Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Why We're Catholic Book Club: "Morality & Destiny (Part 5)"

'Tis the festival of Saint Siricius, Pope (circa 334-399), thirty-eighth (XXXVIII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Conrad of Constance, Bishop (circa 900-975): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Saint Sylvester Gozzolini, Priest & Abbot, O.S.B. Silv. (1177-1267), founder of the Sylvestrine Congregation, an all-male branch of the Benedictine Confederation: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.S.B. Silv. & Wikipedia-link Confederation.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Hugh Taylor, Priest, & Maramduke Bowes, Martyrs (died 1585), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Hotel Tango, Martyr-link Mike Bravo, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Gaetana Sterni, Religious (1827-1889): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Giacomo Alberione, Priest (1884-1971, A.K.A. Santiago Alberine, Anglicized as James), founder of the Pauline Family, a congregation of nine religious institutes & one lay association: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Paulines.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Revelation, chapter fourteen, verses one, two, three, four(b), & five;
Psalm Twenty-four, verses one(b/c) & two, three & four(a/b), & five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-one, verses one thru four.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel tells of the poor widow who gave her last penny to the Temple treasury. Her behavior makes us consider our possessiveness. What do we tell ourselves all the time? That we’re not happy because we don’t have all the things that we should have or that we want to have. What follows from this is that life becomes a constant quest to get, to acquire, to attain possessions.

Do you remember the parable about the foolish rich man? When his barns were filled with all his possessions, he decided to tear them down and build bigger ones. Why is he a fool? Because (and I want you to repeat this to yourself as I say it) you have everything you need right now to be happy.

What makes you happy is always right in front of you because what makes you happy is love. Love is willing the good of the other, opening yourself to the world around you. Love is not a feeling. It’s an act of the will. It is the great act of dispossession.

Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"A vocation is a call that comes from God's sovereign power & free gift. However, such a call must find an open path in the heart. It must enter into the depths of the subject's thoughts, feeling, & will, in order to influence one's moral behavior."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Everything is grace!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Mere Christian Quote o' the Day

"Anyone who knows Easter cannot despair."
—Dietrich Bonhoeffer (1906-1945)