Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, Priest, O.F.M. Cap. (1887-1968, A.K.A. Padre Pio): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Padre Pio was a friar, priest, stigmatist, & mystic. On 20 September 1918, while hearing confessions, Padre Pio had his first occurrence of the stigmata. At the time of Padre Pio's death, his body appeared unwounded, with no sign of scarring. There was a report that doctors who examined his body found it empty of all blood.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

In 1903 sixten-year-old Francesco Forgione entered the Capuchin monastery at Morcone, Italy, where he received the name Brother Pio. After celebrating Mass on 18 September, while sitting in the monastery choir before an ancient crucifix, Padre Pio received the stigmata. He says he fell into a deep, peaceful repose, & an angel with blood oozing from his hands, feet, & side appeared to him. "I felt like I was dying," he said, "& I would have died in the Lord had not intervened to strengthen my heart, which was ready to burst out of my chest. When the mysterious creature left, I found that my hands, feet, & side had been pierced & were bleeding…."

St. Padre Pio's most oft quoted utterance was, "Pray, hope, & don't worry. Worry is useless. God is merciful & will hear your prayer."

'Tis also the feast of Saint Linus, Pope (died circa 76), second Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the feast of Blessed William Way, Priest & Martyr (circa 1560-1588), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings
Weekday
The Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter three, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-four, verses one(b), two(a,b,c), three, & four;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses eighteen thru twenty-two;

or, for St. Pius:
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter ten, verses eight & nine;
Psalm Sixteen, verse five(a);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nine, verses thirty-five thru thirty-eight.

Bonus! Song of the Day
Roger McGuinn, Emmylou Harris, & Ricky Skaggs, "Turn! Turn! Turn! (To Everything There Is a Season)" from The Song Album: Music from the Motion Picture (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary: Today's reading from Ecclesiastes, set to music.