Wednesday, February 3, 2016

Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop & Martyr (died 316, also spelt Blase), martyred under the emperor Licinius, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link XIV.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
From being a healer of bodily ailments, St. Blaise became a physician of souls, then retired for a time, by divine inspiration, to a cavern where he remained in prayer. As he was being lead to jail, a mother sent her only sons, choking to deal of a fish bone, at his feet, & the child was cured straight away.
Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
St. Blase was the bishop of Sebaste in Armenia during the fourth century. His cuilt spread throughout the entire Church in the Middle Ages. During the persecution of Christians by Licinius (320-324), the governor of Cappadocia imprisoned Blase in a cave outside Sebaste. It is said that wild beasts came to him to be cured. it is also said that a mother came to the bishop, asking him to cure her son who was chocking on a fish bone stuck in his throat, & the bishop saved the lad with a prayer & the sign of the cross. For that reason, St. Blase is venerated as patron of those suffering from diseases of the throat. He was condemned to death & beheaded in 316. Traditionally, two blessed candles are tied in the form of a St. Andrew's cross & applied to the throat while the priest announced a special invocation to St. Blase to protect the individual against diseases of the throat.
'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Ansgar, Bishop, O.S.B. (801-865, also spelt Anskar or Anschar): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
St. Ansgar was a Germanic Archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen. The see of Hamburg was designated a mission to bring Christianity to Northern Europe, & Ansgar became known as the "Apostle of the North."
Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
St. Ansgar was born in France at the beginning of the ninth century. In 826 he preached the faith in Denmark with little success but later labored to greater effect in Sweden. Appointed archbishop of Hamburg by Pope Gregory IV, he was sent as a legate to Denmark & Sweden. There he met with many difficulties in the work of preaching the Gospel but bravely overcame them. He died in 865.
'Tis also the feast of Saint Berlinda of Meerbeke, Religious, O.S.B. (died 702, also spelt Berlindis): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter twenty-four, verses two & nine thru seventeen;
Psalm Thirty-two, verses one, two, five, six, & seven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses one thru six;

or, for St. Blaise's Memorial,
The Letter to the Romans, chapter five, verses one thru five;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verse fifteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verses fifteen thru twenty;

or, for St. Ansgar's Memorial,
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Ninety-six, verse three;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses fourteen thru twenty.

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