MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME | SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 |

MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-FOURTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME | SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/monday-of-the-twenty-fourth-week-in-ordinary-time-september-14-2026/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | SEPTEMBER 14, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-14th/

FEAST OF THE EXALTATION OF THE HOLY CROSS OF OUR LORD JESUS CHRIST

MEMORIAL OF SAINT NOTBURGA OF AUSTRIA AND SAINT MATERNUS, BISHOP OF COLOGN

HISTORY OF THE SAINTS SERIES ON YOUTUBE CHANNEL | https://www.youtube.com/@dailyreflectionswithphilomena

👉🏾  Watch the YouTube Video of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross Here | https://youtube.com/shorts/VpvY9GU_rUc?si=I5eFWf5ozHLL-aVA

👉🏾  Watch the YouTube Video of Saint Notburga, and Saint Maternus Here | https://youtu.be/n7IyjCrlDRQ?si=vQMi391ByCG1bmvv

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

NOVENA TO OUR LADY OF SORROWS: The Novena to Our Lady of Sorrows begin September 6, and end on September 14 in preparation for the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows on September 15^th. Novena Link | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/novena-to-our-lady-of-sorrows/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | September 14, 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-september-14-2026/

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Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

Today, on this glorious Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Church lifts its gaze to the wood of the Cross, the instrument of our torture transformed into the ultimate throne of victory, healing, and boundless love. In today’s Gospel, Jesus reminds Nicodemus that just as Moses lifted up the bronze serpent in the desert, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, “so that everyone who believes in him might not perish but might have eternal life.” The First Reading from Numbers recalls the wandering Israelites and their healing when looking upon the bronze serpent, while Saint Paul’s hymn in the Second Reading beautifully details Christ’s self-emptying obedience unto death on a cross. Grounded in this mystery of redemption, the Church also honors the humble charity of the peasant saint Notburga of Austria and the zealous pastoral defense of the faith by Saint Maternus, Bishop of Cologne. Inspired by the triumph of the Cross, let us look to Christ with profound gratitude, finding in Him our strength, our refuge, and our salvation.

🎂🙏🏽HAPPY 71ST BIRTHDAY TO OUR HOLY FATHER, POPE LEO XIV! 🙏🏽🎂

“The LORD bless you and keep you! The LORD let his face shine upon you, and be gracious to you! The LORD look upon you kindly and give you peace!” ~ Numbers 6:24–26

We thank Almighty God for the precious gift of your life and faithful service to Christ and His Church. May the Lord continue to strengthen you and grant you good health, wisdom, peace, and abundant grace as you shepherd His people.

May our Blessed Mother Mary always protect you beneath her maternal mantle. Amen 🙏🏽

Happy and blessed 71st Birthday, Holy Father! Ad multos annos! 🙏🏽💙✝️

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

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 | Monday, September 14, 2026
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

“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.”

“Jesus said to his disciples: ‘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.'”

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

On this glorious Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the Church turns its gaze upon the wood of the Cross—once an instrument of torture and shame, now transformed into the ultimate symbol of victory, healing, and boundless love. In today’s Gospel, Jesus speaks to Nicodemus, drawing a direct parallel between His crucifixion and the bronze serpent lifted by Moses in the desert. Just as the Israelites looked upon the bronze serpent to find physical healing from the deadly venom of the desert snakes, we look upon Christ lifted high on the Cross to find spiritual healing and eternal life. The Cross reveals the staggering depth of divine mercy: “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.”

This profound mystery of self-emptying love is beautifully captured in the Second Reading from Saint Paul’s letter to the Philippians. Paul describes how Christ Jesus, though in the form of God, did not cling to His divine privileges, but emptied Himself, taking the form of a slave and becoming obedient even unto death on a cross. Because of this supreme act of loving obedience, God greatly exalted Him. The First Reading from Numbers provides the historical backdrop for this imagery, reminding us of human weakness, complaint, and sin, but also of God’s immediate mercy when His people turned back to Him in repentance. The Responsorial Psalm echoes this call to remembrance and praise: “Do not forget the works of the Lord! … But he, being merciful, forgave their sin and destroyed them not.”

Today, the Cross stands before us not merely as a reminder of suffering, but as the throne of God’s triumphant love. Whenever we face the trials, temptations, and wounds of life, we are invited to lift our eyes to the Crucified Lord, finding in Him our strength, our refuge, and our salvation.

How do you look upon the cross in your daily life? Do you see it as a symbol of suffering to be avoided, or as the ultimate measure of God’s love and your victory over sin?

Heavenly Father, we adore You and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Forgive us for the times we have complained in our trials, lost sight of Your mercy, and looked away from Your saving grace. On this feast, we lift our eyes to Jesus, lifted high on the cross for our sake. Fill our hearts with profound gratitude for the price of our redemption, and grant us the grace to embrace our own daily crosses with humility, love, and unwavering trust in Your victory. Through Christ our Lord. 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 | SEPTEMBER 14TH:

Direct link to the detailed history of the Feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, 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. 🙏🏾

HONORING THE SAINTS OF THE DAY:
Alongside Saint Notburga and Saint Maternus (Saint Maternus of Cologne), we also honor: SAINTS CAEREALIS & SALLUSTIA, SAINT CORMAC, SAINT CRESCENTIAN, SAINT CRESCENTIUS, AND SAINT GABRIEL TAURIN DUFRESSE. May their faithful lives inspire our own journey today.

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR TRIUMPHANT FAITH, HEALING, AND DEVOTION TO THE HOLY CROSS

Heavenly Father, we adore You and we bless You, because by Your Holy Cross You have redeemed the world. Through the grace of this great feast, fix our eyes and our hearts upon Your Son, that whenever we face the trials, temptations, and wounds of life, we may look to the Crucified Lord for healing and strength. Through the intercession of Saint Notburga, grant us generous and compassionate hearts to care for the poor and needy. Through the prayers of Saint Maternus, strengthen all bishops and pastors to defend the truth with courage. Lord Jesus, help us to embrace our daily crosses with humility and love, knowing that through Your cross comes the dawn of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, the Holy Cross of Our Lord, Saint Notburga, Saint Maternus, and all the Saints we celebrate today ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾

THE POPE’S MONTHLY INTENTIONS FOR 2026: FOR THE MONTH OF SEPTEMBER: For the care of water. Let us pray for a just and sustainable management of water, a vital resource, so that everyone may have equal access to it.

(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/liturgicalyear/calendar/month.cfm?y=2026&m=9

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 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-2/

THE HOLY ROSARY: WHAT IS THE HOLY ROSARY AND WHY DO WE PRAY THE HOLY ROSARY? | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/the-holy-rosary-what-is-the-holy-rosary-and-why-do-we-pray-the-holy-rosary/

Sir G.L.I Opiepe’s Health and Education Foundation | https://gliopiepehe.org/

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