Bonus! Song o' New Year's Eve

Barenaked Ladies, "Auld Lang Syne" from Barenaked for the Holidays (The Last Auld Man)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 7th Day o' Christmas

The Puppini Sisters, "O Holy Night" from Christmas with the Puppini Sisters (The Last Angry Wise Man)

Commentary: An achingly beautiful rendition of the classic.

"O holy night, the stars are brightly shining,
It is the night of the dear Savior's birth,
Long lay the world in sin and error pining
Till He appeared and the soul felt its worth,
A thrill of hope, the weary world rejoices,
For yonder breaks a new glorious morn!

"Fall on your knees!
O hear the angels' voices!
O night divine,
O night when Christ was born,
O night divine,
O night,
O night divine.

"Truly He taught us to love one another,
His law is love and His gospel is peace,
Chains shall He break for the slave is our brother,
And in His Name all oppression shall cease,
Sweet hymns of joy in grateful chorus raise we,
Let all within us praise His holy Name.

"Christ is the Lord!
O praise His Name forever!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!
His power and glory evermore proclaim!"

Saints & Scripture: Octave of the Nativity of the Lord

Welcome to the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave & Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Sylvester I, Pope (died 335), thirty-third (XXXIII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Saint Sylvester's Day.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

During his pontificate, the great churches founded at Rome by Constantine, e.g. the Basilica of Saint John Lateran, Santa Croce in Gerusalemme, [&] Old Saint Peter's Basilica were built, & several cemeterial churches were built over the graves of martyrs.

Wikipedia-link Lateran, Wikipedia-link Holy Cross, & Wikipedia-link Old Saint Peter's

'Tis also the festival of Saint Savinian and Potentian of Sens, Martyrs & Bishops (died circa 390, also spelt Sabinian), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Theodosius I the Great: Martyr-link Sierra, Martyr-link Papa, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Melania the Younger & Pinian, Religious (circa 383-439 & 381-438, A.K.A. Valerius Pinianus): Saint-link Mike & Wikipedia-link Mike, Saint-link Papa & Wikipedia-link Papa.

Commentary: St. Melania the Younger is the granddaughter St. Melania the Elder [8 June].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Jean-François Régis, Priest, S.J. (1597-1640, Anglicized as John Francis Regis): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Seventh Day within the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord
The First Letter of John, chapter two, verses eighteen thru twenty-one;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses one & two, eleven & twelve, & thirteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses one thru eighteen.

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

Friends, today we reprise the prologue of St. John’s Gospel, which we read on Christmas. The Word became flesh "and we saw his glory." All the ways that the Old Testament spoke of God’s involvement with the world come together in this description of Jesus Christ. He is the powerful Word that will not return without accomplishing his purpose.

Now what is his purpose? Look to the prophet Isaiah. "The Lord has bared his holy arm in the sight of all the nations. All the ends of the earth will behold the salvation of our God." Saying that Yahweh has bared his holy arm means that Yahweh is rolling up his sleeves to get on with the work.

Now take a look… at the manger at Bethlehem. Perhaps we see a tiny arm reaching out at random from the manger. "The Lord has made bare his holy arm." And this anticipates another baring of that holy arm, when it is stretched out on the wood of the cross, revealed to all nations, just as Isaiah said. God’s power would be revealed in the powerlessness of love unto death. This is what became flesh on Christmas day.

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Time is precious, it passes quickly. Time is a phase during which we make choices for our decisive & definitive state. Our fidelity to our duties decides our future & eternal fate. Time is a gift from God."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Time is but a shadow, a dream; already God sees us in glory & takes joy in our eternal beatitude. How this thought helps my soul! I understand then why He lets us suffer…"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"There was a young doctor in the southern part of the United States who took care of poor Mexican mothers and children. One day he became engaged. The young woman prepared a pre-engagement party, but the night of the party the doctor was called to care for a Mexican woman who was dying in childbirth. He did not go to the party; he saved the mother, & he also saved the child. The girl broke off the engagement. The doctor had his office above a grocery store, with a sign down below telling that his office was on the second floor. When he died after living in poverty, people wondered how he could ever be repaid for what he had done. Finally, they took the sign from the grocery store at the foot of the stairs, & they put it on his coffin. Everyone who saw his nameplate understood what his life of pain had brought him to:
'Doctor Updike, upstairs.'"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Explorers' Club, № DCLXV

The Statue of Unity, the world's tallest statue, inaugurated on 31 October 2018 in Gujarat, India; the statue depicts Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel (1875-1950), who played an instrumental role in unifying the hundreds of small states of the British Raj (1858-1947) into first the Dominion of India (1947-1950) & later the Republic of India (from 26 January 1950).

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 6th Day o' Christmas

The Klezmonauts, "Away in a Manger" from Oy to the World: A Klezmer Christmas (The Last Angry Wise Man)

Saints & Scripture: Octave o' Nativity | Please Stand By

Welcome to the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave & Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 5th Day o' Christmas

Duvall, "Light of the Stable" from O Holy Night (The Last Angry Wise Man)

Saints & Scripture: Holy Innocents | Please Stand By

Welcome to the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave & Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 4th Day o' Christmas

Sufjan Stevens featuring Marla Hansen, "Coventry Carol" from Silver & Gold (The Last Angry Wise Man)

Saints & Scripture: Feast of St. John | Please Stand By

Welcome to the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave & Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 3rd Day o' Christmas

Daniel Schmit & Mike Hilliker, "Welcome to Our World" from Christmas Hope (The Last Angry Wise Man)

The Queue

I read Why We're Catholic as part of a Catholic YouTubers book club collaboration & I'm now reading The Defendant as part of a Catholic YouTubers book club collaboration.

I received Clueless in Galilee yesterday as a Christmas present. I hope to receive additional books as gifts once the extended family arrives later in the week & the Christmas gift-giving continues.

From Sunday 20 January thru Saturday, 20 April, some friends & I intend to put ourselves through Exodus 90, a ninety-day spiritual exercise, a period of prayer & asceticism which, among other disciplines, means refraining from watching T.V. & listening only to music that lifts the soul to God Almighty. What does that have to do with "The Queue"? My hope is that this period will result in much more reading.

Recently
William E. Simon Jr., Great Catholic Parishes: A Living Mosaic—How Four Essential Practices Make Them Thrive
Pope Saint Clement I (A.K.A. Clement of Rome), The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians
Trent Horn, Why We're Catholic: Our Reasons for Faith, Hope, and Love

Currently
G. K. Chesterton, The Defendant
Mac Barron, Clueless in Galilee: A Fresh Take on the Gospels

Perpetually
Norman Davies, Vanished Kingdoms: The Rise and Fall of States and Nations ***suspended***

Presently
Margaret MacMillan, Paris 1919: Six Months That Changed the World
Dynamic Catholic Ambassadors, Why I Love Being Catholic
Diane Moczar, Converts and Kingdoms: How the Church Converted the Pagan West—and How We Can Do It Again
Jennifer Fulwiler, Something Other than God: How I Passionately Sought Happiness and Accidentally Found It
Sherry A. Weddell, Forming Intentional Disciples: The Path to Knowing and Following Jesus
Bishop Robert Barron, Seeds of the Word: Finding God in the Culture
Mike Aquilina, Understanding the Mass: 100 Questions, 100 Answers
Xavier Rynne, Vatican Council II
John W. O'Malley, What Happened at Vatican II
Pope Benedict XVI, Deus Caritas Est (God Is Love)
Pope Benedict XVI, Sacramentum Caritatis (The Sacrament of Charity)
Scott Hahn, A Father Who Keeps His Promises: God's Covenant Love in Scripture
Rosario Carello, Pope Francis Takes the Bus and Other Unexpected Stories
Father Mathias D. Thelen, Biblical Foundations for the Role of Healing in Evangelization
Richard Price, Clockers
Sir Richard Francis Burton, translator, "Sinbad the Sailor" from The Arabian Nights
Sir Ernest Shackleton, South: A Memoir of the Endurance Voyage
William F. Buckley Jr., The Unmaking of a Mayor
John le Carré, A Legacy of Spies

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Stephen

Welcome to the Octave of the Nativity of the Lord within the Christmastide: Wikipedia-link Octave & Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!

The Popish Plot
Wordy Wednesday: "G. K. Chesterton's The Defendant Book Collaboration"

'Tis the Feast of Saint Stephen, the First Martyr & Deacon (circa 5-34): Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint Stephen's Day.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Accused of blasphemy, at his trial, he made a long speech denouncing the Jewish authorities who were sitting in judgment on him & was then stoned to death.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of St. Stephen
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter six, verses eight, nine, & ten & chapter seven, verses fifty-four thru fifty-nine;
Psalm Thirty-one, verses three(c/d) & four, six & eight(a/b), & sixteen(b/c) & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses seventeen thru twenty-two.

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

Friends, today we celebrate the martyrdom of St. Stephen. The Gospel tells us to expect persecution. Martyrs like Stephen are witnesses who have given their lives for the faith, participating in the bloody death of Jesus himself. They are part of the great chorus that gives praise to Christ in heaven. The Lamb has become their shepherd, leading them to springs of life-giving water.

"And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes." This is an eschatological hope, one held out for us in God’s definitive future. But a terrible price was paid, and a terrible war was waged. Their robes are washed clean, but in the blood of the Lamb. Please notice the presence of martyrdom up and down the ages, to the present day. The twentieth was the Christian century with the most martyrs ever—in fact, more than all the other centuries combined. The most persecuted religion on planet earth today is Christianity. St. Stephen, pray for us!

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Dionysius, Pope (died 268), twenty-fifth (XXV) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Zosimus, Pope (died 418), forty-first (XLI) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Tathan, Abbot (floruit 540; also spelt Tatheus, Tathai, etc.), founder of the monastery at Caerwent: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The love [couples] pledge is greater than any emotion, feeling, or state of mind, although it may include all of these. It is a deeper love, a lifelong decision of the heart. Even amid unresolved conflicts & confused emotional situations, they daily reaffirm their decision to love, to belong to one another, to share their lives, & to continue loving and forgiving."
—Pope Francis (born 1936, reigning since 2013)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Jesus asked nothing of me, & claimed no sacrifice; for a long time He and little Therese had known and understood one another. That day," Thérèse's first communion, "our meeting was more than simple recognition, it was perfect union. We were no longer two"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"O sweet & gentle Infant of Bethlehem, grant us the gift of sharing with our whole soul in this profound mystery of Christmas. Put into other's hearts the peace that at times they seek so openly & that You alone can give them."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the 2nd Day o' Christmas

The Irish Rovers, "Good King Wenceslaus" from An Irish Christmas (The Last Angry Wise Man)

Commentary:

"Good king Wenceslaus looked out
On the feast of Stephen,
When the snow lay roundabout,
Deep and crisp and even…

"Therefore, Christian men be sure,
Wealth or rank possessing,
He who now will bless the poor
Shall yourselves find blessing."

Saints + Scripture: Advent — Saturday, 22 December

The Long Road Back, Part II of II | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Saturday, 22 December was the festival of Saint Flavian of Acquapendente, Martyr (died 362), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Julian the Apostate: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List).

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Husband of St. Dafrosa of Acquapendente [4 January] & father of Ss. Bibiana [2 December] & Demetria [21 June], martyrs all.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Abbán of New Ross, Abbot (died circa 520; also spelt Eibbán, Moabba; A.K.A. of Magheranoidhe, Abbán moccu Corbmaic), founder of many churches & monasteries, including that at which the Nurney Cross was erected: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Cross.

Commentary: Brother of St. Gobnait [11 February].

'Twas also the festival of Saint Hunger of Utrecht, Bishop (died 886, A.K.A. Hungerus Frisus): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Amaswinthus of Málaga, Abbot (died 982): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link (List).

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Jutta of Disibodenberg, Abbess, O.S.B. (circa 1084-1136, A.K.A. of Sponheim): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Thomas Holland, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1600-1642, A.K.A. Thomas Sanderson, Thomas Hammond), martyred under the auspices of the Roundhead Parliament: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Third Week of Advent
The First Book of Samuel, chapter one, verses twenty-four thru twenty-eight;
The First Book of Samuel, chapter two, verses one, four & five, six & seven, & eight(a/b/c/d);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses forty-six thru fifty-six.

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

Friends, by far, the most important Advent figure is Mary of Nazareth, the Mother of God, for Mary sums up in her person the whole of the people Israel, the nation whose whole purpose was to prepare for the coming of the Lord. In her great Magnificat, which we hear in today’s Gospel, Mary is the new Isaiah and the new Jeremiah and the new Ezekiel, for she announces with the greatest clarity and joy the coming of the Messiah.

What was only vaguely foreseen in those great prophetic figures is now in clear focus: "He has shown the strength of his arm; he has scattered the proud in their conceit; he has filled the hungry with good things and the rich he has sent away empty. He has come to the help of his servant Israel, for he has remembered his promise of mercy, the promise he made to our fathers, to Abraham and his children forever."

There is nothing stronger or more beautiful in any of the prophets.

Video reflection by Marc DelMonico, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"With the coming of the birthday of the Redeemer, the Church would bring us to the stable of Bethlehem & there teach that we must be born again & undergo a complete reformation. That will only happen when we are intimately & vitally united to the Word of God made Man."
—Pope Ven. Pius XII (1876-1958)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"Does He not see our anguish & the burden that weighs us down? Why does He not come & comfort us? …He knows that it is the only means of preparing us to know Him as He knows Himself, & to become ourselves Divine!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"After I recognized that there is a God, it as impossible for me not to live for Him alone."
—Bl. Charles de Foucauld (1858-1916, feast day: 1 December)

Saints + Scripture: The Nativity of the Lord

The Popish Plot
Bonus Episode: "Signing 'Silent Night' in A.S.L."
+
Bonus Episode: "I Just Need a Robe"

'Tis the Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Christmas): Nativity-link ūnus, Nativity-link duo, Wikipedia-link Nativity, & Wikipedia-link Christmas.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil)
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-two, verses one thru five;
Psalm Eighty-nine, verses four & five, sixteen & seventeen, & twenty-seven & twenty-nine;
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter thirteen, verses sixteen, seventeen, & twenty-two thru twenty-five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses one thru twenty-five
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five).

Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Night)
The Book of Isaiah, chapter nine, verses one thru six;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses one & two, two & three, eleven & twelve, & thirteen;
The Letter to Titus, chapter two, verses eleven thru fourteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses one thru fourteen.

Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Dawn)
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-two, verses eleven & twelve;
Psalm Ninety-seven, verses one, six, & eleven & twelve;
The Letter to Titus, chapter three, verses four thru seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses fifteen thru twenty.

Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Day)
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Ninety-eight, verses one, two & three, three & four, & five & six;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter one, verses one thru six;
The Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses one thru eighteen
(or, the Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses one thru five & nine thru fourteen).

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

Friends, today we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ, the incarnate Son of God.

We hear at Mass one of the most magnificent passages in the Scriptures, indeed one of the gems of the Western literary tradition: the prologue to the Gospel of John. In many ways, the essential meaning of Christmas is contained in these elegantly crafted lines.

But today I would like to focus on two lines in particular. The first is this: "The world came to be through him, but the world did not know him." In that pithily crafted line, we sense the whole tragedy of sin. Human beings were made by and for the Logos and therefore they find their joy in a sort of sympathetic attunement to the Logos. Sin is the disharmony that comes when we fall out of alignment with God’s reasonable purpose.

Then comes the incomparably good news: "But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God." It is a basic principle of nature that nothing at a lower level of being can rise to a higher level unless it is drawn upward. For example, a plant can become ingredient in a sentient nature only if it is devoured by an animal. By this same principle, a human being can become something higher only when a superior reality assimilates him. The Church Fathers consistently taught that God became human so that humans might become God—which is to say, participants in the divine nature. In a word, we can become children of God precisely because God reached down to us and became a son of man.

Video reflection by Father Juan Molina, O.SS.T.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"God is so great that He can become small. God is so powerful that He can make Himself vulnerable & come to us as a defenseless Child, so that we can love Him."
—Pope emeritus Benedict XVI (born 1927, reigned 2005-2013)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"In this brilliant night which illuminates the joy of the Holy Trinity, Jesus, the gentle little Child of the hour, will change the darkness of my soul into torrents of light."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Look upon the Baby born in Bethlehem Who is beside His Mother Mary. Draw hear to Him, prostrate yourselves to adore Him, & offer Him the gifts that you bear in your heart."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Christmas Day

The Klezmonauts, "Joy to the World" from Oy to the World: A Klezmer Christmas (The Last Angry Wise Man)

Saints + Scripture: Advent — Friday, 21 December

The Long Road Back, Part I of II | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Friday, 21 December was the Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Canisius, Priest & Doctor of the Church, S.J. (1521-1597, the "Hammer of the Protestants" & "Second Apostle of Germany"): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

A renowned Dutch Jesuit Catholic priest, he became known for his strong support for the Catholic faith during the Protestant Reformation in Germany, Austria, Bohemia, Moravia, & Switzerland. The restoration of the Catholic Church in Germany after the Protestant Reformation is largely attributed to the work there of the Society of Jesus, which he led.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Anastasius the Younger, Bishop & Martyr (died 609, A.K.A. Anastasius II of Antioch), martyred by Jewish rebels: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Beornwald, Priest (floruit eighth century, of Bampton; also spelt Berenwald, Byrnwald): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link (Minster).

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Domenico Spadafora, Priest, O.P. (1450-1521): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Anton Durcovici, Bishop & Martyr (1888-1951), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Third Week of Advent
The Song of Songs, chapter two, verses eight thru fourteen;
or, the Book of Zephaniah, chapter three, verses fourteen thru eighteen(a);
Psalm Thirty-three, verses two & three, eleven & twelve, & twenty & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses thirty-nine thru forty-five.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel tells of Mary’s visit to Elizabeth. I’ve always been fascinated by Mary’s “haste” in this story of the Visitation. Upon hearing the message of Gabriel concerning her own pregnancy and that of her cousin, Mary “proceeded in haste into the hill country of Judah” to see Elizabeth.

Why did she go with such speed and purpose? Because she had found her mission, her role in the theo-drama. We are dominated today by the ego-drama in all of its ramifications and implications. The ego-drama is the play that I’m writing, I’m producing, I’m directing, and I’m starring in. We see this absolutely everywhere in our culture. Freedom of choice reigns supreme; I become the person that I choose to be.

The theo-drama is the great story being told by God, the great play being directed by God. What makes life thrilling is to discover your role in it. This is precisely what has happened to Mary. She has found her role—indeed a climactic role—in the theo-drama, and she wants to conspire with Elizabeth, who has also discovered her role in the same drama. And, like Mary, we have to find our place in God’s story.

Video reflection by the Reverend Daniel Renaud, O.M.I.: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Peter Canisius
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter four, verses one thru five;
Psalm Forty, verses eight(a) & nine(a);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses thirteen & nineteen.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Do not be afraid to commit your life for others. Do not sy away from problems. Do not try to compromise with mediocrity or conformity. It is time to assume your responsibilities, to become involved, not to run away."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"I know quite well all you are suffering. I know your anguish, & I share it. Oh! if I could but impart to you the peace which Jesus has put into my soul amid my most bitter tears. Be comforted, all passes away."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"If you have too much to do, with God’s help you will find time to do it all."
—St. Peter Canisius, Doctor of the Church (1521-1597, feast day: 21 December)

Saints & Scripture: Advent / Christmas Eve

Complex Simplex Edition

The Popish Plot
Meditation Monday: "'Week' 4 of Advent"

'Tis the festival of Saint Gregory of Spoleto, Priest & Martyr (died circa 304), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Delphinus of Bordeaux, Bishop (died circa 404), who opposed the Priscillianist heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Heresy-link & Wikipedia-link Heresy.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Irmina of Oeren, Abbess, O.S.B. (died circa 710, A.K.A. of Trier), who donated the land for the Abbey of Echternach: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link & Wikipedia-link Abbey.

Commentary: Daughter of St. Dagobert [23 December]; sister, or possibly mother, of St. Adela of Pfalzel [see: below]; & possibly great-great grandmother of Bl. Charlemagne [28 January].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Adela of Pfalzel, Abbess, O.S.B. (died 735), foundress of the Convent of Palatiolum: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Daughter, or possibly granddaughter, of St. Dagobert [23 December] & sister, or possibly daughter, of St. Irmina of Oeren [see: above].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Hanno of Worms, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (died 978): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link (List).

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Fourth Week of Advent (Morning)
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter seven, verses one thru five, eight(b) thru twelve, fourteen(a), & sixteen;
Psalm Eighty-nine, verses two & three, four & five, & twenty-seven & twenty-nine;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses sixty-seven thru seventy-nine.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel contains the prayer of Zechariah at the birth of his son, John the Baptist. This prayer is especially precious to priests, religious, and all those who pray the liturgy of the hours on a daily basis. It’s called the "Benedictus," from its first word in Latin, or the "Canticle of Zechariah."

What’s wonderful about this prayer (and why the Church asks its ministers to pray it every day) is that it sums up magnificently the whole history of salvation, putting Jesus and John in the context of the great story of Israel.

John is seen here as the last and greatest of the Old Testament prophets. His role is, like all the prophets, to "go before the Lord to prepare his way." His job is to point, explain, indicate—and then disappear.

Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Catholic Faith Network): U.S. Confer. of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Solemnity of the Nativity of the Lord (Vigil)
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-two, verses one thru five;
Psalm Eighty-nine, verses four & five, sixteen & seventeen, & twenty-seven & twenty-nine;
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter thirteen, verses sixteen, seventeen, & twenty-two thru twenty-five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses one thru twenty-five
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Tomorrow, no tonight, we shall contemplate Him, meek & mild, a child like any other 'born of woman.' We shall be invited to admire & recognize Him, just as the shepherds once did. He will bestow 'grace & peace' on 'all God's beloved who are called to be Saints.'"
—Pope St. John Paul Ii the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"It would need a miracle to make me grow up once & for all, & God worked this little miracle on the date that I shall never forget: December 25, 1886."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Mary is now with child, awaiting birth, and Joseph is full of expectancy as he enters the city of his own family. He searched for a place for the birth of him to who heaven and earth belonged. Could it be that the Creator would not find room in his own creation? Certainly, thought Joseph, there would be room in the village inn. There was room for the rich; there was room for those who were clothed in soft garments; there was room for everyone who had a tip to give to the innkeeper. But when finally the scrolls of history are completed down to the last word of time, the saddest lines of all will be: 'There was no room in the inn.' No room in the inn, but there was room in the stable. The inn was the gathering place of public opinion, the focal point of the world's moods, the rendezvous of the worldly, the rallying place of the popular and the successful. But there's no room in the place where the world gathers. The stable is a place for outcasts, the ignored and the forgotten. The world might have expected the Son of God to be born in an inn; a stable would certainly be the last place in the world where one would look for him. The lesson is: divinity is always where you least expect to find it. So the Son of God made man is invited to enter into his own world through a back door."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Christmas Eve

Susan Egan, "Silent Night/Greensleeves" from Winter Tracks (The Last Angry Sinner)

The Explorers' Club, № DCLXIV

Operation AXIOM: After the World War—The German Revolution, Part IV
23-24 December 1918: The Weihnachtskämpfe ("Christmas Eve struggle")—The revolutionary Volksmarinedivision ("People's naval division") mutinied against Chancellor Ebert's government over back wages; the regular army failed to quell the rebellion, prompting a reliance on the new right-wing Freikorps; & the more radical left-wing revolutionary parties quit the socialist coalition government.

Lest we forget.

Saints + Scripture: Fourth Sunday of Advent

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Fourth Sunday of Advent: Advent-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Fourth Sunday of Advent
The Book of Micah, chapter five, verses one thru four(a);
Psalm Eighty, verses two & three, fifteen & sixteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter ten, verses five thru ten;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses thirty-nine thru forty-five.

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

Friends, in the eleventh chapter of the book of Revelation, the visionary sees in the heavenly place the Ark of the Covenant—that box in which the remnants of the Ten Commandments were kept, that sign of Yahweh’s presence among his people. Immediately after, we hear of a queen who is about to give birth to a son. As a dragon waits to devour the child, the mother and child are swept away, and a great war breaks out between Michael and his angels and the enemy.

This sequence is not accidental. In today’s Gospel, we see Mary as the true Ark of the Covenant. She bore in her own womb the Word made flesh and the very presence of God. When she visits her cousin Elizabeth, the infant John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s womb, doing his own version of David’s dance before the Ark.

But Mary, as both the true Ark and the Queen Mother of Israel, is also a fighter. Israel frequently brought the Ark into battle with them, and the king of Israel and his queen mother were warrior figures. Mary is all about spiritual warfare against powers and principalities.

This terrible crisis we’re passing through in the Catholic Church has been a diabolical masterpiece. it undermines the work of the Church in practically every way. So what do we do? Get in the army of Christ the Warrior-King and Mary the Warrior-Queen. Enter into the great spiritual struggle. And fight to set things right—not with the puny weapons of the world but with the weapons of the Spirit.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Four
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

The story of Jesus Christ is the most powerful in history & has directly or indirectly influenced every noble aspect of modern civilization. But amid the hustle & bustle of our daily lives, it is easy to become distracted & distance ourselves from this story. From time to time, someone comes along who reminds us of the spellbinding power the Gospel has when it is actually lived.

†

Otherwise, 23 December would be the festival of Saint Dagobert (circa 650-679, King Dagobert II of Austrasia): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Frithbert of Hexham, Bishop (died 766, also spelt Frithubeorht): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Hartmann of Brixen, Bishop (1090-1164): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint John of Kanty, Priest (1390-1473, also spelt John Cantius): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint John Stone, Religious & Martyr, O.S.A. (died circa 1539), martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VIII, during the Dissolution of the Monasteries, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Dissolution, Martyrs-link XL, & Wikipedia-link XL.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"We will celebrate Christmas well if, like Joseph, we will give space to silence; if, like Mary, we say 'here I am' to God; if, like Jesus, we will be close to those who are alone; if, like the shepherds, we will leave our enclosures to be with Jesus."
—Pope Francis (born 1936, reigning since 2013)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I know I shall never recover from this sickness, & yet I am at peace. For years I have not belonged to myself, I have surrendered myself wholly to Jesus, & He is free to do with me whatsoever He pleases."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"What is the idea that runs all through scripture? It is nuptials. The covenant is based on nuptials. As we used to say in the old marriage ceremony, 'Not even the flood took it away, not even sin.' There was the nuptials of man and woman in the garden of Eden, the nuptials of Israel and God in the Old Testament. In the prophet Hosea: 'I your Creator am our husband.' God is the husband of Israel. In that beautiful passage of the Book of Hosea, God tells Hosea to marry a prostitute, an worthless woman. She leaves him, betrays him, commits adultery, has children by other men, and when the heart of Hosea is broken, God says, 'Hosea, take her back, take her back. She's the symbol of Israel. Israel has been my unworthy spouse, but I love Israel, and I will never let her go.' Hosea taking back the prostitute is the symbol of God's love for his qahol, his church of the Old Testament. Now we come to new nuptials, the nuptials of divinity and humanity in our Blessed Mother."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The R.B.D. Song o' the Lord's Day: IV Sunday o' Advent

London Brass, "Veni, Veni, Emmanuel" from Christmas with London Brass (The Last Angry Saint)

Bonus! Song o' the Day

Alien Ant Farm, "Smooth Criminal" from ANThology (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary: "Smooth Criminal" came to mind whilst I watched today's college basketball game 'twixt Michigan & Air Force.

Saints + Scripture: Advent — Please Stand By

Commentary: Unpacking day!

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Sufjan Stevens, "Holly Jolly Christmas" from Silver & Gold: Songs for Christmas, Vols. 6-10 (The Last Angry Grinch)

Commentary: Thus concludes the secular portion of the R.B.D.S.O.T.D.'s annual Christmas fête. Continuing tomorrow with the Fourth Sunday of Advent, we celebrate the true reason for the season, the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the fulcrum upon which all of history, rather, all of time & space turns.

"Have a holly, jolly Christmas,
And in case you didn't hear:
Oh, by golly, have a holly, jolly Christmas this year!…"

Saints + Scripture: Advent — Please Stand By

Commentary: Moving Day!

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Susan Egan, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" from Winter Tracks (The Last Angry Grinch)

Commentary

"I'm dreaming tonight of a place I love,
Even more than I usually do,
And although I know it's a long road back,
I promise you—

"I'll be home for Christmas,
You can count on me,
Please have snow,
And mistletoe,
And presents under the tree…"

Bonus! Song o' Moving Day

The Wombats, "Moving to New York" from The Wombats Proudly Present A Guide to Love, Loss, & Desperation (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary:

"It's like Christmas came early,
Christmas came early for me…"

Saints + Scripture: Advent

Complex Simplex Edition

The Popish Plot
Theology Thursday: "When Love Was Born"

'Tis the festival of Saint Zephyrinus, Pope (died 217), fifteenth (XV) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ursicinus of Saint Ursanne (died circa 625), abbot of the Abbey of Saint Ursanne: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Dominic of Silos, Priest & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 1000-1073), abbot (& later namesake) of the Abbey of Santo Domingo de Silos: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Thomas of Dover, Religious & Martyr, O.S.B. (died circa 1295; A.K.A. Thomas Hales, Thomas de Halys), martyred by French pirates: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Vincenzo Romano, Priest (1751-1831, the "Worker Priest," Anglicized as Vincent Romano): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Canonized on 14 October 2018.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Third Week of Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter seven, verses ten thru fourteen;
Psalm Twenty-four, verses one & two, three & four(a/b), & five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses twenty-six thru thirty-eight.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel of Luke, we find the Annunciation to Mary. Here is what Gabriel said to the Virgin: "Thou shalt conceive in thy womb and bring forth a son, and shalt call his name Jesus…. The Lord God shall give unto him the throne of his father David: And he shall reign over the house of Jacob forever; and of his kingdom there shall be no end."

No first-century Israelite would have missed the meaning here: this child shall be the fulfillment of the promise made to King David.

And this means that the child is, in fact, the king of the world, the one who would bring unity and peace to the nations. The conviction grew upon Israel that this mysterious descendent of David would be king—not just for a time and not just in an earthly sense, but ruling forever and for all nations. This definitive king of the Jews would be king of the world. He would be our king as well.

Video reflection by Father Roger Lopez, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Faith & life. These are nothing less than the realities in which we are immersed, & they are the goals to which we would draw attention. Keep them particularly in mind during the coming happy occasion."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"You love St. Augustine & St. Mary Magdalen, those souls to whom many sins were forgiven because they loved much. I love them too; I love their sorrow, & especially their audacious love."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"When our Lord comes, it will not be just to judge the one circumscribed area of the earth in which he labored and revealed himself. It will be to reveal himself and to judge all nations and all empires. When that time is, nobody knows. He refuses to tell us. he only says that it will be sudden, like a flash of lightning. He, the Savior, is the judge. What a beautiful way to have a judgment. Can you imagine any earthly judge saying to a criminal before him: you were guilty, I am going to take all of your sins and crimes upon myself. I will suffer for you. What a judge he would be? But our blessed Lord took upon himself all of our sin as we stood before the bar of divine justice, and he who suffered for us will come to judge us. What a judgment it will be when we will see one who loved us so much."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

She & Him, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" from A Very She & Him Christmas (The Last Angry Grinch)

Commentary:

"I'll be home for Christmas,
You can count on me…"

Bonus! Bonus! Work Sucks Song of the Day

Reel Big Fish, "Everything Sucks" from (The Last Angry Man)

Skammentary:

"And I say,
I'm giving up because—

"I know everything sucks, yeah!
I know everything sucks, whoa-o-o!
I know everything sucks, and
This is gonna be the last time you hear me complain!…"

Saints + Scripture: Advent

'Tis the festival of Saint Boniface of Tarsus, Martyr (died circa 307, A.K.A. of Cilicia), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution; one of two namesakes of the Basilica dei Santi Bonifacio e Alessio in Rome: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution & Wikipedia-link Basilica.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Anastasius I, Pope (died circa 401), thirty-ninth (XXXIX) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Konrad of Lichtenau, Priest & Abbot, O. Praem. (died 1240), abbot of the Abbey of Ursberg: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Urban V, Pope, O.S.B. (1310-1370, A.K.A. Guillaume de Grimoard), two hundredth Bishop of Rome & sixth (VI) Avignon Pope, abbot of the Abbey of Saint Victor: Blesed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, Blessed-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff, Wikipedia-link Avignon, & Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Maria Marta of Jesus, Prioress & Martyr (1879-1942; A.K.A. Kazimiera Wołowska, Marta Wołowska), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List, № 7); Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed René Dubroux, Priest & Martyr, M.E.P. (1914-1959), martyred by the Panthet Lao Communists, one of the seventeen Martyrs of Laos: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Wikipedia-link Laos.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Third Week Advent
The Book of Judges, chapter thirteen, verses two thru seven, twenty-four, & twenty-five(a);
Psalm Seventy-one, verses three & four(a), five & six(a/b), & sixteen & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses five thru twenty-five.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Luke tells us about John the Baptist’s parents. We see with utter clarity that John is a priestly figure. Zechariah, his father, is a Temple priest, and Elizabeth, his mother, is a descendant of Aaron, the very first priest.

Now flash forward thirty years and see John emerging in the desert. The first question is, "Why is this son of a priest not working in the Temple?" And the second is, "Why are the people going out from Jerusalem to commune with him?" The answer to the first is that he is engaging in a prophetic critique of a Temple that has gone bad. And the answer to the second is that he is performing the acts of a purified Temple priest out in the desert. His baptism was a ritual cleansing and a spur to repent, precisely what a pious Jew would have sought in the Temple.

And the picture becomes complete when Jesus arrives to be baptized, and John says, "Behold, the Lamb of God." This is explicitly Temple talk. He is saying that the one who is to be sacrificed has arrived. He is the fulfillment of priesthood, Temple, and sacrifice. The priestly figure has done his work, and now he fades away.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"No one can really enjoy Christmas without sharing that joy with those who, on this blessed day, still need food, work, a home, medical care, a friend, comfort, or faith. The religious spirit of Christmas must find its expression in generosity."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Since I also have been given to understand the Love of the Heart of Jesus, I confess that all fear has been driven from mine."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"There are two verses in scripture, one from Isaiah and the other from the Epistle to the Hebrews, which seem to be contradictory. Isaiah says that our Lord was reckoned with the transgressors, or sinners. The Epistle to the Hebrews says that he was separated from sinners. He was one with them and at the same time not with them. He was reckoned with sinners, inasmuch as in his human nature he took upon himself all the penalties of sin. He was separated simply because he was God and also because, even in his human nature, he was like us in all things, save sin."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Christmas Song o' the Day

Michael Bublé, "I'll Be Home for Christmas" from Christmas (The Last Angry Grinch)

Commentary:

"I'll be home for Christmas,
If only in my dreams…"

Operation ÖSTERREICH

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 331.4 lbs
This weigh-in: 334.6 lbs.
Difference: +3.2 lbs.

The Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in is hereby suspended for the holidays & will not resume 'til the beginning of Ordinary Time.

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH
Reel Big Fish, "Nothin'" from Turn the Radio Off (The Last Angry Honey Badger)

Skammentary:

"I don't fucking care,
And I don't fucking care,
I don't fucking care anymore…"

Bonus! Work Sucks Song of the Day

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Absolutely Wrong" from While We're at It" (The Last Angry Man)

Skammentary:

"You're absolutely wrong this time,
Could not be any further from the truth.
If we are searching for it,
If not, let me know how come.
You're absolutely wrong, way more,
I'm sure, than you had ever thought,
The truth is what we're searching for,
If I'm wrong, let me know why not…

"I don't care what was said,
Just get this through your head:
I'm not wrong this time, and you,
You are not right,
You are not right,
You are not right,
You are not right,
You are not right…

"You're absolutely wrong."

Bonus! Work Sucks Song of the Day

Barenaked Ladies, "Another Heartbreak" from All In Good Time (The Last Angry Man)

Commentary: This job is the worst thing that's ever happened to me. I realize this means I've lived an extraordinarily blessed life, & I acknowledge this fact with humility & gratitude.

"Hold on, here comes another heartbreak,
Hold on, here comes another heartache,
Too bad, but it's still a chance I had to take,
Hold on, here comes another heartbreak…"

Saints + Scripture: Advent

'Tis the festival of Saint Gatianus of Tours, Bishop (died 301): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Auxentius of Mopsuetia, Bishop (died circa 321): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Flannán of Killaloe, Bishop & Abbot (floruit seventh century, A.K.A. Flannán mac Toirrdelbaig): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Samthann of Clonbroney, Abbess (died 739): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Winebald of Heidenheim, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 701-761, also spelt Wunebald, etc.), founder of the double monastery of Heidenheim am Hahnenkamm: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

Commentary: Son of St. Richard the Pilgrim [7 February], nephew of St. Boniface [5 June], & brother of Ss. Willibald [7 June] & Walpurga [5 February].

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Third Week of Advent
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter twenty-three, verses five thru eight;
Psalm Seventy-two, verses one & two, twelve & thirteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses eighteen thru twenty-five.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel centers on the intriguing figure of Joseph. Joseph is one of the most beloved of the saints, featured in countless works of art and prominent in the devotional lives of many.

We know almost nothing about him, yet some very powerful spiritual themes emerge in the accounts of Joseph. He had become betrothed to Mary and this union had been blessed by God. And then he finds that his betrothed is pregnant.

This must have been an emotional maelstrom for him. And, at a deeper level, it is a spiritual crisis. What does God want him to do? Then the angel appears to him in a dream and tells him, "Joseph, son of David, do not be afraid to take Mary your wife into your home." He realizes at that moment that these puzzling events are part of a much greater plan of God’s. What appears to be a disaster from his perspective is meaningful from God’s perspective.

Joseph was willing to cooperate with the divine plan, though he in no way knew its contours or deepest purpose. Like Mary at the Annunciation, he trusted and let himself be led.

Video reflection by Father Juan Molina, O.SS.T.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The rulers of the Third Reich wanted to crush the entire Jewish people.… Deep down, those vicious criminals, by wiping out this people, wanted to kill the God Who called Abraham, Who spoke at Sinai, & laid down principles to serve as a guide for mankind, principles that are eternally valid."
—Pope Benedict XVI (born 1927, reigned 2005-2013)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"This, then, is what I think about the Justice of God; my own way is all confidence & love, & I cannot understand those souls who are afraid of so affectionate a Friend."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Let our God-Man return among us, our Lord acknowledged & obeyed, as at every Christmas time. Christ returns in spirit to the crib & offers Himself to all."
—Pope Ven. Pius XII (1876-1958)