Wednesday, 26 September was the Optional Memorial of Saints Cosmas & Damian, Martyrs (died circa 303), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, victims of the Great Persecution; two of the Holy Unmercenaries: Martyrs-link, Martyr-link Charlie, Martyr-link Delta, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution & Wikipedia-link Unmercenaries.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Saints Cosmas & Damian were twin brothers born in Arabia. They had three younger brothers; their father died, so their mother Theodotaia raised the five children. Cosmas & Damian saw in every patient a brother or sister in Christ. These martyrs are named in the First Eucharistic Prayer of the Mass & the Litany of the Saints.'Twas also the festival of Saints Cyprian, Bishop, & Justina, Virgin, Martyrs (died circa 304, of Antioch, of Carthage, of Nicomedia), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, victims of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link Charlie, Martyr-link Juliett, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.
'Twas also the festival of Blessed Paul VI, Pope (1897-1978, A.K.A. Giovanni Battista Montini), two hundred sixty-second (CCLXII) Bishop of Rome, author of the encyclical Humanae vitae: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Encyclical.
Commentary: On Wednesday, 26 September, he was Bl. Paul VI; as of Sunday, 14 October, he is St. Paul VI.
Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Proverbs, chapter thirty, verses five thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses twenty-nine, seventy-two, eighty-nine, one hundred one, one hundred four, & one hundred sixty-three;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses one thru six.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus sends the Twelve on their mission to announce the nearness of the kingdom. I want to say a few things about embracing our mission and being equipped for it.Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
What do you need for your mission? You need a keen sense of God as the absolute center of your life. In a word, you require the spiritual gifts of piety and fear of the Lord. I realize that these terms can sound fussy and puritanical, but they are actually naming something strong and essential.
First, you need fear of the Lord, which does not mean that you are afraid of God. It means that nothing to you is more important than God, that everything in your life centers around and is subordinate to your love for God. Second, your equipping needs to include piety. Piety means you honor God above everything else, that you worship him alone. These spiritual gifts enable you to find true balance; they allow you to discover what your life is about.
Equipped with these gifts, you are ready for mission. Having received the fire of the Holy Spirit, you are ready to set the world on fire.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Ss. Cosmas & Damian
The Book of Wisdom, chapter three, verses one thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verse five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-three.
Papal Quote o' That Day
"Change must be judged not so much for its own sake as for its content, it finality. Is the new of today leading us to a really better Christianity?"Little Flower Quote o' That Day
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)
"Be quite sure that God will bless you & that the depths of your sufferings will be matched by the consolation reserved for you."Catholic Quote o' That Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Speak about Christ only when you are asked. But live so that people ask about Christ!"
—Paul Claudel (1868-1955)
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