Project BLACK MAMBA: Better Late Than Never

'Tis the festival of Saint Germanicus of Smyrna, Martyr (died circa 156), martyred in the reign of the emperor Antoninus Pius: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Pontianus of Spoleto, Martyr (circa 156-175), martyred in the reign of the emperor Marcus Aurelius, buried within the Basilica of San Ponziano: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Church.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Bassianus of Lodi, Bishop (circa 320-413), participant at the Council of Aquileia (381) & the Synod of Milan (389), buried within Cathedral Basilica of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Aquileia & Wikipedia-link Milan; & Wikipedia-link Cathedral.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Wulfstan of Worcester, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 1008-1095), founder of the Great Malvern Priory: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Priory.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The First Book of Samuel, chapter twenty-four, verses three thru twenty-one;
Psalm Fifty-seven, verses two, three & four, & six & eleven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses thirteen thru nineteen.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel recounts Jesus selecting and appointing the Apostles.

Bible scholar and theologian N.T. Wright has explained why Jesus commissioned twelve disciples as Apostles. Wright tells us that when a first-century Jew spoke of the arrival of God’s kingdom, he was taken to mean something very specific. He was announcing that the Temple was going to be restored, that the proper worship of Yahweh would obtain, that the enemies of Israel would be dealt with, and that, above all, the tribes of the Lord would be gathered and through them the tribes of the world.

Recall the great vision from the second chapter of Isaiah: "The mountain of the Lord’s house shall be established as the highest mountain…All nations shall stream toward it." This is why Jesus chose twelve disciples, evocative of the twelve tribes. They would be the prototype and the catalyst for the gathering of Israel and hence the gathering of everyone. They would be the fundamental community and sign of unity.

Video reflection by Paula Trigo-Galan: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Saint Quote o' the Day

"No one can have God as Father who does not have the Church as Mother."
—St. Cyprian (circa 200-258, feast day: 16 September)