Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Memorial of Saints Cornelius, Pope, & Cyprian, Bishop, Martyrs (died 253 & 258, respectively), twenty-first Bishop of Rome, martyred in the reign of the emperors Gallus & Volusianus, & Bishop of Carthage, martyred in the reign of the emperors Valerian & Gallienus: Martyr-link Charlie Oscar ūnus, Martyr-link Charlie Oscar duo, & Wikipedia-link Charlie Oscar; Martyr-link Charlie Yankee ūnus, Martyr-link Charlie Yankee duo, & Wikipedia-link Charlie Yankee.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

The greatest problem of Cornelius's two-year term as pope had to do with the Sacrament of Penance & centered on the readmission of Christians who had denied their faith during the time of persecution. Two extremes were finally both condemned. Cyprian, primate of North Africa, appealed to the pope to confirm his stand that the relapsed could be reconciled only by the decision of the bishop.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ninian, Bishop (circa 360-432, A.K.A. Ringan, Trynnian), founder of the Candida Casa ("White House"): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Casa.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Victor III, Pope, O.S.B. (circa 1026-1087), one hundred fifty-eighth Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The First Letter to Timothy, chapter one, verses fifteen, sixteen, & seventeen;
Psalm One Hundred Thirteen, verses one(b) & two; three & four; & five(a), six, & seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses forty-three thru forty-nine.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today's Gospel Jesus speaks about laying the right foundation for your life. Someone who comes to me, Jesus says, who "listens to my words and acts on them is like a person building a house, who dug deeply and laid the foundation on rock; when the flood came, the river burst against that house but could not shake it because it had been well-built."

This is the heart of it: if you are rooted in God, then you can withstand anything, precisely because you are linked to that power that is creating the cosmos. You will be blessed at that deepest place, and nothing can finally touch you.

But the one who does not take Jesus' words to heart, "is like a person who built a house on the ground without a foundation. When the river bursts against it, it collapsed at once and was completely destroyed."

When the inevitable trials come, the life built on pleasure, money, power, or fame will give way. So the question is a simple one: Where do you stand? How goes it with your heart? On what, precisely, is the whole of your life built?

Video reflection by Father Nicholas Vaskov: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Ss. Cornelius & Cyprian
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses seven thru fifteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verses five;
The Gospel according to John, chapter seventeen, verses eleven(b) thru nineteen.

Bible Study—Proverbs in a Month
The Book of Proverbs, chapter sixteen (verses one thru thirty-three).