Saturday, 16 February was the festival of Saint Juliana of Nicomedia, Martyr (circa 286-305, A.K.A. of Cumæ), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Twas also the festival of Blessed Filippa Mareri, Abbess, O.S.C. (circa 1195-1236, Anglicized as Philippa): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twas also the festival of Blessed Nicola Paglia, Priest, O.P. (1197-1256): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twas also the festival of Blessed Bernardo Scammacca, Religious, O.P. (1430-1487): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twas also the festival of Blessed Giuseppe Allamano, Priest (1851-1926), founder of the Consolata Missionaries (I.M.C.): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link I.M.C.
Commentary: Nephew of St. Giuseppe Cafasso [23 June].
Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter three, verses nine thru twenty-four;
Psalm Ninety, verses two, three & four(a/b/c), five & six, & twelve & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses one thru ten.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel tells of Jesus feeding the four thousand with seven loaves and a few fish.Video reflection by Marc DelMonico, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
An awful lot of contemporary theologians and Bible commentators have tried to explain away the miracles of Jesus as spiritual symbols. Perhaps most notoriously, many preachers tried to explain the multiplication of the loaves and fishes as a “miracle” of charity, with everyone sharing the little that he had.
But I think it’s hard to deny that the first Christians were intensely interested in the miracles of Jesus, and that they didn’t see them as mere literary symbols! They saw them for what they really were: actions of God, breaking into our world.
Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 27
The Book of Exodus, chapter twelve, verses one thru twenty.
Commentary: The Passover Instituted (Exodus, 12:1-20).
Papal Quote o' That Day
"In Christ we find hope, because He is the symbol of hope, friendship, unending love, & the Father's indescribable affection for every individual. We know that all the promises & hopes find their complete fulfillment in Christ, because in Christ God's very word has found its 'Yes.'"Little Flower Quote o' That Day
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
"O Lord, You have gone beyond my expectations, & I want to sing of Your mercies."Saint Quote o' That Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"A question that is worth asking in our American culture is this: 'Are you sick or are you a sinner?' It is not very likely that you would call yourself a sinner in the modern age. Today people are sick. Are we going to a psychiatrist because we've committed adultery? Are we visiting a mental therapist because we're homosexual? Are we being treated by a psychologist because we've been dishonest? There are no sinners. We are not responsible; we are not guilty. We may have an Oedipus complex, an Electra complex; maybe our parents were poor, or we were raised on grade B milk, or there were not sufficient playgrounds in our neighborhood, but a sinner?—that we could never be."
—Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)
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