Tuesday, September 24, 2019

Saints + Scripture

'Tis the festival of Our Lady of Walsingham (apparition 1061, A.K.A. the Virgin by the Sea): Madonna-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Our Lady of Mercy (apparition 1218, A.K.A. Our Lady of Ransom), patroness of the Mercedarians (O. de M.), formally the Order of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mercy: Madonna-link, Wikipedia-link Mercy, & Wikipedia-link Ransom; Order-link O. de M. & Wikipedia-link O. de M..

'Tis also the festival of Saint Anathalon of Milan, Bishop (second century), Bishop of Milan: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Milan & Wikipedia-link Milan.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Terence of Pesaro, Bishop & Martyr (circa 210-251), Bishop of Pesaro, martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a victim of the Decian Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pesaro, Persecutions-link, & Wikipedia-link Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds William Spenser, Priest, & Robert Hardesty, Martyrs (died 1589), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Whiskey Spenser, Martyr-link Romeo Hotel, & Wikipedia-link; Martyr-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Pacificus of San Severino, Priest, O.F.M. (1653-1721, A.K.A. Carlo Antonio Divini): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Francesco Spoto, Priest & Martyr, M.S.P.T.M. (1924-1964), martyred by Communist Simba rebels in Congo-Kinshasa: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Tempus per annum
The Book of Ezra, chapter six, verses seven, eight, twelve(b), & fourteen thru twenty;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-two, verses one & two, three & four(a/b), & four(c/d) & five;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eight, verses nineteen, twenty, & twenty-one.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus identifies his disciples as his family. I want to say something about our becoming disciples in his family. Once we make the decision to follow Jesus, then every other claimant to supremacy must fall away. As I’ve argued many times before, every one of us has something or some set of values that we consider greatest.

Perhaps it is money, material things, power, or the esteem of others. Perhaps it is your family, your kids, your wife, your husband.

None of this is false, and none of these things are bad. But when you place any of them in the absolute center of gravity, things go awry. When you make any of them your ultimate or final good, your spiritual life goes haywire. When you attach yourself to any of them with an absolute tenacity, you will fall apart.

Only when we make Christ the cornerstone of our lives are we truly ready for mission. Keep in mind that every encounter with God in the Bible conduces to mission, to being sent to do the work of the Lord. If we try to do this work while we are stuck to any number of attachments, we will fail. Period.
Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Scripture Study—Historical Books
The Book of Tobit, chapter twelve (verses one thru twenty-two);
The Book of Tobit, chapter thirteen (verses one thru eighteen);
The Book of Tobit, chapter fourteen (verses one thru fifteen).

Commentary: Raphael's Wages (Tobit, 12:1-10), Raphael Reveals His Identity (12:11-22), Tobit's Prayer of Thanksgiving (13:1-18), & Tobit's Final Counsel & Death (14:1-15).

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Decision Dome, Day 2
The Book of Joshua, chapter one, verses ten thru eighteen.

Commentary: Preparations for Taking Over the Land (Joshua, 1:10-18).

"Decision Dome" is the fourth of the five exercises in the post-Exodus 90 "Front Range." The creators of Exodus 90, to whom I am very grateful & appreciative, realized that, as amazingly formative & consequential as Exodus 90 is, singular experiences are never enough; formation must be ongoing. My Exodus 90 fraternity & I are guinea pigs in this first experiment with the Front Range, after which are to follow the "
Oratio Range," the "Meditatio Range," & the "Missio Range." How far we will follow this track is yet to be seen. How much fruit following this track will bear is also yet to be seen.

Papal Quote o' the Day
"We need a docile heart in order to build an exemplary Christian community. We need a spirit that is strong in the Faith in order to proclaim the love of God that conquers sin & saves in Christ Who died & is risen."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
Saint Quote o' the Day
"Regret not that which is past, & trust not to thine own righteousness."
—St. Anthony of Padua, Doctor of the Church (1195-1231, feast day: 13 June)

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