MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DEI ROSSI, PRIEST; SAINT JULIA OF CORSICA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR; SAINT JANE (JOAN) ANTIDE THOURET, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT WILLIAM OF ROCHESTER, MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 23RD 2026

SATURDAY OF THE SEVENTH WEEK OF EASTER | YEAR A | MAY 23, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saturday-of-the-seventh-week-of-easter-year-a-may-23-2026/

SAINTS OF THE DAY | MAY 23, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-23rd/

MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DEI ROSSI, PRIEST; SAINT JULIA OF CORSICA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR; SAINT JANE (JOAN) ANTIDE THOURET, RELIGIOUS AND SAINT WILLIAM OF ROCHESTER, MARTYR

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

Watch “Holy Mass and Holy Rosary | EWTN | May 23, 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-may-23-2026/

NOVENA TO THE HOLY SPIRIT: Prayed in preparation for Pentecost. Began on Friday, May 15, 2026 – Saturday, May 23, 2026 | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/the-novena-to-the-holy-spirit/

Day Nine – Saturday | 7th Week of Easter | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/the-novena-to-the-holy-spirit-day-9/

[This Novena begins on the day after the Solemnity of the Ascension, Friday of the 6th Week of Easter, even if the Solemnity of the Ascension is transferred to the 7th Sunday.]

DAILY PRAYERS: St. Michael the Archangel Prayer; Regina Caeli 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/

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

Stay connected with us on social media:
Instagram | https://www.instagram.com/dailyreflectionswithphilomena/
Facebook | https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61587888688219
@dailyreflectionswithdrphilomena

Greetings and blessings, beloved family!

Alleluia! I will send to you the Spirit of truth, says the Lord; he will guide you to all truth. Alleluia! Today as we stand on the threshold of Pentecost and complete Day Nine of the Novena to the Holy Spirit, the Church delivers a powerful, freeing message on the uniqueness of our individual missions. Walking with us today is an extraordinary cloud of witnesses: Saint John Baptist Dei Rossi, the “Apostle of the Abandoned,” who conquered a lifetime of severe epilepsy to fearlessly hear confessions and serve Rome’s outcasts; Saint Julia of Corsica, a noble slave girl who refused to compromise her faith and was gloriously crucified; Saint Jane Antide Thouret, who survived a near-fatal beating during the French Revolution to walk across France begging for bread to feed the poor; and Saint William of Rochester, a pious baker who adopted an abandoned child, only to be tragically betrayed and martyred by that very son. In today’s Gospel, as the Johannine narrative reaches its final verses, Jesus delivers a sharp correction to our human habit of spiritual comparison. Looking at John, Peter turns to Jesus and asks, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus instantly shatters his distraction with absolute clarity: “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” Christ reminds us that the path of discipleship is uniquely custom-designed; your neighbor’s cross or blessings are not your concern. This focus on individual endurance shines brilliantly in the First Reading, which serves as the final chapter of the Book of Acts. Under house arrest in Rome and chained to a soldier, Saint Paul refuses to let his physical confinement stall his spiritual velocity. For two full years, he receives everyone who enters his rented lodgings, and with complete assurance and zero hindrance, he boldly proclaims the Kingdom of God and teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ. Like Paul and our saints, our current limitations are never excuses to stop serving. As we prepare for the fire of Pentecost, let us take refuge in the Responsorial Psalm: “The just will gaze on your face, O Lord.” Strip away the exhausting heavy burden of comparison, embrace your specific assignment, and follow Him with all your heart! Amen. 🙏🏽

BIBLE READINGS FOR TODAY’S HOLY MASS:

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

Today’s Bible Readings: Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter | May 23, 2026
Reading I: Acts 28:16–20, 30–31
Responsorial Psalm: Psalm 11:4, 5 and 7
Gospel: John 21:20–25

Gospel Reading ~ John 21:20–25

“What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.”

Peter turned and saw the disciple following whom Jesus loved, the one who had also reclined upon his chest during the supper and had said, “Master, who is the one who will betray you?” When Peter saw him, he said to Jesus, “Lord, what about him?” Jesus said to him, “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” So the word spread among the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus had not told him that he would not die, just “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours?” It is this disciple who testifies to these things and has written them, and we know that his testimony is true. There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.

SCRIPTURE REFLECTIONS

In the Gospel, we reach the concluding verses of the Johannine narrative, where Jesus delivers a sharp, freeing lesson on the individuality of Christian vocations. This reflection centers on the Freedom from Comparison and the Singularity of Call. Immediately after receiving his own daunting prophecy of martyrdom, Peter turns, notices John, and asks, “Lord, what about him?” Human nature naturally seeks security through comparison, trying to measure its own burdens against the destiny of others. Jesus immediately corrects this distraction with absolute clarity: “What if I want him to remain until I come? What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” Christ reveals that our path of discipleship is uniquely custom-designed. The Lord does not demand uniform storylines for His servants; one may be called to a swift, bloody witness, while another is called to a long, quiet life of hidden testimony. Our singular concern must never be the cross of our neighbor, but an unswerving focus on our own personal mandate: “You follow me.”

This passage also highlights the boundless, Inexhaustible Reality of Christ’s Ministry. John closes his text by affirming the absolute truth of his eyewitness testimony, yet humbly acknowledges the limits of human expression: “There are also many other things that Jesus did, but if these were to be described individually, I do not think the whole world would contain the books that would be written.” The Gospel cannot be entirely reduced to paper and ink; the saving acts of Jesus transcend historical records, continuously writing new chapters in the individual hearts and lives of those who choose to follow Him across every generation.

The First Reading offers a magnificent, historical fulfillment of this individual endurance as the book of Acts reaches its final chapter, demonstrating an Unhindered Witness in Chains. Now a prisoner in Rome, Saint Paul is allowed to live under house arrest with a soldier guarding him. He calls the Jewish leaders together, making it clear that he harbors no malice against his accusers, declaring: “It is on account of the hope of Israel that I wear these chains.” For two full years, restricted inside his rented lodgings, Paul’s physical confinement cannot stall his spiritual velocity. He receives all who visit him, and with complete assurance and zero hindrance, he boldly proclaims the Kingdom of God and teaches about the Lord Jesus Christ. Paul’s specific vocation did not require open-air coliseums; it required complete fidelity to preach the Gospel exactly where he was bound.

The Responsorial Psalm (Psalm 11) perfectly captures this radical interior confidence, shifting our gaze away from earthly restrictions to the sovereign majesty of God: “The Just will gaze on your face, O Lord.” It reminds us that even when we are surrounded by chaotic opposition, the Lord remains secure in His holy temple with His throne in heaven. His searching glance is constantly on mankind, validating the struggles of the upright. Because He is just and loves just deeds, those who remain focused on their specific assignment will ultimately see His face.

As we stand on the eve of Pentecost, let us look inward and strip away the heavy burden of spiritual comparison. Reflect today: Do you spend your time looking at the blessings, paths, or light crosses of others, asking Jesus, “Lord, what about them?” Can you hear the voice of Jesus gently correcting you today, saying, “What concern is it of yours? You follow me”? Are you allowing your current limitations, hardships, or chains to keep you from sharing the love of Christ with those who enter your immediate circle?

Let us pray: Lord Jesus, we praise You for the beautiful, unique path You have laid out for each of our lives. Deliver us from the exhausting trap of comparison, jealousy, and spiritual distraction. When we are tempted to look at our neighbor’s journey with envy or confusion, remind us of Your absolute command: “You follow me.” Pour out Your Holy Spirit upon us, that like Saint Paul, we may learn to preach Your Kingdom with complete assurance, turning our limitations into platforms for Your glory. Keep our eyes fixed entirely on Your holy face until we are brought to perfection as one. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINTS OF THE DAY | MAY 23RD:

Link to Saints of the Day with Daily Reflections | May 23rd https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com

Direct link to the detailed history of Saint John Baptist Dei Rossi, Saint Julia of Corsica, Saint Jane Antide Thouret, and Saint William of Rochester | https://dailyreflectionswithphilomena.com/saints-of-the-day-feast-day-may-23rd/

SAINT JOHN BAPTIST DEI ROSSI, PRIEST: Saint John Baptist Dei Rossi (1698–1764) was a zealous Italian priest affectionately known as “The Apostle of the Abandoned.” Afflicted with severe epilepsy shortly after his ordination, he overcame his physical limitations and intense fears of having seizures in the confessional to dedicate his forty-year ministry entirely to Rome’s outcasts. He established a night hospice for homeless women, tirelessly visited prisoners and hospital patients, and woke up early each morning to instruct cattle drivers and market workers in the Sacraments. Appointed canon of Santa Maria in Cosmedin, John channeled his entire income into charitable causes, living in radical poverty while preaching up to six times a day across prisons and convents. He literally poured himself out for the unlearned until he suffered a fatal stroke, dying completely penniless and being buried at the expense of the hospital he had so faithfully served.

PRAYER: Almighty and eternal God, You dedicated the joy of this day to the glorification of Saint John Baptist Dei Rossi. Through his intercession, grant us his unwearying zeal for the marginalized, a deep love for the Sacrament of Reconciliation, and the grace to remain completely faithful to Your call despite our physical or emotional weaknesses. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT JULIA OF CORSICA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: Saint Julia (7th c.), also known as Julia of Carthage, was a noble North African maiden who became a brilliant witness of Christian freedom under severe pagan tyranny. Captured when the Vandals conquered Carthage, she was sold as a slave to a pagan merchant named Eusebius. Meeting her heavy household chores with supernatural cheerfulness, she devoted every spare moment to prayer and pious reading, earning her master’s deep respect. While on a voyage to Gaul, Eusebius anchored in northern Corsica to participate in a local idolatrous festival. Because Julia openly spurned the superstitious rites, the bigoted pagan governor, Felix, demanded she sacrifice to the false gods, even offering Eusebius four valuable slaves in exchange for her. When her master refused to part with his most diligent servant, Felix took advantage of Eusebius’s inebriated sleep, violently tearing Julia’s hair and beating her face. Retaining her undaunted air, she declared she was truly free as long as she could serve Jesus Christ, provoking Felix to savagely nail her to a cross where she expired as a glorious martyr.

PRAYER: Lord Jesus Christ, through Your death on the cross You gave Your faithful ones a hope that boldly conquers life’s harshest trials. Through the intercession of Saint Julia, grant us the fortitude to resist worldly compromise, the patience to endure unjust treatment, and physical healing for all who suffer from torture and pathologies of the hands and feet. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT JANE ANTIDE THOURET, RELIGIOUS: Saint Jane Antide Thouret (1765–1826) was a courageous French Sister of Charity and the holy foundress of the Institute of the Daughters of Saint Vincent de Paul. Orphaned of her mother at sixteen, she managed her family’s heavy domestic responsibilities before entering the Daughters of Charity in Paris. When the fierce persecutions of the French Revolution violently dispersed her convent, she refused to abandon her religious habit; for this defiance, she was beaten so brutally by civil authorities that she remained suspended between life and death for eight months. Healing miraculously, she crossed France on foot, begging for bread, secretly caring for the sick, and opening a school for girls. Forced into exile across Switzerland and Germany, she eventually returned to Besançon to establish a new congregation dedicated to prisoners, the sick poor, and local schools. Despite enduring painful jurisdictional betrayals by her local bishop, she expanded her order into Italy, leaving behind an enduring legacy of heroic virtue and resilience.

PRAYER: O God, You filled Saint Jane Antide with apostolic virtue to serve the poor and the imprisoned amidst the fires of violent persecution. Grant us her unshakeable endurance to face the shifting storms of our modern world, a deep love for the neglected, and Your divine protection over all religious sisters worldwide. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

SAINT WILLIAM OF ROCHESTER, MARTYR: Saint William of Rochester (d. 1201), also known as Saint William of Perth, was a Scottish baker who transformed a wild youth into a life of extraordinary charity and paternal devotion. Renowned for his deep piety, he daily set aside a massive portion of his bread to feed the local poor. Upon discovering an abandoned infant boy on his church steps, William joyfully adopted the child, raised him with a father’s heart, and taught him his baking trade. Years later, William set out on a holy pilgrimage to Jerusalem accompanied by his adopted son. Tragically, while traveling through England, the boy succumbed to greed, slit his foster father’s throat, and fled with his life savings. Left abandoned in a forest, William’s holy corpse was discovered by a mentally ill woman; when she placed a garland of flowers on his head and then onto her own, she was instantly cured. The local monks enshrined his body in the Rochester cathedral, where his memory remains a continuous refuge for the broken.

PRAYER: God of Mercy, You gave Saint William a heart of immense charity to feed the hungry and protect the abandoned. Through his intercession, look with tender love upon all adopted children, heal the deep wounds of parental betrayal or mental illness, and give us a generous spirit to share our daily bread with the poor. Through Christ our Lord. Amen. 🙏🏽

Our Blessed Mother Mary, Saint John Baptist Dei Rossi, Saint Julia of Corsica, Saint Jane Antide Thouret, and Saint William of Rochester — pray for us. 🙏🏽

HONORING THE SAINTS OF THE DAY:
As we look to the inspiring examples of Saint John Baptist de Rossi, Saint Julia, and Saint William of Rochester today, we also lift our hearts to the entire holy assembly sharing this May 23rd feast. Today, we prayerfully honor and remember SAINT CRISPIN OF VITERBO, SAINT DESIDERIUS, SAINT DIDIER, SAINT EPIPHANIUS AND BASILEUS, SAINT EUPHROSYNE OF POLOTSK, SAINT EUTYCHIUS & FLORENTIUS, SAINT GOBAN, SAINT LEONTIUS, THE MARTYRS OF CAPPADOCIA, THE MARTYRS OF MESOPOTAMIA, SAINT MERCURIALIS OF FORLI, SAINT MICHAEL THE CONFESSOR, SAINT MICHAEL OF SYNNADA, AND SAINT QUINTIAN. Spanning across centuries, from the early courageous martyrs who laid down their lives in ancient lands to the quiet, humble intercessors in monasteries, their collective witness reflects the beautiful and multifaceted light of God’s grace. Remembering them reminds us that we belong to a vast, diverse family of faith, encouraging us to walk our own path of holiness with confidence today.

PRAYER INTENTION: FOR FREEDOM FROM COMPARISON, UNHINDERED WITNESS IN TRIALS, PROTECTION OF CHOSEN PATHS, AND COMPASSION FOR THE ABANDONED

On this Saturday of the Seventh Week of Easter, as we reach the magnificent vigil of Pentecost Sunday and complete Day Nine of the Novena to the Holy Spirit, we stand before Your throne with a heart free from distraction. We thank You, Lord Jesus, for cutting down our human habit of comparison with Your freeing command, “What concern is it of yours? You follow me.” As we prepare for the blazing fire of the upper room, pour out Your Holy Spirit to keep our eyes locked entirely on our custom-designed path of discipleship. We pray for all who are physically limited, terminally ill, or suffering from severe medical conditions; through the intercession of Saint John Baptist Dei Rossi (Patron Saint of Voltaggio, the abandoned, and those suffering from pathologies of the hands, feet, or epilepsy), we beg for physical and emotional restoration. Strip away our anxieties and give us the grace to turn our personal weaknesses into instruments of Your mercy, using our days to aggressively search out and love the outcasts of our society. We pray for the courage to stand firm against worldly compromise and violent intimidation; through the intercession of Saint Julia of Corsica (Patron Saint of torture victims, Corsica, France, Brescia, and Livorno, Italy) and Saint Jane Antide Thouret (Patron Saint of the Sisters of Divine Charity and victims of persecution), grant us an undaunted air in the face of spiritual or civil hostility. Keep us resilient when our faith is tested, give us a genuine spirit of forgiveness for those who mistreat us, and protect all religious sisters who labor on the frontlines of the Gospel. We pray for all adopted children, broken families, and victims of deep betrayal; through the intercession of Saint William of Rochester (Patron Saint of adopted children and baking), we lay before You all who have been wounded by the very people they loved and protected. Heal the deep scars of domestic betrayal, cure all forms of mental illness, and give us a generous fatherly heart to adopt the abandoned and share our daily bread with the poor and needy all over the world. Finally, we pray for an unhindered, complete assurance in preaching Your Kingdom; just as Saint Paul remained in his rented Roman lodgings under house arrest, utilizing his physical chains to boldly proclaim the name of Jesus Christ without hindrance, let our current limitations become the exact platforms for Your glory. May our individual testimonies be true, unswerving, and entirely focused on Your holy face. 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 MAY: That Everyone Might Have Food. Pope Leo invites us to pray that no one might lack the food they need and that we might learn to live more responsibly, recognizing that the earth’s resources are a gift for everyone.

(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/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 this month of May 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 new 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 John Baptist Dei Rossi, Saint Julia of Corsica, Saint Jane Antide Thouret, and Saint William of Rochester ~ 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/

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

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