Thursday, October 5, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Blessed Francis Xavier Seelos, Priest, C.Ss.R. (1819-1867): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Francis Xavier Seelos, C.Ss.R., was a German Redemptorist who worked as a missionary in the United States frontier. Seelos was ordained a priest in the Redemptorist Church of St. James in Baltimore, Maryland. In 1854, he was appointed simultaneously Pastor of St. Alphonsus Parish in Baltimore; Pastor & Prefect of Students [at Ss. Peter & Paul Church in Cumberland, Maryland, in 1857; and Pastor & Prefect of Students at St. Mary's Parish in Annapolis, in 1862.]
'Tis also the festival of Blesseds William Hartley, Priest; John Hewitt, Priest; & Robert Sutton*; Martyrs (died 1588), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I: Martyr-link Whiskey Hotel & Wikipedia-link Whiskey Hotel, Martyr-link Juliett Hotel & Wikipedia-link Juliett Hotel, & Martyr-link Romeo Sierra.

Commentary: *The layman & martyr Bl. Robert Sutton (died 1588) is not to be confused with the priest & martyr Bl. Robert Sutton (died 1587), one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Maria Faustyna of the Blessed Sacrament, Virgin, O.L.M. (1905-1938, A.K.A. Faustina Kowalska), the "Apostle of Divine Mercy:" Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Divine Mercy, Wikipedia-link Image, & Wikipedia-link Chaplet.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Book of Nehemiah, chapter eight, verses one thru four(a), five, six, & seven(b) thru twelve;
Psalm Nineteen, verses eight, nine, ten, & eleven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses one thru twelve.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel, taken from the magnificent 10th chapter of Luke's Gospel, is a portrait of the Church. It shows us what Jesus wants his followers to be doing and how to do it. Listen to how the passage begins: "The Lord appointed a further seventy-two and sent them in pairs before him to every town and place he intended to visit".

We are a missionary church. We are sent by the Lord to spread his word and do his work. The Christian Gospel is just not something that we are meant to cling to for our own benefit. Rather, it is like seed that we are meant to give away.

He sends them two by two. We do this work together, with others, in community. Ministers need people to support them, pray for them, talk to them, challenge them. [St.] Francis [4 October] has an experience of God and then, within months, gathers people around him; [St.] Dominic [8 August], from the beginning, has brothers in his work. [St.] Mother Teresa [5 September] attracts a number of her former students to join her in her mission. We don't go it alone.
Video reflection by Father Don Miller, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Bl. Francis Xavier Seelos
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verse fifteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-eight, verses sixteen thru twenty.



Bible Study—The Bible Timeline, Session 17: Maccabean Revolt
The First Book of Maccabees, chapter one, verses forty-one thru sixty-three;
The First Book of Maccabees, chapter two (verses one thru seventy);
The First Book of Maccabees, chapter three (verses one thru fifty-nine);
The First Book of Maccabees, chapter four (verses one thru sixty-one);
The First Book of Maccabees, chapter five, verses one thru eight.

Commentary: Prohibitions against Religion (1:41-63), Mattathias & His Sons (2:1-14), Pagan Worship Refused (2:15-48), Death of Mattathias (2:49-70), III. Leadership of Judas Maccabeus: Defeat of Apollonius & Seron (3:1-26), Regency of Lysias (3:27-37), the Victories of Judas (3:38-4:25), Victory over Lysias (4:26-35), Purification of the Temple (4:36-61), & Punishment of Hostile Acts (5:1-8).

Bible Study—Proverbs in a Month
The Book of Proverbs, chapter five (verses one thru twenty-three).

Commentary: Warning against Adultery (5:1-23).

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