Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Monica (circa 322-387, of Hippo): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Mother of the bishop & Doctor of the Church St. Augustine of Hippo [28 August]. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

She was an early Christian saint & the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She is remembered for her outstanding Christian virtues, particularly the suffering caused by her husband's adultery, & her prayerful life dedicated to the reformation of her son, who wrote extensively of her pious acts & life with her in his Confessions.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Cæsarius of Arles, Bishop (circa 468-543), who presided over the Council of Agde (506): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council.

Commentary: Brother of the abbess St. Caesaria of Arles [12 January].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Roger Cadwallador, Priest & Martyr (circa 1566-1610), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king James VI & I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

'Tis also the festival of Saint David Lewis, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1616-1679, A.K.A. Charles Baker), 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—Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter one, verses one thru five, eleven, & twelve;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses one & two(a), two(b) & three, & four & five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses thirteen thru twenty-two.

Commentary: Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Monica
The Book of Sirach, chapter twenty-six, verses one thru four & thirteen thru sixteen;
Psalm Response: "In You, Lord, I have found my peace;"
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter seven, verses eleven thru seventeen.

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

Friends, on this day we remember St. Monica, who prayed persistently for the conversion of her son, St. Augustine of Hippo.

Even though petitionary prayer—asking God for something—seems simpler and more basic than contemplation, it’s more difficult to make sense of theologically. If God is omniscient, what is the point of telling him what you need? And if God cannot change, what is the point of asking him for anything?

The prayer for the liturgy of St. Monica sheds some light on these questions. The text begins as follows: "Lord, you graciously received the tears of Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine." Mind you, it does not say that the tears of Monica moved God to act or compelled him somehow to change the structure of his providence. But it does say that God accepted those tears in coordination with granting the grace of conversion to her son, implying that God himself was effectively crying through the tears of Monica.

God indeed knows everything about everything, so he is aware of what we need before we ask; but like a good parent, he delights in receiving our tearful requests—even if, like a good parent, he does not always respond the way we would like him to. And God, as the unmoved mover, can never be changed by our prayer; but through whatever is good and right and true in our prayer, God is already praying through us.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Change your thoughts, your tastes according to the will of God. Correct those faults that we often boast of as our principles & qualities. Search for a continual interior uprightness of feelings & resolutions. Let yourselves really be guided by the love of God & by the love of neighbor."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Let us love, since that is all our hearts were made for."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"My Lord & my God, take from me everything that distances me from You. My Lord & my God, give me everything that brings me closer to You. My Lord & my God, detach me from myself & give my all to you."
—St. Nicholas of Flüe (1417-1487, feast day: 21 March)