Saints + Scripture: Lent

'Tis the festival of Saint Porphyry of Gaza, Bishop (circa 347-420): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Adalbert of Tegernsee, Abbot, & Ottokar of Tegernsee, Religious, O.S.B. (floruit eighth century), founders of the Tegernsee Abbey: Blessed-link Alpha, Blessed-link Oscar, & Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Robert Drury, Priest & Martyr, Obl.S.B. (circa 1567-1607, also spelt Drewrie), martyred in the reign of the king James VI & I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales, also one of the one hundred sixty Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV; & Martyrs-link CLX & Wikipedia-link CLX.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Paula of Saint Joseph Calasanz, Religious (1799-1889, A.K.A. Paula Montal Fornés), foundress of the Sisters of the Pious Schools: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Lenten Weekday
The Book of Daniel, chapter nine, verses four(b) thru ten;
Psalm Seventy-nine, verses eight, nine, & eleven & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses thirty-six, thirty-seven, & thirty-eight.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus calls us to "be merciful, just as your Father is merciful."

Mercy or tender compassion (chesed in the Hebrew of the Old Testament) is God’s most distinctive characteristic. St. Augustine reminded us that we are, by our very nature, ordered to God. But since God is tender mercy, "having" God is tantamount to exercising compassion, being merciful ourselves.

And attend to what Jesus says next: "Stop judging and you will not be judged. Stop condemning and you will not be condemned. Forgive and you will be forgiven. Give and gifts will be given to you." According to the "physics" of the spiritual order, the more one draws on the divine life, the more one receives that life, precisely because it is a gift and is properly infinite. God’s life is had, as it were, on the fly: when you receive it as a gift, you must give it away, since it only exists in gift form, and then you will find more of it flooding into your heart.

If you want to be happy, Jesus is saying, this divine love, this chesed of God, must be central to your life; it must be your beginning, your middle, and your end.

Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

†

Bible Study—Follow Me: Meeting Jesus in the Gospel of John, Session Three (of Eight)
The Gospel according to John, chapter three (verses one thru thirty-six);
The Gospel according to John, chapter four, verses one thru forty-two.

Commentary: Session Three is titled: "At the Well: Our Deepest Thirst."

II. The Book of Signs (cont'd): Nicodemus (3:1-21), Final Witness of the Baptist (3:22-39), the One from Heaven (3:31-4:3), & the Samaritan Woman (4:4-42).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Lord, in this Lenten season, give us the grace to learn to blame ourselves, each in his solitude, asking: Have compassion for me, Lord, help me to feel shame & give me mercy, so that I may be merciful with others."
—Pope Francis

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Patience is the companion of wisdom."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast day: 28 August)