TUESDAY OF THE TWENTY-FIFTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 23, 2025

MEMORIAL OF SAINT PIO OF PIETRELCINA (PADRE PIO), PRIEST; SAINT LINUS, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT THECLA, FIRST VIRGIN MARTYR AND SAINT CONSTANTIUS, | SEPTEMBER 23RD | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

(Direct link to the detailed history of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Linus, St. Thecla, and St. Constantius | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-23rd/)

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | September 23, 2025 | “Holy Mass from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | Pray “Holy Rosary Novena From Lourdes” | Pray “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song from the National Shrine of the Divine Mercy” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-daily-mass-september-23-2025/

NOVENA TO SAINT THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX – THE LITTLE FLOWER: DAY 2: The 2025 Novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is scheduled to begin on Monday, September 22nd, and end on September 30th in preparation for her Feast day on October 1st. | Link to Novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux – The Little Flower | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/novena-to-saint-therese-of-lisieux-the-little-flower/

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

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, Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time. We joyfully thank God for the gift of this month, September, and thank Him for the gift of life! Lord Almighty, we thank You for granting us your grace and favor 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 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/

SAINT 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, Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest | September 23, 2025
Reading 1: Ezra 6:7–8, 12b, 14–20
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 122:1–2, 3–4ab, 4cd–5
Gospel: Luke 8:19–21

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 8:19–21

“My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

“The mother of Jesus and his brothers came to him but were unable to join him because of the crowd. He was told, “Your mother and your brothers are standing outside and they wish to see you.” He said to them in reply, “My mother and my brothers are those who hear the word of God and act on it.”

In today’s Gospel, Jesus expands the understanding of family. The members of Jesus’ family, His mother and brothers, go looking for Him, probably out of concern for Him. They might have expected that when He came to hear that they were outside the house where He was teaching He would come out to them straight away. After all, blood is thicker than water. Yet, instead, He sent out someone to tell them that He was now forming a new family, the family of His disciples. All those who hear the word of God, as He preached it, and put that word into practice were now His mother and brothers and sisters. This must have been difficult for the members of Jesus’ blood family to hear. Jesus is not dismissing His earthly family, especially His Blessed Mother, but He is pointing to the deeper reality of spiritual kinship. To belong to Christ is not just a matter of blood ties but of listening to God’s Word and putting it into practice. He no longer belonged to them in any special way. Instead, they were being invited to become members of His new family. This new family is what we call the Church. The earliest Christian documents we possess are the letters of St. Paul, and in those letters St. Paul refers to the members of the Church as brothers and sisters in Christ, and speaks of himself as father and, indeed, mother of his communities. We who gather to receive the Holy Eucharist at Holy Mass are members of Jesus’ new family. It is striking to think that when He looks out upon us He recognises us as His brothers and sisters. This is the quality of the relationship that He desires to have with each of us, one that is akin to and even deeper than our relationship with the members of our blood families. The Gospel reading assures us that if we try to listen to the Lord’s word and live by it, we can consider ourselves His spiritual siblings.

We venerate Jesus as Lord and as Son of God, because so indeed He is. In spite of His unique status and His unique relationship with God, Jesus wants to relate to us as family. He wants to call us brother and sister and for us to call Him brother. For this to become a reality what He asks is that we hear the word of God and put it into practice. Jesus was completely given over to the word of God, to the will of God. He heard that word and took it in so completely that it shaped all that He said and did. St. John’s Gospel goes so far as to say that Jesus is the Word, the Word made flesh. The essence of our baptismal calling is to hear the word and to put it into practice. Like the seed that fell on good soil, we are to hear the word and take it to ourselves and yield a harvest through our perseverance. If we keep striving to listen to the word of God and so that it shapes who we are and what we do, then the Lord will delight in calling us family. We are challenged to live our faith authentically, showing by our lives that we are members of His household. Discipleship is not passive hearing but active obedience our choices, actions, and daily sacrifices are what mark us as true children of God.

The Gospel reading today reminds us that we are all part of the great spiritual family of the Church; we are brothers and sisters of Jesus, sons and daughters of God, and we look to Mary as our mother. Let us pray today for a deeper appreciation of the special bond that unites us all as members of the Church, as people who have been baptized into Christ and who, however imperfectly, share in His relationship with God the Father. The Gospel invites us to reflect on the place of God’s Word in our lives. Do we simply hear it on Sundays, or do we let it transform us daily? Jesus calls us into a relationship where obedience is not a burden but a sign of love. Our beloved Mother Mary, His mother, perfectly embodies this truth, for she listened to God’s Word and kept it in her heart. In her, we see that true kinship with Christ comes from fidelity and surrender to God’s will.

In the first reading, the book of Ezra tells us about the rebuilding of the Temple in Jerusalem after the exile. Despite opposition, God worked through King Darius and the prophets to accomplish His plan. The people rejoiced as the Temple was restored and celebrated the Passover with great joy. This passage reminds us that God is faithful to His promises. Even in times of difficulty or exile, He provides the strength and resources for renewal. The people’s joy flowed from obedience and dedication to God’s house. For us today, it is a call to remain faithful in rebuilding the “temple” of our own lives, families, and communities, trusting that God is always at work, even in the most unlikely ways.

Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm, “Let us go rejoicing to the house of the Lord.” The psalm is a joyful song of pilgrimage to Jerusalem, the dwelling place of God. For the Israelites, entering the holy city was not just about location but about encountering God in worship and unity. As Christians, the Psalm points us to the deeper reality of the Church as the dwelling place of God’s Spirit and, ultimately, to the heavenly Jerusalem. This joyful longing invites us to renew our love for the Eucharist, the true house of the Lord where Christ Himself dwells. Each time we gather for Mass, we echo the psalmist’s joy in entering God’s presence with thanksgiving and unity.

As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, we are called to ask ourselves, am I truly living as a brother or sister of Christ by both hearing and obeying His Word? Do I trust God’s providence to rebuild what is broken in my life, as He rebuilt the Temple for Israel? Do I approach the Holy Eucharist with joy and gratitude, recognizing it as God’s dwelling among us? How can I imitate Mary’s example of listening to God’s Word and keeping it in my heart today? Brothers and sisters, today’s Scriptures remind us that to be true members of God’s household is not about status, heritage, or appearances, but about obedience to His Word. Like the exiles who joyfully rebuilt the Temple, we are called to rebuild our lives upon the foundation of God’s promises, trusting His providence even in the face of trials. Like the Psalmist, let us approach the Lord’s dwelling with joy, finding strength and unity in His presence. And like Mary, the first and perfect disciple, let us hear the Word of God and keep it faithfully in our hearts. Let us go forth determined to let our lives proclaim that we belong to Christ, living not as hearers only but as doers of the Word, shining His light in a world that longs for hope. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace as we remain steadfast in faith and continue to serve Him in spirit and in truth. 🙏🏽

Lord Jesus, You remind us today that true family is found in hearing Your Word and living it out. Teach me to listen with an open heart and to obey with courage and love. Like Mary, may I treasure Your Word and let it shape my life. Rebuild in me what is broken, Lord, and make me a living temple of Your Spirit. As I rejoice to enter Your presence in prayer and the Eucharist, help me to walk each day as a faithful child of God and a true disciple in Your household. Amen. 🙏🏽

MEMORIAL OF SAINT PIO OF PIETRELCINA (PADRE PIO), PRIEST; SAINT LINUS, POPE AND MARTYR; SAINT THECLA, FIRST VIRGIN MARTYR; AND SAINT CONSTANTIUS ~ FEAST DAY: SEPTEMBER 23RD: Today, the Church honors four remarkable witnesses of holiness: Saint Pio of Pietrelcina (Padre Pio), Priest (Patron of civil defense volunteers, adolescents, and those suffering from stress or illness); Saint Linus, Pope and Martyr (second pope of the Church and faithful witness after Saint Peter); Saint Thecla, First Virgin Martyr (proto-martyr among women and model of fidelity and courage); and Saint Constantius (humble sacristan and miracle worker of Ancona). Their lives remind us of the power of prayer, the courage of steadfast faith, and the humility of serving God in all circumstances. Through their intercession, and with the help of our Blessed Mother Mary, we lift our prayers today for the sick and suffering, especially those with cancer, terminal illnesses, and mental distress; for widows, widowers, and the poor; for peace and unity in our families, marriages, and the world; for the souls in Purgatory and the faithful departed; and for our Holy Father, bishops, priests, religious, and all Christians. May the Lord grant us the grace to imitate their example of faith, perseverance, and love. Amen. 🙏🏾

Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | September 23rd | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

( Direct link to the detailed history of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Linus, St. Thecla, and St. Constantius | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-23rd/)

SAINT PIO OF PIETRELCINA (PADRE PIO), PRIEST (1887–1968): Padre Pio of Pietrelcina, born Francesco Forgione in Italy, was a Capuchin friar, mystic, and priest renowned for his humility, prayer, and the extraordinary spiritual gifts God bestowed on him. From childhood, he felt drawn to a life of holiness, entering the Capuchins at sixteen and later ordained a priest in 1910. In 1918, he received the visible stigmata, bearing the wounds of Christ for fifty years. Despite suspicion and trials, Padre Pio embraced his suffering as an offering for the salvation of souls.

He was known as a confessor, spiritual director, and miracle worker who read souls and brought countless people back to God through the sacraments. His devotion to the Eucharist and Our Lady inspired thousands to deeper faith. He founded the “Home for the Relief of Suffering,” a hospital that combined spiritual and medical care. Padre Pio died in 1968 with the words “Jesus and Mary” on his lips and was canonized by Pope St. John Paul II in 2002.

PRAYER: Lord, through the intercession of St. Pio of Pietrelcina, grant us the grace to remain faithful in prayer, to embrace suffering with love, and to live in deep union with You. Amen. 🙏🏾

SAINT LINUS, POPE AND MARTYR (d. ~76 AD): St. Linus, the second pope after St. Peter, served the early Church with courage and faithfulness during a time of persecution. Mentioned in Scripture (2 Timothy 4:21), he led the Christian community in Rome for about nine years. Though little is known of his life, his witness reflects the steadfastness of the early popes who guided the flock in turbulent times.

PRAYER: O God, who gave us St. Linus as a shepherd of Your Church, grant us the grace to remain steadfast in faith and to trust in Your guidance through all trials. Amen. 🙏🏾

SAINT THECLA, FIRST VIRGIN MARTYR (1st century): St. Thecla, often called the “proto-martyr among women,” was converted through the preaching of St. Paul. Choosing virginity and faith in Christ over marriage, she endured fire, wild beasts, and persecution, yet was miraculously preserved each time. Devoted to spreading the Gospel, she lived as a hermit in Asia Minor until her death at ninety. Her courage and fidelity made her a model for Christian women and all who face trials for the faith.

PRAYER: Almighty God, through the witness of St. Thecla, strengthen us to remain faithful in purity, courage, and love, no matter the cost. Amen. 🙏🏾

SAINT CONSTANTIUS (5th century): St. Constantius was a humble sacristan at the Cathedral of St. Stephen in Ancona, Italy. Known for his simplicity, humility, and miracles, he served with devotion, even miraculously keeping lamps lit with little oil. His humility was as great as his wonder-working, embracing even insults with love. His example shows that sanctity is found in humble, faithful service to God.

PRAYER: Lord, grant us through the intercession of St. Constantius a spirit of humility and charity, that we may serve You faithfully in the ordinary tasks of life. Amen. 🙏🏾

Our Blessed Mother Mary, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Linus, St. Thecla, and St. Constantius ~ 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 Memorial of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, Saint Linus, Saint Thecla, and Saint Constantius, we lift our hearts in prayer. May the Lord strengthen us to live as true members of His household, not merely by words but by obedience to His will, as Christ reminds us in today’s Gospel. We pray for all priests, especially those who, like Padre Pio, dedicate their lives to the Eucharist, confession, and interceding for souls. We remember the successors of St. Linus, praying for our Holy Father, bishops, and all shepherds of the Church, that they may guide with courage and fidelity. Inspired by St. Thecla’s purity and St. Constantius’s humility, we pray for young people discerning their vocation, for widows, widowers, and those who suffer rejection for the sake of Christ. We entrust the sick and dying, especially those suffering in silence, to the merciful heart of God, asking for comfort and healing. We pray for peace in families and in the world, for the poor, the forgotten, and for all Christians enduring persecution. Through the intercession of Our Lady and these saints, may we persevere in holiness and remain faithful to God’s call. 🙏🏾

LET US PRAY:

My divine Lord, Your love for Your earthly mother was perfect in every way. That earthly bond was transformed and elevated by Your spiritual union with her on account of Your mutual obedience to the will of the Father. Please draw me into Your divine Family by helping me to listen to and to obey all that the Father speaks. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽

Heavenly Father, You remind us through Your Word that true kinship with Christ comes from hearing Your voice and putting it into practice. Through the powerful intercession of Saint Pio of Pietrelcina, may we grow in prayer and trust, offering our lives as a sacrifice of love. Strengthen us through the witness of Saint Linus to remain steadfast in faith, through Saint Thecla to pursue purity and courage, and through Saint Constantius to serve You humbly in all things. Bless our priests, heal the sick, console the sorrowful, and grant peace to our world. May Your Spirit make us faithful children of Your household, living always in the light of Christ, who is Lord forever and ever. Amen. 🙏🏾

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, St. Pio of Pietrelcina, St. Linus, St. Thecla, and St. Constantius ~ 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, Tuesday, fruitful week ahead, 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