Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Blaise was a physician & bishop of Sebastea in historical Armenia (modern Sivas, Turkey), popularly known as the saint who protects from ailments of the throat. According to theActa Sanctorum, he was martyred by being beaten, attacked with iron combs, & beheaded.Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:
We know more about the devotion to Saint Blaise by Christians around the world than we know about the saint himself. His feast is observed as a holy day in some Eastern Churches. In 1222, the Council of Oxford prohibited servile labor in England on Blaise's feast day. The Germans & Slavs hold him in special honor & for decades many United States Catholics have sought the annual Saint Blaise blessing for the throats. Bishop Blaise was martyred in his episcopal city of Sebastea, Armenia, in 316.'Twas also the Optional Memorial of Saint Ansgar, Bishop, O.S.B. (801-865, also spelt Anskar, Anschar): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.
Saint Blaise was a bishop & a martyr in the fourth century. He was arrested & while in prison he performed a wonderful cure of a boy who had a fishbone in his throat & who was in danger of choking to death. From the eighth century the sick have asked for his intercession, especially those with illnesses of the throat.
Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
Ansgar was an archbishop of Hamburg-Bremen, a northern part of the Kingdom of the East Franks. The See of Hamburg was designated a mission to bring Christianity to Northern Europe, & Ansgar became known as the "Apostle of the North."'Twas also the festival of Saint Berlinda of Meerbeke, Religious, O.S.B. (died circa 702; also spelt Berlindis, Berelenda; A.K.A. Bellaude): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Niece of St. Amand of Maastricht (6 February).
'Twas also the festival of Saint Margaret of England, Religious, O.Cist. (died 1192): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Twas also the festival of Blessed Maria Virgo, Religious, S.Sp.S. (1852-1900, A.K.A. Helena Stollenwerk), co-foundress of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters & the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.Sp.S. & Wikipedia-link S.Sp.S.A.P..
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feria
The First Book of Kings, chapter three, verses four thru thirteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verses nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses thirty thru thirty-four.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel shows Jesus’ compassion for the multitude in the desert. "When he disembarked and saw the vast crowd, his heart was moved with pity for them, for they were like sheep without a shepherd; and he began to teach them many things."Video reflection by Harry Dudley, D.Min.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
There is the motif of the people Israel in the desert after their escape from Egypt. Isolated, alone, afraid, and without food, they clamored for something from Moses. Here we see people who are dying to be fed, and a prophet who is under threat of death. This crowd around the threatened Jesus is a metaphor for the Church. We have come to him because we are hungry, and we stay even when things look bleak.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Blaise
The Letter to the Romans, chapter five, verses one thru five;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verse fifteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verses fifteen thru twenty.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Ansgar
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Ninety-six, verse three;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses fourteen thru twenty.
Saint Quote o' the Day
"Faith does not quench desire, but inflames it."
—St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church (1225-1274, feast day: 28 January)
No comments:
Post a Comment