Thursday, December 14, 2017

Project BLACK MAMBA: Advent

'Tis the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.C.D. (1542-1591), co-founder of the Discalced Carmelites, formally the Order of the Discalced Carmelites of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.C.D.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
John of the Cross is known for his writings. Both his poetry & his studies on the growth of the soul are considered the summit of mystical Spanish literature & one of the peaks of all Spanish literature.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Spyridon, Bishop (circa 270-348; of Cyprus, of Corfu, of Tremithus; A.K.A. the Wonder-Worker): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Folcwin, Bishop (died circa 855, of Thérouanne; also spelt Folquin, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Nimatullah Kassab, Priest, O.L.M. (1808-1858, A.K.A. Youssef Kassab): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Advent Weekday
The Book of Isaiah, chapter forty-one, verses thirteen thru twenty;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five, verses one & nine, ten & eleven, & twelve & thirteen(a/b);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses eleven thru fifteen.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel affirms the greatness of John the Baptist. I think it’s fair to say that you cannot really understand Jesus without understanding John, which is precisely why all four Evangelists tell the story of the Baptist as a kind of overture to the story of Jesus.

John did not draw attention to himself. Rather, he presented himself as a preparation, a forerunner, a prophet preparing the way of the Lord. He was summing up much of Israelite history, but stressing that this history was open-ended, unfinished.

And therefore, how powerful it was when, upon spying Jesus coming to be baptized, he said, "Behold the Lamb of God." No first-century Israelite would have missed the meaning of that: behold the one who has come to be sacrificed. Behold the sacrifice, which will sum up, complete, and perfect the Temple. Moreover, behold the Passover lamb, who sums up the whole meaning of that event and brings it to fulfillment.

And this is why John says, "He must increase and I must decrease." In other words, the overture is complete; and now the great opera begins. The preparatory work of Israel is over, and now the Messiah will reign.
Video reflection by Father Don Miller, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.


Mass Readings—Memorial of St. John of the Cross
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter two, verses one thru ten(a);
Psalm Thirty-seven, verse thirty(a);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fourteen, verses twenty-five thru thirty-three.

Saint Quote o' This Day
From "Heroes' Words" in 54-Day Basic Training in Holiness by Father Richard Heilman:
"Though the path is plain & smooth for men of good will, he who walks it will not travel far, & will do so only with difficulty, if he does not have good feet: that is, courage & a persevering spirit."
—St. John of the Cross, Doctor of the Church (14 December)
A Humble Contribution to the New Evangelization
The Popish Plot—Theology Thursday: "The Adventure of Advent"

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