Saints + Scripture — Monday, 8 October

The Longest Road Back, Part VIII of XIV | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Monday, 8 October was the festival of Saint Reparata, Virgin & Martyr (died circa 250), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a victim of his empire-wide persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Felix of Como, Bishop (died circa 391): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Pelagia the Penitent, Hermitess (floruit fifth century, of Antioch; the "Beardless Hermit," A.K.A. the Harlot, Margarita): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Keyne, Hermitess (floruit fifth century; also spelt Kenya, Ceinwan, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Daughter of St. Brychan Brycheiniog [6 April].

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter one, verses six thru twelve;
Psalm One Hundred Eleven, verses one(b) & two, seven & eight, & nine & ten(c);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses twenty-five thru thirty-seven.

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

Friends, our Gospel today is one of the best-known of Jesus’ parables, the story of the Good Samaritan. Every story, parable, illustration, and exhortation is, at the end of the day, a picture of the Lord.

In one of the great windows of Chartres Cathedral there is an intertwining of two stories, the account of the fall of mankind and the parable of the Good Samaritan. This reflects a connection that was made by the Church Fathers. The Good Samaritan is a symbol of Jesus, himself, in his role as Savior of the world.

Now our task is to be other Christs. "Which of these three was neighbor to the man who fell in with the robbers?" "The one who treated him with compassion." Jesus says to him, "Go and do the same."

We spend our lives now looking for those people stranded by the road, victimized by sin. We don’t walk by, indifferent to them, but rather we do what Jesus did. Even those who are our natural enemies, even those who frighten us. And we bring the Church’s power to bear, pouring in the oil and wine of compassion, communicating the power of Christ’s cross.

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

Papal Quote o' That Day

"At the heart of the human family & of the Church the work of assistance to the poor, the sick, the elderly, the disabled, the marginalized, the alienated, is as fruitful as the love that inspires it. It is the living force of Christ's disciples that causes today's observers to repeat, 'See how they love one another.'"
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"The only happiness here below is to strive to be always content with what Jesus gives us."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Catholic Quote o' That Day

"Knowledge about God without an awareness of our misery produces vanity. Knowledge of our misery without an awareness of God produces despair. Knowledge of Jesus Christ provides the middle ground, because in Him we find God & our misery."
—Blaise Pascal (1588-1651)