Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Andrew Dũng-Lạc, Priest, & Companions, Martyrs (died 1820-1862; A.K.A. the Martyrs of Vietnam, of Tonkin, of Annam, of Indochina), martyred in the reigns of the Vietnamese Lê, Tây Sơn, & Nguyễn dynasties: Martyr-link Alpha Delta Lima & Wikipedia-link Alpha Delta Lima; Martyrs-link ūnus, Martyrs-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Through the missionary efforts of various relogious families beginning in the sixteenth century & continuing until 1866, the Vietnamesepeople heard the message of the gospel, & many accepted it despite persecution & even death. On 19 June 1988, Pope [St.] John Paul II [22 October] canonized one hundred seventeen persons martyred in the [nineteenth] century.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Chrysogonus, Priest & Martyr (died 304) martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Flora & María of Córdoba, Martyrs (died 851), martyred in the reign of the Umayyad king Abd ar-Rahman II, two of the forty-eight Martyrs of Córdoba: Martyr-link Foxtrot, Martyr-link Mike, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Córdoba.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Albert of Louvain, Bishop & Martyr (1166-1192), martyred in the reign of the Holy Roman Emperor Henry VI: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Revelation, chapter eleven, verses four thru twelve;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-four, verses one, two, & nine & ten;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty, verses twenty-seven thru forty.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel reports a conversation Jesus had with some of the Sadducees, who held that there is no life after death. We could practically hear their speech on the lips of secularists today. But Jesus is having none of it. The dead shall indeed rise, he says. Otherwise, how could Moses have spoken of God as the God of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, all of whom were long dead by Moses’ time? But their risen existence, though in continuity, even bodily continuity, with what has gone before, will be transformed, transfigured, raised up.

Those who hold to the resurrection of the body are those who are most effective at working for justice and peace in this world. If you are a complete materialist and secularist, you hold that everything and everybody, in the end, just fades away. But if you believe in the resurrection of the body, then everything in this world is destined for redemption. Everything matters.

Video reflection by Marc DelMonico:, Ph.D. United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Andrew Dũng-Lạc & Companions
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 seventeen thru twenty-two.

Scripture Study—Catholic Letters
The Second Letter of Peter, chapter one (of three; verses one thru twenty-one);
The Second Letter of Peter, chapter two (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Second Letter of Peter, chapter three (of three; verses one thru eighteen).

Commentary: Salutation (2 Peter, 1:1-2), the Christian's Call & Election (1:3-15), Eyewitnesses of Christ's Glory (1:16-21), False Prophets & Their Punishment (2:1-22), the Promise of the Lord's Coming (3:1-13), & Final exhortation & Doxology (3:14-18).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The Church reminds us & admonishes us: Christians, be conscious of your state; Christians, be consistent; Christisns, be faithful; Christians, be strong. In a word, Christians, be Christians!"
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Our Lord never asks sacrifices from us beyond our strength. At times, it is true this Divine Savior makes us feel all the bitterness of the chalice that He is offering our soul. When He asks the sacrifice of all that is precious in this world, it is impossible, without a very special grace, not to cry out like Him in the garden of agony… It is very consoling to think that Jesus, the Strong God, knew our weaknesses."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' the Day

"If you carry your cross joyfully, it will carry you.
—Thomas à Kempis (1379-1471)