads us away from Christ and the Gospel.

(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF JULY | MONTH OF THE MOST PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Our Lord Jesus Christ a profound devotion that honors the redeeming power of Christ’s Blood shed for our salvation. Flowing from His Sacred Heart, this Blood is the price of our redemption, the source of grace in the sacraments, and the seal of the New Covenant. It reminds us that salvation was not won lightly, but through the ultimate sacrifice of love. This month, the Church invites us to meditate on the infinite value of Christ’s Blood poured out during His Passion from Gethsemane to Calvary and in every celebration of the Holy Eucharist. We are called to offer acts of reparation for the sins of the world and to intercede for the conversion of souls. Devotions such as the Litany of the Precious Blood, the Chaplet of the Precious Blood, and daily consecration to the Precious Blood help deepen our union with Christ crucified.

As Saint John Chrysostom once said, “The Precious Blood is the salvation of souls; it purifies, sanctifies, and strengthens.” In our trials, let us take refuge beneath the cross, trusting in the Blood that speaks of mercy, victory, and eternal life.

“Precious Blood of Jesus, save us and the whole world.”

O Most Precious Blood of Jesus, fountain of salvation, we adore You. Wash us clean of sin, protect us from evil, and draw us into deeper love and union with You. Amen. 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540

PRAYER INTENTIONS: On this Fifteenth Sunday in Ordinary Time, we turn to God with trust, drawing inspiration from today’s Gospel and the holy lives of the saints we honor. We pray for the Church and her leaders, that like Saints Anacletus and Eugenius, they may guide with courage and truth even in the face of adversity. For all those in public service and leadership, may they follow the example of Saint Henry II in promoting justice and peace with humility and faith. We pray for married couples and those longing for the gift of children, that through the intercession of Saint Henry and Saint Cunegunde, they may receive strength, hope, and the blessings of family life. For the sick and dying, especially those suffering from cancer, tuberculosis, and other serious illnesses, may the Lord comfort and heal them through the prayers of Saints Mildred and Clelia Barbieri, who bore their suffering with grace. We also lift up teachers, catechists, and young people discerning their calling, asking for zeal, purity, and dedication like that of Saint Clelia. For all who suffer religious persecution or injustice, may we be moved by the Good Samaritan’s compassion to defend the vulnerable and act with mercy. Finally, we pray that our hearts may be softened by God’s word, enabling us to love more deeply, serve more generously, and live out our faith with integrity each day.

LET US PRAY

My loving Lord, You have given everything to fallen humanity. You have freed us from sin and provided for all of our needs. You have acted as a true neighbor in every way. Please give me the grace I need to imitate You and to participate in the love You have for others. May I truly act and never hesitate to bestow on others the charitable love to which I am called. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

Heavenly Father, You have written Your law of love upon our hearts and revealed Your mercy through Christ, the image of the invisible God. Stir in us the compassion of the Good Samaritan and the courage of Your saints, that we may respond to every wounded soul with tenderness and truth. May the holy lives of Saint Henry II, Saint Anacletus, Saint Mildred, Saint Clelia Barbieri, and Saint Eugenius remind us that sanctity is found in both high office and humble service, in bold witness and quiet fidelity. Grant us the grace to live not for ourselves but for others, that in our daily actions we may honor You and draw near to eternal life. Through the prayers of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the saints, may we become instruments of Your healing, justice, and peace in a broken world. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Henry II, Saint Anacletus, Saint Mildred, Saint Clelia Barbieri, and Saint Eugenius ~ 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, grace-filled and safe Sunday and fruitful week ahead 🙏🏽

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

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