Wednesday, 11 July was the Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 480-547, of Nursia), founder of Subiaco Abbey & the Abbey of Monte Cassino, & author of the Rule of Saint Benedict: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & YouTube-link The True Enlightenment!, Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Subiaco, Wikipedia-link Monte Cassino, Wikipedia-link Rule, & Wikipedia-link Ora et Labora.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Brother of St. Scholastica [10 January].
Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Benedict's main achievement in his "Rule of Saint Benedict," containing precepts for his monks. It also has a unique spirit of balance, moderation, & reasonableness. Benedict is often called the founder of Western Christian monasticism.'Twas also the festival of Saint Pius I, Pope (circa 81-155), tenth (X) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.
'Twas also the festival of Saint Olga of Kiev (879-969, A.K.A. Helena, Helga), Queen consort & Regent of Kievan Rus': Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Grandmother of St. Vladimir [15 July] & great-grandmother of Ss. Boris & Gleb [24 July].
'Twas also the festival of Blesseds Thomas Hunt & Thomas Sprott, Priests & Martyrs (died 1600), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Hotel, Martyr-link Sierra, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.
Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Hosea, chapter ten, verses one, two, three, seven, eight, & twelve;
Psalm One Hundred Five, verses two & three, four & five, & six & seven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses one thru seven.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus commissions the twelve Apostles. Perhaps we can see here a fulfillment of his prophetic invitation to the first disciples: “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.”Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“Come after me.” This is a Hebraicism that indicates discipleship. Jesus is not offering a doctrine, a theology, or a set of beliefs. He is offering himself. He’s saying, “Walk in my path; enter into the world that I have opened up.”
“And I will make you fishers of men.” This is one of the best lines in Scripture. Notice the first part of the phrase: “I will make you...” God is the one who makes us from nothing. To live in sin is to live outside of the creative power of God, to pretend that we can make ourselves. How wonderful that he tells us that he will make us!
And what he makes us is always a reflection of himself: a fisher of men. God wants to draw all things and all people into a community around him, in him. He is a fisher of people—and so wants us to be.
Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Benedict
The Book of Proverbs, chapter two, verses one thru nine;
Psalm Thirty-four, verse two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-seven, twenty-eight, & twenty-nine.
Papal Quote o' That Day
"Work is a fundamental part of our earthly life. It often involves heavy fatigue & even suffering, but it can also forge strong character & vigorous personality. It can be the means by which we build up the world according to the values in which we believe."Little Flower Quote o' That Day
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)
"I am a very little soul whom God has overwhelmed with graces. In heaven you will see that I am speaking the truth."Catholic Quote o' That Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Apart from Jesus Christ we do not know what God, life, death, & we ourselves are."
—Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)
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