Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Fabian is famous for the miraculous nature of his election, in which a dove is said to have descended on his head to mark him as the Holy Spirit's unexpected choice to become the next pope.'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Sebastian, Martyr (circa 256-288), martyred in the reign of the emperors Diocletian & Maximian, where now stands the church of San Sebatiano al Palatino, laid to rest in the Catacombs of San Sebastiano, atop which sits the basilica of San Sebastiano fuori le mura: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Palatine, Wikipedia-link Catacombs, & Wikipedia-link outside the Walls.
Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
According to traditional belief, Sebastian was killed during the Roman emperor Diocletian's persecution of Christians. He is commonly depicted in art & literature tied to a post or tree & shot with arrows. Despite this being the most common artistic depiction of Sebastian, he was, according to legend, rescued & healed by [St] Irene or Rome [22 January]. Shortly afterwards he went to Diocletian to warn him about his sins, & as a result was clubbed to death.Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
The legend of Saint Sebastian is important in art & there is a vast iconography. Scholars now agree that a pious fable has Sebastian entering the Roman army because only there could he assist the martyrs without arousing suspicion. Finally he was found out, brought before Emperor Diocletian, & delivered to Mauritanian archers to be shot to death. His body was pierced with arrows, & he was left for dead. But he was found still alive by those who came to bury him. He recovered, but refused to flee. One day he took up a position near where the emperor was to pass. He accosted to emperor, denouncing him for his cruelty to Christians. This time the sentence of death was carried out. Sebastian was beaten to death with clubs. He was buried on the Appian Way, close to the catacombs that bear his name.'Tis also the festival of Saint Féchín of Fore, Priest & Abbot (died circa 665; also spelt Féichín, A.K.A. Mo-Ecca; Fore is Fhobhair in the Irish, Anglicized as Fobar), founder & inaugural abbot of Fore Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Henry of Uppsala, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 1156; A.K.A. Henrik, Heikki), martyred by the already excommunicated murderer Lalli: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Basil Moreau, Priest, C.S.C. (1799-1873), founder of the Congregation of Holy Cross, the Marianites of Holy Cross, the Sisters of Holy Cross (Notre Dame), & the Sisters of Holy Cross (Montreal): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.S.C., Wikipedia-link M.S.C., Wikipedia-link Notre Dame, & Wikipedia-linkMontreal.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter one, verses one thru four, eleven, twelve, nineteen, & twenty-three thru twenty-seven;
Psalm Eighty, verses two & three & five, six, & seven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses twenty & twenty-one.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel, relatives of Jesus claim that he is mad, and scribes blaspheme him, charging that he is possessed by Beelzebul. You know, in cases like this, the basic problem is always the fearful ego. Ego-addicts know that sometimes the best defense is a good offense. If you want to protect the ego and its prerogatives, you must oppress and demoralize those around you.Video reflection by Harry Dudley, D.Min.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
There is a very unsubtle version of this method: you attack, put down, insult, and undermine those around you. This is the method of the bully. But the religious version is much subtler and thus more insidious and dangerous. It takes the Law itself—especially the moral law—and uses it to accuse and oppress. "I know what’s right and wrong; I know what the Church expects of us; and I know that you are not living up to it."
And so I accuse you; I gossip about you; I remind you of your inadequacy. Mind you, this is not to condemn the legitimate exercise of fraternal correction or the office of preaching. But it’s a reminder to not be sucked into the slavery of ego addiction. We must stay alert to this and avoid it at all costs.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Fabian
The First Letter of Peter, chapter five, verses one thru four;
Psalm Forty, verses eight(a) & nine(a);
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty-one, verses fifteen, sixteen, & seventeen.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Sebastian
The First Letter of Peter, chapter three, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
Psalm Thirty-four, verse five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-three.
†
Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Proverbs, chapter twenty (verses one thru thirty).
Commentary: First Collection of the Proverbs of Solomon (cont'd; Proverbs, 20:1-30)
Proverb o' the Day (20:30)
Evil is cleansed away by bloody lashes,Saint Quote o' the Day
and a scourging to the inmost being.
"I believe in order to understand; & I understand, the better to believe."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast day: 28 August)
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