Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint James

The Popish Plot
Wordy Wednesday: "Humanae Vitae @ 50"

'Tis the Feast of Saint James, Apostle (died 44, the Son of Zebedee, the Great/Greater, a "Son of Thunder"), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius by his client king Herod Agrippa: Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

James is styled ["the Great" or] "the Greater" to distinguish him from the Apostle James "the Less" [or "the Lesser"]. He was the brother of John, the Beloved Disciple [27 December], & probably the elder of the two.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of St. James
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses seven thru fifteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verses one(b/c) & two(a/b), two(c/d) & three, four & five, & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty, verses twenty thru twenty-eight.

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

Friends, today in our Gospel the mother of James and John asks Jesus on their behalf for high places of authority in his kingdom. Ah, there is the voice of ambition. Some people don’t care at all about money or power or pleasure—but they care passionately about honor. A lot of people can identify with James and John. They want to go places, they want to be movers and shakers in society. Perhaps a number of people reading this reflection are filled with these emotions.

But Jesus turns the tables on them: "You do not know what you are asking." He is indeed a King, and he will indeed rule Israel, but his crown will be made of thorns, and his throne will be a Roman instrument of torture.

And so he tries to clarify: "Can you drink the cup that I drink or be baptized with the baptism with which I am baptized?" The key to honor in the kingdom of God is to drink the cup of suffering, to be willing to suffer out of love, to give one’s life away as a gift. Look at the lives of the saints. It is not about aggrandizing the ego, but emptying it out.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Christopher, Martyr (died circa 251), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a victim of the Decian Persecution; one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution; Helpers-link XIV & Wikipedia-link XIV.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Olympias of Constantinople, Deaconess (circa 361-408, A.K.A. the Younger): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Glodesind of Metz, Abbess (died circa 608): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Only when we meet the living God in Christ do we know what life is. …There is nothing more beautiful than to be surprised by the Gospel, by the encounter with Christ."
—Pope Benedict XVI (born 1927, reigned 2005-2013)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"My whole strength lies in prayer & sacrifice. They can move hearts far better than words."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The coming of the Holy Spirit does not take the Cross away from human reality. It is not a talisman that immunizes human life from sufferings & misfortunes."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)