Monday, April 23, 2018

Saints + Scripture: Eastertide

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint George, Martyr (circa 280-303), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution; one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint George's Day; Wikipedia-link Persecution; Helpers-link XIV & Wikipedia-link XIV.


Commentary: Wayback Machine. A Golden Legend: Wikipedia-link Saint George & the Dragon.

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
St. George was a Roman soldier of Greek & Palestinian origin & officer in the [Praetorian] Guard of Roman emperor Diocletian, who was sentenced to death for refusing to recant his Christian faith. As a Christian martyr, he became one of the most venerated saints in Christianity, especially venerated by the Crusaders.
'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Adalbert, Bishop & Martyr, O.S.B. (circa 956-997, of Prague; A.K.A. Vojtěch), martyred by pagan priests of the Old Prussians: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.


Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
St. Adalbert was the Bishop of Prague & a missionary to the Hungarians, Poles, & Prussians whow as martyred in his efforts to convert the Baltic Prussians to Christianity.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Adalbert III of Salzburg, Bishop (1145-1200, A.K.A. Vojtěch, of Bohemia): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Giles of Assisi, Religious, O.F.M. (circa 1190-1262, also spelt Aegidius): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Teresa Maria of the Cross, Religious, O.C.D. (1846-1910, A.K.A. Teresa Adelaide Cesina Manetti), foundress of the Carmelite Sisters of Saint Teresa of Florence: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Easter Weekday
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter eleven, verses one thru eighteen;
Psalm Forty-two, verses two & three & Psalm Forty-three, verses three & four;
The Gospel according to John, chapter ten, verses one thru ten.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel builds on the enduring and endearing image of Jesus as the good shepherd. Jesus says: "The sheep hear his voice, as he calls his own sheep by name and leads them out."

How wonderful and strange that Christianity is not a set of ideas. It’s not a philosophy or an ideology. It’s a relationship with someone who has a voice. The first disciples were privileged to hear the voice of the historical Jesus. They heard its very particular tone and texture.

But we hear his voice too, in our own way, especially when we hear the Scriptures proclaimed at Mass. Mind you, we don’t just read the Bible; we hear the Bible. We also hear the voice of Jesus when the bishops and the popes speak; we hear it in our conscience, which Newman called "the aboriginal vicar of Christ in the soul"; and we hear it in good spiritual friends, those people who comfort us and challenge us and keep calling us to higher ideals and encourage us when we fall.

We listen to the voice of Jesus because he is leading us to a renewed and transformed life with God.
Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. George
The Book of Revelation, chapter twenty-one, verses five, six, & seven;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verse five;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses twenty-three thru twenty-six.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Adalbert
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter six, verses four thru ten;
Psalm Thirty-one, verse six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter ten, verses eleven thru sixteen.

Papal Quote o' This Day
"To recoil before an enemy, or to keep silence when from all sides such clamors are raised against truth, is the part of a man either devoid of character or who entertains doubt as to the truth of what he professes to believe."
—Pope Leo XIII (1810-1903)
Little Flower Quote o' This Day
"I would like to love Jesus so much… to love Him more than He has ever been loved! My only desire is to always do the will of Jesus!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
Saint Quote o' This Day
"Obedience is the yardstick of love."
—Bl. Charles de Foucald (1858-1916, feast day: 1 December)

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