Saints + Scripture — Saturday, 22 September

The Long Road Back, Part IV of VII | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
Bonus Episode: "There Is a Monster at the End of This Video!?!"

Saturday, 22 September was the festival of Saint Maurice & the Theban Legion, Martyrs (died circa 287, A.K.A. the Martyrs of Agaunum), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian: Martyr-link Mike & Wikipedia-link Mike, Martyrs-link Legion & Wikipedia-link Legion.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Emmeram of Regenbergs, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 652, A.K.A. Haimhramm), martyred by Lantpert of Bavaria while shielding another from Lantpert's wrath: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Otto of freising, Bishop & Abbot, O.Cist. (circa 1114-1158): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Thomas of Villanova, Bishop, O.S.A. (1488-1555, "the Father of the Poor;" A.K.A. Tomás García y Martínez): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Ignatius of Santhià, Priest, O.F.M. Cap. (1686-1770, A.K.A. Lorenzo Maurizio Belvisotti): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter fifteen, verses thirty-five, thirty-six, thirty-seven, & forty-two thru forty-nine;
Psalm Fifty-six, verses ten(c), eleven, & twelve; & thirteen & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eight, verses four thru fifteen.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel gives us the parable of the sower. I want to say something about the seed that falls on the path, because it reveals an obstacle to our efforts at religious education.

One of the blocks of receiving the seed is lack of understanding, lack of education in the ways of the Spirit. Israel was the extensive and complex preparation for the reception of the Word. The fundamentals have to be in place before the Word can be accepted. What a prophetic word to our time!

A recent study shows that Catholics are second only to Jews in the ineffectiveness of passing on their religious tradition and heritage. A recent poll concerning religious attitudes in America shows that most Americans favor a radical tolerance in regard to religious beliefs. It also shows a shocking ignorance in regard to belief systems, dogmas, and the history of one’s own religion.

There’s nothing in the world wrong with tolerance, but it can sometimes be a cover for indifference. One belief is as good as another. Do we accept that kind of thinking in regard to politics? Religious education programs are falling far behind what they should be.

Video reflection by Marc DelMonico, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"If today we are living in a climate of public freedom & personal responsibility, we will have an increased duty to exercise our own critical moral judgment with vigilant assiduousness. Temptations are very widespread & aggressive in our day."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"O my Jesus, who can say how tenderly & gently You lead my soul!"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Conciliar Quote o' That Day

"In reality it is only in the mystery of the Word made flesh that the mystery of man truly becomes clear."
—Second Vatican Council, Gaudium et spes (The Pastoral Constitution on the Church in the Modern World, 1965)