Saints + Scripture: Lent — The Long Road Back, IV of V

Saturday, 24 February was the festival of Saint Liudhard, Bishop (died circa 600, A.K.A. Letard): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Chaplain to the Christian queen St. Bertha [1 May], who was married to the pagan king Æthelberht of Kent [see below]. St. Æthelberht was eventually converted to the Faith, by St. Augustine of Canterbury [27 May].

'Twas also the festival of Saint Æthelberht of Kent, Confessor (circa 552-616; also spelt Ethelbert, Ædilberct, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Cumméne Find, Abbot (died 669, of Iona; A.K.A. Cumméne the White, Latinized as Cummeneus Albus): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Brother of St. Comman of Iona [18 March].

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Tommaso Maria Fusco, Priest (1831-1891), founder of the Priestly Society of the Catholic Apostolate & the Daughters of Charity of the Most Precious Blood: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Lenten Weekday
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter twenty-six, verses sixteen thru nineteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses one & two, four & five, & seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses forty-three thru forty-eight.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, once again our Gospel today is taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Mount. It is one of the most puzzling texts in the New Testament. It speaks of loving our enemies. Not tolerating them, or vaguely accepting them, but loving them. When you hate your enemy, you confirm him as your enemy. But when you love him in response to his hatred, you confuse and confound him, taking away the very energy that feeds his hatred.

There is a form of oriental martial arts called aikido. The idea of aikido is to absorb the aggressive energy of your opponent, moving with it, continually frustrating him until he comes to the point of realizing that fighting is useless.

Some have pointed out that there is a great deal of this in Jesus’ strategy of nonviolence and love of the enemy. You creatively absorb the aggression of your opponent, channeling it back against him, to show him the futility of violence. So when someone insults you, send back a compliment instead of an insult. When someone conspires against you, work to help him.

Video reflection by Deacon Bernard Nojadera: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"May the Lord give us the grace to pray for our enemies; to pray for those who wish us ill, who do not love us; to pray for those who do us harm, who persecute us."
—Pope Francis

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"This sweet Savior has long since forgotten your infidelities. He sees only your longing after perfection, & the sight makes His Heart glad."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"When you encounter difficulties & contradictions, do not try to break them, but bend them with gentleness & time."
—St. Francis de Sales, Doctor of the Church (1567-1622, feast day: 24 January)