Project BLACK MAMBA

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Callistus I, Pope & Martyr (died circa 223, also spelt Callixtus), sixteenth Bishop of Rome, martyred in the reign of the emperor Severus Alexander: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

In 217, when Callixtus followd Zephyrinus as Bishop of Rome, he started to admit into the Church converts from sects of schisms who had not done penance. He fought with success the heretics, & established the practice of absolution of all sins, including adultery & murder. [St.] Hippolytus [13 August] found Callixtus's policy of extending forgiveness of sins to cover sexual transgressions shockingly lax & denounced him for allowing believers to regularize liaisons with their own slaves by recognizing them as valid marriages. As a consequence also of doctrinal differences, Hippolytus was elected as a rival bishop of Rome, the first antipope.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

As Pope, Callistus I tried to make wise rules for the Church. He felt there should be mercy for those who had fallen away during persecution but who later repented. Callistus said the Church had the authority to forgive all sins. Callistus I remained steady in his desire to bring peace to the Church. He was martyred in a riot.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Donatian of Rheims, Bishop (died 389, also spelt Donat): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Richard Creagh, Bishop & Martyr (1523-1586), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Roman Lysko, Priest & Martyr (1914-1949), martyred in the reign of the general secretary Joseph Stalin: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Book of Joel, chapter four, verses twelve thru twenty-one;
Psalm Ninety-seven, verses one & two, five & six, & eleven & twelve;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses twenty-seven & twenty-eight.

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

Friends, our Gospel blesses those who hear the word of God and observe it. In this regard, I would like to speak about the response of the Polish people to the word proclaimed by St. John Paul II. The power of the Polish Communist state, and behind that the power of the Soviet Union, is what John Paul faced at the beginning of the 1980s. But he was practiced in the art of facing down oppressive political forces, having grown up under Nazism and Communism.

He spoke of God, of human rights, of the dignity of the individual—frightening at every turn, his handlers worried about diplomatic repercussions. As he spoke, the crowds got bigger and more enthusiastic. This went beyond mere Polish nationalism. At one gathering, the millions of people began to chant "We want God! We want God!" over and over for fifteen minutes.

There was no controlling this power, born of the confidence that God's love is more powerful than any of the weapons of the empires of the world, from crosses to nuclear bombs. This is, of course, why Communist officialdom tried vehemently to stop John Paul II. But there is no chaining the Word of God!

Video reflection by Jacob Williamson: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Callistus I
The First Letter of Peter, chapter five, verses one thru four;
Psalm Forty, verses eight(a) & nine(a);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-two, verses twenty-four thru thirty.

†

Bible Study—The Bible Timeline, Session 18: Messianic Fulfillment, Part 1 of 3
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter four, verses fourteen thru forty-four;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter five (verses one thru thirty-nine).

Commentary: IV. The Ministry in Galilee (4:14-9:50): The Beginning of the Galilean Ministry (4:14-15), the Rejection at Nazareth (4:16-30), the Cure of a Demoniac (4:31-37), the Cure of Simon's Mother-in-Law (4:38-39), Other Healings (4:40-42), Jesus Leaves Capernaum (4:42-44), the Call of Simon the Fisherman (5:1-11), the Cleansing of a Leper (5:12-16), the Healing of a Paralytic (4:17-26), the Call of Levi (5:27-32), & the Question about Fasting (5:33-39).

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

Commentary: II: First Collection of the Wisdom of Solomon (cont'd, 14:1-35).