Project BLACK MAMBA: Friday Late Edition

'Tis the festival of Blessed John Beche, Abbot & Martyr, O.S.B. (died 1539, A.K.A. Thomas Marshall), martyred in the reign of the king Henry VIII, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries; last abbot of St. John's Abbey: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Dissolution & Wikipedia-link Abbey.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Alexander Briant, S.J.; Edmund Campion, S.J.; & Ralph Sherwin; Priests & Martyrs (died 1581), martyred in the reign of the queen Elizabeth I, three of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Alpha Bravo & Wikipedia-link Alpha Bravo, Martyr-link Echo Charlie & Wikipedia-link Echo Charlie, Martyr-link Romeo Sierra & Wikipedia-link Romeo Sierra, & Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

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

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Charles de Foucald, Priest & Martyr, O.S.C.O. (1858-1916, A.K.A. Marie-Alberic), martyred by Senussi Muslims: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Book of Daniel, chapter seven, verses two thru fourteen;
The Book of Daniel, chapter three, verses seventy-five, seventy-six, seventy-seven, seventy-eight, seventy-nine, eighty, & eighty-one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-one, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-three.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel passage Jesus speaks of the time when the plan of God will be fulfilled. Some philosophies defend a circular or cyclical understanding of time. They hold that time just continually circles back on itself, repeating like the cycles of the seasons. The modern philosopher Nietzsche spoke of the "eternal return of the same." That’s a mythic consciousness, and it can be found all over the world.

But the Jews had a very different sense of time, what we might call "linear." They felt that time was moving somewhere, that it had, under God’s direction, a purpose. The past was not simply there to be repeated endlessly; rather, the past was a preparation for a definitive future. It was an anticipation of what God would do, what God was going to accomplish.

Video reflection by Anastacio Hinojosa: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Requiem for Whiskey Romeo
The Book of Ecclesiastes, chapter three, verses one thru fourteen;
Psalm Twenty-three;
The First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter four, verses thirteen thru eighteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fourteen, verses one thru six.

†

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm thirty-one (verses one thru twenty-five);
The Book of Proverbs, chapter one (verses one thru thirty-three);
The Book of Wisdom, chapter eight, verses two thru twenty-one.

Commentary: Prayer in Distress & Thanksgiving for Escape (Psalm 31); I: Introduction: The Value of Wisdom: Purpose of the Proverbs of Solomon (Proverbs, 1:1-7), the Path of the Wicked: Greed & Violence (1:8-19), & Wisdom in Person Gives Warning (1:20-33); & II: Praise of Wisdom by Solomon (cont'd): Solomon Sought Wisdom, the Source of Blessings (Wisdom, 8:2-8), Solomon Sought Wisdom as His Counselor & Comfort (8:9-16), & Solomon Realizes That Wisdom Is a Gift of God (8:17-22).

Proverb o' the Day (1:7)

The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge;
wisdom & instruction fools despise.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"I was born poor, I have lived poor, & I wish to die poor."
—Pope St. Pius X (21 August)