Saints + Scripture — Saturday, 4 August

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

Saturday, 4 August was the Memorial of Saint John Vianney, Priest, T.O.S.F. (1786-1859, the "Curé d'Ars"): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He is often referred to as the "Curé d'Ars," internationally known for his priestly & pastoral work in his parish in Ars, France, because of the radical spiritual transformation of the community & its surroundings. Catholics attribute this to his saintly life, mortification, his persevering ministry in the sacrament of confession, & his ardent devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Sithney, Religious (died circa 529, A.K.A. Senzi): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Lua, Priest & Abbot (circa 554-609, of Killaloe, of Limerick; also spelt Lughaidh, Molua), founder of a monastery around which arose Killaloe: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Killaloe.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed William Horne, Religious & Martyr, O.Cart. (died 1540), martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VIII, one of the Carthusian Martyrs of London: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Martyrs-link Charterhouse & Wikipedia-link Charterhouse.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter twenty-six, verses eleven thru sixteen & twenty-four;
Psalm Sixty-nine, verses fifteen & sixteen, thirty & thirty-one, & thirty-three & thirty-four;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter fourteen, verses one thru twelve.

Commentary: Video reflection by Fr. Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. John Vianney
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter three, verses seventeen thru twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verse fifteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nine, verse thirty-five thru chapter ten, verse one.

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

Friends, today we honor St. John Vianney, the model and patron for diocesan priests. We need priests, for without priests there is no Eucharist, and without the Eucharist, there is no Church. St. John Paul II, in his final encyclical, stated this as clearly and boldly as possible: Ecclesia de Eucharistia (the Church comes from the Eucharist).

Priests are the descendants of those first disciples who sat in intimacy with Jesus himself, watching him at close quarters, learning his mind and heart, summoned to work for the coming of the kingdom. Priests participate in Christ, precisely in his capacity as head and shepherd of his people.

Priests are called “father,” for that is what they are. They give life in the spiritual order. Look to the example of St. John Vianney, who spent hours in the confessional and in the pulpit; to St. Maximilian Kolbe, who offered his life with the words, “I am a Catholic priest”; to Fr. Gary Graf, a Chicago priest who gave part of his own liver so that one of his parishioners might live. They do all of these things because they are spiritual fathers, life-givers in the spiritual order.

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

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Confession is an act of honesty & courage; an act of entrusting ourselves, beyond sin, to a loving & forgiving God. It is an act of the prodigal son who returns to his Father & is welcomed by Him with the gift of peace."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"I have never experienced more fully the sweetness & mercy of the Lord."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"Here is a rule for everyday life: Do not do anything which you cannot offer to God."
—St. John Vianney (1786-1859, feast day: 4 August)