Saints + Scripture — Wednesday, 10 October

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

Wednesday, 10 October was the festival of Saint Paulinus of York, Bishop (584-644), a member of the Gregorian mission to the Anglo-Saxons: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Mission.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twas also the festival of Saint Daniele Combini, Bishop, M.C.C.I. (1831-1881), founder of the Comboni Missionaries of the Heart of Jesus & the Comboni Missionary Sisters: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link M.C.C.I. & Wikipedia-link S.M.C.

'Twas also the festival of Blessed Mary Angela Truszkowska, Religious, C.S.S.F. (1825-1899, A.K.A. Sophia Truszkowska), foundress of the Felician Sisters, formally the Congregation of Sisters of Saint Felix of Cantalice Third Order Regular of Saint Francis of Assisi: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.S.S.F.

Scripture of That Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter two, verses one, two, & seven thru fourteen;
Psalm One Hundred Seventeen, verses one(b), two;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses one thru four.

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

Friends, our Gospel for today gives us an opportunity to reflect on the great prayer that Jesus taught us. Think how this prayer links us to all of the great figures in Christian history, from Peter and Paul to Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, John Paul II, and right up to the present day.

A desire to pray is planted deep within us. This just means the desire to speak to God and to listen to him. Keep in mind that prayer is not designed to change God’s mind or to tell God something he doesn’t know. God isn’t like a big city boss or a reluctant pasha whom we have to persuade. He is rather the one who wants nothing other than to give us good things—though they might not always be what we want.

Can you see how this prayer rightly orders us? We must put God’s holy name first; we must strive to do his will in all things and at all times; we must be strengthened by spiritual food or we will fall; we must be agents of forgiveness; we must be able to withstand the dark powers.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"In the past the attacks against the Christian Faith came from without, from forces contrary & extraneous to the believing community. Today the snares arise from within, in the context of rapid social change that is taking place in our age."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"Even when alone be cheerful, remembering always that you are in the sight of the angels."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"O God, to turn away from You is to fall. To turn to You is to stand up. To remain in You is to have a sure support."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast day: 28 August)