FRIDAY OF THE TWENTY-SECOND WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 5, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA (KOLKATA), RELIGIOUS; SAINT BERTIN, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT LAWRENCE JUSTINIAN, BISHOP | SEPTEMBER 5TH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Bertin, and Saint Lawrence Justinian | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-5th/)
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
FIRST FRIDAYS AND FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTIONS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/01/first-fridays-and-first-saturdays-devotions/
FIRST FRIDAYS DEVOTION: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/03/first-friday-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | September 5, 2025 | Liturgy of the Word presided over by Pope Leo XIV for the inauguration of the “Laudato Si’ Borgo (new ecological and spiritual chapter), LIVE from the Pontifical Villas of Castel Gandolfo | “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-181/
JUBILEE OF HOPE 2025: JUBILEE PRAYER | Link to the prayer of the Jubilee of Hope 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/08/the-jubilee-prayer/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family!
Today, Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time is First Friday Devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. The devotion is a way to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to atone for sins.
We joyfully welcome the gift of a new month, September! Lord Almighty, we thank You for granting us the grace to see this new beginning, and we entrust every day of this month into Your loving hands. May September be a season of renewal, hope, and abundant blessings for us and our families. Bless those who will celebrate birthdays, anniversaries, new opportunities, and milestones this month, and be near to those who carry heavy burdens in their hearts. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, we ask for healing for the sick, strength for the weary, peace in troubled homes, and provision for all in need. Guide our steps in righteousness, protect us from harm, and fill our hearts with faith, joy, and gratitude. May this month draw us closer to Your will, and may every day be a testimony of Your goodness and mercy in our lives. We begin this month with trust in Your unfailing love, Lord, and we surrender all that lies ahead into Your hands. Amen 🙏🏾
On this feast day, we humbly pray for the poor and those in need, for persecuted Christians, for those who fight for truth, peace and justice, and we continue to pray for justice, peace, love, and unity in our families and our divided and conflicted world. With special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, we continue to humbly pray for the well-being and safety of all parents, grandparents and the elderly. For the sick and dying, especially those who are suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases. We continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of our children and children all over the world, especially those beginning the new school year. May God grant them the courage to face new challenges and wisdom to make good choices. We pray for wisdom, knowledge, and understanding and for God’s guidance and protection upon them during this school year and always. We pray for safe travels, to and from school. We also pray for all teachers, staff and parents, and guardians. May the good Lord provide for those in need. 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. For those who are imprisoned, especially those who are unjustly imprisoned. We pray for those who fight for truth, peace and justice. And we continue to pray for justice, peace, love, and unity in our families and our world. May God protect us all and keep us safe and united in peace, love and faith. Amen 🙏🏽
We remember in prayer all who began this journey of life with us but are no longer here. We especially pray for our loved ones who have recently died, that the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom.
“Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted” ~ Matthew 5:4
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🙏🏽
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 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯
Through the intercession of St. Joseph, we pray for all fathers, mothers, workers, and all those who labor 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 Ordinary Time. Wishing us all and our loved ones a joyful, peaceful, and grace-filled month of September. 🙏🏽
LIST OF ALL NOVENAS | Month of September | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/list-of-all-novenas-september/
COMMON CATHOLIC PRAYERS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/common-catholic-prayers/
PRAYER FOR THE BEGINNING OF A NEW SCHOOL YEAR | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/prayer-for-the-beginning-of-a-new-school-year/
FIRST FRIDAYS AND FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTIONS:
The FIRST FRIDAY DEVOTION is a Catholic practice that involves attending Mass, receiving Holy Communion and praying and adoring before the Blessed Sacrament on the first Friday of each month for nine months in a row. The devotion originated in the 17th century after Jesus appeared to St. Margaret Mary and spoke of His Sacred Heart. Jesus promised that those who receive Holy Communion on the First Fridays of nine consecutive months will receive the grace of final perseverance. The devotion is a way to honor the Sacred Heart of Jesus and to atone for sins. The devotion is also known as the Communions of Reparation to the Sacred Heart or the Nine First Fridays Devotion. The Roman Catholic Church fully approved the devotion.
Some elements of the First Fridays Devotion include:
Sacramental Confession: A preparation for the devotion
Holy Communion: Received on the first Friday of each month for nine months in a row
Holy Hour: Spent in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament
Prayer for the Holy Father: A prayer for the intentions of the Holy Father
The devotion is said to offer many spiritual blessings, including:
Increased Grace: The soul is strengthened and intimacy with Christ is deepened through the frequent reception of the Eucharist
Inner Peace: Trusting in Jesus’ promises can bring comfort in times of trial
Forgiveness and Healing: Reparation for sins can bring peace to the heart and renewal in Christ
Final Perseverance: Those who complete the devotion with love and faith are assured of Christ’s presence at the moment of death
The FIVE FIRST SATURDAYS DEVOTION originated from the 1917 apparitions of the Virgin Mary in Fatima, Portugal. During these apparitions, Our Lady asked for acts of reparation to be made on the first Saturday of five consecutive months, with the intention of atoning for the sins committed against her Immaculate Heart. While the Sacred Heart of Jesus promises abundant blessings, including peace, consolation, and assistance at the hour of death, to those who faithfully observe nine consecutive First Fridays. Similarly, Our Lady extends her maternal protection and the promise of salvation to those who commit to five consecutive First Saturdays in honor of her Immaculate Heart.
Our Lady promises her assistance and graces especially at the hour of death, as well as peace and consolation in families and eventual salvation for those who faithfully practice the First Five Saturdays devotion. It involves attending Mass, receiving communion, praying the Rosary, and meditating on its mysteries on 5 consecutive first Saturdays with the intention of making reparation to the Immaculate Heart of Mary.
The promises of Mary for the First Five Saturdays devotion:
On each First Saturday, after receiving communion, reciting the Rosary, and meditating for 15 minutes on the mysteries of the Rosary, Our Lady promised to assist at the hour of death with all the graces necessary for salvation all those who make this devotion in reparation to Her Immaculate Heart.
Our Lady promised to grant peace to families who fulfill this devotion.
Those who fulfill the devotion will be consoled by Our Lady and will see Her eventually in heaven.
Our Lady promised to assist in the salvation of those who practice this devotion by the graces of Her Immaculate Heart.
These First Saturday Prayers to the Immaculate Heart of Mary are recommended for those participating in the Five First Saturdays devotion.
Please see links below for both First Fridays and First Saturdays Devotions:
First Fridays Devotion: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/03/first-friday-devotion-to-the-sacred-heart-of-jesus/
First Fridays and First Saturdays Devotions: https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/03/first-fridays-first-saturdays-devotions/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Friday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time | September 5, 2025
Reading 1: Colossians 1:15–20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 100:1b–2, 3, 4, 5
Gospel: Luke 5:33–39
Gospel Reading ~ Luke 5:33–39
“When the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast”
“The scribes and Pharisees said to Jesus, “The disciples of John the Baptist fast often and offer prayers, and the disciples of the Pharisees do the same; but yours eat and drink.” Jesus answered them, “Can you make the wedding guests fast while the bridegroom is with them? But the days will come, and when the bridegroom is taken away from them, then they will fast in those days.” And he also told them a parable. “No one tears a piece from a new cloak to patch an old one. Otherwise, he will tear the new and the piece from it will not match the old cloak. Likewise, no one pours new wine into old wineskins. Otherwise, the new wine will burst the skins, and it will be spilled, and the skins will be ruined. Rather, new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins. And no one who has been drinking old wine desires new, for he says, ‘The old is good.’”
In today’s Gospel, Jesus responds to the Pharisees who question why His disciples do not fast like those of John the Baptist and the Pharisees. He explains that His presence is like that of a bridegroom at a wedding feast, this is a time of joy, not mourning. Yet He also points to a future when He will be “taken away,” and then His followers will fast. Jesus speaks of Himself as the bridegroom at a wedding feast and He makes reference to wine as a metaphor for His ministry. He speaks not just of wine but of new wine; there is a newness to what He is saying and doing, in comparison to the teaching of the scribes, the experts in the Jewish Law. The new wine of His ministry calls for new wine skins, a new outlook, a new disposition of mind and heart, a readiness to change. Faced with the new wine of Jesus’ ministry some people were saying, to quote the Gospel reading, ‘the old is good’. Jesus valued the old, such as the Scriptures of His own people; He frequently quoted the Jewish Scriptures to explain His mission. Yet, He went beyond the old too. In terms of our own faith, we need to hold on to what is of value in the old. The tradition of the church, in the broadest sense of that term, has much to teach us today. Yet, we also need to be open to the Lord’s call to move beyond the old, because the tradition of the faith is a living tradition. It takes new forms in new generations. The Spirit of the Lord will always be moving us on into new territory, and we need to keep on trying to listen to what the Spirit may be saying to the Church, to each one of us as members of the Church.
Through the parable of the new wine and fresh wineskins, Jesus teaches that His mission is not simply to patch up old traditions, but to bring about something entirely new, the New Covenant in His blood. His words remind us that discipleship requires openness of heart, the willingness to be renewed, and the courage to embrace change when God calls us into deeper life with Him. The Gospel challenges us to ask: Am I clinging to old habits, fears, or rigid ways that prevent me from receiving the newness Christ offers? Just as wineskins must be supple to hold new wine, so too must our hearts be open and flexible to the movement of the Holy Spirit. Christ does not come to destroy what is good in our lives, but to transform it breathing new life into our faith, prayer, and daily living. The Gospel suggests that what we need to keep doing is to keep opening our hearts to the new wine of the Lord’s presence and word.
In the first reading, St. Paul’s hymn in Colossians lifts our gaze to the majesty of Christ: He is “the image of the invisible God,” the Lord through whom all things were created. Not only is He the head of the Church, but He is also the reconciler of heaven and earth, bringing peace through the blood of His Cross. This powerful passage calls us to recognize Jesus not as one teacher among many, but as the center of all creation and redemption. In Him, all things hold together and in Him, our lives find meaning, direction, and eternal hope.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, the psalmist invites us to come before the Lord with joy and thanksgiving. “He made us, we belong to Him.” This reminds us that our identity and dignity flow from being God’s people, His beloved flock. As the Creator and Shepherd, God’s kindness and faithfulness endure forever. In response, our hearts are called to break forth in songs of praise, acknowledging His goodness in our lives.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are challenged to ask: Am I allowing Christ to make me new each day, or am I resisting His call to deeper conversion? Do I see Jesus as the center of my life, the one in whom “all things hold together”? How can I be more flexible, open, and responsive to the Spirit’s movement, letting go of the “old wineskins” of pride, routine, or fear? May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace to remain steadfast in faith and continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, You are the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation, and the source of our redemption. Make us new wineskins open, humble, and ready to receive the new wine of Your Spirit. Help us to embrace change with trust, to rejoice in Your presence, and to fast with longing when we feel far from You. May our lives proclaim Your peace, our hearts overflow with thanksgiving, and our steps follow You faithfully all our days. Amen. 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA (KOLKATA), RELIGIOUS; SAINT BERTIN, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT LAWRENCE JUSTINIAN, BISHOP ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 5TH: Today, the Church honors three remarkable witnesses of faith: Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta (Kolkata), Religious (the founder of the Missionaries of Charity and a living icon of God’s love for the poorest of the poor), Saint Bertin, Religious (a Benedictine abbot, missionary, and monastic founder in France), and Saint Lawrence Justinian, Bishop (the first Patriarch of Venice, known for his humility, reform, and mystical writings). Through the intercession of Our Blessed Mother Mary and these holy saints, we pray for the poor, the sick, and the dying, especially those suffering from cancer and terminal illnesses. We lift up widows, widowers, and all who mourn the loss of loved ones. We pray for peace and unity in marriages, families, and communities. We entrust to God’s mercy the souls of the faithful departed, asking His light to shine upon them. We also pray for our Holy Father, bishops, priests, and all religious; for vocations to the priesthood and consecrated life; for persecuted Christians; for the conversion of sinners; and for hearts to be moved by God’s mercy and love. 🙏🏾
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | September 5th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Bertin, and Saint Lawrence Justinian | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-5th/)
SAINT MOTHER TERESA OF CALCUTTA (1910–1997): Born Anjezë Gonxha Bojaxhiu in Skopje, Macedonia, Mother Teresa discerned a call to religious life at a young age and entered the Sisters of Loreto, arriving in India in 1929. For nearly 20 years she taught at St. Mary’s School in Calcutta, until 1946, when she experienced her “call within a call” to serve Christ in “the poorest of the poor.” Leaving her convent, she founded the Missionaries of Charity in 1950, dedicated to loving and serving the abandoned, the dying, and the marginalized.
Wearing her simple white sari with a blue border, she became a universal sign of God’s compassion. Her order grew worldwide, establishing homes, schools, and centers of charity. Mother Teresa lived through great trials, including a hidden “dark night of the soul,” yet persevered in her mission of love. Awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1979, she always pointed attention back to Christ. Canonized in 2016 by Pope Francis, she is remembered as a “saint of the gutters” and patron of the Missionaries of Charity, World Youth Day, and the Archdiocese of Calcutta.
PRAYER: Saint Mother Teresa, you saw Christ in the poorest and the forgotten. Help us to love and serve with the same humility, faith, and courage. Amen. 🙏🏾
SAINT BERTIN (c. 615–709): Saint Bertin, a monk of Luxeuil Abbey, became a missionary in northern France alongside Saint Omer. He founded the great Abbey of Saint-Bertin in Saint-Omer, which became a center of evangelization, learning, and holiness for centuries. Known for his austerity, deep prayer, and zeal, he trained many disciples and monks who spread the Gospel throughout the region. Twenty-two of his monks were later canonized.
PRAYER: Lord, through Saint Bertin’s zeal and holiness, You strengthened Your Church. May his prayers inspire us to work for renewal, holiness, and missionary spirit. Amen. 🙏🏾
SAINT LAWRENCE JUSTINIAN (1381–1455): Born into a noble Venetian family, Lawrence felt called to holiness from youth and joined the Canons Regular of St. George in Alga. Known for his humility, simplicity, and love for prayer, he became a priest, reformer, and spiritual writer. In 1433, he was consecrated Bishop of Castello and later became the first Patriarch of Venice. A tireless shepherd, he reformed his diocese, cared for the poor, and promoted holiness among clergy and laity alike. His writings on prayer and the interior life remain treasured spiritual works. Canonized in 1690, he is the patron saint of Venice.
PRAYER: O God, You gave Saint Lawrence Justinian wisdom and holiness as a bishop. Grant that, through his intercession, we may walk faithfully in humility and charity. Amen. 🙏🏾
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Bertin, and Saint Lawrence Justinian ~ 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 SEPTEMBER: For our relationship with all of creation. Let us pray that, inspired by Saint Francis, we might experience our interdependence with all creatures who are loved by God and worthy of love and respect.
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER | MONTH OF OUR LADY OF SORROWS: September is dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows, inviting us to unite our hearts with Mary in her profound sharing of Christ’s Passion. As Simeon foretold, “a sword will pierce your own soul too” (Luke 2:35), and throughout her life Mary endured deep sorrows that culminated at Calvary. In her silent strength and unwavering faith, she became the compassionate Mother of all Christians, offering her suffering with Christ for the salvation of the world.
This month, the Church calls us to meditate on the Seven Sorrows of Mary: Simeon’s prophecy, the Flight into Egypt, the loss of the Child Jesus in the Temple, meeting Jesus on the way to Calvary, standing at the foot of the Cross, receiving His lifeless Body, and placing Him in the tomb. By reflecting on these sorrows, we learn patience in trials, compassion for the suffering, and a deeper love for Jesus who suffered for us.
Prayers such as the Chaplet of the Seven Sorrows, the Rosary of Our Lady of Sorrows, and the Litany of Our Lady of Sorrows help us to walk with Mary in her suffering and to discover hope and consolation in her maternal heart.
“Most Sorrowful and Immaculate Heart of Mary, teach us to stand with you at the Cross, sharing in Christ’s love and redemptive sacrifice.”
Our Lady of Sorrows, pray for us. Amen 🙏🏾
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: Heavenly Father, as we reflect on Christ, the image of the invisible God and the head of the Church, we are reminded that all things hold together in Him and that His Cross has brought reconciliation and peace. Today, inspired by the example of Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Bertin, and Saint Lawrence Justinian, we lift up the needs of the Church and the world. We pray for the poor, the sick, and the dying, that they may encounter Christ’s healing love. We pray for families, especially those broken by division or suffering, that they may be renewed in unity and peace. We remember all who feel empty or hopeless, that they may find in Christ the new wine of joy and the strength to persevere. We entrust our Holy Father, bishops, priests, and religious to God’s care, asking for renewed zeal and holiness. We pray for vocations, for the conversion of sinners, and for persecuted Christians who suffer for the faith. May Christ, who is our peace, transform hearts and renew the world in His mercy. 🙏🏾
LET US PRAY:
My most merciful Lord, I know You call me to continual change in my life. Please give me the courage I need to face all that I need to detach from in life and all that hinders me from becoming the glorious new creation You have called me to become. Pour forth Your abundant grace into my life, dear Lord, making me into Your new and glorious creation in grace. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, You are the light of the world and the fullness of God’s love made visible. As You taught us that new wine must be poured into fresh wineskins, make us open to the transforming power of Your Spirit. Through the intercession of Saint Mother Teresa, Saint Bertin, and Saint Lawrence Justinian, grant us the grace to love as You love, to serve with humility, and to bear witness to Your truth. May our lives proclaim Your peace and joy to all we meet. Amen. 🙏🏾
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Mother Teresa of Calcutta, Saint Bertin, and Saint Lawrence Justinian ~ 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 during this gentle rhythm of Ordinary Time, may our hearts remain open to the quiet working of the Holy Spirit who continues to guide, renew, and strengthen us each day. May this new month be filled with blessings, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ walks with us always. Alleluia! Have a blessed, safe, grace-filled and fulfilling month of September and a relaxing weekend🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | Global Missions Now Awards | https://youtu.be/gB31nuOFx0A?si=mSoZs-wiByhGs
North Texas Catholic Magazine | Dr. Philomena Ikowe – Life on Purpose (pages 44-45) | https://www.flipsnack.com/A9DFE877C6F/north-texas-catholic-magazine-mar-apr-issue-2025/full-view.html