Wednesday, January 23, 2019

Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Vincent, Deacon & Martyr (died circa 304; of Saragossa, of Huesca), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.


Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
The Protomartyr of Spain, was a deacon of the Church of Saragossa. He is the patron saint of Lisbon & Valencia. He was born at Huesca & martyred under the Emperor Diocletian.
Wikipedia-link Archdiocese of Zaragoza


'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Marianne Cope, Virgin, T.O.S.F. (1838-1918, of Moloka'i; baptized Maria Anna Barbara Koob, Anglicized as Cope upon immigration): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.


Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Known also for her charitable works, in 1883 she relocated with six other sisters to Hawai'i to care for persons suffering [from] Hansen's Disease on the island of Moloka'i.
Wikipedia-link Moloka'i


'Tis also the festival of Saint Messalina of Foligno, Virgin & Martyr (died circa 251), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a victim of the Decian Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ormond of Mairé, Abbot (floruit 587, also spelt Armand): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ildephonsus of Toledo, Bishop & Abbot (circa 607-667; also spelt Hildefuns, Dexius), who participated in the Eighth Council of Toledo (653) & the Ninth Council of Toledo (655): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council VIII & Wikipedia-link Council IX.

Commentary: The observance of the festival of the martyr Blessed Nikolaus Groß has been moved to 15 January. Groß was executed by the Nazi regime on 23 January 1945, but his festival observes the date he was sentenced to death, 15 January 1945: Wayback Machine — 15 January.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter seven, verses one, two, three, fifteen, sixteen, & seventeen;
Psalm One Hundred Ten, verses one, two, three, & four;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses one thru six.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel shows an angry Jesus healing a man with a withered hand. Whenever the Bible speaks of the divine anger, which it does a lot, it is talking poetically about God’s passion to set things right. God doesn’t go in and out of emotional states. He doesn’t fall into snits. He longs to establish justice on the earth and stands athwart those forces opposed to his purpose. This is precisely what Jesus does toward the Pharisees in today’s Gospel.

The episode concerns the idea of justice. Now, what is justice? I love Plato’s simple definition: justice is rendering to each his due. It is fairness, or, to use more biblical language, “righteousness.” It means doing the right thing. To state it negatively, it is not to cheat, not to take advantage of, not to deny someone his rights.

A steady teaching of the Bible is that God stands for justice and wants us to stand for it too. Jesus says, “Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness.” These are words that have inspired social reformers from William Wilberforce to William Lloyd Garrison to Martin Luther King to John Paul II. Let’s reflect on them today.
Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Vincent
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses seven thru fifteen;
Psalm Thirty-four, verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses seventeen thru twenty-two.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Marianne Cope
The Book of Tobit, chapter twelve, verses six thru fourteen(a);
Psalm Thirty-four, verse two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one thru forty-six
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one thru forty).

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 3
The Book of Exodus, chapter one, verses fifteen thru twenty-two.

Commentary: The Israelites Are Oppressed by the Egyptians (cont'd; Exodus, 1:15-22).

The Imitation of Christ
Book I: Useful Admonitions for the Spiritual Life
Chapter 3: "On the Teaching of Truth"

Papal Quote o' the Day
"Sorrow is an isolated thing in the natural world. For Jesus, however, it is part of an encounter. Thus, those of you who are sick, who are unfortunate, who are dying may lack all things, but not Jesus on the Cross. He is with you. He is indeed with you."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
Little Flower Quote o' the Day
"In the heart of the Church, my vocation is love."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
Saint Quote o' the Day
"This mystery [the Assumption of Mary] is given to us so that… a divine light might be shed on our death."
—Servant of God Romano Guardini (1885-1968)

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