MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME | SEPTEMBER 28, 2026

MONDAY OF THE TWENTY-SIXTH WEEK IN ORDINARY TIME | SEPTEMBER 28, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/monday-of-the-twenty-sixth-week-in-ordinary-time-september-28-2026/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | SEPTEMBER 28, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-28th/

MEMORIAL OF SAINTS LAWRENCE RUIZ, AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS; SAINT WENCESLAUS, MARTYR; SAINT JOHN OF DUKLA, AND SAINT SIMON DE ROJAS, PRIEST

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

👉🏾 Watch the YouTube Video of Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his Companions, Saint Wenceslaus, Saint John of Dukla, and Saint Simon de Rojas Here | https://youtu.be/PtZi6LUhv7c?si=5FGqxgWi2LkE_sHJ

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

NOVENA TO SAINT THÉRÈSE OF LISIEUX – THE LITTLE FLOWER: The Novena to Saint Thérèse of Lisieux is scheduled to begin on 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/

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | September 28, 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-28-2026/

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Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

Today, on the Feast of Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his Companions, Saint Wenceslaus, Saint John of Dukla, and Saint Simon de Rojas, the Church honors heroic martyrs, steadfast rulers, humble religious, and devoted apostles of Mary who shed their blood and poured out their lives out of love for Christ. As we continue on our spiritual journey, today’s Gospel calls us to embrace radical humility, reminding us through Jesus’ words that true greatness is found in welcoming the least among us and working in unity rather than division. Anchored in the courageous witness of these saints and the gentle simplicity of the Gospel, let us open our hearts to serve the Lord with purity of intention today.

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Monday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time | Monday, September 28, 2026
Reading 1: Job 1:6-22
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 17:1bcd, 2-3, 6-7
Gospel: Luke 9:46-50

Gospel Reading ~ Luke 9:46-50

“For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.”

“An argument arose among the disciples about which of them was the greatest. Jesus realized the intention of their hearts and took a child and placed it by his side and said to them, ‘Whoever receives this child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me receives the one who sent me. For the one who is least among all of you is the one who is the greatest.’ Then John said in reply, ‘Master, we saw someone casting out demons in your name and we tried to prevent him because he does not follow in our company.’ Jesus said to him, ‘Do not prevent him, for whoever is not against you is for you.'”

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

Today’s readings call us to strip away human pride, territorial division, and self-reliance, inviting us instead into radical humility and absolute trust in God. In the Gospel, while the disciples argue over status and try to exclude an outsider driving out demons in Jesus’ name, Christ gently reshapes their perspective. He places a little child beside them, teaching that true greatness is found in lowliness, welcoming the vulnerable, and recognizing that God’s grace extends far beyond our narrow human boundaries. True discipleship leaves no room for arrogance or petty rivalry.

This profound posture of surrender and trust in the face of unimaginable trial is vividly portrayed in the First Reading from the Book of Job. Stripped of his wealth, his livelihood, and even his beloved children in a single day, Job does not curse God or charge Him with wrongdoing. Instead, he falls prostrate in deep grief yet unwavering faith, uttering one of the most powerful professions of surrender in Scripture: “Naked I came forth from my mother’s womb, and naked shall I go back again. The LORD gave and the LORD has taken away; blessed be the name of the LORD!” When life tests us with fire, the Responsorial Psalm reminds us where to turn: “Incline your ear to me and hear my word… Show your wondrous mercies, O savior of those who flee from their foes to refuge at your right hand.”

Today, let us examine our hearts for any inclination toward pride, judgment, or exclusion. Are we willing to embrace the simplicity of a child, and can we bless God’s holy name even when the storms of life surround us? How can you cultivate a spirit of humility and open-handed trust in God’s providence during your daily struggles today?

Heavenly Father, we thank You for Your constant protection and for holding every moment of our lives in Your hands. Forgive us for the times our pride causes us to seek greatness in the eyes of the world, or when we fall into the trap of jealousy and exclusion. Grant us the grace to embrace true humility, to welcome the least among us, and to say with Job—through every trial and blessing “Blessed be the name of the Lord!” Be our refuge and our strength today and always. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | SEPTEMBER 28TH:

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his Companions, Saint Wenceslaus, Saint John of Dukla, and Saint Simon de Rojas | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-september-28th/

SAINT LAWRENCE RUIZ AND HIS COMPANIONS, MARTYRS: Saint Lawrence Ruiz (1600–1637) was the first canonized Filipino saint and a lay Dominican. Born in Manila to a Chinese father and a Filipino mother, he was a devoted husband and father of three children, and worked as a calligrapher. Wrongly accused of a crime, he fled the Philippines with missionaries bound for Japan, where Christians were being persecuted. Arrested in Nagasaki, he and fifteen companions Dominican priests, religious sisters, and lay faithful were brutally tortured. Lawrence was suspended upside down in a pit and refused to renounce Christ, declaring, “I shall die for God, and for Him I would give many thousands of lives if I had them.” He was martyred in 1637. Canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1987, he is honored as the first Filipino martyr and a witness of courage, faith, and fidelity.

PRAYER: Almighty God, through the intercession of Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his companions, grant us strength to remain faithful in trials and to witness to Your truth with courage and love. Amen🙏🏽

SAINT WENCESLAUS, MARTYR: Saint Wenceslaus (907–935) was the Duke of Bohemia, raised in the Catholic faith by his grandmother, Saint Ludmilla. Despite political unrest, he worked to strengthen Christianity in his land, ruling with humility, chastity, and charity. His mother Dragomir and his brother Boleslaus opposed the faith, and tragically, Boleslaus betrayed and murdered him near Prague. Wenceslaus forgave his brother with his dying breath. Venerated immediately after his death, he became a symbol of Christian kingship and is the national patron of the Czech Republic.

PRAYER: O God, You taught Saint Wenceslaus to prefer Your Kingdom above earthly power. Grant that, through his prayers, we may seek Your will with courage and humility. Amen 🙏🏽

SAINT JOHN OF DUKLA, PRIEST: Saint John of Dukla (1414–1484) was a Polish Franciscan who lived a life of poverty, obedience, and devotion to Our Lady. A preacher in Ukraine, Moldavia, and Belarus, he brought many back to the faith. Even after losing his sight in later years, he continued to preach and guide souls with the help of an assistant. Known for his ascetic life and missionary zeal, his tomb became a site of miracles. He was canonized by Pope John Paul II in 1997 and is venerated as a patron of Poland and Lithuania.

PRAYER: Lord, through the intercession of Saint John of Dukla, grant us steadfastness in faith and perseverance in trials, that we may always proclaim Your mercy. Amen.🙏🏽

SAINT SIMON DE ROJAS, PRIEST: Saint Simon de Rojas (1552–1624), a Spanish Trinitarian priest, was renowned for his deep devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary. Called the “Apostle of the Ave Maria,” he founded the Congregation of the Slaves of the Sweet Name of Mary and served as spiritual director and royal tutor in Spain. A gifted theologian, preacher, and benefactor of the poor, he united love of Mary with love of the marginalized. Canonized in 1988 by Pope John Paul II, he remains a model of Marian devotion and service.

PRAYER: Loving God, through the intercession of Saint Simon de Rojas, enkindle in us a tender love for Mary and a generous heart for the poor and forgotten. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his Companions, Saint Wenceslaus, Saint John of Dukla, and Saint Simon de Rojas ~ Pray for us. 🙏🏾

HONORING THE SAINTS OF THE DAY:
Alongside Saint Lawrence Ruiz (St. Lorenzo Ruiz) and his Companions, Saint Wenceslaus (St. Wenceslaus I, Duke of Bohemia), Saint John of Dukla, and Saint Simon de Rojas, we also honor: SAINT ANNEMUND, SAINT CONWALL, SAINT DOMINGO IBANEZ DE ERQUICIA, SAINT EUSTOCHIUM, SAINT EXUPERIUS, SAINT FAUSTUS of RIEZ, BLESSED GUILLERMO COURTET, BLESSED JACOBO KYUSHEI GOROBIOYE TOMONAGA, SAINT JOHN KOKUMBUKO, BLESSED LAWRENCE SHIZU, BLESSED LAZARO OF KYOTO, SAINT MACHAN, BLESSED MAGDALENA OF NAGASAKI, BLESSED MARINA DE OMURA, SAINT MARK, SAINT MARTIAL, BLESSED MICHAEL KINOSHI, SAINT PATERNUS, BLESSED PETER KUFIOJI, SAINT RAYMOND LI-TS’UAN, SAINT REMIGIUS ISORE, SAINT ROSE WANG-HOEI, SAINT TETTA, BLESSED THIEMO, BLESSED THOMAS HIOJI ROKUZAYEMON NISHI, BLESSED THOMAS KUFIOJI, BLESSED VICENTE SHIWOZUKA DE LA CRUZ, AND SAINTS WILLIGOD & MARTIN. May their faithful lives inspire our own journey today.

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR INVINCIBLE PATIENCE, TRUE HUMILITY, AND A ZEALOUS LOVE FOR CHRIST

Heavenly Father, You gave Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his companions the invincible patience to seal their faith with their blood, strengthened Saint Wenceslaus to prize Your heavenly kingdom above all earthly rule, and filled Saint John of Dukla and Saint Simon de Rojas with a tireless zeal for souls and devotion to Our Lady. Through their intercession, and guided by today’s Gospel call to lowliness and unity, grant us the grace to strip away all human pride and rivalry. Help us to embrace our daily crosses with unwavering faith, to welcome the vulnerable in Your name, and to cling to You with our whole heart. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Save Us, Savior of the World. Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint Lawrence Ruiz and his Companions, Saint Wenceslaus, Saint John of Dukla, and Saint Simon de Rojas, 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/