Saints + Scripture — Wednesday, 1 August

The Long Road Back | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Wednesday, 1 August was the Memorial of Saint Alphonsus Ligouri, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, C.Ss.R. (1696-1787), founder of the Redemptorists, formally the Congregation of the Most Holt Redeemer: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Redemptorists-link, Wikipedia-link C.Ss.R., & Wikipedia-link Doctors.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He founded the Congregation of the Most Holt Redeemer (the Redemptorists). A prolific writer, he published nine editions of his Moral Theology in his lifetime, in addition to other devotional & ascetic works & letters. Among his best known works are The Glories of Mary & The Way of the Cross.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Peter in Chains (A.K.A. the Liberation of Saint Peter): Apostle-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Peter Faber, Priest, S.J. (1506-1546), co-founder of the Jesuits, formally the Society of Jesus: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.J..

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Gerhard Hirschfelder, Priest & Martyr (1907-1942), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter fifteen, verses ten & sixteen thru twenty-one;
Psalm Fifty-nine, verses two & three, four, ten & eleven, seventeen, & eighteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses forty-four, forty-five, & forty-six.

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

Friends, today Jesus offers two parables about the kingdom of heaven. Let's focus on the first one: "The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again."

Sometimes God’s love is found that way. There’s a saying: "Life is what happens to you while you’re busy making other plans." Sometimes in the course of our everyday lives, something happens that vividly and surprisingly summons us to union with God. We realize, in a flash, what it’s all about. We weren’t particularly looking for it, but it found us.

That's what Jesus is getting at today. As you walk through the fields of life, be open to the inrushing of grace when you least expect it. And when it comes, give up anything that holds it back.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Alphonsus Ligouri
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses one thru four;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verse twelve;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses thirteen thru nineteen.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Catholics must become closer to the 'unchurched' & help them discover their true vocation in Christ. This is the best service we can render to them & the best expression of solidarity & friendship."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"You must not set yourself up as a judge—that is God's right alone—your only mission is to be an angel of peace."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"O Christian, recognize your dignity!"
—Pope St. Leo I the Great, Doctor of the Church (400-461, feast day: 10 November)