MEMORIAL OF SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO (TOLENTINE), PRIEST; SAINT PULCHERIA, EMPRESS AND SAINT AMBROSE EDWARD BARLOW, PRIEST AND MARTYR |

WEDNESDAY OF THE TWENTY-THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 10, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO (TOLENTINE), PRIEST; SAINT PULCHERIA, EMPRESS AND SAINT AMBROSE EDWARD BARLOW, PRIEST AND MARTYR | SEPTEMBER 10TH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Pulcheria, and Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-10th/)

MEET THE NEW SAINTS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/canonization-of-carlo-acutis-pier-giorgio-frassati/

SAINT CARLO ACUTIS (1991–2006): a teenager from Milan, passionate about computer science, he used new media to spread the faith and love for the Eucharist. Beatified in 2020, he is a model of digital evangelization. | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saint-carlo-acutis/

PIER GIORGIO FRASSATI (1901–1925): a young man from Turin, sportsman and mountain enthusiast, he stood out for his charity towards the poor and his joyful witness to the Gospel. Beatified in 1990, he is the patron of young people and students. | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saint-pier-giorgio-frassati/

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS: REMINDER – The 2025 Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows is scheduled to begin on Saturday, September 6, and end on September 14 in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15th. Novena Link | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/novena-to-our-lady-of-sorrows/

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

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | September 10, 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-186/

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, Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time, we joyfully welcome the gift of this 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. We continue to pray for all families and for the safety and well-being of children all over the world, especially those beginning the new school year. 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 on this special Feast Day, we ask for healing for the sick and dying, especially those who are suffering from cancers and other terminal diseases, 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, through the intercession of the Saints we celebrate today, we humbly pray for the poor and those in need, for all those who are marginalized in our society. For those who are imprisoned, especially those who are unjustly imprisoned. We pray for those who fight for truth, peace, justice, 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 continue to 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.

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. 🙏🏽

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 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯

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/

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday of the Twenty-third Week in Ordinary Time | September 10, 2025
Reading 1: Colossians 3:1–11
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 145:2–3, 10–11, 12–13ab
Gospel: Luke 6:20–26

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 6:20–26

“Blessed are you who are poor. Woe to you who are rich”

Raising his eyes toward his disciples Jesus said: “Blessed are you who are poor, for the Kingdom of God is yours. Blessed are you who are now hungry, for you will be satisfied. Blessed are you who are now weeping, for you will laugh. Blessed are you when people hate you, and when they exclude and insult you, and denounce your name as evil on account of the Son of Man. Rejoice and leap for joy on that day! Behold, your reward will be great in heaven. For their ancestors treated the prophets in the same way. But woe to you who are rich, for you have received your consolation. But woe to you who are filled now, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will grieve and weep. Woe to you when all speak well of you, for their ancestors treated the false prophets in this way.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus presents the Beatitudes and the corresponding “woes,” which stand as a radical reversal of worldly values. He blesses the poor, the hungry, the sorrowful, and the persecuted, those who seem to have nothing yet promises them the riches of the Kingdom. At the same time, He warns the rich, the satisfied, the laughing, and the praised, reminding us that worldly comfort and acclaim can distract from eternal joy. Jesus is not saying that poverty is a blessing in itself. Rather He is declaring that the poor are blessed because God will work to transform their situation. It is the situation of being vulnerable that creates a space for God to work. It is often our need that opens us up to God; it is those who are afflicted in any way who are most likely to experience God’s nearness and God’s help. In contrast, those who appear to have everything often have no sense of their need for God and are not open to God’s transforming presence. Today’s Gospel reading assures us that our pain, our suffering, our affliction can be a blessing because it can open us up to experience the generosity of God towards us. Jesus calls His disciples to find hope not in possessions or human approval, but in God’s promise of eternal life. True blessing lies in trusting God amid struggle, remaining faithful when rejected, and persevering in hope when life feels heavy. The Gospel invites us to live with eyes fixed on heaven, holding lightly to passing comforts and standing firm in Christ’s truth, even when it costs us.

In our Gospel today, when Jesus speaks a word of consolation to the great mass of the poor, the hungry and the weeping, at the same time He issues a warning to the rich and complacent elite. He assures those who are struggling that God is aware of their plight and that God is working to reverse their abysmal situation, if not in this life, then in the kingdom of heaven. He warns the complacent rich who live in splendid isolation from the struggles of the vast bulk of the population that their situation will also be reversed, only for the worst. According to one of the psalms, ‘the Lord is close to the broken hearted, and saves the crushed in spirit’. This was the God that Jesus revealed by His words and His deeds. He gravitated towards the broken in body, mind and spirit, and they were drawn to Him. The Lord is especially close to us when we are broken or crushed in body, mind or spirit. He comes to bring us joy in our sorrow, strength in our weakness, and hope in our despondency. Whenever we come before the Lord in our poverty and weakness, we will find that He is close to us in love. The Lord who comes to us as our life-giver also wants to live in us so that He can be a life-giver for others through us. He wants to continue His mission to the broken in body, mind and spirit, in and through each one of us today. If the promise Jesus makes in today’s Gospel reading to the poor, the hungry and those who weep is to be fulfilled in this life and not just in eternity, He needs to work through each one of us. He needs us as His labourers today.

In today’s first reading, St. Paul reminds the Colossians that since they were raised with Christ, their lives must reflect that transformation. To “seek what is above” is to put away earthly passions, immorality, anger, malice, and greed, and to put on the new self, renewed in the image of the Creator. Paul stresses that in Christ there are no divisions, no Jew or Greek, slave or free, but that Christ is all in all. This radical equality before God reflects the Gospel’s vision: the poor and rejected are dignified, while those clinging to worldly power and status are challenged to let go. To live in Christ is to strip off the old self of sin and live each day clothed in His grace, mercy, and truth.

The Psalm lifts our hearts in praise, reminding us that God’s compassion embraces all His works. His Kingdom is everlasting, and His reign extends through every generation. Unlike worldly rulers who seek their own gain, God’s rule is marked by mercy, faithfulness, and enduring love. The Psalm echoes Jesus’ words in the Gospel: the Lord is near to the lowly, tender toward the broken, and just in His ways. Our response is to bless Him every day, to proclaim His glory, and to live as witnesses of His compassion in the world.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are called to examine the foundations of our lives. Do I seek the things above, or do I cling too tightly to earthly desires and comforts? When faced with hunger, sorrow, or rejection, do I trust in the Lord’s promise of eternal joy, or do I despair? Am I willing to embrace the radical call of the Beatitudes to stand with the poor, the excluded, and the marginalized—knowing that Christ Himself is with them? Like St. Paul teaches, am I daily putting on the new self, renewed in Christ, or do I still carry the old habits of sin and pride? Today’s Word reminds us that the path of discipleship is not easy, but blessed is the one who endures, for great will be their reward in heaven. 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. 🙏🏽

Heavenly Father, we thank You for the promise of Your Kingdom that upends worldly values and gives hope to the poor, the hungry, and the sorrowful. Teach us to set our hearts on what is above, to strip away the old self of sin, and to put on Christ daily. Lord, strengthen us to endure rejection and hardship with faith, knowing that our true reward is in You. May Your compassion flow through us, that we may comfort the broken, lift up the lowly, and proclaim the glory of Your eternal Kingdom. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

MEMORIAL OF SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO (TOLENTINE), PRIEST; SAINT PULCHERIA, EMPRESS AND SAINT AMBROSE EDWARD BARLOW, PRIEST AND MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 10TH: Today, the Church honors three faithful servants of Christ: Saint Nicholas of Tolentino (Patron of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, mariners, and the dying), Saint Pulcheria, Empress (protector of orphans, exiles, and defenders of the faith), and Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow, Priest and Martyr (one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales). Through their intercession, we pray for the sick and dying, especially those with serious illnesses; for the souls in Purgatory and the faithful departed; for peace, love, and unity in our families and communities; and for persecuted Christians who, like these saints, remain steadfast in faith. May their lives of prayer, charity, courage, and fidelity inspire us to embrace holiness and persevere in hope. 🙏🏾

Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | September 10th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Pulcheria, and Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-10th/)

SAINT NICHOLAS OF TOLENTINO (1245–1305): Saint Nicholas was an Italian Augustinian friar renowned for his deep prayer life, penance, humility, and compassion for the poor. Known especially as the Patron of the Holy Souls in Purgatory, he offered countless prayers, Masses, and sacrifices for their relief. His devotion inspired the tradition of “St. Nicholas bread,” blessed loaves distributed to the sick after his prayers for healing.

He spent the last thirty years of his ministry in Tolentino, where his preaching, confessions, and miracles drew many souls back to God. Despite his austerity, he radiated kindness and gentleness, earning the love of all. He suffered much in his final years but remained faithful to his mission until his death on September 10, 1305. Canonized in 1446, he remains a model of priestly humility and compassion.

PRAYER: Almighty God, through the intercession of St. Nicholas of Tolentino, may we grow in compassion, humility, and fidelity, and may his prayers bring comfort to the suffering and mercy to the souls in Purgatory. Amen. 🙏🏾

SAINT PULCHERIA, EMPRESS (399–453): Saint Pulcheria, daughter of Emperor Arcadius, became Empress and Regent of the Eastern Roman Empire. She took a vow of virginity and dedicated her life to faith, charity, and leadership. A wise and devout ruler, she guided her brother Theodosius II and later shared the throne with her husband Marcian, whom she married on the condition that her vow of virginity remain intact.

She defended the Church during the great theological controversies of her time, supporting Pope St. Leo the Great and playing a crucial role at the Council of Chalcedon (451), which affirmed Christ’s divinity and humanity. Pulcheria also promoted devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary, built churches, cared for the poor, and brought the relics of St. John Chrysostom back to Constantinople. She died in 453, remembered as a courageous empress, a defender of orthodoxy, and a mother to the poor.

PRAYER: Saint Pulcheria, faithful servant of Christ and protector of the Church, pray that we may remain steadfast in truth and charity, courageously defending the faith in our own time. Amen. 🙏🏾

SAINT AMBROSE EDWARD BARLOW (1585–1641): Born in England during a time of severe Catholic persecution, Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow discerned his vocation and joined the Benedictines. After ordination in France, he returned to minister in secret to Catholics in Lancashire for over two decades, celebrating Mass and administering the sacraments despite constant danger.

He was arrested multiple times, but refused to abandon his flock. When King Charles I decreed that all Catholic priests must leave England, Ambrose remained, saying he could not abandon his people. On Easter Sunday 1641, he was captured while celebrating Mass and later condemned to the brutal execution reserved for traitors: hanging, drawing, and quartering. He embraced martyrdom on September 10, 1641, and was canonized as one of the Forty Martyrs of England and Wales in 1970.

PRAYER: Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow, courageous priest and martyr, strengthen us to live with steadfast faith, even amid trials and persecution. Amen. 🙏🏾

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Pulcheria, and Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow ~ 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: On this day, as we reflect on Christ’s call to live for the things above (Colossians 3) and His blessings upon the poor and lowly (Luke 6), we pray for the grace to detach from worldly attachments and embrace the richness of God’s Kingdom. Through the intercession of Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, we lift up the souls in Purgatory, the sick, and the dying, asking for healing and consolation. Through Saint Pulcheria, we pray for wisdom and courage for all leaders in the Church and in government, that they may govern with justice, compassion, and fidelity to truth. Through Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow, we pray for persecuted Christians, for priests and religious who serve in hidden or hostile places, and for the gift of perseverance in our own trials. We also pray for peace in our families, unity in our communities, and the conversion of sinners. May our lives bear witness to Christ’s Beatitudes, living as true citizens of heaven. 🙏🏾

LET US PRAY:

My blessed Lord, You were poor, hungry, temperate and humble to the perfect degree. For these reasons, You were filled with perfect virtue and were satisfied to the greatest degree. Please open my eyes to the deceptions of this world so that I can live with You a life of true holiness, experiencing the riches of the Kingdom of Heaven. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

Lord God, You raised up holy men and women in every age to guide Your people to the Kingdom. Grant that, inspired by Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Pulcheria, and Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow, we may live with eyes fixed on what is eternal, walking in humility, courage, and charity. Help us to embrace the way of the Beatitudes, rejoicing in Your blessings even in times of trial. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏾

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Nicholas of Tolentino, Saint Pulcheria, and Saint Ambrose Edward Barlow ~ 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 and grace-filled Wednesday and a fulfilling month of September🙏🏽

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