SUNDAY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME (YEAR C)
SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 14, 2025
FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST
MEMORIAL OF SAINT NOTBURGA OF AUSTRIA AND SAINT MATERNUS, BISHOP OF COLOGNE | SEPTEMBER 14TH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, Saint Notburga and Saint Maternus, Bishop | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-14th/)
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | September 14, 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-190/
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/
We thank God for the successful completion of our Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows.
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. Happy Sunday and Happy Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ!
Today, Sunday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time.
HAPPY 7OTH BIRTHDAY TO OUR DEAR BELOVED, POPE LEO XIV!💙🤍💙
“The LORD has done it this very day; let us rejoice today and be glad.” ~ Psalm 118:24
“The Lord bless you and keep you; the Lord make his face shine upon you and be gracious to you; the Lord lift up His countenance upon you and give you peace” ~ Numbers 6:24-26
Today is a day to rejoice and be glad, indeed! On this special Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, we celebrate the 70th birthday of our dear beloved Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV! Please let us all keep him in our thoughts and prayers.
PRAYER FOR POPE LEO XIV
O God, shepherd and ruler of all the faithful, look favorably on your servant Leo, whom you have set at the head of your Church as her shepherd; grant, we pray, that by word and example he may be of service to those over whom he presides so that, together with the flock entrusted to his care, he may come to everlasting life. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, God, for ever and ever. Amen 🙏🏽
We Love You, Pope Leo XIV!🙏🏽🤍
POPE LEO XIV’S 7OTH BIRTHDAY | A BRIEF LIFE JOURNEY OF POPE LEO XIV |
https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/happy-70th-birthday-to-our-dear-beloved-pope-leo-xiv/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
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 of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross of Our Lord Jesus Christ, 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 pray for the gentle repose of the souls of our loved ones who recently passed away, and we continue to pray for the souls in Purgatory; lost souls. For the repose of the souls of all the faithful departed, may 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 and the Holy Spirit forever and 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/
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/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Sunday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross | September 14, 2025
Reading 1: Numbers 21:4b–9
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 78:1bc–2, 34–35, 36–37, 38
Reading 2: Philippians 2:6–11
Gospel: John 3:13–17
Gospel Reading ~ John 3:13–17
“So the Son of Man must be lifted up; For God loved the world so much that He gave His only Son”
“Jesus said to Nicodemus: “No one has gone up to heaven except the one who has come down from heaven, the Son of Man. And just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.” For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him might not perish but might have eternal life. For God did not send His Son into the world to condemn the world, but that the world might be saved through Him.”
In today’s Gospel reading, on this special feast of the exaltation or triumph of the Holy Cross we celebrate the lifting up of the Son of Man. The Gospel details the exchange between our Lord Jesus and Nicodemus, the Pharisee who was sympathetic to Him and His teachings. The Lord spoke of the parallel between what happened back then and what He Himself would have to undergo, as He would be raised up as the Son of Man, before all the people much as how the bronze serpent was raised up by Moses before the whole people of Israel. And just as how the bronze serpent showed the salvation, mercy, compassion and forgiveness from God for His people, sparing them from the fiery serpents, thus, the Lord has also showed the infinite love of God through His crucifixion and His Cross. The Lord has shown us His enduring and patient love, made manifest through His Son, and this was made possible because He loved us so much that He willingly emptied Himself and took up the appearance and essence of our humanity, by being born of His mother Mary, becoming the Son of God incarnate in the flesh, and becoming the Son of Man. Through His incarnation in the flesh, God made His love visible and tangible for us, and by His voluntary sacrifice on the Cross, the show of God’s ultimate love, all of us have witnessed and received the manifestation of that undying love. By suffering and dying on the Cross, He made us all sharers in His salvation, and die to our sins, and by His glorious Resurrection, He shared with us the new life, free from sin that we shall enjoy for eternity.
Christ by His humble submission to His Father’s will has shown us all mankind how we can be truly faithful to the Lord, and breaking free from the chains of sin and wickedness that had enslaved us, and how we can gain freedom from death through Christ and His assurance of salvation and new life for us. While the first Adam faltered and failed when tested by the devil, and succumbed to the temptations of his desires, ending up with sin that corrupted us all, Our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ as the New Adam showed us that we should not and cannot bow down to those temptations or to the devil, and we should instead seek the Lord and commit ourselves to Him wholeheartedly. That is why the devil, Satan, and all of his fallen allies, the evil spirits and demons despised and feared the Holy Cross, because that tool of humiliation that was once used for the worst of criminals, as means for great suffering and humiliation, has become the means by which God saved His beloved people, and through His Holy Cross, the Lord has cast a devastating blow upon the devil and all of his forces, and broke their dominion over us forever, showing us the sure path to freedom from sin and death, and into eternal life. This is why today we mark that glorious triumph of the Holy Cross over the forces of sin, evil and death. Today’s feast celebrates the good news that God turned the tragedy of Calvary into a triumph for us all. Through the cross, God’s life-giving love and mercy was embracing us all. Today’s feast also reminds us that in our own personal experiences of Calvary, the Lord is present with us in a loving and merciful way, working on our behalf to bring new life out of our suffering and dying.
Our first reading today details what happened when the Israelites rebelled against God in the desert, and the bronze serpent of Moses was crafted to help the Israelites. At that time, the rebellious Israelites disobeyed God such that the Lord sent fiery serpents to strike at them as punishment for their sins, disobedience and wickedness. Many died from those fiery serpents and their bites, and the people begged the Lord for forgiveness and mercy. It was then that the Lord told Moses to craft that bronze serpent as a sign of God’s salvation and mercy, and all those who saw that bronze serpent after being bitten did not perish. The people of Israel cried out, ‘We have sinned by speaking against the Lord’. However, when they looked upon the bronze serpent they experienced the Lord’s life-giving mercy. When we look upon the face of the Lord on the cross, we too find mercy; we experience the cross as the throne of grace.
The psalm proclaims: “Do not forget the works of the Lord!” (Ps 78). It recalls God’s mercy despite Israel’s unfaithfulness though they flattered Him with their mouths and their hearts strayed, He forgave them and did not destroy them. The cross embodies this truth: in Christ, God forgives even when we are unfaithful, turning His anger aside and offering us salvation.
As our second reading today from the Epistle of St. Paul to the Philippians highlighted, Christ obeyed His Father’s will and committed Himself so humbly and thoroughly that He would be raised up high on the Cross, to be the salvation for everyone who believe in Him. This is why all of us are reminded today on this important Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross that we have to remember everything that the Lord had lovingly and caringly done for us through His Cross. By His loving kindness and by His persistence in desiring to be reunited and reconciled with us, He has done everything He could, even to the point of humbling and emptying Himself of all glory and honour, to be led to the slaughter place, and to offer Himself as the perfect and most worthy offering for the atonement of all of our sins, evils and wickedness. Hence, we must be thankful and appreciate all that the Lord had done for us, in having been patient in bearing with us and our infidelities, our stubbornness and arrogance, in having resisted His efforts and attempts to reach out to us all these while.
As we reflect and meditate on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are called to examine our priorities: As we gaze upon the cross today, do we see only suffering, or do we recognize God’s victory over sin and death? Am I willing to embrace the crosses in my life as opportunities to be united with Christ in love and trust? Do I allow the humility and obedience of Christ to shape how I live, love, and serve others? In times of sin and failure, do I turn my gaze back to the cross, trusting in God’s mercy, or do I despair? Therefore, as we honor the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, let us not be ashamed of the Cross of Christ but glory in it, for it is the power of God and the path to eternal life. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us the grace as we carry our daily crosses with faith and perseverance, knowing that through them we are united to Christ’s victory over sin and death. 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus Christ, we adore and exalt Your holy cross, the sign of our salvation. You turned an instrument of death into the tree of life, transforming suffering into victory. Teach us to embrace our crosses with faith, knowing that in them we share in Your redeeming love. May we never forget the works of the Lord, but always lift our eyes to You, who were lifted up for our sake. Strengthen us to walk in humility and obedience, and let the triumph of Your cross bring healing, forgiveness, and new life to our hearts. Amen. 🙏🏽
FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS: Today, the Church solemnly celebrates the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, also known as the Triumph of the Cross, Holy Cross Day, or Roodmas. On this sacred day, we lift our hearts in gratitude for the mystery of our redemption accomplished through the Cross of Christ. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and all the saints, we pray for the sick and dying, especially those battling cancer, mental illness, and other terminal diseases. We remember the poor, the needy, and the souls in Purgatory, and we entrust to God’s mercy the faithful departed. We pray for peace, love, and unity in our families and communities, for persecuted Christians worldwide, and for the sanctification of the clergy and an increase in holy vocations. May the Holy Cross, sign of our salvation, strengthen us to follow Christ with faith and courage. 🙏🏽
HISTORY & SIGNIFICANCE: The Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross has been celebrated since at least the 7th century in Rome. It recalls two pivotal events: the discovery of the True Cross by St. Helena, mother of Emperor Constantine, around 326 A.D., and the dedication in 335 of the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Jerusalem, built on Calvary where Christ was crucified.
Legend tells us that after Christ’s death, His Cross was hidden to prevent veneration. Nearly three centuries later, Constantine, before a decisive battle, prayed to the God of the Christians. He saw in the sky a luminous cross with the words: “In this sign, you will conquer.” Victory followed, and Constantine placed the Cross on Roman standards. Soon after, St. Helena’s pilgrimage to the Holy Land led to the recovery of the True Cross, which immediately became a focal point of devotion.
The Cross was later stolen during the Persian invasion of 614, but in 629 it was triumphantly restored to Jerusalem by Emperor Heraclius, who carried it barefoot and in penitent humility up to Calvary. This dramatic recovery underscored the Cross as both a relic of history and a sign of God’s victory over sin and death. Beyond these historical milestones, the feast points us to the deeper truth: the Cross is not simply an instrument of suffering but the throne of Christ’s victory. By His obedience unto death, Jesus transformed the Cross into the very means of salvation.
SPIRITUAL REFLECTION: The liturgy of this feast is triumphant: we rejoice that God transformed the greatest instrument of shame into the tree of life. Just as Moses lifted the bronze serpent to heal the Israelites, so Christ was lifted up on the Cross to heal humanity. For us, the Cross is not merely a memory of Christ’s suffering but a present sign of hope, strength, and redemption. At Baptism, we are sealed with the Sign of the Cross, marked forever as belonging to Christ. In daily prayer, trials, and temptations, the Cross is our refuge. To make the Sign of the Cross is to give our whole being, mind, heart, soul, and body into God’s hands. Thus, the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross is an invitation: to glory not in worldly triumphs, but in the Cross of Christ. In our own sufferings, we are united with Him who turned sorrow into salvation.
PRAYER: O God, You willed that Your only Son should endure the Cross to bring salvation to the world. Grant that we who have known its mystery on earth may merit to receive the reward of redemption in heaven. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINTS OF THE DAY: MEMORIAL OF SAINT NOTBURGA OF AUSTRIA AND SAINT MATERNUS, BISHOP OF COLOGNE ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 14TH: Today, the Church also commemorates two holy witnesses: Saint Notburga of Austria (Patron of servants and peasants), and Saint Maternus, Bishop of Cologne (Patron of the Diocese of Trier and Cologne). Through their example of humility, courage, and fidelity, may we grow in holiness and persevere in our journey of faith.
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | September 14th | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com
( Direct link to the detailed history of Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cros,s Saint Notburga, and Saint Maternus | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-14th/)
SAINT NOTBURGA OF AUSTRIA (1265–1313): St. Notburga was a humble servant in Tyrol, Austria, remembered for her charity to the poor and her devotion to God. Even when forbidden to share leftovers with the hungry, she courageously continued her works of mercy. A famous miracle recounts how her sickle remained suspended in the air when she refused to work on a Sunday, upholding the sanctity of the Lord’s Day. She is honored as the patron saint of servants and peasants, and her example calls us to holiness in the ordinary duties of life.
PRAYER: Lord, You raised Saint Notburga as a witness of charity and fidelity to Your commandments. Through her intercession, help us to serve You with humility and to show kindness to the poor and needy. Amen. 🙏🏽
SAINT MATERNUS, BISHOP OF COLOGNE (d. 325): St. Maternus was the first known Bishop of Cologne and a defender of the faith against heresy. Tradition holds that he was miraculously restored to life by St. Peter to continue his mission of shepherding God’s people. He worked tirelessly to strengthen the Church in Trier, Cologne, and Tongres, guiding the faithful with zeal and courage.
PRAYER: Almighty God, who gave Saint Maternus strength to defend the truth of the faith, grant that through his intercession we may stand firm in our witness to Christ and remain faithful to His Church. Amen. 🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, the Holy Cross of Our Lord, Saint Notburga and Saint Maternus ~ 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 Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, we turn our hearts to Christ who gave His life for our salvation. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints John Gabriel Perboyre, and Saint Materne, we humbly lift our prayers for the Church and for the world. We pray for our children and children everywhere, for their health, safety, and well-being, especially those abandoned, abused, or terminally ill, asking for God’s healing and protection. We pray for mothers and wives, for families enduring trials, and for victims of verbal or spousal abuse, that they may be comforted and restored. We pray for peace, love, and unity in our families, communities, and nations, and for deliverance from impossible causes or situations. We remember the souls in Purgatory, especially our departed loved ones, and all the faithful departed, that they may enter the light of God’s eternal kingdom. We pray for widows and widowers, for the Holy Father Pope Francis, bishops, priests, deacons, and all who serve the Gospel, and for an increase in vocations to the priesthood and religious life. We especially entrust seminarians preparing for ordination, youth discerning their path, and persecuted Christians suffering for the faith. May the Cross of Christ be for all the source of healing, hope, and eternal victory.
LET US PRAY:
My exalted Lord, help me to gaze upon the Cross and to find in Your suffering the promise of final victory. Strengthen me when I am weak, heal me when I am wounded, and sustain me when I carry the burdens of life. Teach me to embrace every cross with faith and hope in You, trusting that through the Cross comes redemption, and through suffering comes glory. Transform my crosses into instruments of Your grace, so that You may be exalted in all I do. Lord Jesus, I trust in You. Amen.🙏🏽
Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, the Holy Cross of Our Lord, Saint Notburga, and Saint Maternus ~ 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, Sunday 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