Project BLACK MAMBA

Today is the Optional Memorial of Saint Bruno, Priest, O.Cart. (c. 1030-1101, A.K.A. of Cologne), founder of the Carthusians, formally the Order of Saint Bruno: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O. Cart..

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the bulletin:

St. Bruno was the founder of the Carthusian Order, & personally founded the order's first two communities. He was a celebrated teacher at Reims, & a close advisor of his former pupil, (Blessed) Pope Urban II (29 July).

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Virgin, S.N.J.M. (1811-1849), foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary: Blessed-link ūna, Blessed-link duae, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.N.J.M..

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Bl. Marie-Rose was a Canadian Roman Catholic Religious Sister, who founded the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary. She was beatified by the Roman Catholic Church in 1982.

One cannot be entirely sure based on the bulletin's description: Was she Roman Catholic?

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Born in Quebec in 1811, Blessed Marie established the first parish sodality in Canada, with the help of the Oblates of Mary Immaculate. At the request of the bishop in 1843 she founded the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary. This religious institute provides religious education to the poorest & most abandoned children. The community founded a mission in Oregon in 1859. Marie-Rose Durocher died in 1849 & was beatified on 23 May 1982. Bl. Marie-Rose Durocher demonstrates the importance of the parochial & private schools for the formation of good Christians.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Book of Jonah, chapter three, verses one thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty, verses one(b) thru four(a,b), seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two;

or, for St. Bruno's memorial,
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter three, verses eight thru fourteen;
Psalm Forty, verse five(a);
or, Psalm One, verse two(a);
or, Psalm Ninety-two, verses thirteen & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses fifty-seven thru sixty-two;

or, for Bl. Marie-Rose's memorial,
The First Book of Kings, chapter nineteen, verses four thru nine(a), eleven(a) thru fifteen(a);
Psalm Sixteen, verse five(a);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-seven thru twenty-nine.

Commentary: There is within me, because I am wicked & prideful, a temptation to look askance at contemplative religious orders, such as the Carthusians, in comparison to actively apostolic orders such as the Sisters of the Holy Names of Jesus & Mary. Does not the Christ, over & over & over again in the Gospels, command us to give to the poor & heal the sick? Yes, He often went away to quiet places to pray, but always in preparation for some new period of activity. Is it not then indulgent to withdraw from the world & dedicate oneself to a life of prayer & contemplation? All of these thoughts I entertain because in my wickedness & pridefulness, I am ignorant of Scripture, & thus ignorant of Christ. Today's Gospel, the ordinary, is a tonic for this, a necessary reminder of the value of the contemplative life verses the active service—Luke, 10:38-42.

³⁸ As they continued their journey he entered a village where a woman whose name was Martha welcomed him. ³⁹ She had a sister named Mary who say beside the Lord at his feet listening to him speak. ⁴⁰ Martha, burdened with much serving, came to him & said, "Lord, do you not care that my sister has left me by myself to do the serving? Tell her to help me." ⁴¹ The Lord said to her in reply, "Martha, Martha, you are anxious & worried about many things. ⁴² There is need of only one thing. Mary has chosen the better part & it will not be taken from her."