MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP, SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT AND SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS ~ FEAST DAY: APRIL 20TH 2026

MONDAY OF THE THIRD WEEK OF EASTER | YEAR A | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/monday-of-the-third-week-of-easter/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 20, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-20th/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP, SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT AND SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS

History of the Saints | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/category/saints-of-the-day

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | April 20, 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-april-20-2026/

LIVE UPDATES: Pope Leo XIV’s Historic Apostolic Journey to Africa | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/live-updates-pope-leo-xivs-historic-apostolic-journey-to-africa/

DAILY PRAYERS: St. Michael the Archangel Prayer; Angelus Prayer; and the Chaplet of Divine Mercy Prayer | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/st-michael-the-archangel-prayer-angelus-prayer-and-the-chaplet-of-divine-mercy-prayer/

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Greetings and blessings, beloved family.

Alleluia! One does not live on bread alone, but on every word of God! Today is Monday of the Third Week of Easter. Following the great multiplication of the loaves, the Gospel shows the crowd seeking Jesus, but for the wrong reasons. Jesus challenges them and us to look beyond physical hunger and work for the food that endures for eternal life. He reveals that the ultimate work of God is not a checklist of tasks, but the simple, profound act of believing in the One whom the Father has sent. In this third week of April, the First Reading introduces us to the radiant witness of Saint Stephen. Full of grace and power, his face shines like that of an angel even as he faces false accusations. He embodies the truth of the Responsorial Psalm, choosing the way of truth and meditating on God’s statutes even when princes meet and talk against him. We are joined today by a company of compassionate healers and visionaries: Saint Marcellinus, the first bishop of Embrun; Saint Beuno, the restorer of life and patron of the sick; and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano, the mystic who exchanged earthly wealth for heavenly charity. Like Stephen, let us fix our eyes on the Lord, trusting that His precepts are our delight and our counselors. Amen. 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

Third Week of Easter | USCCB | https://bible.usccb.org/daily-bible-reading

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday of the Third Week of Easter | April 20, 2026
Reading I: Acts 6:8–15
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 119:23–24, 26–27, 29–30
Gospel: John 6:22–29

Gospel Reading ~ John 6:22–29

“Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you.”

[After Jesus had fed the five thousand men, his disciples saw him walking on the sea.]
The next day, the crowd that remained across the sea saw that there had been only one boat there, and that Jesus had not gone along with his disciples in the boat, but only his disciples had left. Other boats came from Tiberias near the place where they had eaten the bread when the Lord gave thanks. When the crowd saw that neither Jesus nor his disciples were there, they themselves got into boats and came to Capernaum looking for Jesus. And when they found him across the sea they said to him, “Rabbi, when did you get here?” Jesus answered them and said, “Amen, amen, I say to you, you are looking for me not because you saw signs but because you ate the loaves and were filled. Do not work for food that perishes but for the food that endures for eternal life, which the Son of Man will give you. For on him the Father, God, has set his seal.” So they said to him, “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” Jesus answered and said to them, “This is the work of God, that you believe in the one he sent.”

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, we see the crowd’s frantic search for Jesus, yet He sees through their motivation. They are chasing the loaves, the material comfort and easy solutions, rather than the Sign-Giver. Jesus shifts their focus from the belly to the soul, urging them to labor for the food that endures. This reflection reminds us that while God cares for our daily bread, He desires to give us the Bread of Life. The work of God is often simpler and yet more demanding than we imagine: it is to believe. Belief is the fundamental work that gives meaning to everything else we do, it is the anchor that keeps us from drifting toward perishing things and connects us to eternal life.

The dialogue between Jesus and the crowd reveals the human tendency to want a to-do list for salvation. “What can we do to accomplish the works of God?” they ask. We often find ourselves in this same mindset, trying to earn grace through sheer effort. Jesus’ response is a radical call to trust. By believing in Him, we receive the seal of the Father. This faith is not passive, it is a dynamic choice to stay in the boat with Him, even when the miracles aren’t immediately visible. It is the food that sustains us when the perishable things of this world fail to satisfy our deepest hunger.

The First Reading introduces us to Saint Stephen, the first deacon we saw chosen on Saturday, now full of grace and power. Stephen is the perfect example of someone who worked for the food that endures. His wisdom and the Spirit with which he spoke were so profound that his adversaries had to resort to falsehoods to stop him. Even in the face of seizure and trial, his countenance remained like that of an angel. Stephen shows us that when we are filled with the Spirit, the holy place is not just a building, but the presence of Christ within us. He lived the work of God by believing so deeply that even the threat of death could not dim his light.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 119) reflects the interior prayer of someone like Stephen: “Blessed are they who follow the law of the Lord!” Even when the powerful plot and talk against us, we find our delight and counsel in God’s decrees. It is a choice to choose the way of truth over the way of falsehood. When we declare our ways to God, He answers us by teaching us His statutes, making us understand the wondrous deeds He performs in our midst.

As we go through this Monday, let us reflect on our own motivations. Are we looking for Jesus only for the loaves the quick fixes and material blessings? Reflect today: What perishable food are you working too hard for? This is the day to refocus on the one necessary work: believing in Jesus. Trust that if you set His ordinances before you, you will find the sustenance that lasts forever and a peace that makes your own face radiant with His grace.

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, You are the food that endures for eternal life. Forgive us for the times we have chased after things that perish while neglecting the gift of Your presence. Grant us the grace and power You gave to Saint Stephen, that we may speak Your truth with wisdom and love. Teach us Your statutes and remove from us the way of falsehood. Help us to accomplish the true work of God by believing more deeply in You, our Savior and our Bread of Life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | APRIL 20TH:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections| April 20th https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Marcellinus, Saint Beuno, and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-april-20th/

SAINT MARCELLINUS, BISHOP: Saint Marcellinus (d. 374) was a noble missionary who understood that one does not live on bread alone. Leaving Africa to evangelize the Alps, he dedicated his nights to prayer and his days to the ministry of the Word. Like Saint Stephen, he spoke with a wisdom and Spirit that converted entire cities from falsehood to the law of the Lord. He reminds us that the true work of God is to believe in the One He sent, a faith Marcellinus built into the very stones of the oratories and cathedrals he founded.

PRAYER: God, Light and Shepherd of souls, You established Saint Marcellinus as Bishop in Your Church to feed Your flock by his word and form it by his example. Help us through his intercession to keep the Faith he taught and follow the way of truth he showed. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT BEUNO, ABBOT: Saint Beuno (d. 640) was a spiritual guardian and counselor whose life was marked by the wondrous deeds of God. Known for his deep meditation on God’s precepts, he was a teacher of saints and a healer of the broken. Legend tells of his miraculous restoration of Saint Winifred, proving that God “answers those who declare their ways to Him.” To this day, his memory provides a sanctuary for the vulnerable, reminding us that the kindness of the Lord delivers us from every affliction.

PRAYER: Lord, through the intercession of Saint Beuno, we ask for Your divine healing touch upon the smallest and most fragile of Your creatures. May we, like him, find our delight in Your statutes and trust in Your power to restore and preserve life. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT AGNES OF MONTEPULCIANO, RELIGIOUS: Saint Agnes (1268–1317) was a miracle worker who chose the food that endures for eternal life from a very young age. Though born to wealth, she stripped herself of self-love to put on Christ, living on bread and water to better taste the sweetness of prayer. Like Stephen, she was filled with grace and power, multiplying food for the hungry and raising the fallen. She teaches us that the work of God is accomplished when our hearts are full of charity and humility, making our souls a dwelling place for the King of Glory.

PRAYER: Heavenly Father, You gave Saint Agnes of Montepulciano a heart that exulted in Your presence and a soul that rejoiced in Your law. Grant that through her example, we may choose the way of truth and set Your ordinances always before us. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Marcellinus, Saint Beuno, and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano — pray for us. 🙏🏽

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR HEALING, DIVINE INTERVENTION, AND THE SICK

As we celebrate the Food that endures, let us bring our petitions to the Father, asking for the nourishment of His grace for all who suffer. Lord, we pray for those who are sick, especially children and those with terminal illnesses; through the intercession of Saint Beuno (Patron of sick children, diseased cattle, and sick animals) and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano (Patron of visionary intercession and the Dominican youth), grant them Your divine healing, comfort in their pain, and the strength to witness to Your wondrous deeds even in their weakness. We pray for the care of all Your creatures and sick animals; through the prayers of Saint Beuno, help us to be responsible stewards of Your creation and grant relief to the animals that suffer, for Your decrees are the delight of all living things. Finally, we pray for evangelizers and those who face opposition for the Truth; through the merits of Saint Marcellinus (Patron of the Diocese of Embrun and evangelizers) and the radiant witness of Saint Stephen, grant us the wisdom and the Spirit to speak Your Word without fear. May we never work for the food that perishes, but only for the Glory of Your Name. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

PRAYER FOR PEACE | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/a-prayer-for-peace/

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF APRIL: For Priests Crisis. Let us pray for priests going through moments of crisis in their vocation, that they may find the accompaniment they need and that communities may support them with understanding and prayer.

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

DEVOTION OF THE MONTH OF APRIL | MONTH OF HOLY EUCHARIST: April is dedicated to the Holy Eucharist, the greatest gift of Christ to His Church. In the Eucharist, Jesus is truly present Body, Blood, Soul, and Divinity offering Himself as the Bread of Life. This month invites us to deepen our love and reverence for the Eucharist, especially during Holy Week and Easter, celebrating the Passion, Death, and Resurrection of our Lord. The Eucharist was instituted by Jesus at the Last Supper when He said, “Take and eat; this is My Body… Drink from it, all of you, for this is My Blood of the Covenant” (Matthew 26:26-28). In receiving the Eucharist, we are united with Christ and His Church. It is the source of our strength and the culmination of our salvation, as Christ Himself said in John 6:51, “I am the living bread that came down from heaven. Whoever eats this bread will live forever.” As we journey through Lent, we are called to renew our reverence for the Eucharist. During Holy Week, we remember that Christ instituted this sacrament on Holy Thursday, offering us a way to remain in union with Him. Let us take this opportunity to attend Mass regularly, spend time in Eucharistic adoration, and reflect on the mystery of Christ’s presence in the Blessed Sacrament.

In this season of penance and reflection, may our devotion to the Eucharist strengthen our commitment to living as true disciples of Christ, leading us to the joy of Easter and the Resurrection.

O Sacrament Most Holy, O Sacrament Divine, all praise and all thanksgiving be every moment Thine! Lord Jesus, You have given Yourself to us in the Eucharist. May we receive You with reverence and love, and let Your grace transform us always. Amen 🙏🏽

https://www.catholicculture.org/culture/liturgicalyear/calendar/month.cfm?y=2026&m=4

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 🙏🏽

Thanking God for His love and the gift of this glorious day, we offer Him a prayer of gratitude for the graces of the past month and entrust the remainder of April to His loving providence. We pray for God’s grace and mercy as we continue this season of Easter joy. May the Resurrection of Your Son help us to seek You in every moment of our lives. May the peace, hope, and steady guidance that flow from the empty tomb shape our steps, inform our decisions, and strengthen our resolve to live each day in the light of the Risen Christ. As we journey onward into this month, may God bless our families and loved ones, and may His light continue to shine brightly in every home. Let us draw closer to God and be renewed through the joy of the Gospel and generosity to the poor. May God keep us all safe and well during these challenging times. Wishing us all a spiritually enriching, most blessed, and grace-filled Easter Season. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Marcellinus, Saint Beuno, and Saint Agnes of Montepulciano ~ 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/

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