Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Vlog Post: "Summer Vacation"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Philip Neri, Priest, C.O. (1515-1595), founder of the Oratorians, formally the Congregation of the Oratory of Saint Philip Neri, & the Confraternity of the Most Holy Trinity of Pilgrims & Convalescents: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.O.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

"Third Apostle of Rome," after Saints Peter & Paul, Saint Philip Neri was an Italian priest noted for founding a society of secular clergy called the Congregation of the Oratory.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Eleutherius, Pope (died circa 189, also spelt Eleuterus), thirteenth (XIII) Bishop of Rome, who worked against the Montanist heresy: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Heresy.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Peter Sanz, Bishop & Martyr, O.P. (1680-1747), one of the Martyr Saints of China: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link CXX & Wikipedia-link CXX.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter of James, chapter five, verses thirteen thru twenty;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-one, verses one & two, three & eight;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses thirteen thru sixteen.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus declares that the kingdom of God belongs to children. "Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these."

How so? Well, children are like stars or flowers or animals, things that are what they are, unambiguously, uncomplicatedly. They are in accord with God’s deepest intentions for them. The challenge of the spiritual life is to realize what God wants us to be—to find out what is in line with the deepest grain of our being—and thereby come to the same simplicity and directness in our existence.

Let me put this another way: children haven’t yet learned how to look at themselves. Why can a child immerse himself so eagerly and thoroughly in what he is doing? Because he can lose himself; because he is not looking at himself, conscious of the reactions, expectations, and approval of those around him. The best moments in life are when we lose ourselves in the world and just are as God wants us to be.

Video reflection by Harry Dudley, D.Min.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of Saint Philip Neri
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter four, verses four thru nine;
Psalm Thirty-four, verse two;
or, Psalm Thirty-four, verse nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter seventeen, verses twenty thru twenty-six.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Freedom consists not in doing what we like, but in having the right to do what we ought."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day (+ Bonus! Saint Quote o' the Day)

"I love You, Jesus, & bear in mind the words of St. John of the Cross: 'The least act of pure love is of more value than all the other works put together.'"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"As the soul is the life of the body, so the Holy Spirit is the life of our souls."
—St. Peter Damian, Doctor of the Church (1007-1073, feast day:)