MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS AND SAINT JOSÉ  GABRIEL BROCHERO, PRIEST – FEAST DAY ~ JANUARY 26TH 2026

MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME

SAINTS OF THE DAY | JANUARY 26, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

MEMORIAL OF SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS AND SAINT JOSÉ  GABRIEL BROCHERO, PRIEST

Direct link to the detailed history of Saints Timothy and Titus and Saint José Gabriel Brochero | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-january-26th/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | January 26, 2026 | “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-january-26-2026/

Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

Today, the Church commemorates the Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops (Patrons of Church Leadership and Pastoral Ministry), and Saint José Gabriel Brochero, Priest (Patron of Rural Pastoral Ministry and Missionary Priests), faithful servants who embodied courage, perseverance, and pastoral love in proclaiming the Gospel. As close companions and spiritual sons of Saint Paul, Timothy and Titus were entrusted with strengthening the early Church through sound teaching, steadfast faith, and humble leadership, while Saint José Gabriel Brochero carried Christ to the forgotten and distant, living among his people with sacrificial love and missionary zeal. In a world where the Gospel is often misunderstood, resisted, or challenged, today’s Scripture readings remind us that the power of God’s Spirit is not one of fear or division, but of truth, courage, and faithful witness. As we reflect on God’s Word today, may we be inspired by these saints to proclaim Christ boldly, serve with humility, and remain steadfast in faith even amid hardship and misunderstanding. 🙏🏽

PRAYER FOR INCLEMENT WEATHER: We join our prayers to the prayers of others for the safety and well-being of all those experiencing major winter storm across Texas and other parts of the United States and the world.

Prayer to Saint Medard: Patron Saint of Bad Storms

Saint Medard, Patron Saint for protection against bad storms, we ask you to intercede for us during the storms of our lives as well as the storms in nature. Protect our families and our homes. We pray for assistance for the victims of snowstorms, hurricanes, tornadoes, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, especially for the inclement weather we are currently experiencing. Loving God, send in more helpers, and multiply resources and supplies for the aid of those in need. You calmed the storm on the Sea of Galilee; deliver us from the storms that are raging around us now. Saint Medard, pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

Third Week in Ordinary Time | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Memorial of Saints Timothy and Titus, Bishops | January 26, 2026
Reading 1: 2 Timothy 1:1–8 or Titus 1:1–5
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 96:1–2a, 2b–3, 7–8a, 10
Gospel: Mark 3:22–30

Gospel Reading ~ Mark 3:22–30

“He has made the world firm, not to be moved; he governs the peoples with equity.”

The scribes who had come from Jerusalem said of Jesus, “He is possessed by Beelzebul,” and
“By the prince of demons he drives out demons.” Summoning them, he began to speak to them in parables, “How can Satan drive out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand; that is the end of him. But no one can enter a strong man’s house to plunder his property unless he first ties up the strong man. Then he can plunder his house. Amen, I say to you, all sins and all blasphemies that people utter will be forgiven them. But whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit will never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an everlasting sin.” For they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” 

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS:

The Gospel presents a moment of sharp confrontation between Jesus and the scribes, who accuse Him of casting out demons by the power of Beelzebul. Their accusation is not born of ignorance but of hardened hearts unwilling to recognize God’s work unfolding before them. Jesus responds with calm clarity, exposing the illogic of their claim: a kingdom divided against itself cannot stand. Evil cannot destroy itself. What they witness is not the power of darkness, but the decisive action of God breaking into the world through Christ. Jesus then reveals a deeper truth through the image of the strong man. Before a house can be plundered, the strong man must first be bound. In this, Christ unveils His mission: He has entered the realm of sin and death, bound the power of the enemy, and begun the work of liberation. His miracles are not isolated acts of compassion alone; they are signs of God’s Kingdom advancing, restoring order, healing what is broken, and reclaiming what has been held captive.

The warning that follows about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit is sobering. It is not meant to instill fear, but to awaken conscience. To persistently reject the Spirit’s work—to label God’s grace as evil—is to close oneself off from repentance and forgiveness. This Gospel challenges us to examine our own hearts: are we open to recognizing God’s action, even when it disrupts our expectations, or do pride and fear blind us to the truth?

The First Reading, taken from either the Second Letter to Timothy or the Letter to Titus, beautifully complements the Gospel. Paul writes as a spiritual father, encouraging his sons in faith to remain steadfast in their calling. To Timothy, he speaks of sincere faith passed down through generations and urges him to “stir into flame the gift of God.” God has not given a spirit of cowardice, but of power, love, and self-control. To Titus, Paul entrusts the responsibility of setting right what remains undone and appointing leaders to shepherd the community. Both readings highlight the seriousness and beauty of pastoral ministry: faith must be guarded, proclaimed, and lived with courage.

Saints Timothy and Titus embody this call. As bishops and close collaborators of Saint Paul, they carried the Gospel into challenging communities, faced opposition, and labored to preserve unity and truth within the Church. Their lives remind us that leadership in the Church is not rooted in authority alone, but in fidelity, humility, and perseverance amid trials.

The Responsorial Psalm becomes the Church’s joyful response: “Proclaim God’s marvelous deeds to all the nations.” It is a song of missionary joy, calling all peoples to recognize the Lord as King. The psalm echoes the very mission entrusted to Timothy, Titus, and all who preach the Gospel to announce salvation day after day and to testify to God’s wondrous works.

Together, today’s readings invite us to deeper discernment and courageous faith. They remind us that Christ’s Kingdom is not divided, His power is liberating, and His Spirit continues to work through those willing to serve. We are called not only to recognize God’s action but to cooperate with it, allowing the Spirit to strengthen us against fear, misunderstanding, and resistance.

As we reflect today, let us ask ourselves: Am I open to the work of the Holy Spirit in my life, even when it challenges me? Do I guard the gift of faith entrusted to me, or have I allowed fear or complacency to dim its flame? How can I more boldly proclaim God’s marvelous deeds through my words and actions?

Lord Jesus Christ, You are the stronger One who binds the power of evil and sets hearts free. Grant us the grace to recognize the work of Your Spirit, to guard the gift of faith entrusted to us, and to proclaim Your Gospel with courage and humility. Through the intercession of Saints Timothy and Titus, strengthen all who shepherd Your people and lead us ever deeper into the truth that sets us free. We ask this through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | JANUARY 26TH:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | January 26th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saints Timothy and Titus and Saint José Gabriel Brochero | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-january-26th/

SAINTS TIMOTHY AND TITUS, BISHOPS: Saints Timothy and Titus were close companions and spiritual sons of Saint Paul the Apostle, entrusted with shepherding some of the earliest Christian communities. Chosen and formed by Paul himself, they became bishops in challenging times, charged with guarding sound doctrine, strengthening believers, and appointing leaders within the young Church. Timothy, raised in faith by his mother Eunice and grandmother Lois, served faithfully as bishop of Ephesus and bore witness to Christ with courage even unto martyrdom. Titus, a convert from paganism, was appointed bishop of Crete and labored tirelessly to establish order, unity, and fidelity among the faithful. Their lives reveal the beauty of apostolic succession, pastoral courage, and unwavering commitment to the Gospel, reminding us that faith flourishes when it is nurtured, protected, and boldly proclaimed.

PRAYER: Lord God, You raised up Saints Timothy and Titus as faithful shepherds of Your Church and trusted co-workers of Saint Paul. Through their intercession, strengthen all bishops, priests, and ministers of the Gospel. Grant us steadfast faith, courage in trial, and hearts devoted to truth and charity, that we may serve You faithfully in our own calling. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT JOSÉ GABRIEL BROCHERO, PRIEST: Saint José Gabriel Brochero, affectionately known as the “cowboy priest,” was a humble and tireless shepherd who brought Christ to some of the most remote and forgotten people of Argentina. Serving a vast rural parish across rugged mountains, he traveled by mule to celebrate the Sacraments, preach the Gospel, and care for souls who had been abandoned by society but never by God. Deeply committed to prayer and the Spiritual Exercises of Saint Ignatius, he led his people toward spiritual renewal through both word and example. Living among his flock, sharing their hardships, and working alongside them, he embodied a priesthood marked by sacrifice, closeness, and missionary zeal. Even when illness and blindness overtook him, he remained faithful to his calling, offering his suffering in union with Christ and bearing witness to a love that goes out to the peripheries.

PRAYER: Almighty God, You gave Saint José Gabriel Brochero a heart patterned after the Good Shepherd. Through his intercession, grant priests and missionaries the grace to serve with humility, courage, and self-giving love. Inspire us to bring Your presence to those on the margins and to live the Gospel with joy and perseverance. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Timothy and Titus and Saint José Gabriel Brochero — pray for us. 🙏🏽

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY: For prayer with the Word of God. Let us pray that praying with the Word of God be nourishment for our lives and a source of hope in our communities, helping us to build a more fraternal and missionary Church.

(https://popesprayerusa.net/popes-intentions/)

MONTH OF THE HOLY NAME OF JESUS: The month of January is traditionally dedicated to the Holy Name of Jesus. After the Blessed Virgin Mary conceived by the Holy Spirit, the Angel Gabriel appeared to St. Joseph told him that the Child’s name should be called Jesus, meaning “God Saves.” According to Jewish law, on the 8th day after his birth, a male child was to be circumcised, receive his name, and become a full member of God’s covenant people. According to the old Roman liturgical calendar, the Feast of the Circumcision of Jesus was celebrated on January 1st, eight days after Christmas, the same day that He was given His sacred name. Currently, we celebrate the Solemnity of the Mother of God on January 1st and honor the Holy Name of Jesus on January 3rd. For Catholics, Jesus’ sacred name is the object of a special devotion symbolized by the monogram “IHS,” (sometimes called a Christogram), which is the first three letters of the Greek spelling of His name.
https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/library/view.cfm?recnum=12538

PRAYER INTENTION FOR THE DAY: FOR BISHOPS, PASTORS, AND CHURCH LEADERS

Through the intercession of Saints Timothy and Titus, faithful bishops and companions of Saint Paul, let us pray for all those entrusted with leadership in the Church. As we celebrate their memorial, we lift up our Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, Bishops, Priests, Deacons, and all Pastoral leaders, that they may faithfully guard the Gospel, teach with wisdom, and shepherd God’s people with courage, humility, and love. May the Spirit who stirred into flame the gifts within Timothy and strengthened Titus for his mission continue to renew the hearts of today’s Church leaders, granting them perseverance in trials, unity in service, and zeal in proclaiming Christ. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Prayers for Peace | https://mycatholic.life/catholic-prayers/prayers-for-peace/

PRAYER FOR THE DEAD
We pray for the repose of the gentle souls of our loved ones and souls of all the faithful departed. 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 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saints Timothy and Titus and Saint José Gabriel Brochero ~ Pray for us 🙏🏾

Sacred Heart of Jesus, I place all my trust in you. Jesus, I trust in you! Immaculate Heart of Mary, Pray for us. Amen 🙏🏽

Blessings and Love always, Philomena 💖

DEVOTIONAL RESOURCES

A Guide to Catholic Prayer & Faith Resources: Prayers, Devotions, Teachings, and the Liturgical Year | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-prayer-faith-resources/

Catholic Mission & Witness: Foundations, Media Features, Global Outreach and Podcast Interview| https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/catholic-mission-witness-foundations-media-features-and-global-outreach/