Commentary: Wayback Machine. St. Anne, Bl. Roger, & Bl. Mark were all martyred together at Tyburn. I list them separately because they are classed in different choirs of martyrs.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Roger Filcock, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (circa 1570-1601, A.K.A. Arthur Naylor), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales, also one of the one hundred sixty Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV & Martyr-link CLX & Wikipedia-link CLX.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Mark Barkworth, Priest & Martyr, Obl.S.B. (circa 1572-1601, A.K.A. Mark Lambert), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, one of the one hundred sixty Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyr-link CLX & Wikipedia-link CLX.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Gabriel of Our Lady of Sorrows, Religious, C.P. (1838-1862, A.K.A. Francesco Possenti): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Lenten Weekday
The Book of Isaiah, chapter one, verses ten & sixteen thru twenty;
Psalm Fifty, verses eight & nine, sixteen(b/c) & seventeen, & twenty-one & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses one thru twelve.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel for today focuses on the pitfalls and ideals of religious leadership. This is a week when priests, ministers, and preachers have to preach to themselves. Jesus turns his sharp eye and withering critique on the many ways that religious leaders fall into corruption.Video reflection by Sister Mary McCarrick, O.S.F.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
It is hard to miss the practical application of these texts to our troubled time, a period when clerical corruption and misconduct has been vividly on display. Jesus makes a distinction of capital importance. "The scribes and Pharisees have taken their seat on the chair of Moses. Therefore, do and observe all the things they tell you." The Lord reminds us that they do sit legitimately in teaching offices and that their teaching should be, accordingly, respected.
In the fourth century, St. Augustine faced the challenge of the Donatists. They claimed that only pure and morally upright priests could legitimately dispense the sacraments. Augustine said, no, the personal evil of a minister does not compromise the validity of what he does sacramentally.
This principle is of great significance. Augustine, in imitation of Christ, says that there can be evil men who do and teach the works of God.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Lord grant us this wisdom to understand properly the difference between talk & action. Teach us the path of doing & help us to take that path."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope Francis
"Inasmuch as we exist, we are good."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast day: 28 August)
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