Tuesday, January 7, 2020

Saints + Scripture: Christmastide

'Tis still Christmas: Wikipedia-link Christmastide & Wikipedia-link Epiphanytide. Merry Christmas!

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Raymond of Penyafort, Priest, O.P. (circa 1175-1275), third (III) Master of the Order of Preachers, who assisted in the founding of the Mercedarians (O. de M.), formally the Royal, Celestial, & Military Order of Our Lady of Mercy & the Redemption of the Captives: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Masters & Wikipedia-link O. de M.


Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
A Dominican friar in the thirteenth (13th) century, who compiled the Decretals of Gregory IX, a collection of canonical laws that remained a major part of Church law until the 1917 Code of Canon Law abrogated it. He is honored as a saint in the Catholic Church & is the patron saint of canon lawyers.
Wikipedia-link Decretals & Wikipedia-link 1917 Code.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Lucian of Antioch, Priest & Martyr (circa 240-312), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Maximinus II & Licinius, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Great Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Kentigerna of Loch Lomond, Hermit (died circa 734, also spelt Caintigern, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Daughter of St. Coellen [?], sister of St. Comgan [27 February], & mother of St. Filian of Munster [20 June].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Aldric of Le Mans, Bishop (circa 800-857), Bishop of Le Mans (832-857): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Le Mans.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Canute Lavard, Martyr (1096-1131, also spelt Knud), Duke of Jutland & Schleswig; marytred by his cousin, the Swedish king Magnus I the Strong, in the reign of his uncle, the Danish king Niels: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Nephew of the martyr St. Canute of Denmark [10 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Angela of Foligno, Religious, T.O.S.F. (1248-1309, the "Mistress of Theologians"): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday after Epiphany
The First Letter of John, chapter four, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Seventy-two (R/. see: eleven), verses one & two, three & four, & seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses thirty-four thru forty-four.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus feeds the five thousand.

There is no better exemplification in the Scriptures of what I have called the loop of grace. God offers, as a sheer grace, the gift of being, but if we try to cling to that gift and make it our own, we lose it.

The hungry people who gather around Jesus in this scene are symbolic of the hungry human race, starving from the time of Adam and Eve for what will satisfy. In imitation of our first parents, we have tried to fill up the emptiness with wealth, pleasure, power, honor, the sheer love of domination—but none of it works, precisely because we have all been wired for God and God is nothing but love.

It is only when we conform ourselves to the way of love that we are filled. Thus, the five loaves and two fish symbolize that which has been given to us, all that we have received as a grace from God. If we appropriate it, we lose it. But if we turn it over to Christ, then we will find it transfigured and multiplied, even unto the feeding of the world.
Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.


Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Raymond of Penyafort
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verses fourteen thru twenty;
Psalm One Hundred Three (R/. one), verses one(b/c) & two, three & four, eight & nine, thirteen & fourteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses thirty-five thru forty.

Scripture Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of the Psalms, psalm four (verses one thru eight);
The Book of the Psalms, psalm five (verses one thru twelve);
The Book of the Psalms, psalm seven (verses one thru seventeen).

Commentary: Confident Plea for Deliverance from Enemies (Psalm 4), Trust in God for Deliverance from Enemies (Psalm 5), & Plea for Help against Persecution (Psalm 7).

Papal Quote o' the Day
"Jesus identified Himself with the poor & the defenseless. Thus, what we do for them is done for Him, & the service we fail to render them is service denied to Him. Gross disparities of wealth between nations, classes, & persons reenact the parable of the rich man & Lazarus."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)
Saint Quote o' the Day
"Let the sea rage. It cannot break the Rock."
—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (349-407, feast day: 13 September)

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