Saints + Scripture — Monday, 24 September

The Long Road Back, Part V of XII | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Monday, 24 September was the festival of Our Lady of Walsingham (apparition 1061, A.K.A. the Virgin by the Sea): Madonna-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twas also the festival of Our Lady of Mercy (apparition 1218, A.K.A. Our Lady of Ransom): Madonna-link, Wikipedia-link Mercy, & Wikipedia-link Ransom.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Anathalon of Milan, Bishop (floruit second century): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blesseds William Spenser, Priest, & Robert Hardesty, Martyrs (died 1589), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Whiskey Sierra & Wikipedia-link Whiskey Sierra, Martyr-link Romeo Hotel; Martyr-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Pacificus of San Severino, Priest, O.F.M. (1653-1721, A.K.A. Carlo Antonio Divini): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Francesco Spoto, Priest & Martyr, M.S.P.T.M. (1924-1964), martyred by Communist Simba rebels: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Twenty-fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Proverbs, chapter three, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-four;
Psalm Fifteen, verses two & three(a), three(b/c) & four(a/b), & five;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eight, verses sixteen, seventeen, & eighteen.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel is the parable of the lamp, which, placed on a lampstand, gives light to all. Light obviously isn’t for itself. Rather, we see things by it. It illuminates things upon which it shines.

We are light by which people around us come to see what is worth seeing. By the very quality and integrity of our lives, we shed light, illumining what is beautiful and revealing what is ugly. The clear implication is that without vibrant Christians the world is a much worse place. Let me illustrate this principle with an example. One of the most painful truths of the last century is that the weakness of Christian witness allows some of the worst elements in society to flourish.

Think of the rise of the evil powers that created World War II. Christianity had become so weak, so uncompelling, so attenuated that great evil was allowed to flourish. Yes, indeed there were a handful of powerful Christian resisters, but let’s face it: the overwhelmingly vast majority of Christians either supported Hitler or remained in silence, out of either fear or indifference.

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

Papal Quote o' That Day

"We need a docile heart in order to build an exemplary Christian community. We need a spirit that is strong in the Faith in order to proclaim the love of God that conquers sin & saves in Christ Who died & is risen."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"Kindness is my only guiding star. In its light, I sail a straight route, I have my motto written on my sail: 'To live in love.'"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' That Day

"The worst thing is not to commit crimes but, rather, not to accomplish the good that one could have done. It is the sin of omission, which is nothing other than to be unloving, & no one accuses himself of it."
—Léon Bloy (1846-1917)