Saints + Scripture — Tuesday, 7 August

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

Tuesday, 7 August was the Optional Memorial of Saint Sixtus II, Pope, & Companions, Martyrs (died 258, also spelt Xystus; A.K.A. the Martyred Deacons of Rome), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Valerian, victims of his persecution: Martyr-link Sierra ūnus, Martyr-link Sierra duo, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Deacons & Wikipedia-link Foxtrot & Alpha; & Wikipedia-link Pontiff, Wikipedia-link Persecution ūnus, & Wikipedia-link Persecution duo.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Forbidden to hold services, he & his deacons continued to worship in the chapel in the cemetery of Prætextatus. One day in 258, as the pope preached, soldiers broke into the chapel & beheaded Sixtus.

'Twas also the Optional Memorial of Saint Cajetan, Priest, C.R. (1480-1547, A.K.A. Gaetano dei Conti di Thiene), founder of the Theatines, formally the Congregation of the Clerics Regular of the Divine Providence: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.R.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Cajetan was an Italian Catholic priest & religious reformer, co-founder of the Theatines. He is the patron of the unemployed.

Not to be confused, as was done yesterday by the host of E.W.T.N.'s Called to Communion, with the non-canonized bishop, cardinal, & Master of the Order of Preachers Thomas Cajetan (1469-1534), most noted as an opponent of Martin Luther in the interval 'twixt the posting of the Ninety-five Theses & the latter's formal schism & excommunication.

'Twas also the festival of Blesseds Edward Bamber, Thomas Whittaker, & Martin of Saint Felix (O.F.M.), Priests & Martyrs (died 1646, the last A.K.A. John Woodcock), martyred in the reign of the English "Long Parliament," three of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Echo Bravo & Wikipedia-link Echo Bravo, Martyr-link Tango Whiskey & Wikipedia-link Tango Whiskey, Martyr-link Juliett Whiskey & Wikipedia-link Juliett Whiskey; & Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Nicholas Postgate, Priest & Martyr (circa 1596-1679), 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 Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Plot; & Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Eighteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter thirty, verses one, two, twelve thru fifteen, & eighteen thru twenty-two;
Psalm One Hundred Two, verses sixteen, seventeen, & eighteen; nineteen, twenty, & twenty-one; & twenty-nine, twenty-two, & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter fourteen, verses twenty-two thru thirty-six
or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter fifteen, verses one, two, & ten thru fourteen.

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

Friends, our Gospel today is the story of Jesus walking on the water. Water is, throughout the Scriptures, a symbol of danger. At the very beginning, the spirit of the Lord hovered over the surface of the waters. This signals God’s lordship over all of the powers of disorder.

In all four Gospels there is a version of this story of Jesus mastering the waves. The boat, with Peter and the other disciples, is evocative of the Church. It moves through the waters, as the Church will move through time. Storms—chaos, corruption, stupidity, danger, persecution—will inevitably arise.

Now during the fourth watch of the night, which is to say the darkest time of the night, Jesus comes walking on the sea. This is meant to be an affirmation of his divinity: just as the spirit of God hovered over the waters at the beginning, so Jesus hovers over them now. So he says to his terrified disciples: “Take courage, it is I; do not be afraid.” But even more than that: you can participate in my power. “Peter got out of the boat and began to walk on the water toward Jesus.” This is the story of all the saints.

Video reflection by Father David Baker: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Ss. Sixtus II & Companions
The Book of Wisdom, chapter three, verses one thru nine;
Psalm On Hundred Twenty-six, verse five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-three.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Cajetan
The Book of Sirach, chapter two, verses seven thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Twelve, verse one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twelve, verses thirty-two, thirty-three, & thirty-four.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Prayer opens the mind & heart to God. It deepens our longing for His Kingdom. Prayer consciously links us to the Communion of Saints, who support us by their continual intercession."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"The nothingness of me is strangely loved; Sustaining ever—The all of love, my need, is strangely here—Departing never."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"Faith by its very nature is the acceptance of a truth that our reason cannot attain; simply & unconditionally on the basis of testimony."
—Bl. John Henry Newman (1801-1890, feast day: 9 October)