Thursday, November 22, 2018

Saints + Scripture — Friday, 26 October

The Long Road Back, Part XIII of XX | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Friday, 26 October was the festival of Saint Evaristus, Pope (died circa 107, also spelt Aristus), fifth (V) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Cedd, Bishop & Abbot (circa 620-664), who participated at the Synod of Whitby (664): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Synod.

Commentary: Brother of St. Chad [2 March].

'Twas also the festival of Saint Cuthbert of Canterbury, Bishop & Abbot (died circa 760), abbot of Lyminge Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Fulk of Pavia, Bishop (1164-1229, A.K.A. of Piacenza): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Celine Chludzińska Borzęcka, Religious, C.R. (1833-1913), co-foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Resurrection of Our Lord Jesus Christ: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.R.

Commentary: Bl. Celine's co-foundress was her own biological daughter, Venerable Jadwiga Borzęcka (1863-1906).

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Twenty-ninth Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter four, verses one thru six;
Psalm Twenty-four, verses one & two, three & four(a/b), & five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses fifty-four thru fifty-nine.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, the famous call of the Vatican II fathers to "read the signs of the times" is grounded in Jesus’ exhortation in the Gospel for today. Followers of Jesus are meant to look at the world with clear eyes, to see what is happening, to be attentive. But this attention is of a particular type. It is not the attention of the scientist or the philosopher or the politician—though it can include those. It is an attention to the things of God.

I have often argued that many of us today are still enthralled to a Deist view of God, whereby God is a distant and aloof first cause of the universe, uninvolved with the world he has made. But Thomas Aquinas taught that God is in all things "by essence, presence, and power," and that God providentially cares for every aspect of his creation. Therefore, we should expect to see signs of his presence and activity in nature, in history, and in human affairs.

And once we see, we are meant to speak! In a way, followers of Jesus are not looking at the signs of the times for their own benefit, but rather that they might share their prophetic perspective with everyone else. So look around, look with attention, look with the eyes of faith!
Video reflection by Alejandro Orbezo-Elizaga: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Papal Quote o' That Day
"Feelings that motivate people reveal their profound stability during difficult moments. It is then that mutual surrender & love take root in their hearts, because true love does not think of itself but of how it can promote the true good of the loved one."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
Little Flower Quote o' That Day
"I no longer have any great desires, beyond that of loving 'til I die of love."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
Saint Quote o' That Day
"God stretched our His hands on the Cross so as to embrace the farthest corners of teh universe."
—St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church (313-387, feast day: 18 March)

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