Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Summer Book Club: "The Mass"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Eusebius of Vercelli, Bishop (circa 283-371), noted for opposing the Arian heresy: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Heresy.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was an Italian bishop. Along with Athanasius, he affirmed the divinity of Jesus against Arianism.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Julian Eymard, Priest, S.S.S. (1811-1868, the "Apostle of the Eucharist"), founder of the Sacramentinos, formally the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament, & the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.S.S. & Wikipedia-link Servants.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Peter Eymard was a French Catholic priest & founder of the two religious institutes: the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament for men & the Servants of the Blessed Sacrament for women.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Stephen I, Pope (died 257), twenty-third (XXIII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Tis also the festival of Dedication of the Chapel of Our Lady of the Angels (A.K.A. the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary of the Angels): Dedication-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Indulgence.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter eighteen, verses one thru six;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-six, verses one(b) & two, three & four, & five & six(a/b);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses forty-seven thru fifty-six.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus presents two more parables on the kingdom of heaven. In the first parable, we hear that "the kingdom of heaven is like a net thrown into the sea." Here the kingdom of heaven is coming for us. This is an eschatological image of the kingdom, of God’s final rounding up of the world at the end of time. When will it come? We don’t know. But we must be ready! And being ready means being in accord with the rule of God.

Then the second parable: "Every scribe who has been instructed in the kingdom of heaven is like the head of a household who brings from his storeroom both the new and the old." Jesus knew that his ministry and teaching were, to a large extent, in continuity with what came before him. At the same time, he knew that his preaching and person did represent something new and unprecedented. So, those learned in the kingdom of God love traditions, the heritage of faith. And those learned in the kingdom also know that the Spirit is doing new things. Therefore, we have to be open to what he might want to show us

Video reflection by Fr. Roger Lopez, O.F.M. (Franciscan Media): U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Eusebius of Vercelli
The First Letter of John, chapter five, verses one thru five;
Psalm Eighty-nine, verse two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses one thru twelve(a).

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Peter Julian Eymard
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter four, verses thirty-two thru thirty-five;
Psalm Thirty-four, verse nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses one thru eight.

Papal Quote o' This Day

"We must be open, listen, seek to understand. We must go beyond the limits, because all that is Divine, that is revealed, is superior to the human, to our limits. Many people do not accept it because they do not see or because they cannot go beyond these limits."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"I understand above all that charity must not remain hidden in the bottom of the heart."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' This Day

"Credo, ut intelligam—Faith seeks understanding."
—St. Anselm of Canterbury, Doctor of the Church (1033-1109, feast day: 21 April)