Saints + Scripture: The Transfiguration of the Lord

The Popish Plot
Summer Book Club: "On Mary"

'Tis the Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord: Transfiguration-link ūnus, Transfiguration-link duo, Wikipedia-link Transfiguration, & Wikipedia-link Feast.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Jesus, Peter [22 February, 29 June], James [25 July], & John [27 December] go to a mountain to pray. On the mountain, Jesus begins to shine with bright rays of light. Then the prophets Moses & Elijah appear next to Him & He speaks to them. Jesus is then called "Son" by a voice in the sky, assumed to be God the Father, as in the baptism of Jesus.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord
The Book of Daniel, chapter seven, verses nine, ten, thirteen, & fourteen;
Psalm Ninety-seven, verses one & two, five & six, & nine;
The Second Letter of Peter, chapter one, verses sixteen thru nineteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter nine, verses two thru ten.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel presents the Transfiguration of Christ. What is the Transfiguration itself? Mark speaks literally of a metamorphosis, a going beyond the form that He had. If I can use Paul’s language, it is "the knowledge of the glory of God on the face of Jesus Christ." In and through His humble humanity, His divinity shines forth. The proximity of His divinity in no way compromises the integrity of His humanity, but rather makes it shine in greater beauty. This is the New Testament version of the burning bush.

The Jesus who is both divine and human is the Jesus who is evangelically compelling. If He is only divine, then He doesn’t touch us; if He is only human, He can’t save us. His splendor consists in the coming together of the two natures, without mixing, mingling, or confusion.

This same Jesus then accompanies His disciples back down the mountain and walks with them in the ordinary rhythms of their lives. This is the Christ who wants to reign as Lord of our lives in every detail. If we forget about this dimension, then Jesus becomes a distant memory, a figure from the past.

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

'Tis also the festival of Saints Justus & Pastor, Martyrs (died circa 304, of Alcalá), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, victims of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link Juliett, Martyr-link Papa, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Hormisdas, Pope (450-523), fifty-second (LII) Bishop of Rome, who ended the Acacian schism: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Schism.

Commentary: father of Pope St. Silverius [20 June].

We also memorialize Venerable Antonio Margil, Priest, O.F.M. (1657-1726), who founded the Misión San José in San Antonio, Texas: Venerable-link ūnus, Venerable-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Mission.

Papal Quote o' This Day

"Liberation & salvation, signs of the Kingdom of God, have both a physical & a spiritual dimension. Two actions are characteristic of the mission Jesus fulfilled: healing & forgiving."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"In a word, prayer is something noble, supernatural, which expands my soul & unites it to God."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' This Day

"At His Transfiguration Christ showed His disciples the splendor of His beauty, to which He will shape & color those who are His."
—St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church (1225-1274, feast day: 28 January)