Saints + Scripture

'Tis the festival of Saint Joan of Arc, Virgin & Martyr (circa 1412-1431, the "Maid of Orléans"), martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VI: Martyr-link ūna, Martyr-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Luke Kirby, Priest & Martyr (circa 1549-1582), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Thomas Cottam (S.J.), William Filby, & Lawrence Richardson, Priests & Martyrs (died 1582), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, three of the Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link Tango Charlie & Wikipedia-link Tango Charlie, Martyr-link Whiskey Foxtrot & Wikipedia-link Whiskey Foxtrot, Martyr-link Lima Romeo & Wikipedia-link Lima Romeo; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Eighth Week in Ordinary Time
The First Letter of Peter, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-seven, verses twelve & thirteen, fourteen & fifteen, & nineteen & twenty;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses thirty-two thru forty-five.

Commentary: Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

The daily e-mail containing Bishop Barron's reflection on today's readings had not arrived in my e-mailbox by the time of publication. This post will be amended should the Word on Fire e-mail ever arrive.

Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel James and John ask Jesus to place them in high places in his kingdom. They are asking for two of the classic substitutes for God: power and honor. Power is not, in itself, a bad thing, and the same is true of honor. Thomas Aquinas said that honor is the flag of virtue. It’s a way of signaling to others something that’s worth noticing.

So what’s the problem? The problem is that they are asking for these two things in the wrong spirit. The ego will want to use power, not for God’s purposes or in service of truth, beauty, and goodness, but for its own aggrandizement and defense. When honor is sought for its own sake or in order to puff up the ego, it becomes dangerous as well.

So what’s the way out? “Whoever wishes to be great among you will be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you will be the slave of all.” When you serve others, you are accessing the power of God and seeking the honor of God.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Radical changes in world politics leave America with a heightened responsibility to be, for the world, an example of a genuinely free, democratic, just, & human society."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I know that all the eagles of heaven have pity on me & that they guard & defend me, putting to flight the vulture-like temptations which would destroy me."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!"
—St. Joan of Arc (1412-1431, feast day: 30 May)