Saints + Scripture: Lent

The Popish Plot
Fish Fry-day: "Abstinence"

'Tis the festival of Saint Chad of Mercia, Bishop & Abbot (circa 620-672, the "Apostle of Mercia;" also spelt Ceadda, A.K.A. of Lichfield): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Brother of St. Cedd [26 October].

'Tis also the festival of Saint John Maron, Bishop (628-707, A.K.A. the Sarumite), Patriarch of Antioch: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Charles the Good, Martyr (circa 1083-1127, Count Charles I of Flanders), martyred by the price-gouging Erembald family: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Son of the martyr St. Canute [10 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Agnes of Bohemia, Abbess, O.S.C. (circa 1205-1282, A.K.A. of Prague): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Angela of the Cross, Virgin, H.C.C. (1846-1932; A.K.A. Angela Guerrero y González, María de los Angeles), foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link H.C.C. (en español).

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Lenten Weekday
The Book of Genesis, chapter thirty-seven, verses three, four, twelve, thirteen(a), & seventeen(a) thru twenty-eight(a);
Psalm One Hundred Five, verses sixteen & seventeen, eighteen & nineteen, & twenty & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-one, verses thirty-three thru forty-three, forty-five, & forty-six.

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

Friends, just before his Passion and Death, Jesus tells the striking story that is our Gospel for today. The fertile vineyard stands for Israel, his chosen people. But it could be broadened out to include the world. What do we learn from this beautiful image? That God has made for his people a place where they can find rest, enjoyment, good work.

We—Israel, the Church, the world—are not the owners of this vineyard; we are tenants. One of the most fundamental spiritual mistakes we can make is to think that we own the world. We are tenants, entrusted with the responsibility of caring for it, but everything that we have and are is on loan. Our lives are not about us.

Christ is God’s judgment. We are all under his judgment. In the measure that we kill him, refuse to listen to him, we place our tenancy in jeopardy. And so the great question that arises from this reading: "How am I using the gifts that God gave me for God’s purposes? My money? My time? My talents? My creativity? My relationships?" All is for God, and thus all is under God’s judgment.

Video reflection by Father James Schekkebberg: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Lord grant us the grace of humility to look upon Jesus as the Savior Who speaks to us: He speaks to me! Open our hearts to the Holy Spirit, Who gives power to these words. May we receive this word & obey it."
—Pope Francis

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Many people say, 'I don't have the courage to make this sacrifice.' Let them do what I did: exert a great effort. God never refuses that first grace which gives one the courage to act; afterwards, the heart is strengthened."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The fruits of charity are joy, peace, & mercy; charity demands beneficence & fraternal correction; it is benevolence; it fosters reciprocity & remains disinterested & generous; it is friendship & communion: Love is itself the fulfillment of all our works. There is the goal; that is why we run: we run toward it, & once we reach it, in it we shall find rest."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast day: 28 August)