Tuesday, July 3, 2018

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Thomas

'Tis the Feast of Saint Thomas, Apostle (died circa 72, A.K.A. Didymus): Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Apostles & Wikipedia-link Doubting Thomas.


Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
He was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is informally known as "Doubting Thomas" because he doubted Jesus's resurrection when first told… followed later by his confession of faith, "My Lord & my God," on seeing Jesus's wounded Body.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of St. Thomas
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter two, verses nineteen thru twenty-two;
Psalm One Hundred Seventeen, verses one(b/c), two;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty, verses twenty-four thru twenty-nine.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel celebrates St. Thomas the Apostle. Why do we love this story of doubting Thomas so much? Perhaps because he is a saint especially suitable for our time. Modernity has been marked, from its beginning, by two great qualities: skepticism and empiricism, the very qualities we can discern in Thomas: "Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands and put my finger into the nail marks and put my hand into his side, I will not believe."

And I think a good amount of skepticism and "show-me" empiricism is called for in many situations and contexts. We shouldn’t be credulous, gullible, or naïve. Sometimes it is indeed good to wipe the slate clean, to clear out old cobwebs and intellectual humbugs, perhaps especially in the area of religion. Indeed, Catholicism has a very rich intellectual tradition, a tradition of questioning, wondering, and seeking understanding.

Yet when the risen Jesus reappears, this time in the presence of Thomas, he invites the doubter to look, to see, and to touch. Then that devastating line: "Have you come to believe because you have seen me? Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed."
Video reflection by Father Seán Paul Fleming: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


'Tis also the festival of Saint Hyacinth of Caesarea, Martyr (died circa 108), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Leo II, Pope (611-683), eightieth (LXXX) Bishop of Rome, who clarified & confirmed the acts of the Third Council of Constantinople: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff, Council-link, & Wikipedia-link Council.

Papal Quote o' the Day
"Christ belongs to you! Do not be afraid anymore—not even of the Cross, His Cross that He will share with you. The royal triumph of Jesus leads to the cross. But, we repeat, do not be afraid: in this way life, true life will be assured for you tomorrow."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)
Little Flower Quote o' the Day
"Lord, if you tell me to love others just as You love them, then You must love them in me & through me. So the closer my union with You, the more I love all my sisters without distinction."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
Saint Quote o' the Day
"Put all the good works in the world against one Holy Mass; they will be as a grain of sand beside a mountain."
—St. John Vianney (1786-1859, feast day: 4 August)

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