Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
Taco Tuesday: "Priests & the Priesthood"

'Tis the festival of Saint Hermione, Martyr (died 117, of Ephesus), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Hadrian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Daughter of the deacon St. Philip the Evangelist [11 October].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Boniface I, Pope (circa 350-422), forty-second (XLII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ida of Herzfeld (circa 770-825): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Rosalia, Virgin (circa 1130-1166, "La Santuzza" [the "little saint"]): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Rose of Viterbo, Virgin, T.O.S.F. (circa 1233-1251), venerated annually by the procession of the magnificent Macchina di Santa Rosa through the streets of Viterbo: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Machine.

Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Twenty-second Week in Ordinary Time
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter two, verses ten(b) thru sixteen;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-five, verses Y;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter four, verses thirty-one thru thirty-seven.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus teaches in the synagogue at Capernaum. One of the things that he comes to do is to teach, for at the root of our troubles and our suffering is a powerful clouding of the mind. What is it like to be in the same room with Jesus? “The people were astonished at his teaching, for he taught them as one having authority and not as the scribes.”

“Astonished” is a pretty strong word. But we have to understand the tenor of the time. When a Jewish rabbi would speak, he would reference his teacher—another rabbi—who in turn had learned from another rabbi and he by another and so on. Finally, appeal would be made, implicitly or otherwise, to Moses, who had received the word and Commandments of God on Mt. Sinai.

What makes Jesus’ teaching so striking—apart from the content, which is striking enough—is his manner of teaching. He doesn’t appeal to “Rabbi so and so” and finally back to Moses. He teaches on his own authority. The Greek word here is instructive (exousia), meaning “from his own being.” He moves through his public life, Chesterton said, like a lightning bolt.

Video reflection by Father Mark Noonan: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Bible Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty-seven (verses one thru eight);
The Book of Psalms, psalm sixty-eight (verses one thru thirty-six).

Commentary: Harvest Thanks & Petition (Psalm 67) & The Exodus & Conquest, Pledge of Future Help (Psalm 68).

Papal Quote o' This Day

"The Cross of Christ! It is the last words of Divine Wisdom. It is the ultimate source of Divine Power over human history."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' This Day

"I know no other means of reaching perfection but love… love, how well our heart is made for that!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' This Day

"Who could fail to be led by observation & thoughtful familiarity with the magnificent order of the cosmic system, which is derived from Divine Wisdom, to marvel at the almighty Architect!"
—Nicholas Copernicus (1473-1543)