Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Vlog Post: "Faith Fest 2018"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (died 64), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero: Martyrs-link ūnus, Martyrs-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

The First Martyrs of the Church of Rome were Christians martyred in the city of Rome during Nero's persecution in 64.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Bertrand of Le Mans, Bishop (circa 553-623, A.K.A. Bertechramnus): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Ramon Llull, Martyr, T.O.S.F. (circa 1232-1315, the Doctor Illuminatus ["Enlightened Doctor"], Anglicized as Raymond Lull), martyred in the reign of the Marinid sultan Abu Sa'id Uthman II: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Twelfth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Lamentations, chapter two, verses two, ten thru fourteen, eighteen, & nineteen;
Psalm Seventy-four, verses one(b) & two; three, four, & five; six & seven; & twenty & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Mathew, chapter eight, verses five thru seventeen.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel passage acclaims a centurion’s trust in the Lord Jesus. To trust is to have hope, to turn one’s heart to God. It means to root one’s life, to ground and center one’s concerns, in God. And oppositely, to trust and to turn one’s heart to human beings means to root the whole of one’s life, to ground and center one’s concerns, in the things of this world: in wealth, fame, power, honor, or pleasure.

What is the center of gravity of your life? What is your "ultimate concern"? The Bible consistently lays this out as an either/or. Think of the passage in the book of Joshua, when Joshua lays it on the line for the people of Israel: "Do you serve the Lord or some other gods?"

Jesus tells his followers, "Either you are with me or you are against me." Today’s Gospel reminds us that we each have to answer this question with great honesty and clarity

Video reflection by Deacon Bernard Nojadera: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses thirty-one(b) thru thirty-nine;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-four, verse seven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-four, verses four thru thirteen.

Papal Quote o' This Day

"Remember how the first Christians, most of them simple & humble people, suffering the most cruel persecutions, were successful in spreading Christ's message to all parts of the empire. Their only weapons were prayer, the Gospel, & the Cross."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"I will always have to stay little to be worthy of His glances, but I'll grow in virtue under the brightness of this star of Heaven."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' This Day

"One must know man & human things in order to love them. One must love God & divine things in order to know them."
—Blaise Pascal (1623-1662)