Monday, January 2, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA: Christmastide Daily Double

Monday, 2 January is the Memorial of Saints Basil the Great & Gregory Nazianen, Bishops & Doctors of the Church (circa 329-379, A.K.A. of Caesarea; circa 329-390, A.K.A. of Nazianzus): Doctor-link Bravo ūnus, Doctor-link Bravo duo, & Wikipedia-link Bravo; Doctor-link Golf November ūnus, Doctor-link Golf November duo, & Wikipedia-link Golf November.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Basil was an influential theologian who supported the Nicene Cred & opposed the heresies of the early Christian church. He was known for his care of the poor & underprivileged.

Gregory, a fourth-century Archbishop of Constantinople, & theologian; he is widely considered the most accomplished rhetorical stylist of the patristic age. He made significant impact on the shape of Trinitarian theology among both Greek- & Latin-speaking theologians & is remembered as the "Trinitarian Theologian."
Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
After studying various modes of religious life, [Basil] founded what was probably the first monastery in Asia Minor. He is to monks of the East what Saint Benedict (11 July) is to the West; & Basil's principles influence [on] Eastern monasticism today was… as an orator. Though not recognized greatly in his lifetime, his writings rightly placing him among the great teachers of the Church. Seventy-two years after his death, the Council of Chalcedon described him as "the great Basil, minister of grace who has expounded the truth to the whole earth."

After his baptism at [age] thirty, Gregory gladly accepted his friend Basil's invitation to join him in a newly founded monastery. The solitude was broken when Gregory's father, a bishop, needed help in his diocese & estate. It seesm that Gregory was ordained a priest practically by force & only reluctantly accepted the responsibility. He skillfully avoided a schism that threatened when his own father made compromises with Arianism. At forty-one, Gregory was chosen suffragan bishop of Caesarea & at once came into conflict with Valens, the emperor, who supported the Arians.
'Tis also the feast of Saint Mainchín of Limerick, Bishop (seventh century, A.K.A. Munchin): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Christmas Weekday
The First Letter of John, chapter two, verses twenty-two thru twenty-eight;
Psalm Ninety-eight, verses one thru four;
The Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses nineteen thru twenty-eight;

or, for Ss. Basil & Gregory:
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter four, verses one thru seven;
Psalm Twenty-three, verse one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses eight thru twelve.

* * * * *

Monday, 26 December was the Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr & Deacon (first century), martyred in the reign of the emperor Tiberius: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
A deacon in the early Church at Jerusalem, he aroused the enmity of members of various synagogues by his teachings. Accused of blasphemy, at his trial he made a long speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him & was then stoned to death.
'Twas also the feast of Saint Zosimus, Pope (died 418), forty-first Bishop of Rome: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter six, verses eight, nine, & ten & chapter seven, verses fifty-four thru fifty-nine;
Psalm Thirty-one, verses three(c) thru four, six, eight(a,b), sixteen(b,c), & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses seventeen thru twenty-two.

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