Saints + Scripture: Lent

'Tis the festival of Saint Fridolin of Säckingen, Abbot, O.S.B. (died circa 540, the "Irish Wanderer"), founder of Säckingen Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Cyril of Constantinople, Priest, O.Carm. (circa 1126-1224): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

We also remember Servant of God Sylvester of Assisi, Priest, O.F.M. (circa 1175-1240): Servant-link ūnus, Servant-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Cousin of St. Clare of Assisi [11 August].

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Lenten Weekday
The Book of Daniel, chapter three, verses thirty-four thru forty-three;
Psalm Twenty-five, verses four & five(a/b), six & seven(b/c), & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses twenty-one thru thirty-five.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel gives us the parable of the unforgiving servant, which reveals what is at the root of our inability to forgive.

In the deepest sense, we don’t belong to ourselves. Everything we have and all that we are comes from God. We are meant, with all of our gifts, to serve God’s purposes. Our very existence comes from God, but so does the forgiveness of our sins. Through no merit of ours, Christ has died for our sins and offered us the divine mercy. The upshot is this: there is nothing particularly stable about the self, nothing that it can claim for its own. All that it has is received as a gift.

Well, the incapacity to forgive comes from one place: a false sense of the substantial self. If my life belongs to me, then I will cling to resentment, anger, and self-righteousness when my dignity has been compromised. But when we realize that our life is not about us—when we put our forgiveness of others in relation to God’s forgiveness of us—then we find that real forgiveness is possible.

Video reflection by Father Bill Quinlivan: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"In forgiving we open our heart for God's mercy to enter & forgive us. We all have reasons to ask God's forgiveness: 'Let us forgive, & we shall be forgiven.'"
—Pope Francis

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Enjoy in peace the joy God is giving you, without worrying about the future. He is reserving for you, I am sure, new graces & many consolations."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Joy is very infectious; therefore, be always full of joy."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (A.K.A. Mother Teresa, 1910-1997; feast day: 5 September)