Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
Summer Book Club: "The Last Chapter"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Stephen of Hungary (circa 969-1038, King Stephen I, also spelt István, Štefan; A.K.A. Vajk): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Husband of Bl. Gisela of Hungary [7 May] & with her father of St. Emeric of Hungary [4 November].

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

To give God the glory for his success, Stephen built near the site of a battle a monastery dedicated to St. Martin [of Tours, 11 November], called the Holy Hill, & bestowed on it extensive lands, as well as one third of the spoils of victory. It is the mother house of all Benedictine congregations in Hungary. Stephen now followed up his plans by inviting priests & monks to come from Germany, France, & Italy.

Wikipedia-link Abbey

'Tis also the festival of Saint Armel, Abbot (died circa 570, also spelt Arthfael), founder of monasteries at Plouarzel & Saint-Armel: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Roch, Confessor, T.O.S.F. (circa 1295-1327; also spelt Rocco, Roque, etc.): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Angelo Agostini Mazzinghi, Priest, O.Carm. (1377-1438): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Ezekiel, chapter twelve, verses one thru twelve;
Psalm Seventy-eight, verses fifty-six & fifty-seven, fifty-eight & fifty-nine, & sixty-one & sixty-two;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verse twenty-one thru chapter nineteen, verse one.

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

Friends, our Gospel today focuses on the gift of forgiveness. This is such an anchor of the New Testament and so central to Jesus’ ministry and preaching. When it comes to the offenses that we have received from others, we are, all of us, great avatars of justice. We will remember every insult, every snub, and every shortcoming when it comes to our being hurt by others. That’s why forgiving even once or twice is so difficult.

Forgiving seven times, as Peter suggests, is beyond the pale. Yet Jesus says to him, "I say to you, not seven times but seventy-seven times." In other words, forgive constantly, relentlessly, and without calculation. Your whole life must become an act of forgiveness.

And this is why Jesus tells the parable in today’s Gospel. The man who had been forgiven so much should, at the very least, show forgiveness to the one who owed him so much less.

Here is the spiritual heart of the matter: whatever anyone owes you (in strict justice) is infinitely less than what God has graciously given to you; the divine forgiveness of you is infinitely greater than any forgiveness you might be called upon to offer.

Becoming an instrument of God’s life, grace, forgiveness, and peace is what it is all about. Allow to flow through you what has been poured into you—that is the whole story.

Video reflection by Fr. Roger Lopez, O.F.M. (Franciscan Media): U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Stephen of Hungary
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter six, verses three thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Twelve, verse one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses fourteen thru thirty
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses fourteen thru twenty-three).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The outpouring of the Spirit in our hearts brings about a change that is slow & hard won, but certain. It is a change that leads to the formation of the new person. In this way, 'we all attain to the unity of the faith & knowledge of the Son of God' (Eph, 4:13)."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I will scatter flowers, perfuming the Divine Throne, & I'll sweetly sing my hymn of love."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' the Day

"Mathematics is the alphabet with which God wrote the world."
—Galileo Galilei (1564-1642)