Saints + Scripture — Tuesday, 10 July

The Long Road Back, Part III of V | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Tuesday, 10 July was the festival of Saints Victoria, Anatolia, & Audax, Martyrs (died circa 250), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, victims of the Decian Persecution: Martyr-link Victor, Martyr-link Alpha-Alpha, Martyr-link Alpha-X-ray, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Amalburga of Maubeuge, Religious, O.S.B. (died circa 690): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Mother of Ss. Gudula of Brussels [8 January], Emebert of Cambrai [15 January], Reineldis of Saintes [16 July], & Pharaildis [4 January].

'Twas also the festival of Saint Canute, Martyr (circa 1042-1086, King Canute IV of Denmark; A.K.A. the Holy, also spelt Knud), martyred by rebellious Vikings: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Hosea, chapter eight, verses four thru seven, eleven, twelve, & thirteen;
Psalm One Hundred Fifteen, verses three & four, five & six, seven(a/b) & eight, & nine & ten;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nine, verses thirty-two thru thirty-eight.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus directs his disciples to "ask the master of the harvest to send out laborers for his harvest," to pray for evangelists to rescue the lost. But what precisely does it mean to evangelize?

Euangelion (glad tidings) was a familiar word in the culture of the New Testament authors. When the emperor or one of his generals won a battle, he would send evangelists ahead to announce the glad tidings.

The first Christians were being edgy when they adapted the word to their purposes. They were saying that the definitive battle had indeed been won, but that it had nothing to do with Caesar and his armies. It had to do with the victory that God had won in Christ over sin and death.

Jesus went into the belly of the beast—into the heart of our dysfunction, to the limits of godforsakenness—and he defeated the dark powers. He demonstrated that the divine love is greater than our greatest enemies.

This evangelical message entails, too, that there is a new King, a new Emperor. Christ, the victor over sin and death, must be the center of your life.

Video reflection by Father Leon Biernat: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"There can be no outward peace unless it reflects & is ruled by that interior peace without which the affairs of human beings shake, totter, & fall. Only God's holy religion can foster, strengthen, & maintain such a peace."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"My God, you have gone beyond my desire & I will sing your mercies!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"We cannot talk about God, but woe to the one who remains silent about him."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast day: 28 August)