Commentary: Neither to be confused nor conflated with the bishop of Bourges, St. Sulpitius I Severus [died 591, also 29 January], who is not be be confused with the later bishop of Bourges, St. Sulpitius II the Pious [died 641, 17 January].
'Tis also the festival of Saint Dallán Forgaill, Martyr (circa 530-598), martyred by pirates during a raid on the Inishkeel monastery, author of the hymn "Rop tú mo Baile" ("Be Thou My Vision"): Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Hymn.
Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Tis also the festival of Servant of God Juniper, Religious, O.F.M. (died 1258, A.K.A. Brother Juniper): Servant-link ūnus, Servant-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Francis Taylor, Martyr (circa 1550-1621, A.K.A. Proinnsias Táiliúr), Lord Mayor of Dublin, martyred in the reign of the king James VI & I, one of the Irish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Irish & Wikipedia-link Irish.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter fifteen, verses thirteen, fourteen, & thirty & chapter sixteen, verses five thru thirteen;
Psalm Three, verses two & three, four & five, & six & seven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter five, verses one thru twenty.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel shows Jesus driving the unclean spirit from the Gerasene demoniac. What we see here on vivid display is Jesus the miracle worker.Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Modern thinkers tend to be wary of this dimension. For instance, Thomas Jefferson took a straight razor to the pages of the Gospels and cut out everything that smacked of the supernatural—miracles, exorcisms, and so on. The problem, of course, is that he had to make an absolute mess of Mark’s Gospel, which is positively chock-a-block with such things.
Jefferson’s contemporary, the great modern philosopher David Hume, wrote a powerfully influential text against miracles. He claimed that since the laws of nature were set, miracles were, strictly speaking, impossible. Accounts of them, he concluded, were the result of the foggy or wishful thinking of primitive people.
But though God typically lets the universe run according to its natural rhythms and patterns, what is to prevent God from shaping it and influencing it occasionally in remarkable ways, in order to signal his purpose and presence?
†
Bible Study—Pauline Epistles
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter four (verses one thru thirty-one);
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter five (verses one thru twenty-six);
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter six (of six, verses one thru eighteen);
The Letter to Titus, chapter one (of three, verses one thru sixteen);
The Letter to Titus, chapter two (verses one thru fifteen);
The Letter to Titus, chapter three (of three, verses one thru fifteen).
Commentary: IV. Faith & Liberty (cont'd): God's Free Children in Christ (Galatians, 4:1-7), Do Not Throw This Freedom Away (4:8-11), Appeal to Former Loyalty (4:12-20), & an Allegory on Christian Freedom (4:21-31); V. Exhortation to Christian Living: The Importance of Faith (5:1-6), Be Not Misled (5:7-12), Freedom for Service (5:13-26), & Life in the Community of Christ (6:1-10); & VI. Conclusion: Final Appeal (6:11-18).
I. Address: Greeting (Titus, 1:1-4); II. Pastoral Charge: Titus in Crete (1:5-16); & III. Teaching the Christian Life: Christian Behavior (2:1-10), Transformation of Life (2:11-3:8a), Advice to Titus (3:8b-11), & Directive, Greetings, & Blessings (3:12-15).
Saint Quote o' the Day
"The principal act of courage is to endure & withstand dangers doggedly rather than to attack them."The Popish Plot
—St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church (1225-1274, feast day: 28 January)
Saintly Sunday: "St. Thomas Aquinas"
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