The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "After the Music Is Over" from While We're at It (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones (1983-2003, 2007-present) released While We're at It, their tenth studio album, this very summer, June 2018.

"After the music is over,
When what needs to be has been said,
After the tears have all been shed,
When it's over, what is after that?…

"How can it be insanity has now become the norm?
Who knew you could just go from good so quickly to bad form?
To think you blink or turn your back and then turn back around
And everything is different, inside out, and upside down!

"After it is over, it will happen overnight,
When there's nothing left to sing about and nothing left to write,
We'll still have each other after all that has been lost,
There are hills still we can climb together and bridges to be crossed…

"After the music's over,
We will hear the music once again,
After the music's over,
We will hear the music again."

Saints + Scripture: Please Stand By

The Explorers' Club, № DCXXXVIII

Operation AXIOM: The World War
30-31 August 1918: The Battle of Lioma—The British King's African Rifles cornered & very nearly encircled the Schutztruppe & Askari of Paul von Lettow-Vorbeck, outnumbered & cut off from resupply by the rest of the German Empire for four years, at Lioma, in Portuguese Mozambique; though badly mauled & thrown into chaos, the Germans once again managed to escape, living to fight another day.

Lest we forget.

Saints + Scripture: Please Stand By

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "1-2-8" from Let's Face It (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary: Of course, by this late date it's been twenty-one years since the release of the seminal Let's Face It.

"One, two, what's in the stew?
Three, four, no one's really sure.
Five, six, what's in the mix?
Seven, eight, this stuff tastes great!"

Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Memorial of the Passion of Saint John the Baptist (circa 1 B.C.-A.D. 30), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Tiberius by the client Galilean "king" Herod Antipas: Baptist-link ūnus, Baptist-link duo, Wikipedia-link Baptist, & Wikipedia-link Passion.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Today honors the anniversary of his martyrdom. Besides Our Lord & Our Lady, St. John the Baptist is the only one whose birth & death are thus celebrated. Today's Gospel relates the circumstances of his execution. He had the courage to blame Herod to his face for the scandal of his illegal union with his sister-in-law Herodias, whose husband was still alive.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Sabina, Martyr (died 126, of Rome), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian, atop whose house now sits the Basilica of Saint Sabina: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Basilica.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Richard Herst, Martyr (died 1628; also spelt Hurst, Hayhurst), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles I: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Dominik Jędrzejewski, Priest & Martyr (1886-1942), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link CVIII & Wikipedia-link CVIII.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter three, verses six thru ten, sixteen, seventeen, & eighteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-eight, verses one & two, four & five;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses seventeen thru twenty-nine.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel tells of the death of John the Baptist. Herod had arrested John, from whom Jesus had sought baptism, and put him to death. The arrest and death of John the Baptist were signals for Jesus.

Immediately after the arrest, Jesus withdraws to Galilee and commences his own ministry of preaching and healing. Are these two events just coincidentally related? Hardly. Jesus read the arrest of John as a kind of signal that he was to begin.

We must remember that Jesus, like any Jew of his time, would have read the world through the lens of the Sacred Scriptures. They were the interpretive framework for everything. It was a commonplace of the Prophets and the Psalms and parts of the Torah that the era of the Messiah would be preceded by a time of tribulation, when the opponents of God would rise up to counter God’s purposes.

Jesus saw this in the arrest of John. This great national figure, this prophet to Israel, was arrested and eventually killed by the enemies of God—and he took it as a signal that his own Messianic work should begin.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of the Passion of St. John the Baptist
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter one, verses seventeen, eighteen, & nineteen;
Confer Psalm Seventy-one, verse fifteen(a/b);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter six, verses seventeen thru twenty-nine.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"This is the flame that Jesus wanted to bring down upon the earth, the one He ardently desired to see enkindled: the fire of His charity, of the justice that He taught & sanctified, of His love for all."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Jesus, your arms are the elevator which will lift me to heaven!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
And in our hearts take up Thy rest;
Come with Thy grace & heavenly aid
To fill the hearts which Thou hast made."
—St. Hrabanus Maurus (780-856, feast day: 4 February)

Commentary: Lyrics from the hymn Veni creator spiritus.

Operation ÖSTERREICH

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 331.4 lbs
This weigh-in: 331.4 lbs.
Difference: +/-0.0 lbs.

No change in weight, neither gain nor loss, means I failed to achieve my goal of dropping two pounds per week (2 lbs./week), but my schedule is so disrupted & my stress levels are so high due to that unpredictability of work that I, as a creature of habit, am glad simply not to have gained any weight over the past seven days.

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH!
The Aquabats!, "Amino Man!" from The Aquabats! vs. the Floating Eye of Death! and Other Amazing Adventures, Vol. 1 (Captain Thumbs Up!)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

Less Than Jake, "Last One Out of Liberty City" from Hello Rockview (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary:

"I know, I know, I know,
I know just who I am,
And what's in my head
Is that I don't really give a damn
Just who you think I am,
Just who I am, just who I am (Just who I!)…

"The other day, this girl came up to me and asked
If she used to go to school with me, and kinda laughed,
And she said, wasn't I the guy
Her friends always called a waste of time?…"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

The Hippos, "Asleep at the Wheel" from Forget the World (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary:

"I'm falling asleep, asleep at the wheel,
This feels like a dream, is this real?
I've had too much coffee to drink,
Caffeine's got to my brain, I can't think,
I don't think I'll make it this time…"

Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Taco Tuesday: "Day 365"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Augustine, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (354-430, of Hippo): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, Doctor-link The True Enlightenment!, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctor.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Son of St. Monica [27 August].

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was a Roman African, early Christian theologian & philosopher from Numidia whose writings influenced the development of Western Christianity & Western philosophy. Among his most important works are The City of God, On Christian Doctrine, & Confessions.

Wikipedia-link The City of God, Wikipedia-link On Christian Doctrine, & Wikipedia-link Confessions.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds James Claxton, William Dean, & Thomas Felton (O.F.M.), Priests; & Henry Webley, Martyrs (died 1588, Claxton A.K.A. James Clarkson), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, Bl. Henry one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales, Bl. James one of the Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link Juliett Charlie, Martyr-link Tango Foxtrot & Wikipedia-link Tango Foxtrot, Martyr-link Whiskey Delta & Wikipedia-link Whiskey Delta, & Martyr-link Hotel Whiskey; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV, Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

Commentary: Bl. Thomas, son of the martyr Bl. John Felton [8 August].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Edmund Arrowsmith, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1585-1628, A.K.A. Brian Arrowsmith, Edmund Rigby), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter two, verses one, two, three(a), & fourteen thru seventeen;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses ten, eleven & twelve, & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses twenty-three thru twenty-six.

Commentary: Video reflection by Father Peter Drilling: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Augustine
The First Letter to the John, chapter four, verses seven thru sixteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verse twelve;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses eight thru twelve.

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

Friends, on this feast day of St. Augustine, we reflect on the development of Catholic teaching. In one very real sense, the Father speaks all he can possibly speak in his Son, rightly called the Logos. There is no more to be revealed, no more to be said, than what is expressed in Jesus. Nevertheless, the fullness of that revelation unfolds only over space and time, much the way that a seed unfolds very gradually into a mighty oak.

A lively mind takes an idea, turns it over, considers it, looks at it from various viewpoints, questions it. Then, in lively conversation, that mind throws the idea to another mind, who performs a similar set of operations.

This "play of lively minds" goes on over the centuries. St. John threw the idea of the Incarnation to St. Polycarp, who threw it to St. Irenaeus, who threw it to Origen, who threw it to Augustine, who passed it to Thomas Aquinas, who shared it with Robert Bellarmine, who spoke it to John Henry Newman and others, who have given it to us.

Now who guarantees that this process moves forward? The answer is the Holy Spirit, whom Jesus promised to the Church.

Bible Study—Prophetic Books
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter one (verses one thru twenty-eight);
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter two (verses one thru ten);
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter three (verses one thru twenty-seven).

Commentary: I. Call of the Prophet: The Vision: God on the Cherubim (Ezekiel, 1:1-28ab), Eating of the Scroll (1:28cd-3:16), the Prophet as Watchman (3:17-21), & Ezekiel's Dumbness (3:22-27).

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty-two (verses one thru thirteen);
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty-three (verses one thru twelve);
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty-four (verses one thru eleven);
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty-five (verses one thru fourteen);
The Book of Proverbs, chapter twenty-seven (verses one thru twenty-seven);
The Book of Proverbs, chapter twenty-eight (verses one thru twenty-eight).

Commentary: Trust in God Alone (Psalm 62), Ardent Longing for God (Psalm 63), Treacherous Conspirators Punished by God (Psalm 64), & Thanksgiving for God's Blessings (Psalm 65); V. Second Collection of the Proverbs of Solomon (cont'd; Proverbs, 27:1-28:28).

Proverb o' the Day (Proverbs, 28:4)

Those who abandon the law praise the wicked man,
but those who keep the law war against him.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"We have our individual personal duty to be good. That does not mean to be weak. It means to be capable of breaking the sad logical chain of evil by patience & forgiveness. It means to love, that is, to be Christians."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Poem o' the Day

"I long to fly to Mary's mother arms,
To rest upon that spotless throne of bliss;
And, sheltered there from troubles and alarms,
For the first time to feel her gentle kiss."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Late have I loved You, O beauty ever ancient & ever new!"
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast day: 28 August)

The Explorers' Club, № DCXXXVII

Operation AXIOM: The World War—The Armenian Genocide, Part IV
26 August-14 September 2018: The Battle of Baku & the September Days—The "Dunsterforce," a relatively small force of British advisors to the anti-Soviet Armenian Centro-Caspian Dictatorship, was defeated & the city conquered by the Ottoman/Azeri Islamic Army of the Caucasus; the Islamic Army then massacred thirty thousand Armenians, revenge for the Soviet massacre of Azeris in March 1918.

Lest we forget.

Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Monica (circa 322-387, of Hippo): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Mother of the bishop & Doctor of the Church St. Augustine of Hippo [28 August]. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

She was an early Christian saint & the mother of St. Augustine of Hippo. She is remembered for her outstanding Christian virtues, particularly the suffering caused by her husband's adultery, & her prayerful life dedicated to the reformation of her son, who wrote extensively of her pious acts & life with her in his Confessions.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Cæsarius of Arles, Bishop (circa 468-543), who presided over the Council of Agde (506): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council.

Commentary: Brother of the abbess St. Caesaria of Arles [12 January].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Roger Cadwallador, Priest & Martyr (circa 1566-1610), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king James VI & I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

'Tis also the festival of Saint David Lewis, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1616-1679, A.K.A. Charles Baker), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles II, a victim of the perjurer Titus Oates's "Popish Plot" hoax; one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Plot, Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter one, verses one thru five, eleven, & twelve;
Psalm Ninety-six, verses one & two(a), two(b) & three, & four & five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses thirteen thru twenty-two.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Monica
The Book of Sirach, chapter twenty-six, verses one thru four & thirteen thru sixteen;
Psalm Response: "In You, Lord, I have found my peace;"
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter seven, verses eleven thru seventeen.

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

Friends, on this day we remember St. Monica, who prayed persistently for the conversion of her son, St. Augustine of Hippo.

Even though petitionary prayer—asking God for something—seems simpler and more basic than contemplation, it’s more difficult to make sense of theologically. If God is omniscient, what is the point of telling him what you need? And if God cannot change, what is the point of asking him for anything?

The prayer for the liturgy of St. Monica sheds some light on these questions. The text begins as follows: "Lord, you graciously received the tears of Monica for the conversion of her son Augustine." Mind you, it does not say that the tears of Monica moved God to act or compelled him somehow to change the structure of his providence. But it does say that God accepted those tears in coordination with granting the grace of conversion to her son, implying that God himself was effectively crying through the tears of Monica.

God indeed knows everything about everything, so he is aware of what we need before we ask; but like a good parent, he delights in receiving our tearful requests—even if, like a good parent, he does not always respond the way we would like him to. And God, as the unmoved mover, can never be changed by our prayer; but through whatever is good and right and true in our prayer, God is already praying through us.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Change your thoughts, your tastes according to the will of God. Correct those faults that we often boast of as our principles & qualities. Search for a continual interior uprightness of feelings & resolutions. Let yourselves really be guided by the love of God & by the love of neighbor."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Let us love, since that is all our hearts were made for."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"My Lord & my God, take from me everything that distances me from You. My Lord & my God, give me everything that brings me closer to You. My Lord & my God, detach me from myself & give my all to you."
—St. Nicholas of Flüe (1417-1487, feast day: 21 March)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKAugust

Reel Big Fish, "S.R. (the many versions of)" from Our Live Album Is Better than Your Live Album, Disc 1: More Shtick than You Can Shake a Stick At (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary: "S.R. (the many versions of)" is part of the plentiful shtick (which, it is claimed, is more than at which one could shake a stick), the chorus of "S.R." represented in numerous musical styles, including: punk rock, the blues, disco, country, garage rock, old-school rap, death metal—

Scott: "It's terrifying!"
Aaron: "Yeah. That was scary & it got people too excited."
Scott: "I think they cheered the loudest for that one, so far."
Aaron: "Well, I think that was the best, that's why."
Scott: "Does that mean we're on a roll?"
Aaron: "I think we're on a roll. You know, this, this bit never gets old."
Scott: "It never does! Not for us anyway."

—& last & almost certainly least, emo.

Aaron: "I say we just cut it from the set list from now on."
Scott: "It's gone!"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

Reel Big Fish, "S.R." from Turn the Radio Off (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary: In the salad days of 1998, when I'd espied barely the tip of the iceberg of ska, I had no idea that influential & much beloved ska bands had already come & gone. Suburban Rhythm broke up three years before their only album, the appropriately self-titled Suburban Rhythm, was released. At the time, when I first heard "S.R.," I had no idea who Suburban Rhythm were, though I intuited the basics from context clues.

"What ever happened to Suburban Rhythm?
Why did Ed and Scott quit?
Please don't go, Suburban Rhythm,
All the other bands are just shit…"

The R.B.D. Song o' Yesterday: XXI Sunday in O.T.

Sontag, 26. August
Matt Maher, "All the People Said Amen" from All the People Said Amen (The Last Angry Man)

Saints + Scripture: XXI Sunday in Ordinary Time

'Tis the Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Twenty-first Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Joshua, chapter twenty-four, verses one, two(a), fifteen, sixteen, seventeen, & eighteen(b);
Psalm Thirty-four, verses two & three, sixteen & seventeen, eighteen & nineteen, & twenty & twenty-one;
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter five, verses twenty-one thru thirty-two
(or, the Letter to the Ephesians, chapter five, verses two(a) & twenty-five thru thirty-two);
The Gospel according to John, chapter six, verses six thru sixty-nine.

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

Friends, we come today to the end of the extraordinary sixth chapter of John’s Gospel. Before this, Jesus told his listeners, "Unless you gnaw on the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you have no life in you." Well, today, we have the denouement of the story.

We hear that "many of Jesus’ disciples who were listening said, ‘This saying is hard; who can accept it?’" Notice that we are talking about Jesus’ followers. And yet they find this teaching impossible to take.

If his words were meant in a symbolic sense, they wouldn’t have had this shocking effect. If what he meant was simply, This bread is a symbol of my body, why would there be such a strong reaction? I mean, the Jewish Scriptures deal in poetic metaphor all the time. The point is that they had understood him in this context only too well.

Given every opportunity to explain himself better, Jesus does nothing of the kind. Instead, he upbraids them for their lack of faith. This is why the Catholic tradition has insisted, against all attempts to soften these words of Jesus, that he should be taken straightforwardly.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Video reflection by Father John Tata (Sancta Familia Media): Sunday Byte with Father John Tata.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Thirty-five
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

The saints were remarkable men & women, but surprisingly what mae them remarkable was rarely anything too spectacular. What made them extraordinary was the ordinary. They strove to grow in virtue through the ordinary things of everyday life. If they were caring for the sick they were growing in humility. When they were educating children they were growing in patience. As Saint Thérèse of Lisieux said, "Do the little things with great love."

There is nothing more attractive than holiness. Throughout history, whenever men & women of holiness have lived, the Church has blossomed. This is the answer to all of our questions & the solution to all of our problems: holiness of life. What are you willing to live for? Just before her death [Saint] Joan of Arc wrote, "I know this now. Every man gives his life for what he believes. Every woman gives her life for what she believes. Sometimes people believe in little or nothing, & yet they give their lives to that little or nothing. One life is all we have, & we live it as we believe in living it & then it's gone. But to surrender what you are & to live without belief is more terrible than dying—even more terrible that dying young." What are you willing to give your life for?

†

Otherwise, 26 August would be the festival of Our Lady of Częstochowa (A.K.A. the Black Madonna of Częstochowa; canonically crowned 1717, 1910, & 2005): Madonna-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Alexander of Bergamo, Martyr (died circa 303), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Bregowine of Canterbury, Bishop (died 764, also spelt Bregwin): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Mary of Jesus Crucified, Virgin, O.C.D. (1846-1878, A.K.A. Mariam Baouardy), stigmatic: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Stigmata-link & Wikipedia-link Stigmata.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Teresa of Jesus, Religious, H.A.D. (1843-1897, A.K.A. Teresa Jornet Ibars), foundress of the Little Sisters of the Abandoned Elderly: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link H.A.D.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Hope, which is the gaze of the Church turned toward the future, fills her heart, & tells us how it is throbbing in new & loving expectation. The Church is not old, she is ancient. Time does not subdue her; it rejuvenates her."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"God's love shows itself just as well in the simplest soul which puts up no resistance to His grace as it does in the loftiest soul."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"True love hurts. It always must hurt. It has to be painful to love someone; painful to leave him, you would like to die for him. When people marry, they have to give up everything in order to love each other. A mother who gives life to a child suffers much. The word 'love' is misunderstood & misused so much."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (Mother Teresa, 1910-1997, feast day: 5 September)

Bonus! Song o' the Day: SKAugust

Save Ferris, "Under 21" from It Means Everything (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary: Hard as it is to believe, back in the Nineties even an old, old man such as your humble narrator was, in fact, under twenty-one years of age.

Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Louis (1214-1270, A.K.A. King Louis IX of France), who led the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254) & the Eighth Crusade (1270), & who built the Sainte-Chapelle: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Crusade VII, Wikipedia-link Crusade VIII, & Wikipedia-link Holy Chapel.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Louis banned trials by ordeal, tried to prevent the private wars that were plaguing the country, & introduced the presumption of innocence in criminal procedure. Following a vow he made after a serious illness & miraculous cure, Louis IX took an active part in the Seventh & Eighth Crusades. He died from dysentery during the latter crusade.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Joseph Calasanz, Priest, Sch.P. (1557-1648, A.K.A. Josephus a Mater Dei), founder of the Piarists, A.K.A. the Scolopi, formally the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sch.P.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Joseph was a Spanish Catholic priest, educator, & the founder of the Pious Schools, providing free education to the sons of the poor, & the religious order that ran them.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Thomas de Cantilupe, Bishop (circa 1218-1282), who attended the Second Council of Lyons (1272-1274): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Luigi of the Consolata, Priest (1922-1977, A.K.A. Andrea Bordino): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Alessandro Dordi, Priest & Martyr (1931-1991), martyred by the Shining Path Communists, one of the Three Martyrs of Chimbote: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link III.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter forty-three, verses one thru seven(a/b);
Psalm Eighty-five, verses nine(a/b) & ten, eleven & twelve, & thirteen & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses one thru twelve.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus turns his sharp eye and withering critique on the many ways that religious leaders fall into corruption. What precisely is bothering Jesus? Some religious leaders get their kicks from burdening people, laying the law on them heavily, making demands that are terrible, exulting in their own moral superiority.

At the core of Jesus’ program is a willingness to bear other people’s burdens, to help them carry their loads. And this applies to the moral life as well. If we lay the burden of God’s law on people, we must be willing, at the same time, to help them bear it.

Another classic problem with religious people and especially religious leaders: they use the law and morality as a means of inflating the ego. The trouble is that this drug wears off rather quickly, and then we want more of it. We need a greater title, more respect, more recognition.

What is Jesus’ recommendation for those caught in this dilemma? To be great is to be a servant: lowly, simple, often forgotten. Eschew marks of respect; don’t seek them. Be satisfied with doing your work, whatever it is, on behalf of God’s kingdom.

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

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Louis
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-eight, verses six thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Twelve, verse one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-two, verses thirty-four thru forty.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Joseph Calasanz
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter twelve, verse thirty-one thru chapter thirteen, verse thirteen
(or, the First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter thirteen, verses four thru thirteen);
Psalm Thirty-four, verse two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses one thru five.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Christians should conscientiously take up their civic duties in a spirit of disinterested service. This will lead them to renounce seeking their personal gain, power, or prestige, if it is harmful to others."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Jesus does not look so much at the greatness of our actions, or even at their difficulty, as at the love with which we do them."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

Question from a journalist: "What has to change in the Church?"

St. Teresa of Calcutta: "You & I." (1910-1997, feast day: 5 September)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "365 Days" from Question the Answers (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary:

"I'm empty of answers,
Don't nobody search me.
The long neck's a twist-off;
You don't need a church key.

"I'm still full of questions,
But can't quite see clear.
Twist off another,
Twist off another,
Twist off another,
And bring on next year…"

Saints + Scripture — Thursday, 23 August

The Long Road Back | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Thursday, 23 August was the Optional Memorial of Saint Rose of Lima, Virgin, T.O.S.D. (1586-1617): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, Saint-link The True Enlightenment!, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

She was a member of the Third Order of Saint Dominic in Lima, Peru, who became known for both her life of severe asceticism & her care of the need of the city through her own private efforts. She was a lay member of the Dominican Order.

Wikipedia-link T.O.S.D.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Tydfil, Martyr (died circa 480, as spelt Tudfil), martyred by pagan marauders (variously given as Picts, Welsh, or Saxons): Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Éogan of Ardstraw, Bishop (died circa 618, also spelt Éoghan [both pronounced "Owen"]): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Filippo Benizzi, Priest, O.S.M. (1233-1285, Anglicized as Philip Benitius), who attended the Second Council of Lyons (1272-1274): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Council.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Juan María de la Cruz, Priest & Martyr, S.C.I. (1891-1936, A.K.A. Mariano García Méndez), martyred by Spanish Communist "Republicans" (Rojos), one of the Two Hundred Thirty-three Spanish Martyrs (A.K.A. the Martyrs of Valencia): Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link CCXXXIII.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-six, verses twenty-three thru twenty-eight;
Psalm Fifty-one, verses twelve & thirteen, fourteen & fifteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-two, verses one thru fourteen.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel likens the kingdom of heaven to a king who gave a wedding feast for his son. Notice that the father (God the Father) is giving a banquet for his son (God the Son), whose bride is the Church. Jesus is the marriage of divinity and humanity—and we his followers are invited to join in the joy of this union.

The joyful intimacy of the Father and Son is now offered to us to be shared. Listen to Isaiah to learn the details of this banquet: "On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines."

Now there is an edge to all of this. For it is the king who is doing the inviting and it is a wedding banquet for his son. We can see how terribly important it is to respond to the invitation of the King of kings.

We have heard the invitation of God to enter into intimacy with him, to make him the center of our lives, to be married to him in Christ—and often we find the most pathetic excuses not to respond.

Video reflection by Father Roger Lopez, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Rose of Lima
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter ten, verse seventeen thru chapter eleven, verse two;
Confer Psalm One Hundred Forty-eight, verses twelve(a) & thirteen(a);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses forty-four, forty-five, & forty-six.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Evil is not the only thing that is contagious; goodness is as well. It is necessary that, at this favorable hour, goodness increasingly abound in us! Let us succumb to the contagion of goodness!"
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"I am happy to die because, far more than on earth, I shall help the souls I hold dear."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' That Day

"If God's point of view does not exist, there is no truth beyond our subjective perspectives."
—Robert Spaemann (born 1927)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Today: SKAugust!

The Aquabats!, "Pinch and Roll!" from The Return of The Aquabats! (Captain Thumbs Up!)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Yesterday: SKAugust

Donnerstag, 23. August
Dance Hall Crashers, "Better Than Anything" from The Old Record (1989-1992) (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary: It's not just rude boys who experience heartbreak. Rude girls are also unlucky in love.

"For so long I thought you were better than anything,
But now I realize that you're not the way you seem…"

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Bartholomew

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Feast of Saint Bartholomew, Apostle (floruit first century, A.K.A. Nathaneal): Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, Wikipedia-link Bravo, & Wikipedia-link November; Wikipedia-link Apostles.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus from Jewish Israel. In the East, where Bartholomew's evangelical labors were expended, Nathanael is mentioned only in the Gospel of John, he was identified as Nathanael.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Feast of St. Bartholomew
The Book of Revelation, chapter twenty-one, verses nine(b) thru fourteen;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five, verses ten & eleven, twelve & thirteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter one, verses forty-five thru fifty-one.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Nathaniel declares to Jesus, "Rabbi, you are the Son of God; you are the King of Israel." Nathaniel is also called Bartholomew, whose feast day we are celebrating.

Anglican Scripture scholar N.T. Wright has told us that when a first-century Jew spoke of the arrival of God’s kingdom, he was taken to mean something very specific. He was announcing that the Temple was going to be restored; that the proper worship of Yahweh would obtain; that the enemies of Israel would be dealt with; and that, above all, the tribes of the Lord—and through them, the tribes of the world—would be gathered.

This is why Jesus chose twelve disciples, evocative of the twelve tribes. They would be the prototype and the catalyst for the gathering of Israel and hence the gathering of everyone. They would be the fundamental community and sign of unity.

Video reflection by Fr. Edward Owens, O.Ss.T.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-eight (verses one thru twelve);
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-nine (verses one thru eighteen);
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty (verses one thru fourteen);
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty-one (verses one thru nine).

Commentary: The Dethroning of Unjust Rulers (Psalm 58), Complaint against Bloodthirsty Enemies (Psalm 59), Lament after Defeat in Battle (Psalm 60), & Prayer of the King in Time of Danger (Psalm 61).

'Tis also the festival of Saint Audoin, Bishop (609-686, of Rouen; also spelt Ouen, Aldwin, etc.; A.K.A. Dado): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Edward Kaźmierski, Martyr (1919-1942), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link CVIII & Wikipedia-link CVIII.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Émilie de Vialar, Religious, S.J.A. (1797-1856), foundress of the Sisters of Saint Joseph of the Apparition: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Order-link S.J.A. & Wikipedia-link S.J.A..

Papal Quote o' This Day

"I call. I call you. I know that this is bold of me, maybe even vain, possibly a bit inconvenient. But I must call out as Jesus did: come with me. This is to ask for a precious gift, the gift of yourself to the Lord, a sacrifice without limitations."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"To offer oneself to God does not mean that one loses anything at all of one's natural tenderness."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' This Day

"After I discovered that there is a God, it was impossible for me not to live for Him alone."
—Bl. Charles de Foucald (1858-1916, feast day: 1 December)

Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Bonus Episode: "Countdown to 'Made for Happiness' Intro"
&
Wacky Wednesday: "Countdown to 'Made for Happiness': Episode IV—A New Hope"

'Tis the Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary: Madonna-link ūna, Madonna-link duæ, Wikipedia-link Queen, & Wikipedia-link Coronation.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Mary is called Queen of Heaven because her Son, Jesus Christ, is the King of Israel & heavenly king of the universe; indeed, the Davidic tradition of Israel recognized the mother of the king as the Queen Mother of Israel.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Thomas Percy, Martyr (1528-1572), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, a leader of the Rising of the North: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Rising.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Richard Kirkman & William Lacy, Priests & Martyrs (died 1582), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link Romeo Kilo, Martyr-link Whiskey Lima, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

'Tis also the festival of Saint John Kemble, Priest & Martyr (1599-1679), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles II, a victim of the perjurer Titus Oates's "Popish Plot" hoax, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Plot; & Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter thirty-four, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one, two, & three(a); three(b) & four; five; & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty, verses one thru sixteen.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of the Queenship of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The Book of Isaiah, chapter nine, verses one thru six;
Psalm One Hundred Thirteen, verse two;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses twenty-six thru thirty-eight.

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

Friends, today we celebrate Mary’s Queenship. Mary was the definitive bearer of the divine presence, the Ark of the Covenant par excellence. When she visited her cousin Elizabeth, the infant John the Baptist leapt in his mother’s womb, doing his own version of David’s dance before the Ark.

The Queen Mother—like all of the monarchs of Israel—is a fighter. Israel frequently brought the Ark into battle with them. Most famously, the priests paraded around the city of Jericho bearing the Ark, just before the walls came tumbling down.

The Queenship of Mary is not a sentimental feast. Whenever biblical people spoke of kings or queens, they were speaking of warriors. The question for us is: Which side are we on? Those trained in the Jesuit spiritual tradition know of the "two standards" meditation, which compels us to make the simple choice: In which army do you serve?

We fight, of course, not with the puny weapons of the world, but with the weapons of the Spirit; by God we fight. So don’t just honor and acknowledge the Queenship of Mary; get in her army.

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-five (verses one thru twenty-four);
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-six (verses one thru fourteen);
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-seven (verses one thru twelve).

Commentary: A Lament over Betrayal (Psalm 55), Trust in God (Psalm 56), & Confident Prayer for Deliverance (Psalm 57).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Right from the first moment of her Divine Motherhood, of her union with the Son Whom the Father sent into the world, that the world might be saved through Him, Mary takes her place within Christ's Messianic service."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Oh, how happy I am to see myself imperfect & to have such need of God's mercy at the moment of my death."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Fill yourself with confidence. The mother we have is the Mother of God, the Most Blessed Virgin, the Queen of Heaven & Earth."
—St. Josemaría Escrivá (1902-1975, feast day: 26 June)

Operation ÖSTERREICH

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 333.0 lbs (Wednesday, 18 July)
This weigh-in: 331.4 lbs.
Difference: -1.6 lbs.

One & three-fifths pounds over the last five weeks is not the two pounds per week at which we're aiming, but given the stresses of the last five weeks, I'll take it, gladly. Also of note, I'm having increasingly difficulty keeping my pants up. Having previously tightened my belt from hole five to hole six, I'm now having to venture into the uncharted territory of hole seven, which is just a smidgen too tight, just as hole six was not so many months ago.

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "Spam" from U.H.F.: Original Motion Picture Soundtrack (The Last Angry Man)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

Edna's Goldfish, "This Is Not Here" from Before You Knew Better… (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary: High melodrama, back at the turn of the millennium.

"Seems like I just learned to care,
I know that you will, but don't you dare,
Point your stare
In my direction,
The inflection
In your voice says things aren't working out,
But I've got some doubt.

"'Almost' is a dirty word when you're seventeen,
Regret can kill you when you turn twenty…

But I can't wait that long to hear what happens next
And it's been so long since I've been put to the test."

Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Pius X, Pope (1835-1914, A.K.A. Giuseppe Melchiorre Sarto), two hundred fifty-seventh (CCLVII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He is known for vigorously opposing modernist interpretations of Catholic doctrine, promoting traditional devotional practices & orthodox theology. He directed the production of the 1917 Code of Canon Law, the first comprehensive & systematic work if its kind.

Wikipedia-link Canon Law

'Tis also the festival of Our Lady of Knock (apparition 21 August 1879): Madonna-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Abraham of Smolensk, Priest & Abbot (circa 1172-1222): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Victoire Rasoamanarivo (1848-1894): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter twenty-eight, verses one thru ten;
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-two, verses twenty-six & twenty-seven(a/b), twenty-seven(c/d) & twenty-eight, thirty, & thirty-five(c/d) & thirty-six(a/b);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-three thru thirty.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus says to his disciples: “Amen, I say to you, it will be hard for one who is rich to enter the Kingdom of heaven.” When the disciples express their astonishment at this—“Who then can be saved?”—Jesus replies, “For men this is impossible, but for God all things are possible.”

When we fail on the spiritual path, we must become, like Bartimaeus, beggars. When we stumble in our attempts to follow the law or to set out on the high adventure of discipleship, we must not fall into discouragement or self-reproach. We must once again cry out, “Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison,” relying not on our own powers but on God.

Thérèse of Lisieux commented that, amidst the many spiritual athletes and strivers around her, she felt like a little helpless child, lifting her arms up and begging to be carried. The heavenly Father, like any good parent, could hardly resist such a sight, and thus she found herself lifted higher than the spiritual “giants.”

With us, it is finally impossible; but with God, all things—including the making of saints—are possible.

Video reflection by Dennis Mahaney: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Pius X
The First Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter two, verses two(b) thru eight;
Psalm Eighty-nine, verse two;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty-one, verses fifteen, sixteen, & seventeen.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Together with a culture of work, there must be a culture of leisure as gratification. To put it another way: people who work must take the time to relax, to be with their families, to enjoy themselves, read, listen to music, play a sport."
—Pope Francis (born 1936, reigning since 2013)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Silence does good to the soul."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Holy Communion is the shortest & safest way to Heaven."
—Pope St. Pius X (1835-1914, feast day: 21 August)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

Johnny Socko, "Man in Disguise" from Full Trucker Effect (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary: "Man in Disguise" is an obscure ska cover by an obscure ska band, Johnny Socko, of an even more obscure ska song by an even more obscure ska band, BOP(harvey), from the antediluvian days of third-wave ska.

"…(gibberish) singing our style,
Here come the music, gonna play for you a while,
Gonna be fast, gonna be slow,
Gonna be songs you just don't know…"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: SKAugust

Reel Big Fish, "Everything Sucks" from Turn the Radio Off (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary:

"There's a ska band on my street,
A little ska band, everything thinks that they're so fucking neat,
There was nothing on the radio,
Gonna make my own band, play my own show,
They don't work; so, I'm giving up again.

"She said she loved me 'cause I play guitar,
That's O.K., I didn't love her at all,
And I sing, giving up because—

"I know everything sucks, yeah!
I know everything sucks, whoa-o-o!
I know everything sucks, yeah!
And this is gonna be the last time you hear me complain!

"Well, I went down to the show,
Everybody was there, I didn't want to go,
(Here we go!)
'Cause everything they do is so fucking cool,
Every song is a hit and the girls like 'em, too,
I can't do that; so, I'm giving up again.

"I don't know why I learned to play guitar,
Nobody's gonna know who we are,
And I sing, 'Giving up because—

"I know everything sucks, yeah!
I know everything sucks, whoa-o-o!
I know everything sucks, yeah!
And this is gonna be the last time you hear me complain!

"She said, 'Someday, we'll get back together, maybe.'
She said, 'Someday, things will be much better, baby.'
But I don't believe her,
I don't think I need her anymore!…"

Bonus! Song o' Yesterday: SKAugust

Sontag, 19. August
The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Devil's Night Out" from Devil's Night Out (The Last Angry Rude Boy)

Skammentary:

"In his favorite club, in his favorite seat,
Well, I saw the Devil, wingtip shoes on his feet
Pork pie hat on his head, he was digging the beat,
And the band ripped like demons when he screamed, 'Turn on the heat!'…"

Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Bernard, Abbot & Doctor of the Church, O.Cist. (1090-1153, of Clairvaux), who attended the Second Lateran Council (1139) & preached the Second Crusade (1147-1149): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, Doctor-link The True Enlightenment!, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Doctors, Wikipedia-link Council, & Wikipedia-link Crusade.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was a French abbot & a major leader in the reform of Benedictine monasticism that caused the formation of the Cistercian order.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ronald of Orkney, Martyr (circa 1103-1158, A.K.A. Rögnvald Kali Kolsson), martyred by the Viking outlaw Thorbjorn Klerk, who build Saint Magnus Cathedral: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Cathedral.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Georg Häfner, Priest & Martyr (1900-1942), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Władysław Mączkowski, Priest & Martyr (1911-1942), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List, № 74); Martyrs-link CVIII & Wikipedia-link CVIII.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Twentieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter twenty-four, verses fifteen thru twenty-four;
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-two, verses eighteen & nineteen, twenty, & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses sixteen thru twenty-two.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel is the story of the rich young man. The rich young man has a deep desire to share in everlasting life. He is hungry for the infinite good of the spirit. He knows what he wants, and he knows where to find it. Jesus is the infinite Good that the soul wants. He is God’s own self made flesh.

If you want to live in friendship with God, there are certain things that you must cut out of your life. Friendship with God means a life of love; therefore, those things that egregiously violate love have to be eliminated.

Jesus looks at him with love and says, “There is one thing more you must do. Go and sell what you have and give it to the poor; you will have treasure in heaven. After that come follow me.” God is nothing but love, straight through, and therefore the life of friendship with him, in the richest sense, is a life of total, self-forgetting love.

But at this point the young man tragically balks. The spiritual life, at the highest pitch, is about giving your life away, and this is why his many possessions are a problem.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Bernard
The Book of Sirach, chapter fifteen, verses one thru sixteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen, verse twelve;
The Gospel according to John, chapter seventeen, verses twenty thru twenty-six.

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-two (verses one thru eleven);
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-three (verses one thru seven);
The Book of Psalms, psalm fifty-four (verses one thru nine);
The Book of Proverbs, chapter nineteen (verses one thru twenty-nine);
The Book of Proverbs, chapter twenty (verses one thru thirty).

Commentary: The Deceitful Tongue (Psalm 52), A Lament over Widespread Corruption (Psalm 53), & Confident Prayer in Great Peril (Psalm 54); & II. First Collection of the Proverbs of Solomon (cont'd; Proverbs, 19:1-20:30)

Proverb o' Yesterday (Proverbs, 19:17)

He who has compassion on the poor lends to the LORD,
and He will repay him for his good deed.

Proverb o' Today (Proverbs, 20:18)

Plans made after advice succeed;
so with wise guidance wage your war.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"To discover the Lord's concrete will for us, we must listen to the Word of God, pray, & discuss our problems & discoveries with others. In this way, we will discern the gifts we have received & use them profitably."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I understood that love encompasses all vocations & that love is everything. Love encompasses all times and places."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Action & contemplation are very close companions; they live together in one house on equal terms. Martha & Mary are sisters."
—St. Bernard of Clairvaux, Doctor of the Church (1090-1153, feast day: 20 August)

The Explorers' Club, № DCXXXVI

Operation AXIOM: The World War—The Hundred Days Offensive, Part II
21 August-2 September: The Second Battle of the Somme—Instead of reinforcing the offensive around Amiens, which had ground to a halt as supplies lines were stretched & the Germans had brought up reinforcements, the Entente's Anglophones (British, Canadian, Australian, & American) attacked around Albert, pushing the Germans back to the "Hindenburg Line" (the Siegfriedstellung).

Lest we forget.

Saints + Scripture: XX Sunday in Ordinary Time

'Tis the Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Twentieth Sunday in Ordinary Time
The Book of Proverbs, chapter nine, verses one thru six;
Psalm Thirty-four, verses two & three, four & five, & six & seven;
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter five, verses fifteen thru twenty;
The Gospel according to John, chapter six, verses fifty-one thru fifty-eight.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel passage is one of the most shocking in the New Testament. Those who heard it were not only repulsed intellectually; they were disgusted, viscerally. For a Jewish man to be insinuating that you should eat his own flesh and drink his blood was about as nauseating and religiously objectionable as you could get.

So what does Jesus do? Does he soften his rhetoric? Does he offer a metaphorical or symbolic interpretation? Does he back off? On the contrary, he intensifies what he just said: "Amen, amen I say to you, unless you eat the flesh of the Son of Man and drink his blood, you do not have life within you." As all the scholars point out to us, the verb used here in Greek is trogein, which indicates the way an animal eats.

So what do we do? If we stand in the great Catholic tradition, we honor these mysterious and wonderful words of Jesus. We resist all attempts to soften them or explain them away or make them easier to swallow. We affirm, with all of our hearts, the doctrine of the Real Presence.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns: Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

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

Commentary: IV. Justification & the Christian Life: Freedom from Sin; Life in God (Romans, 6:1-23).

Mass Journal: Week Thirty-four
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

The philosophy of Christ is based on discipline, & it is discipline that our modern culture abhors & has rejected with all its strength. It is true that Jesus came to comfort the afflicted, but as [Servant of God] Dorthy Day, journalist, social activist, & Catholic convert pointed out, He also came to afflict the comfortable. The saints make many modern Catholics uncomfortable because they challenge us to throw off the spirit of the world & to embrace the Spirit of God. Like Jesus, by their example the saints invite us to a life of discipline. Contrary to popular opinion, discipline doesn't stifle or restrict the human person. Discipline isn't something invented by the Church to control or manipulate the masses, nor is it the tool that unjust tyrants & dictators use to make people do things they don't want to do. All these are the lies of a culture completely absorbed in a philosophy of instant gratification. Discipline is the faithful friend who will introduce you to your true self. Discpline is the worthy protector who will defend you from your lesser self. And discipline is the extraordinary mentor who will challenge you to become the-best-version-of-yourself & all God created you to be. What are your habits? Are your habits helping you become a-better-version-of-yourself or are they self-diminishing?

†

Otherwise, 19 August would be the festival of Saint Andrew Stratelates, Martyr (died circa 300, A.K.A. the Tribune), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Stratelates is not St. Andrew's name, but an epithet, meaning "the Commander."

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Bertulf of Bobbio, Abbot (died circa 640, A.K.A. of Luxeuil), abbot of Bobbio Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

Commentary: Kinsman of the bishop St. Arnulf of Metz [18 July].

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Louis of Toulouse, Bishop, O.F.M. (1274-1297, also spelt Ludwig, A.K.A. of Anjou): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Nephew of St. Louis [IX, 25 August] & great-great-nephew of St. Elizabeth of Hungary [17 November].

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Hugh Green, Priest & Martyr (circa 1584-1642, A.K.A. Ferdinand Brooks, Ferdinand Brown), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles I, one of the Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint John Eudes, Priest, C.J.M. (1601-1680), founder of the Eudists, formally the Congregation of Jesus & Mary, & the Order of Our Lady of Charity of the Refuge; "father of the liturgical cult" of the Hearts of Jesus & Mary: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Order-link C.J.M., Wikipedia-link C.J.M., & Wikipedia-link O.N.D.C.; Sacred Heart-link & Wikipedia-link Sacred Heart, Immaculate Heart-link & Wikipedia-link Immaculate Heart, & Wikipedia-link Alliance.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"What the world really asks of us is that the Mystery of redemption be accessible to all, especially to the poor, the sick, children, the young, the family. It is precisely through the Eucharist that Christ's Redemption touches each person's heart, transforming the world's history."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"To be without Jesus is a grievous hell, & to be with Jesus a sweet paradise."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"No man lives alone, no man believes alone. God speaks His word to us & in speaking it calls us together, creates a community, His people, His Church. After the return of Jesus to His Father the Church is the sign of His presence in the world."
—St. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church (329-379, feast day: 2 January)