Saints + Scripture — Thursday, 7 June

The Long Road Back, Part VI of VI
Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
Summer Book Club: "Children & Pigs"

Thursday, 7 June was the festival of Saint Colmán of Dromore (died circa 585, A.K.A. of Llangolman, Mocholmóc): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Robert of Newminster, Priest & Abbot, O.Cist. (circa 1100-1159), co-founder of Fountains Abbey & founding abbot of Newminster Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Fountains & Wikipedia-link Newminster.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Ana of Saint Bartholomew, Religious, O.C.D. (circa 1549-1626, A.K.A. Ana García Manzanas): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Ninth Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter two, verses eight thru fifteen;
Psalm Twenty-five, verses four & five(a/b), eight & nine, & ten & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter twelve, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-four.

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

Friends, our Gospel for today features the Word of God himself telling us what stands at the heart of the Law. A scribe posed, as a kind of game, the following question: "Which is the first of all the commandments?" There were hundreds of laws in the Jewish system. So it was a favorite exercise of the rabbis to seek out the single rule that somehow clarified the whole of the Law.

So Jesus gives his famous answer: "The first is this: ‘Hear, O Israel! The Lord our God is Lord alone! You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, with all your soul, with all your mind, and with all your strength.’ The second is this: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ There is no other commandment greater than these."

What does that mean? The law is finally about love, and the love of God and neighbor are inextricably bound to one another. If we love God, but hate our neighbors, we’re wasting our time.

Why are the two loves so tightly connected? Because of who Jesus is. Jesus is not just a human being, and he is not just God. He is the God-man, the one in whom divinity and humanity come together. Therefore, it’s impossible to love him as God without loving the humanity that he’s created and embraced.

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

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Listen to the voices that call you to great things. They call you to individual work, honestly & humbly performed; to a right conception of social services; & to a true witness each day of your lives by holiness & sanctity."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"In truth I had long known that the Lord is more tender than a mother, & I have sounded the depths of more than one mother's heart."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"Stand fast in the faith & love one another."
—St. Perpetua (died 203, feast day: 7 March)