Monday, September 3, 2018

Saints + Scripture — Thursday, 30 August

The Long Road Back, Part I of II | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Mandatory Scandal Response Video"

Thursday, 30 August was the festival of Saint Fiacre of Breuil, Priest & Abbot (circa 600-670), around whose hermitage arose the town of Saint-Fiacre (not to be confused with the later-day town of Breuil): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Town.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Margaret Ward, Martyr (circa 1550-1588), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Mary of the Cross, Religious, L.S.P. (1792-1879, A.K.A. Jeanne Jugan), foundress of the Little Sisters of the Poor: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link L.S.P.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Esțfān Nehmé, Religious, O.L.M. (1889-1938; Anglicized as Stephen Nehmé, A.K.A. Yūsuf Nehmé): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verses one thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five, verses two & three, four & five, & six & seven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-four, verses forty-two thru fifty-one.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus urges us to be ready for his second coming. It reminds me of John the Baptist preparing us: “Make ready the way of the Lord, clear him a straight path.” He is saying that his job is to prepare for the mighty coming of the Lord. A change is coming, a revolution is on the way, a disaster (the destruction of the old) is about to happen. Prepare the way of the Lord.

And what is the manner of preparation? It is a baptism of repentance. Baptism—an immersion in water—reminded first-century Jews of the exodus, of passing through the Red Sea and leaving the ways of slavery behind.

And repentance (metanoia) means going beyond the mind that you have. How our minds are conditioned by the fallen world! How our expectations are shaped and stunted by what has gone before. The world of Tiberius and Pilate and Herod and Caiaphas has shaped our imagination. It’s time, John is saying, for a new mind, a new set of eyes, a new kind of expectation. God is about to act!

Be ready!
Video reflection by Father Roger Lopez, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Papal Quote o' That Day
"The memory of this Father sheds light on our deepest human identity: where we come from, who we are, & how great is our dignity. Certainly we come from our parents, & we are their children, but we also come from God, Who has created us in His image & called us to be His children. Consequently, at the origin of every human being there is not something haphazard or chance, but a loving plan of God. This was revealed to us by Jesus Christ, the true Son of God & a perfect man. He knew whence He came & whence all of us have come: from the love of His father & our Father."
—Pope Benedict XVI (born 1927, reigned 2005-2013)
Little Flower Quote o' That Day
"I found the secret of suffering in peace—I don't say joy. To suffer in peace, it is enough to will all that Jesus wills."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
Saint Quote o' That Day
"God has handed over to us His own designs so that we may put them into operation, with complete freedom. We are to assume full moral responsibility & demand of ourselves, where necessary, toil & sacrifice after the example of Christ."
—Venerable Pope Pius XII (1876-1928)

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