Saints + Scripture: Eastertide

'Tis the festival of Saint Gibrian, Priest (died circa 509): Saint-link, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Benedict II, Pope (died 685), eighty-first (LXXXI) Bishop of Rome, who labored to suppress the heresy of Monothelitism: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Heresy.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Pierre of Tarentaise, Bishop & Abbot, O.Cist (1102-1174), foundign abbot of the Abbey of Tamié: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

Commentary: Not to be confused with Pope Bl. Innocent V (22 June), who lived a century later & was also named Pierre of Tarentaise, though that Pierre was a Dominican (O.P.), not a Cistercian (O.Cist).

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Easter Weekday
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter sixteen, verses twenty-two thru thirty-four;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-eight, verses one & two(a/b), two(c/d/e) & three, & seven(c) & eight;
The Gospel according to John, chapter sixteen, verses five thru eleven.

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

Friends, once again in today’s Gospel Jesus promises to send us the Holy Spirit. The Spirit is the fuel of the Church, the energy and life force of the Body of Christ. And we can’t get him through heroic effort. We can only get him by asking for him. That’s why, for the past two thousand years, the Church has begged for this power from on high.

Jesus told us that the Father would never refuse someone who asked for the Holy Spirit. So ask! And ask again! Realize that every liturgy is a begging for the Holy Spirit. Fr. Hesburgh of Notre Dame once commented that the one prayer that is always appropriate—whether one is experiencing success or failure, whether one is confident or afraid, whether one is young or old— is “Come, Holy Spirit!”

He’s right, for this is the fundamental prayer of the Church. Mind you, we pray it, as the first Apostles did, in the presence of Mary and with her support. In the Hail Mary, we say, “Pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death.” What are we asking her to pray for but the Holy Spirit?

Video reflection by Father Daniel Ogbeifun: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The Good News is this: that God loves us. He became human to share in our life & to share His life with us. He walks with us every step of the way, taking our concerns as His own, for He cares about us."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I shall always remember my First Communion Day as one of unclouded happiness."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"God calls you by name. He sees you & understands you as He made you. He knows what is in you, all your peculiar feelings & thoughts, your dispositions & likings, your strength, & your weakness. He views you in your day of rejoicing & in your day of sorrow. He sympathizes in your hopes & your temptations… He hears your voice, the beating of your heart, & your very breathing."
—Bl. John Henry Newman (1808-1890, feast day: 9 October)