Saints + Scripture: VII Week in Ordinary Time

'Tis the Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church: Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the Catholic Community of Flint bulletin:

Pope Francis has declared the feast of "the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church" on the Monday after Pentecost each year.

The decree was promulgated on 3 March 2018, just over two months ago. In Church time, that is last-minute notice. Unusually for a Memorial (third in rank, beneath Feasts & Solemnities), the daily e-mail from the U.S.C.C.B. contained only the readings for the Memorial, not the readings for the weekday in Ordinary Time (or feria). This is not standard procedure, which I attribute to the short liturgical notice, making this first Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church a bit of a catch-as-catch-can affair.

Mary, Mother of the Church is a moveable feast; so, it won't be celebrated on this date (21 May) next year, 2019, but will vary along with the date of Pentecost, which varies along with the date of Easter.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Christopher Magallanes, Priest, & Companions, Martyrs (died 1915-1937, A.K.A. the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution): Martyr-link Charlie Mike & Wikipedia-link Charlie Mike, Martyrs-link ūnus & Martyrs-link duo; Wikipedia-link La Cristiada.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Christopher Magallanes, along with twenty-one other priests & three lay companions, were martyred between 1915 & 1937, by shooting or hanging, throughout eight Mexican states, for their membership in the Cristero movement.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Godric of Finchale, Hermit (circa 1065-1170): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Franz Jägerstätter, Martyr, O.F.S. (1907-1943), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Letter of James, chapter three, verses thirteen thru eighteen;
Psalm Nineteen, verses eight, nine, ten, & fifteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter nine, verses fourteen thru twenty-nine.

Mass Readings—Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church
The Book of Genesis, chapter three, verses nine thru fifteen & twenty;
or, the Acts of the Apostles, chapter one, verses twelve, thirteen, & fourteen;
Psalm Eighty-seven, verses one & two, three & five, & six & seven;
The Gospel according to John, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-five thru thirty-four.

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

Friends, today we celebrate the brand new Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church.

We hear in today’s Gospel that, as he was dying on the cross, Jesus looked to his mother and the disciple whom he loved, and he said to Mary, "Woman, behold, your son," and then to John, "Behold, your mother." We are told that "from that hour the disciple took her into his home."

If Mary is the one through whom Christ was born, and if the Church is indeed Christ’s mystical body, then she must be, in a very real sense, the mother of the Church. She is the one through whom Jesus continues to be born in the hearts of those who believe. This is not to confuse her with the Savior, but it is to insist on her mission as mediator and intercessor. At the close of the great "Hail Mary" prayer, we Catholics ask Mary to pray for us "now and at the hour of our death," signaling that throughout one’s life Mary is the privileged channel through which the grace of Christ flows into the mystical body.

God delights in drawing secondary causes into the dense complexity of his providential plan, granting to them the honor of cooperating with him and his designs. The handmaid of the Lord, who is the mother of the Church, is the humblest of these humble instruments—and therefore the most effective.

Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Christopher Magallanes & Companions
The Book of Revelation, chapter seven, verses nine thru seventeen;
Psalm Thirty-four, verse five;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twelve, verses twenty-four, twenty-five, & twenty-six.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The future is in your hearts & in your hands. God is entrusting to you the task, at once difficult & uplifting, of working with him in the building of the civilization of love."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Our Lord has granted me the grace never to fear the conflict; at all costs I must do my duty."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Be joyful, & keep your faith & your creed. Do the little things that you have seen me do & heard about. I will walk the path that our fathers have trod before us."
—St. David (500-589, feast day: 1 March)