WEDNESDAY THIRD WEEK OF EASTER
SAINT(S) OF THE DAY: FEAST DAY ~ MAY 7, 2025
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ROSA VENERINI, RELIGIOUS AND BLESSED GISELE, WIDOW| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Rosa Venerini and Saint Blessed Gisele | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-7th/)
Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary for the Conclave | EWTN | May 7, 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-64/
Greetings and blessings, beloved family. Happy Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter!
May this week be filled with peace, joy, and the renewed hope that comes from Christ’s Resurrection. Through the intercession of St. Joseph, we pray for all fathers, workers and all those who labour in this world. May the Lord bless the work of our hands 🙏🏽
The entire month of May is dedicated to our beloved Mother Mary, the Mother of God. As we continue to rejoice in the victory of Christ’s Resurrection, we give heartfelt thanks to God for the gift of life and for bringing us safely into the new month of May. May this Easter season renew our strength, deepen our faith, and fill our hearts with the peace of the Risen Lord. May our Mother Mary continue to intercede for us and may God’s grace and mercy be with us all during this season of Easter. Wishing us all and our loved ones a joyful, blessed start to the month. Amen 🙏🏽
Watch “CONCLAVE 2025: HOLY MASS “PRO ELIGENDO ROMANO PONTIFICE” | ELECTION OF THE ROMAN PONTIFF | PRESIDED OVER BY CARDINAL GIOVANNI BATTISTA RE | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | MAY 7, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/conclave-2025-holy-mass-pro-eligendo-romano-pontifice/
Live from St. Peter’s Basilica, Holy Mass “Pro Eligendo Romano Pontifice” (“for the election of the Roman Pontiff” presided over by Cardinal Giovanni Battista Re, Dean of the College of Cardinals.
THE FIRST SMOKE | FIRST FUMATA OF THE CONCLAVE | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | MAY 7, 2025 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/conclave-2025-holy-mass-pro-eligendo-romano-pontifice/
Live from St. Peter’s Square as the world watches the first fumata (smoke signal) of the 2025 Conclave. Cardinals from around the world are gathered in the Sistine Chapel, united in prayer and discernment, to choose the next Successor of St. Peter. The smoke determines the signal whether or not a new Pope is elected.
PRAYER FOR THE SOUL OF POPE FRANCIS AND SUCCESS OF THE CONCLAVE
With the passing of Pope Francis, let us continue to pray for the eternal repose of his soul. As the Papal Conclave to elect the next Roman Pontiff begins today we join in praying for the success of the selection of our next Pope and for the College of Cardinals as they embark on their sacred duty to elect Pope Francis’ successor:
Heavenly Father, You entrusted the care of Your Church on earth to Pope Francis, and now You have called him to Yourself. We entrust his soul to Your boundless mercy. For his lifelong service, we thank You. For his care for the poor and marginalized, we thank You. For his witness to simplicity, we thank You. In Your mercy, cleanse him of all sin. Purify him and draw him into the light of Your presence. Grant him the vision of Your Eternal Essence, into which we all long to be drawn. Protect Your Church in this time of transition. Guide the Cardinals in their sacred duty. Grant them Wisdom and Courage, Hope and Charity, and the Faith they need to discern Your Holy Will.
Father Most Holy, our God and King, Creator of all that was, is, and is to come – You alone know the heart of the one You have chosen as the successor to Pope Francis. Reveal Your will to the College of Cardinals. Open their hearts to Your inspirations. Open our hearts to receive, with faith and obedience, the one whom You will raise up to sit on the Chair of Saint Peter. May he be a man of deepest compassion, a man of profound faith and hope, a man whose charity shines forth, permeating the darkness of this world with the light of Christ. You are God Most High, the God of the living and the dead, the Great I AM, the Alpha and the Omega, Eternal Being and Source of all that is. May Your holy will be done, now and forever. Amen. Alleluia.
Merciful and loving God, We entrust to You our beloved Holy Father, Pope Francis. May he rest in the light of Your presence, where suffering and sorrow are no more, and every tear is wiped away. Comfort all who mourn his passing and raise up shepherds who will continue to guide Your Church in humility and love.
Eternal rest grant unto Pope Francis, O Lord. And let perpetual light shine upon him. May his gentle soul and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏🏽
Learn more about the Novendiales (Nine days of mourning) in the Papal Interregnum article below:
PAPAL INTERREGNUM (VACANCY OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE) | EWTN | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/papal-interregnum/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
NOVENDIALES MASSES FOR POPE FRANCIS | LIVE FROM THE VATICAN | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/funeral-mass-of-pope-francis/
Daily Reflections with Philomena | Prayer for the Soul of Pope Francis | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/precious-in-the-sight-of-the-lord-is-the-death-of-his-saints-psalm-11615/
On this special feast day, as we continue to celebrate the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, with special intention through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary, and the Saints, particularly Saint Joseph, Patron of the sick and dying, we pray for the sick and dying and all those who mourn the loss of their loved ones. We pray for our loved ones who have recently died, especially for our Holy Father, POPE FRANCIS, all those who died today, and all the faithful departed may the Lord receive them into the light of Eternal Kingdom. Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. May their gentle souls and souls of all the faithful departed through the mercy of God rest in perfect peace with our Lord Jesus Christ. Amen 🙏🏽 ✝️🕯✝️🕯✝️🕯
“Blessed are those who have died in the Lord; let them rest from their labors for their good deeds go with them.” ~ Rev 14:13
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 🙏🏽
As the Easter light continues to illumine our path, today we honor two faithful women of the Church: Saint Rosa Venerini (Patroness of Catholic educators, especially for young women), an Italian educator and pioneer of girls’ education, and Blessed Gisele of Hungary (Patroness of widows, queens, and Christian mothers), a queen and mother whose witness of faith helped shape a Christian nation. Through their intercession, we pray for teachers, mothers, widows, and all women striving to live with courage, wisdom, and holiness. May the Lord bless educators with zeal, families with peace, and all who carry the cross of grief with the hope of resurrection.
DAILY REFLECTIONS WITH PHILOMENA | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Daily Saints, Holy Mass, Holy Rosary, Chaplet of Divine Mercy and Scripture Reflections | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/reflections/
Watch “HOLY MASS ON THE JUBILEE OF THE SICK AND HEALTHCARE WORKERS | Presided by H.E. Most Rev. Rino Fisichella | Live from St. Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican | April 6, 2025” | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/04/06/holy-mass-on-the-jubilee-of-the-sick-and-healthcare-workers/
WORLD PRAYERS FOR POPE FRANCIS | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/02/26/world-prayers-for-pope-francis/
Honoring a Legacy of Service: The 10th Memorial Anniversary of Late Noble (Sir) Gabriel Louis Ihieje Opiepe (KSJI) | https://gliopiepehe.org/2025/04/12/honoring-a-legacy-of-service-the-10th-memorial-anniversary-of-late-noble-sir-gabriel-louis-ihieje-opiepe-ksji/
THE LITURGICAL YEAR IN THE CATHOLIC CHURCH | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2024/12/03/the-liturgical-year-in-the-catholic-church/
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
Pray “Holy Rosary for Peace with Pope Francis” | “The Chaplet of Divine Mercy in song”| “Holy Rosary ALL 20 Mysteries | Memorare Chaplet | Prayer in Difficult Times (Powerful Prayer) | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/2025/01/30/holy-rosary-for-peace-with-pope-francis/
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/
PRAYER FOR PEACE ~ POPE FRANCIS:
Lord God of peace, hear our prayer!
A PRAYER FOR PEACE : Lord Jesus Christ, You are the true King of peace. In You alone is found freedom. Please free our world from conflict. Bring unity to troubled nations. Let Your glorious peace reign in every heart. Dispel all darkness and evil. Protect the dignity of every human life. Replace hatred with Your love. Give wisdom to world leaders. Free them from selfish ambition. Eliminate all violence and war. Glorious Virgin Mary, Saint Michael the Archangel, Every Angel and Saint: Please pray for peace. Pray for unity amongst nations. Pray for unity amongst all people. Pray for the most vulnerable. Pray for those suffering. Pray for the fearful. Pray for those most in need. Pray for us all. Jesus, Son of the Living God, have mercy on us. Jesus, hear our prayers. Jesus, I trust in You! Amen 🙏🏽
Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/
SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:
Bible Readings for today’s Holy Mass, Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading
Today’s Bible Readings: Wednesday of the Third Week of Easter | Wednesday, May 7, 2025
Reading 1: Acts 8:1b-8
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 66:1-3a, 4-5, 6-7a
Gospel: John 6:35-40
Gospel Reading ~ John 6:35-40
“This is the will of my Father, that all who see the Son may have eternal life”
“Jesus said to the crowds, “I am the bread of life; whoever comes to me will never hunger, and whoever believes in me will never thirst. But I told you that although you have seen me, you do not believe. Everything that the Father gives me will come to me, and I will not reject anyone who comes to me, because I came down from Heaven not to do my own will but the will of the one who sent me. And this is the will of the one who sent me, that I should not lose anything of what He gave me, but that I should raise it on the last day. For this is the will of my Father, that everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life, and I shall raise Him on the last day.”
In today’s Gospel reading, Jesus says, ‘whoever comes to me I shall not turn away’. It is a statement that reveals the welcoming nature of the Lord’s presence. Those who come to Him will find a welcome from Him. The opening invitation of Jesus in this Gospel is ‘Come and see’. He invites people to come to Him and He promises those who do so that He will never turn them away. In this He is being true to God’s will which is, according to the Gospel reading, that all who see the Son and believe in Him shall have eternal life’. It is as the source of life, as the one who can satisfy our deepest hungers and thirsts, that Jesus invites people to come to Him, while assuring them that they will never be turned away if they do come. Through the sharing of His Most Precious Body and Blood, the Lord instituted the Eucharist to us, and bringing us together through His sacrifice, suffering and death on the Cross, and ultimately His Resurrection, into the Communion of the faithful, uniting all of us into His Body, the Body of Christ, the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church. That is why the Eucharist we receive, which we believe is truly the Real Presence of the Lord in His Most Precious Body and Blood, is called Holy Communion, and only those who have lived and shared faithfully the full teachings of our Christian faith can partake in this most sacred gift that the Lord has granted to all of us. Through this Communion, uniting all of us in the Church, both those in this world, all of us, and all those who had gone before us, the Lord has shown us that He has always been with us, and He never abandoned us at all, even in our darkest moments and challenging times.
Reflecting further on today’s Gospel, Jesus reveals Himself as the Bread of Life, the one who satisfies our deepest longings. He goes beyond the physical hunger the crowds may feel and speaks directly to the human soul, the place where spiritual hunger resides. Jesus assures us that those who come to Him will never hunger or thirst not because earthly needs will disappear, but because He offers something far more essential: the nourishment of eternal life. Jesus confronts the disbelief of those who have seen Him and yet do not accept Him. He speaks of the Father’s initiative how all who are given to the Son will come, and none will be rejected. This reflects the boundless mercy of God and Christ’s unwavering commitment to bring salvation to all who believe. His mission is not self-appointed but a complete obedience to the Father’s will a will that desires life, not loss, and resurrection, not death. Jesus makes it clear that our response of faith is what opens the way to this eternal promise: “Everyone who sees the Son and believes in Him may have eternal life.” His words today are both an invitation and a guarantee a call to trust in Him completely and to seek eternal nourishment in His presence.
In our first reading, it is said of Saul, the future St. Paul, that he worked for the total destruction of the church. Saul, who was a young Pharisee was filled with great and fiery zeal, in persecuting, arresting and torturing the followers of the Lord, rejudices and wickedness was shown in the actions of the young Saul. Saul sought to destroy all who responded to the welcoming invitation of Jesus. There will always be forces in our world that are hostile to our coming to Jesus. Despite all the hardships and challenges faced by the followers of the Lord, most of them remained firm in their faith and endured faithfully the sufferings that they had faced. The Lord has also kept them in His providence and protection, leading them through their difficult times and sending them encouragement and strength to persevere through those challenges. He Himself has foretold all these to His disciples and followers, warning all of them that if the world had opposed, persecuted and treated Him as such, then His disciples and followers must also be prepared that they would be treated in a similar way as well. But He assured them that He would give them guidance and strength, and through the Holy Spirit that He sent to His Church, despite the trials and challenges that His followers had to face, but the Church still thrived and grew rapidly throughout those early years. Not only that, but even Saul himself was converted, and called to become one of the Lord’s greatest servants, as St. Paul the Apostle later in his life. The later experience of Saul suggests that not only does the Lord welcome those who come to Him but He seeks out those who are hostile to Him. Saul eventually came to Jesus because Jesus went after Him. The Lord who welcomes us when we come to Him also seeks us out when we walk away from Him. When we don’t come to Him, He comes after us, not in anger but in love. He is always driven by God the Father’s will that all should see the Son and believe in Him and so have eternal life.
According to today’s first reading, Philip preaches the Gospel in Samaria and the people there unite in welcoming the message Philip preached. In Luke’s first volume, Jesus had attempted to preach the Gospel to a Samaritan village but they rejected Jesus because He was heading for Jerusalem. Now the risen Lord, through Philip, preaches the Gospel to the Samaritans and this time they welcome the Gospel. The Lord continues to offer the Gospel even to those who have rejected it. Even though we may turn from the Lord at times, He never turns from us. This is in keeping with what Jesus says in today’s Gospel reading, ‘Whoever comes to me I shall never turn away’. Easter celebrates the faithfulness of God to His Son Jesus, and the faithfulness of Jesus to all of us. The Lord’s faithfulness encourages us to keep turning back to Him, to keep coming to Him, even after we have turned away from him. Even when we fail to respond to His coming, He remains for us the bread of life and He continues to promise that if we come to Him we will never hunger and if we believe in Him we will never thirst.
Reflecting further on today’s first reading, the persecution following Stephen’s martyrdom may seem like a dark moment, but from this scattering of believers comes a greater spreading of the Gospel. Philip goes to Samaria a place often seen as distant from Jerusalem religiously and culturally and proclaims Christ boldly. Miracles occur, demons are cast out, the paralyzed and crippled are healed. And what is the result? “There was great joy in that city.” Suffering did not stop the Gospel; it became the channel through which the Gospel reached farther than ever before. The story also highlights the transformation of pain into purpose. Though Saul persecutes the Church, the Spirit is already at work, and even in the midst of turmoil, the mission of God continues. This reminds us that God can use even persecution and suffering to bring about His plan for salvation.
Reflecting on the Responsorial Psalm today, the psalm is a call to praise, rooted in the experience of God’s saving power: “He has changed the sea into dry land; through the river they passed on foot.” The psalmist invites us to see God’s mighty works not as distant history, but as living signs of His presence among us. When we see the works of God in Scripture, in creation, in our lives we are invited to cry out with joy, to sing, to worship. Our praise becomes a testimony that God is still active and powerful in our world.
Am I seeking Jesus as the Bread of Life, or only turning to Him for temporary satisfaction? Do I trust that God’s will for me includes eternal joy and resurrection? When I face opposition or hardship, do I retreat in fear, or step forward in faith like Philip? Am I a bearer of joy, healing, and truth to those around me? Let us, like Philip and the early Church, carry the light of Christ into the world, even when scattered, misunderstood, or opposed. Our strength lies not in our circumstances, but in our communion with the One who came down from heaven to give life to the world. Let us hunger no more for what fades, but feast on the presence of Jesus, the Bread of Life.
As we reflect on the words of the Sacred Scriptures today, each and every one of us are reminded again today that as Christians all of us are always facing hardships, trials and struggles, challenges and difficulties amidst the lives and the journey that we embark on in this world. However, we must not easily lose hope and we must remain firm in our faith in the Lord, because it is in Him alone we can find the hope, strength and consolation, as well as the assurance of eternal life and true joy and glory. We must always strengthen our faith and trust in the Lord, wholeheartedly believing that He, our Lord and Saviour, the Bread of Life, has the power to help us and to raise us up with Him, and that He will always be with us, never abandoning us even in our darkest and most difficult moments. As we are reminded of this fact today, and as we continue progressing through this most holy and blessed season of Easter, let us all therefore do our part as the Christian faithful, the members of God’s own Body, the Church of God, to be evangelising and missionary disciples, righteous and good, faithful and just in all of our works, actions and deeds. Let us all be good role models and examples of our faith in our every words and actions, as well as in all of our interactions with one another. May the Risen Lord, Our Saviour, Jesus Christ, continue to bless and guide us all, and strengthen us so that we may persevere faithfully and continue to commit ourselves to His path, much as how our early Christian predecessors had done. May God in His infinite grace and mercy, grant us His grace and be with His Church always, and bless its every works and good efforts and may He bless each and every one of us and strengthen us all in our every day living, in living our lives with faith from now on, that we may inspire many others to follow the Lord and to be reconciled with God, like the way we do. Amen 🙏🏽
Lord Jesus, Bread of Life, You alone satisfy the hunger of our hearts. Help us to believe in You with unwavering faith and to trust in the promise of eternal life You offer. Strengthen us to carry Your Word even in the face of persecution or uncertainty. Fill us with the joy that comes from knowing You, and may our lives be a witness to Your enduring love. Amen. 🙏🏽
MEMORIAL OF SAINT ROSA VENERINI, RELIGIOUS, AND BLESSED GISELE, WIDOW ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 7TH: As the Easter light continues to illumine our path, today we honor two faithful women of the Church: Saint Rosa Venerini (Patroness of Catholic educators, especially for young women), an Italian educator and pioneer of girls’ education, and Blessed Gisele of Hungary (Patroness of widows, queens, and Christian mothers), a queen and mother whose witness of faith helped shape a Christian nation. Through their intercession, we pray for teachers, mothers, widows, and all women striving to live with courage, wisdom, and holiness. May the Lord bless educators with zeal, families with peace, and all who carry the cross of grief with the hope of resurrection.
Saint(s) of the Day with Daily Reflections | May 7th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
(Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Rosa Venerini and Saint Blessed Gisele | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-7th/)
SAINT ROSA VENERINI, RELIGIOUS (1656–1728): Born in Viterbo, Italy, Rosa Venerini was filled from childhood with a burning love for God and the salvation of souls. At age seven, she vowed to consecrate her life to the Lord. Although she briefly explored religious life with the Dominicans, family tragedies brought her home, where she began gathering young women for prayer. Moved by their lack of religious formation and education, Rosa discerned a new mission: to educate girls and uplift their dignity in society.
With the support of her bishop and companions, Rosa opened the first public school for girls in Italy in 1685 a radical move for the time. Despite initial resistance, her success silenced critics, and she went on to found over 40 schools across Italy. In Rome, her efforts were personally recognized by Pope Clement XI, who declared, “With these schools you will sanctify Rome.” Rosa’s life was marked by tireless service, deep prayer, and resilience in the face of opposition. Her congregation, the Venerini Sisters, continues her legacy around the world, including in Nigeria, India, and Latin America.
She was canonized by Pope Benedict XVI in 2006, who praised her as a courageous woman who worked for “the spiritual elevation and authentic emancipation of young women.”
PRAYER: O God, who raised up Saint Rosa Venerini to form young hearts and minds in the truth of the Gospel, grant that through her example and intercession, we may labor for the salvation of souls and the transformation of society through education, love, and steadfast faith. Amen. 🙏🏽
BLESSED GISELE OF HUNGARY, WIDOW (c. 985–1065): Blessed Gisele of Bavaria, also known as Gisela of Hungary, was born into royal lineage the sister of Henry II, Holy Roman Emperor—and became queen by marrying Saint Stephen I of Hungary. As the first Queen of Hungary, she played a vital role in supporting her husband’s mission of Christianizing the nation. Together, they raised Saint Emeric, their only son, instilling in him a deep love for the faith.
After the deaths of both her husband and son, Blessed Gisele endured profound sorrow. Yet in her widowhood, she embraced a contemplative life at the Benedictine Abbey of Niederburg, where she later became abbess. There, she lived out her days in prayer, humility, and self-denial, dying peacefully on May 7, 1065.
Her legacy endures in Hungary’s spiritual foundations and in the strength she gave to widows, mothers, and queens striving to serve Christ in all seasons of life.
PRAYER: Lord God, you inspired Blessed Gisele with courage and devotion as wife, mother, and widow. May her example teach us to find grace in grief, strength in prayer, and joy in every season of life. Through her intercession, bless all widows and mothers with comfort and peace. Amen. 🙏🏽
Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Saint Rosa Venerini and Saint Blessed Gisele ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
THE HOLY FATHER, POPE FRANCIS’ MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2025: FOR THE MONTH OF MAY: For Working Conditions ~ Let us pray that through work, each person might find fulfilment, families might be sustained in dignity, and that society might be humanized.
PRAYER FOR THE MONTH OF MAY ~ POPE FRANCIS: For Working Conditions ~ Jesus, You knew work in this world, and You understand its hardships and joys… Hear our prayer today. Working is a human trait… Work is sacred… The beauty of the earth and the dignity of work were meant to be united… The earth becomes beautiful when man works… Lord, You see that we believe this with conviction, but we desire even more for it to become a reality among us.
We are saddened when people can’t find work and lack the dignity of bringing bread to their home. Give us the light of your Spirit, open our hearts, do not let indifference overcome us.
Help us recover the gift of universal brotherhood. We ask for a heart as big as Jesus’s so we can embrace the call to work to give dignity to people and families.
Amen 🙏🏽
(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)
DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF MAY | MONTH OF THE BLESSED VIRGIN MARY: May is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary, the Mother of God and our spiritual Mother. This month invites the faithful to draw closer to Mary through prayer, reflection, and imitation of her virtues especially her humility, obedience, purity, and unwavering faith. As the first and most perfect disciple of Christ, Mary leads us gently but firmly to her Son. Throughout Church history, May has been a time to honor Mary with special devotions such as the Rosary, May Crownings, Marian processions, and prayers like the Litany of Loreto. The Church teaches that Mary, assumed body and soul into Heaven, intercedes for us as Queen of Heaven and Mother of the Church. During this month, we are called to renew our relationship with her and seek her maternal care in our joys, sorrows, and needs. Mary said “yes” to God’s plan with total trust: “Behold, I am the handmaid of the Lord; let it be done to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38). Her faithful surrender encourages us to say “yes” to God’s will in our own lives. As we meditate on the mysteries of the Rosary and contemplate her role in salvation history, we grow in our love for her and our desire to follow Christ more closely.
In this beautiful month of blooming flowers, may our hearts also blossom with deeper devotion to the Mother of our Savior. Let us bring her our prayers, our homes, and our lives, asking her to accompany us with her love and protection.
“O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
Hail Mary, full of grace! Teach us to love Jesus as you loved Him. Cover us with your mantle of mercy, and help us to walk always in the light of your Son. Amen 🙏🏽
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12540
PRAYER INTENTIONS: As we reflect on today’s scripture readings, we remember the courage of the early Church in the face of persecution and Christ’s enduring promise to be the Bread of Life for all who come to Him. Through the intercession of the saints we honor today Saint Rosa Venerini and Blessed Gisele of Hungary we lift up the needs of the Church and the world. May the Church remain steadfast in her mission to proclaim Christ as the source of eternal life, and may all the baptized grow in faith, especially in times of trial or spiritual dryness. We pray for all educators and catechists, especially those who teach the faith to the young and to the poor, that through the example of Saint Rosa Venerini, they may guide others with wisdom, compassion, and zeal for God’s truth. We pray for widows, mothers, and women in positions of leadership, that by the intercession of Blessed Gisele, they may be strengthened in holiness and be signs of hope and courage in their families and communities.
We remember all who are suffering, especially those displaced or oppressed like the early Christians, that they may experience the joy and healing brought by the Gospel. May the Word of God bring renewed joy to wounded hearts and may we all grow in our hunger for the Eucharist, trusting always in Christ’s promise to never lose those who come to Him. Amen. 🙏🏽
LET US PRAY:
My ever-present Lord, I thank You profoundly for the way You come to me in the Most Holy Eucharist. I thank You for Your divine presence and glory. Help me to see beyond the veil of the appearance of bread and wine so that I can see more clearly Your divinity. As I see Your divine presence, dear Lord, help me to profess my belief in You with greater certitude and faith. Jesus, I trust in You. Amen 🙏🏽
Loving Father, You sent Your Son to be the Bread of Life, that we might never hunger or thirst again. You sustained the early Church in persecution and filled entire cities with joy through the power of Your Word. As we honor Saint Rosa Venerini and Blessed Gisele of Hungary women of courage, prayer, and service we ask for their intercession today. May we teach the truth with conviction like Saint Rosa, and walk in faith through sorrow and leadership like Blessed Gisele. Give us the courage to proclaim Your Word in difficult times, to hunger for Christ in the Eucharist, and to serve with hearts full of joy. Make us living witnesses of the resurrection, and strengthen us to bring light where there is darkness.
We make this prayer through Jesus Christ, our Lord. Amen.🙏🏽
Save us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Rosa Venerini, and Blessed Gisele of Hungary ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏽
Thanking God for the precious gift of this new day and the immeasurable love shown through His Son, our Risen Lord, Jesus Christ. As we continue to rejoice in the glory of the Resurrection, may our hearts remain open to the peace and hope that flow from His victory over sin and death. During this joyful Easter season, we pray that our loving Savior will deepen our faith and draw us closer to the mystery of His Passion, death, and Resurrection. May we walk in the light of His risen life, renewed in spirit and overflowing with grace. Praying for us all and our loved ones today and we pray for journey mercies for all those traveling during this Easter season. As we embrace the blessings of this new month, may God’s abundant grace continue to shower upon us, filling our hearts with peace, joy, and hope in His Resurrection. May this Wednesday be filled with blessings, safety, and the quiet joy that comes from knowing that Christ is truly risen! Alleluia! Have a blessed, safe, and grace-filled Wednesday and joyful Third Week of Easter and month of May 🙏🏽
Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖
Daily Reflections with Philomena | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org
Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | Global Missons Now Awards |