Monday, August 17, 2020

Saints + Scripture

Simplex Complex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Virtue v. Virtue Signalling"

'Tis the festival of Saints Juliana & Paul of Ptolemais, Martyrs (died circa 270), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Aurelian, in his persecution: Martyr-link Juliett, Martyr-link Papa, & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Eusebius, Pope & Martyr (died circa 310), thirty-first (XXXI) Bishop of Rome (310), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Maxentius, a victim of the Great Persecution (303-313): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link & Wikipedia-link Pontifex; & Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Great Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Drithelm, Hermit (died circa 700, also spelt Dryhthelm): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Hyacinth of Poland, Priest, O.P. (circa 1185-1257, the "Apostle of the North" & the "Apostle of Poland;" A.K.A. Jacek Odrowąż): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Brother of Bl. Ceslaus of Wrocław, O.P. [16 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Joan of the Cross, Religious (1666-1736, A.K.A. Jeanne Delanoue), foundress of the Congregation of Saint Anne of Providence (1704): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Marie-Élisabeth Turgeon, Religious (1840-1881) foundress of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Rosary (1879): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter twenty-four, verses fifteen thru twenty-three;
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-two (R/. see: eighteen[a]), verses eighteen & nineteen, twenty, & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses sixteen thru twenty-two.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, a young man comes to Jesus and asks, “Teacher, what good must I do to gain eternal life?” This honest and searching question symbolizes the universal longing of the human being for moral integrity. As such, it is not primarily a question regarding rules, commandments, and prohibitions, but a quest for “the full meaning of life.”

Jesus’ initial response is somewhat enigmatic: “Why do you ask me about the good? There is only One who is good.” In fact, it cuts to the heart of the matter. The greatest mistake that the moral searcher can make is to presume that the goal of his quest can be found in any good or truth other than God.

One of the most insistently repeated themes of the Bible is that, since we are made according to God’s image, we will not find fulfillment in anything other than God, or in any simulacrum of divinity. And this insight is repeated by practically every major figure in our tradition, most famously and poetically by Augustine:“Our hearts are restless till they rest in Thee.”
Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.


Scripture Study—Pierced Hands Bible Reading Plan: Day 17
The Book of Genesis, chapter thirty-one (verses one thru fifty-five);
The Book of Genesis, chapter thirty-two (verses one thru thirty-two);
Psalm Seventeen (verses one thru fifteen);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nine, verses one thru seventeen.

Commentary: Jacob Flees with His Family & Flocks (Genesis, 31:1-21), Laban Overtakes Jacob (Genesis, 31:22-42), Laban & Jacob Make a Covenant (Genesis, 31:43-32:2), Jacob Sends Gifts to Appease Esau (Genesis, 32:3-21), & Jacob Wrestles at Peniel (Genesis, 32:22-32); Prayer for Deliverance from Persecutors (Psalm 17); & Jesus Heals a Paralytic (Matthew, 9:1-8), the Call of Matthew (Matthew, 9:9-13), & the Question about Fasting (Matthew, 9:14-17).

Scripture Study—Day 91: Decapitation Rock, Day 15
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter seveteen, verses fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, twenty-one, twenty-two, & twenty-three.

Commentary: Hushai Warns David to Escape (2 Samuel, 17:15-17, 21-23).

Papal Quote o' the Day
"Who more than Mary could be a star of hope for us? With her 'yes' she opened the door of our world to God Himself; she became the living Ark of the Covenant, in whom God took flesh, became one of us, & pitched His tent among us (cf. Jn 1:14)."
—Pope Benedict XVI (b. 1927, r. 2005-2013)
Saint Quote o' the Day
"It is the Spirit of God which animates you & prompts you to this penitential life. Henceforth, then, be without fear & follow your inspirations."
—St. Louis de Montfort (1673-1716, feast: 28 April)
Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day
"Stay where you are. Find your own Calcutta. Find the sick, the suffering, & the lonely right where you are—in your own homes & in your own families, in your workplaces & in your schools."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)
Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day
"The Church is very wise because she always teaches us both sides of a question. I taught philosophy in a university for twenty-five years, & I noticed that everyone who taught in the university always knew both sides of a question. For example, everyone in the Catholic university where I taught knew the opinions of the modern world. In philosophy, for example, we knew Marx & Sartre & Heidegger & Jaspers & Freud & the like. But do you think that the teachers in secular universities knew anything about Christian thought? They only know one side of the question, not both.

"Look at the papal encyclical on communism. A communist once told me that the clearest & finest explanation of communism he ever read was contained in the Holy Father's encyclical on communism. He gave both sides of the question. Look at that great work of philosophy & theology called the Summa Theologica of Saint Thomas. Every single question that great mind teaches begins with a doubt & a difficulty. Then he answers it. We know both sides of the questions. Those outside of the Church know only one side. And frequently it's the wrong side."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

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