Saints + Scripture — Wednesday, 17 October

The Longest Road Back, Part IX of XIV | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
Wordy Wednesday: "Unboxing: The Great Adventure Bible"

Wednesday, 17 October was the festival of Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr (circa 35-107, A.K.A. Ignatius Theophorus, Ignatius Nurono), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was an early Christian writer & bishop of Antioch. En route to Rome, where he met his martyrdom, Ignatius wrote a series of letters. This correspondence now forms a central part of the later collection known as the Apostolic Fathers.

Wikipedia-link Letters, Saints-link Fathers, & Wikipedia-link Fathers

'Twas also the festival of Saint John the Dwarf, Priest & Abbot (circa 339-405, A.K.A. John Kolobus): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Nothhelm of Canterbury, Bishop (died 739): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Richard Gwyn, Martyr (circa 1537-1584), 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.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter five, verses eighteen thru twenty-five;
Psalm One, verses one & two, three, & four & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses forty-two thru forty-six.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus says, "Woe also to you scholars of the law! You impose on people burdens hard to carry, but you yourselves do not lift one finger to touch them."

Some religious leaders get their kicks from burdening people, laying the law on them heavily, making demands that are terrible, exulting in their own moral superiority. At the core of Jesus’ program is a willingness to bear other people’s burdens, to help them carry their loads. And this applies to the moral life as well. If we lay the burden of God’s law on people, we must be willing, at the same time, to help them bear it.

When were you cured by Christ and how? What was it like to receive, through the Church, his healing touch? When did you feel ostracized, despised, unworthy—and how did Christ, through his Church, restore you to health and communion? Remember that moment and share it.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter three, verse seventeen;
Psalm Thirty-four, verse five;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twelve, verses twenty-four, twenty-five, & twenty-six.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"In order to continue & grow the Gospel life-style as the early Christians did, you must be united among yourselves & with your bishops. You must persevere in the liturgical & sacramental life & meditate on the truth of the Faith within your heart."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"How happy I am to see myself imperfect & to be in need of God's mercy."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' That Day

"Jesus is evident."
—Father Hans Urs von Balthasar (1905-1988)