Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Bonus Episode: "Countdown to 'Made for Happiness' Intro"
&
Wacky Wednesday: "Countdown to 'Made for Happiness': Episode IV—A New Hope"

'Tis the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Madonna-link ūna, Madonna-link duæ, Wikipedia-link Queen, & Wikipedia-link Coronation.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Mary is called Queen of Heaven because her Son, Jesus Christ, is the King of Israel & heavenly king of the universe; indeed, the Davidic tradition of Israel recognized the mother of the king as the Queen Mother of Israel.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Thomas Percy, Martyr (1528-1572), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, a leader of the Rising of the North: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Rising.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Richard Kirkman & William Lacy, Priests & Martyrs (died 1582), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link Romeo Kilo, Martyr-link Whiskey Lima, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

'Tis also the festival of Saint John Kemble, Priest & Martyr (1599-1679), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles II, a victim of the perjurer Titus Oates's "Popish Plot" hoax, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Plot; & Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-four, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one, two, & three(a); three(b) & four; five; & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty, verses one thru sixteen.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Book of Isaiah, chapter nine, verses one thru six;
Psalm One Hundred Thirteen, verse two;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses twenty-six thru thirty-eight.

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

Friends, today we celebrate Mary’s Queenship. Mary was the definitive bearer of the divine presence, the Ark of the Covenant par excellence. When she visited her cousin Elizabeth, the infant John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s womb, doing his own version of David’s dance before the Ark.

The Queen Mother—like all of the monarchs of Israel—is a fighter. Israel frequently brought the Ark into battle with them. Most famously, the priests paraded around the city of Jericho bearing the Ark, just before the walls came tumbling down.

The Queenship of Mary is not a sentimental feast. Whenever biblical people spoke of kings or queens, they were speaking of warriors. The question for us is: Which side are we on? Those trained in the Jesuit spiritual tradition know of the "two standards" meditation, which compels us to make the simple choice: In which army do you serve?

We fight, of course, not with the puny weapons of the world, but with the weapons of the Spirit; by God we fight. So don’t just honor and acknowledge the Queenship of Mary; get in her army.

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-five (verses one thru twenty-four);
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-six (verses one thru fourteen);
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-seven (verses one thru twelve).

Commentary: A Lament over Betrayal (Psalm 55), Trust in God (Psalm 56), & Confident Prayer for Deliverance (Psalm 57).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Right from the first moment of her Divine Motherhood, of her union with the Son Whom the Father sent into the world, that the world might be saved through Him, Mary takes her place within Christ's Messianic service."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Oh, how happy I am to see myself imperfect & to have such need of God's mercy at the moment of my death."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Fill yourself with confidence. The mother we have is the Mother of God, the Most Blessed Virgin, the Queen of Heaven & Earth."
—St. Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975, feast day: 26 June)