Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Bonus Clips & Outtakes from Fall 2019"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Clement I, Pope & Martyr (died circa 101, of Rome) fourth (IV) Bishop of Rome (circa 88-101), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan, author of the First & Second Letters of Clement, one of the Apostolic Fathers: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, Martyr-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link & Wikipedia-link Pontifex, Persecutions-link, Wikipedia-link 1 Clement & Wikipedia-link 2 Clement, & Fathers-link & Wikipedia-link Fathers.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Columban, Abbot (circa 540-615), founding abbot of the Abbey of Luxeuil (circa 585) & the Abbey of Bobbio (circa 590): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link Luxeuil & Wikipedia-link Luxeuil, & Wikipedia-link Bobbio.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Blessed Miguel Agustín Pro, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1891-1927), martyred in the reign of the Mexican strongman Plutarco Elías Calles, one of the Saints of the Cristero War (A.K.A. the Martyrs of the Mexican Revolution): Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link México & Wikipedia-link México.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Felicitas of Rome, Martyr (circa 101-165, Anglicized as Felicity), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Marcus Aurelius: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: Mother of the Seven Holy Brothers [10 July], also martyrs.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Clement of Metz, Bishop (died circa 300), inaugural (I) Bishop of Metz: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Metz & Wikipedia-link Metz.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Vulfetrude, Abbess, O.S.B. (died circa 669, also spelt Wilfetrudis), second (II) abbess of the Abbey of Nivelles: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Nivelles.

Commentary: Niece of the founding abbess St. Gertrude of Nivelles [17 March].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Margaret of Savoy, Religious, T.O.S.D. (circa 1382-1464), Marchioness of Montferrat, foundress of a convent at Alba, Piedmont: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
The First Book of Maccabees, chapter six, verses one thru thirteen;
Psalm Nine (R/. sixteen[a]), verses two & three, four & six, & sixteen & nineteen;
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 Sister Annie Bremmer: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Clement I
The First Letter of Peter, chapter five, verses one thru four;
Psalm Eighty-nine, verses two & three, four & five, twenty-one & twenty-two, & twenty-five & twenty-seven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter sixteen, verses thirteen thru nineteen.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Columban
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Ninety-six (R/. three), verses one & two(a), two(b) & three, seven & eight(a), & ten;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses fifty-seven thru sixty-two.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Bl. Miguel Agustín Pro
The Book of Sirach, chapter fifty-one, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Thirty-one (R/. six);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-three.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Relativism Ridge, Day 19
The Book of Judges, chapter thirteen, verses one thru seven, twenty-four, & twenty-five.

Commentary: The Birth of Samson (Judges, 13:1-7, 24-25).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"To preach the Gospel of forgiveness seems absurd to human politics, because in the natural economy justice does not often permit forgiveness. But in the Christian economy, it is not absurd. Difficult, yes, but not absurd."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"¡Viva Cristo Rey!"
—Bl. Miguel Agustín Pro (1891-1927, feast day: 23 November)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"Joy comes from within & not from without."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)