Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Summer Book Club: "Working Out"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel: Madonna-link ūna, Madonna-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Scapular-link & Wikipedia-link Scapular.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

This is the title given to the Blessed Virgin Mary in her role as patroness of the Carmelite Order. The first Carmelites were Christian hermits living on Mount Carmel in the Holy Land during the late twelfth & early to mid-thirteenth century. They built in the midst of their hermitages a chapel which they dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Bartolomeu dos Mártires, Bishop, O.P. (1514-1590, of Braga; A.K.A. Bartolomeu Fernandes), who attended the Council of Trent: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds John Sugar, Priest, & Robert Grissold, Martyrs (died 1604), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king James VI & I, two of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Juliett Sierra & Wikipedia-link Juliett Sierra, Martyr-link Romeo Golf & Wikipedia-link Romeo Golf; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter one, verses ten thru seventeen;
Psalm Fifty, verses eight & nine, sixteen(b/c) & seventeen, & twenty-one & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verse thirty-four thru chapter eleven, verse one.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus lays down the conditions for discipleship: "Whoever loves father or mother more than me is not worthy of me, and whoever loves son or daughter more than me is not worthy of me; and whoever does not take up his cross and follow after me is not worthy of me. Whoever finds his life will lose it, and whoever loses his life for my sake will find it."

There is [a] line from the illuminator of the St. John’s Bible that states: "We have to love our way out of this." There is nothing wimpy or namby-pamby or blind about this conviction. When we love extravagantly, we are not purposely blinding ourselves to moral realities—just the contrary. Love is not a sentiment, but "a harsh and dreadful thing," as Dostoevsky said.

This is just what Jesus shows on his terrible cross. And this is just what we, his followers, must imitate. Taking up the cross means not just being willing to suffer, but being willing to suffer as he did, absorbing violence and hatred through our forgiveness and nonviolence.

Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Our Lady of Mount Carmel
The Book of Zechariah, chapter two, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verse forty-nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses forty-six thru fifty.

Bible Study—Pauline Epistles
The Letter to the Romans, chapter six (verses one thru twenty-three).

Commentary: Freedom from Sin; Life in God (Romans, 6:1-23).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Mother of the Incarnate Word! You are the human heart's immaculate sensitivity to all that is of God. This means all that is true, good, & beautiful, all that has its source & fulfillment in God."
—Pope St. John Paul II (the Great, 1920-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"True, one can fall… but, knowing how to draw profit from everything, love quickly consumes everything that can be displeasing to Jesus."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Mary seeks for those who approach her devoutly & with reverence, for such she loves, nourishes, & adopts as her children."
—St. Bonaventure, Doctor of the Church (1221-1274, feast day: 15 July)