Project BLACK MAMBA: Backlog Edition, Part I

Today, 31 May is the Feast of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Our Lady-link ūna, Our Lady-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

The visitation is the visit of (the Blessed Virgin) Mary with (St.) Elizabeth (5 November) as recorded in the Gospel of Luke, 1:39-56.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

This day remembers when Mary, nearing the Lord Jesus in her womb, visited her cousin Elizabeth, who was carrying (St.) John the Baptist (24 June & 29 August). Upon hearing Mary's voice Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, cried out, "Most blessed are you among women, & blessed is the fruit of your womb. And how does this happen to me that the mother of my Lord should come to me? For at the moment the sound of your greeting reached my ears, the infant in my womb leaped for joy. Blessed are you who believed that what was spoken to you by the Lord would be fulfilled" (Luke, 1:42-45).

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Zephaniah, chapter three, verses fourteen thru eighteen(a);
or, the Letter to the Romans, chapter twelve, verses nine thru sixteen;
The Book of Isaiah, chapter twelve, verses two, three, four(b,c,d), five, & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses thirty-nine thru fifty-six.

Personal Reading
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-eight (verses one thru thirty-one);
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-nine (verses one thru thirty-nine);
The Book of Numbers, chapter thirty (verses one thru seventeen);
The Book of Numbers, chapter thirty-one (verses one thru fifty-four);
The Book of Numbers, chapter thirty-two (verses one thru forty-two);
The Book of Numbers, chapter thirty-three (verses one thru fifty-six);
Psalm Eight (verses one thru ten);
Psalm Fifty-one, verses eleven thru twenty-one;
Psalm Fifty-two (verses one thru eleven).

Commentary: I remain stumped by much of the Pentateuch, by the endless lists of how many bullocks, rams, & yearling lambs must be slaughtered on such & such a day; how is so much of this even remotely applicable to life here in the New World, in the twenty-first century of Christ? If the blood of animals could have atoned for man's sinfulness, the Crucifixion would not have been necessary. Is this all to be read simply as allegory? I'm struggling here. After Numbers, I'll need to take some time to renew & reinvigorate myself in the less opaque Scriptures of the New Testament.

General Sacrifices (Numbers, 28:1-2), Each Morning & Evening (28:3-8), On the Sabbath (28:9-10), At the New Moon Feast (28:11-15), At the Passover (28:16-25), At Pentecost (28:26-31), On New Year's Day (29:1-6), On the Day of Atonement (29:7-11), On the Feast of Booths (29:12-39), Validity & Annulment of Vows (30:2-17), Extermination of the Midianites (31:1-12), Treatment of the Captives (31:13-18), Purification after Combat (31:19-24), Division of the Booty (31:25-31), Amount of Booty (31:32-47), Gifts of the Officers (31:48-54), Request of Gad & Reuben (32:1-5), Moses's Rebuke (32:6-15), Counter Proposal (32:16-19), Agreement Reached (32:20-38), Other Conquests (32:39-42), Stages of the Journey (33:1-4), From Egypt to Sinai (33:5-15), From Sinai to Kadesh (33:16-30a), From Mount Hor to Ezion-geber (33:30b-36a), From Kadesh to Mount Hor (33:36b-41a), From Ezion-geber to the Plains of Moab (33:41b-49), & Conquest & Division of Canaan (33:50-56).

Divine Majesty & Human Dignity (Psalm 8), The Miserere: Prayer of Repentence (Psalm 51), & the Deceitful Tongue (Psalm 52).

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Friday, 27 May was the Optional Memorial of Saint Augustine of Canterbury, Bishop, O.S.B. (died circa 605): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

(St. Augustine) was a Benedictine monk who became the first Archbishop of Canterbury in the year 597. He is considered the "Apostle to the English" & a founder of the English Church.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

St. Augustine was sent in 597 from St. Andrew's monastery in Rome by Pope St. Gregory the Great (3 September) to preach the Gospel in England. He was aided there by King Æthelbert & chosen bishop of Canterbury. He converted many to the faith & established many dioceses, especially in the Kingdom of Kent. He died on 26 May, about the year 605.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The First Letter of Peter, chapter four, verses seven thru thirteen;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses ten thru thirteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eleven, verses eleven thru twenty-six;

or, for St. Augustine:
The First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter two, verses two(b) thru eight;
Psalm Ninety-six, verse three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nine, verses thirty-five thru thirty-eight.

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Saturday, 28 May the feast of Blessed Lanfranc of Canterbury, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 1005-1089): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the feast of Blesseds Thomas Ford, Robert Johnson, & John Shert, Priests & Martyrs (died 1582), martyred under the queen Elizabeth I: Tango Foxtrot—Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link, Romeo Juliett—Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link, & Juliett Sierra—Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Letter of Jude, verses seventeen & twenty(b) thru twenty-five;
Psalm Sixty-three, verses two thru six;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eleven, verses eleven thru twenty-seven thru thirty-three.