Saints + Scripture

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

'Tis the Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, & Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, & Companions, Martyrs (died 1839-1867), martyred in the reign of the Joseon kings Jeongjo, Sunjo, Heonjong, Cheoljong, & Gojong: Martyr-link Alpha Kilo Tango & Wikipedia-link Alpha Kilo Tango; Martyr-link Papa Charlie Hotel & Wikipedia-link Papa Charlie Hotel; & Martyrs-link CIII ūnus, Martyrs-link CIII duo, & Wikipedia-link CIII.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Saint Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn… was the first Korean-born Catholic priest & is the patron saint of Korea. On 6 May 1984, Pope [St.] John Paul II [22 October] canonized Kim along with [one hundred two] other Korean Martyrs, including Paul Chong Hasang, during his trip to Korea.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Fausta & Evilasius, Martyrs (died 311, of Cyzicus), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Maxentius & Galerius, victims of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link Foxtrot & Wikipedia-link Foxtrot, Martyr-link Echo & Wikipedia-link Echo; Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: After two years, CatholicSaints.info still has the names Fausta & Evilasius backwards. I've matched each entry up with the right life, the name Evilasius with the life of Fausta & the name of Fausta with the life of Evilasius.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Agapetus I, Pope (died 536, also spelt Agapitus), fifty-seventh (LVII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Thomas Johnson, Priest & Martyr, O.Cart. (died 1537), martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VIII, one of the Carthusian Martyrs of London: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Charterhouse & Wikipedia-link Charterhouse.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter fifteen, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Eighteen, verses one(b) & two, sixteen(a/b) & seventeen, & twenty-eight;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter seven, verses thirty-six thru fifty.

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

Friends, our Gospel today tells the story of a woman who—in the house of Simon the Pharisee—approaches Jesus, weeping onto his feet and anointing them with oil. One of the principal marks of Jesus’ teaching is the overturning of social conventions. In service of what he calls the kingdom of God, God’s way of ordering the world, he says and does all sorts of outrageous things.

And one of the most striking and surprising of Jesus’ moves was a radical inclusion of women. He allowed women into his inner circle (practically unheard of for a rabbi); he spoke publicly to the woman at the well; he engaged with the Syro-Phoenician woman; he forgave the woman caught in adultery. And the first witnesses of the Resurrection were women.

Luke, who told this story, was a companion of Paul, and his Gospel reflects many of Paul’s themes. Paul famously said, “In Christ, there is no slave or free, no Jew or Greek, no male or female.” This was very radical stuff, for these were some of the most basic social divisions of the time. Free men were a lot better off than slaves; Jews had huge advantages over Greeks; and males were seen as superior to females. But not anymore—in light of the kingdom of God that Jesus announced.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of Ss. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, & Companions
The Book of Wisdom, chapter three, verses one thru nine;
or, the Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses thirty-one(b) thru thirty-nine;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verse five;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses twenty-three thru twenty-six.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"We must have our own deep, continual inward life of prayer, of faith, of charity. Without that we cannot participate usefully & wisely in the rebirth & reflowering of the liturgy. We cannot think, breathe, act, suffer, & filly hope with the living pilgrim Church. We must pray."
—Pope Bl. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"How can I fear a God who is nothing but mercy & love."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Christian Quote o' the Day

"All that is not eternal is eternally out of date."
—Clive Staples "C. S." Lewis (1898-1963)