Saints + Scripture: Better Late than Never

The Popish Plot
Fermentation Friday: "The Venerable Bede"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Bede the Venerable, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.S.B. (circa 672-735): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Doctors.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Bede wrote the history of the Christian churches in England, & of England generally; its main focus is on the conflict between the pre-Schism Roman Rite & Celtic Christianity. it is considered one of the most important original references on Anglo-Saxon history.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Gregory VII, Pope, O.S.B. (circa 1015-1085, A.K.A. Hildebrand of Sovana), one hundred fifty-seventh (CLVII) Bishop of Rome,who defended the liberty of the Church in the Investiture Controversy: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Controversy.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Gregory is perhaps best known for this part he played in the Investiture Controversy, his dispute with Henry IV, Holy Roman Emperor that affirmed the primacy of papal authority & the new canon law governing the election of the pope by the College of Cardinals.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, Virgin, O.Carm. (1566-1607, A.K.A. Caterina de' Pazzi): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi, O.Carm. was an Italian Carmelite nun & mystic. She was affectionately known as "The Passion Flower of the Eucharist," St. Mary Magdalene was taught mental prayer, also known as meditation, at the tender age of nine, at the request of her mother.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Zenobius of Florence, Bishop (337-417): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Aldhelm of Sherbonne, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 639-709): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Gerard of Lunel, Hermit, T.O.S.F. (circa 1275-1298, also spelt Géri, A.K.A. Roger): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Formerly observed on 6 may, but we here at Project BLACK MAMBA are now convinced 25 May is preferable, even though 'tis already a crowded date.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter of James, chapter five, verses nine thru twelve;
Psalm One Hundred Three, verses one & two, three & four, eight & nine, & eleven & twelve;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses one thru twelve.

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

Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus defines the fundamental sacredness of marriage. I’m convinced that the deep sacramental and religious meaning of marriage—even within the Church—has been, in recent years, dramatically compromised. We say that marriage is a vocation, but do we mean it?

We can look at human sexual relationships at a number of different levels. Two people can come together purely for physical pleasure, for economic reasons, or for psychological companionship. And we might witness two people coming together out of authentic love.

But none of these levels is what the Bible means by marriage. When I was doing parish work I would invariably ask young couples, "Why do you want to get married in church?" Most would say something like, "Because we love each other." But I would reply, "Well, that’s no reason to get married in church."

They usually looked stunned, but I meant it. You come to church to be married before God and his people when you are convinced that your marriage is not, finally, about you; that it is about God and about serving God’s purposes; that it is, as much as the priesthood of a priest, a vocation, a sacred calling.

Video reflection by Lucia Luzondo, J.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Bede the Venerable
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter two, verses ten(b) thru sixteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verse twelve;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter seven, verses twenty-one thru twenty-nine.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Gregory VII
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter twenty, verses seventeen, eighteen(a), twenty-eight thru thirty-two, & thirty-six;
Psalm One Hundred Ten, verse four(b);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter sixteen, verses thirteen thru nineteen.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Mary Magdalene de' Pazzi
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter seven, verses twenty-five thru thirty-five;
Confer Psalm One Hundred Forty-eight, verses twelve(a) & thirteen(a);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses thirty-one thru thirty-five.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Social justice cannot be attained by violence. Violence kills what it intends to create."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I am always discovering in [the Gospels] new lights & hidden mysterious meanings. I know & I have experienced that 'the Kingdom of God is within us.'"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Those whose hearts are pure are temples of the Holy Spirit."
—St. Lucy (283-304, feast day: 13 December)