Wednesday, July 5, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Antonio Zaccaria, Priest, C.R.S.P. (1502-1539), founder of the Barnabites, formally the Clerics Regular of St. Paul, & the Angelic Sisters of St. Paul: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.R.S.P.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
St. Anthony was born at Cremona in Lombardy in 1502. He studied medicine at Padua. After his ordination to the priesthood, he founded the Society of Clarics of St. Paul, also known as the Barnabites. The Society did much to reform the morals of the faithful. He died in 1539.
'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Elizabeth of Portugal, T.O.S.F. (1271-1336, A.K.A. of Aragon, Isabella), Queen of Portugal: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
St. Elizabeth was born of the Aragonese royal family in 1271. As a young maiden she was given in marriage to the king of Portugal & bore him two children. She bravely endured afflictions & troubles through prayer & works of charity. When her husband died she distributed her property to the poor & received the habit of the Third Order of St. Francis. After ending a serious dispute between her son & (his) son-in-law, she died in 1336.
In the Canadas, as in most of the world, St. Elizabeth is remembered on 4 July, the date of her death. In the U.S.A., her memorial has been transferred to avoid conflicting with Independence Day.


'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Patrick Cavanagh, Edward Cheevers, Matthew Lambert, Robert Myler & Companions, Martyrs (died 1581, A.K.A. the Wexford Martyrs), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, six of the Irish Martyrs: Martyr-link Papa Charlie, Martyr-link Echo Charlie, Martyr-link Mike Lima, Martyr-link Romeo Mike, & Wikipedia-link Wexford; Martyrs-link & Wikipedia-link Irish.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Weekday
The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-one, verses five & eight thru twenty(a);
Psalm Thirty-four, verses seven & eight, ten & eleven, & twelve & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eight, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-four.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today's Gospel we see Jesus, the miracle worker, healing two demoniacs. I think it's hard to deny that the first Christians were intensely interested in the miracles of Jesus and that they didn't see them as mere literary symbols. Anglican theologian N.T. Wright argues that it's hard to explain the enormous popularity of Jesus apart from this fascination with his wonder-working.

Though God typically lets the universe run according to its natural rhythms and patterns, what is to prevent God from shaping it or influencing it occasionally in remarkable ways in order to signal his purpose and his presence?

For evidence of this, I would like to draw your attention to an extraordinary book. It bears the simple title Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts, and it is written by the Protestant scholar Craig Keener. It is a truly exhaustive study of the theology and phenomenology of miracles, but the most surprising and exciting section of the book—at least for me—was his rehearsal of some of the literally millions of reports of miracles that come, even today, from every corner of the world. If you doubt God still works in the world today, pick up that book and think again.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Anthony Zaccaria
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter one, verses thirteen & fourteen & chapter two, verses one, two, & three;
Psalm Forty, verse five(a);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses thirteen thru sixteen.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Elizabeth of Portugal
The First Letter of John, chapter three, verses fourteen thru eighteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twelve, verse one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one thru forty-six
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one thru forty).

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