Saints + Scripture: Lent

The Popish Plot
Theology Thursday: "Judgment"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint John of God, Religious, O.H. (1495-1550, A.K.A. Juan Ciudad), founder of the Brothers Hospitallers of Saint John of God: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.H.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Having given up active Christian belief while a soldier, John was forty before the depth of his sinfulness began to dawn on him. He decided to give the rest of his life to God's service, & headed at once to Africa where he hoped to free captive Christians &, possibly, be martyred.

Quoth the Holy Family bulletin:

He is the patron saint of booksellers, firefighters, heart patients, hospitals, nurses, printers, & the sick.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Felix of Burgundy, Bishop (the "Apostle of the East Angles," died circa 647): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Duthac of Ross, Bishop (the "Chief Confessor of Ireland & Scotland," circa 1000-1065, also spelt Duthus): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Wincenty Kadłubek, Bishop, O.Cist. (1160-1223, Anglicized as Vincent Kadlubek): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Lenten Weekday
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter seven, verses twenty-three thru twenty-eight;
Psalm Ninety-five, verses one & two, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses fourteen thru twenty-three.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel we learn of a person possessed by a demon. Jesus meets the man and drives out the demon, but then is immediately accused of being in league with Satan. Some of the witnesses said, “By the power of Beelzebul, the prince of demons, he drives out demons.”

Jesus’ response is wonderful in its logic and laconicism: “Every kingdom divided against itself will be laid waste and house will fall against house. And if Satan is divided against himself, how will his kingdom stand?”

The demonic power is always one of scattering. It breaks up communion. But Jesus, as always, is the voice of communio, of one bringing things back together.

Think back to Jesus’ feeding of the five thousand. Facing a large, hungry crowd, his disciples beg him to “dismiss the crowds so that they can go to the villages and buy food for themselves.” But Jesus answers, “There is no need for them to go away; give them some food yourselves.”

Whatever drives the Church apart is an echo of this “dismiss the crowds” impulse, and a reminder of the demonic tendency to divide. In times of trial and threat, this is a very common instinct. We blame, attack, break up, and disperse. But Jesus is right: “There is no need for them to go away.”

Video reflection by Fr. Roger Lopez, O.F.M. (Franciscan Media): U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' This Day

"Let us ask for the grace that our hearts not harden, that they be open to God's mercy. Let us ask for the grace of faithfulness. Let us ask for the grace to ask forgiveness when we find we are unfaithful."
—Pope Francis

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"Oh!… I love Him… My God, I… love… You!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' This Day

"Labor without stopping; do all the good works you can while you still have the time."
—St. John of God (1495-1550, feast day: 8 March)