Saints + Scripture: Lent

The Popish Plot
Celebratory Saturday: "I HATE St. Patrick's Day" & Bonus Episode: "Green Beer"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Patrick, Bishop (circa 385-464): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint Patrick's Day.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was a fifth-century Romano-British Christian missionary & bishop in Ireland. Known as the "Apostle of Ireland," he is the primary patron saint of Ireland. He often used shamrocks to explain the Holy Trinity & entire kingdoms were eventually converted to Christianity after hearing Patrick;'s message.

Quoth the Ancient Order of Hiberians' Flint St. Patrick's Day Irish Mass & Celebrations program:

St. Patrick (c. 389-461) is a patron saint of Ireland. At age sixteen, he was captured by Irish raiders & taken to Ireland as a slave. He tended sheep for six years before he escaped & returned to Europe. Filled with love of God, he became a priest & tried to return to Ireland. He even wrote about his dreams in which he heard "the voice of the Irish" called him. At last, he was made bishop & send to preach the Gospel in Ireland.

Although he met with strong opposition from pagan priests who tried several times to have him killed, he finally converted some of the local kings. With their help & protection he was able to preach to the Irish people & baptized thousands of them for Christ. His feast is celebrated in Ireland—& throughout the world—on March 17, the day he died.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

Prayer on St. Patrick's Day

Dear Lord,
Your servant, Saint Patrick, was first a slave to,
& then a servant of, Your people in Ireland.
As he endured years of hardship as a slave,
so help us to persevere through trials
which seem to serve no purpose at the time.
As Patrick's time in Ireland served him well,
after he was called to be a bishop of that land,
so help us to see how our sufferings strengthen us to do your will.
Later, as Patrick's people withstood great hardship,
protected Your word in monasteries,
& brought Your Church to many new lands,
so helps us also to grow in faithfulness to You
& be Your instruments of the world's conversion.
Amen.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Conrad of Bavaria, Religious, O.Cist. (circa 1105-1154, A.K.A. of Molfetta): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Jan Sarkander, Priest & Martyr (1576-1620, the "Martyr of the Confessional"), martyred by Protestants at the instigation of Bitowsky von Bistritz for refusing to break the seal of the confessional: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Gabriel Lalemant, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1610-1649), martyred by Iroquois, one of the eight Martyrs of North America: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link VIII & Wikipedia-link VIII.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Lenten Weekday
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter eleven, verses eighten, nineteen, & twenty;
Psalm Seven, verses two & three, nine(b/c) & ten, & eleven & twelve;
The Gospel according to John, chapter seven, verses forty thru fifty-three.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel reports the mixed reactions of people to Jesus’ message. What does he say as he preaches? "Repent, for the kingdom of heaven is at hand." We mustn’t flatten this out or render it too spiritually abstract, as though he were talking only about becoming nicer people, more generous and more kind. His preaching was about more than that. It was part and parcel of his Messianic vocation.

What he was saying was something like this: a new order is breaking out in Israel, the tribes are coming back together, and Yahweh is going to reign. Therefore, adjust your lives, your vision, your expectations. Start living even now as members of this new kingdom.

Israelites knew that a major task of the Messiah was to engage the enemies of Israel, to deal definitively with those powers opposed to God’s creative purpose. This very much included political oppressors, religious charlatans, and self-absorbed Pharisees—all of whom Jesus deals with and confronts.

Video reflection by Harry Dudley, D.Min.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"O almighty & merciful God, Lord of the universe & of history, all that You have created is good & Your compassion for the mistakes of Mankind knows no limits."
—Pope Francis

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Believe that I will be your true little sister for all eternity."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The Lord is greater than all: I have said enough."
—St. Patrick (385-464, feast day: 17 March)