Friday, January 20, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Fabian, Pope & Martyr (circa 200-250, A.K.A. Flavian), twentieth Bishop of Rome, martyred in the reign of the emperor Decius: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Fabian is famous for the miraculous nature of his election, in which a dove is said to have descended on his head to mark him as the Holy Spirit's unexpected choice to become the next pope.
'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Sebastian, Martyr (died circa 288), martyred in the reign of the emperor Diocletian: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Sebastian was killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution. He is commonly depicted tied to a post or tree & shot with arrows. Despite this being the most common artistic depiction of Sebastian, according to legends, (he) was rescued & healed by (St.) Irene of Rome (30 March). Shortly afterwards he went to Diocletian to warn him about his sins, & as a result was clubbed to death.
Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
The legend of St. Sebastian is important in art & there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that a pious fable has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only there could he assist the martyrs without arousing suspicion. Finally he was found out, brought before Emperor Diocletian & delivered to Mauretanian archers to be shot to death. His body was pierced with arrows, & he was left for dead. But he was found still alive by those who came to bury him. He recovered, but he refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the emperor was to pass. He accosted the emperor, denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs. He was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs that bear his name.
'Tis also the feast of Saint Henry of Uppsala, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 1156, A.K.A. Heikki), martyred by an excommunicated Finn named Lalli: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Blessed Basil Moreau, Priest, C.S.C. (1799-1873), founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the Marianites of Holy Cross, the Sisters of the Holy Cross (Notre Dame), & the Sisters of Holy Cross (Montreal): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.S.C., Wikipedia-link M.S.C., Wikipedia-link Notre Dame, & Wikipedia-link Montreal.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Weekday
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter eight, verses six thru thirteen;
Psalm Eighty-five, verses eight & ten thru fourteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses thirteen thru nineteen;

or, for St. Fabian:
The First Letter of Peter, chapter five, verses one thru four;
Psalm Forty, verses eight(a) & nine(a);
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty-one, verses fifteen, sixteen, & seventeen;

or, for St. Sebastian:
The First Letter of Peter, chapter three, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
Psalm Thirty-four, verse five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-three.

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