Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
Taco Tuesday: "Reaction to 'Made for Happiness,' Part 2"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Denis, Bishop, & Companions, Martyrs (died circa 258, of Paris, of France), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Valerian, in his persecution; atop his grave was built the Basilica & Abbey of Saint-Denis, around which arose the city of Saint-Denis: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution ūnus & Wikipedia-link Persecution duo; & Wikipedia-link Basilica/Abbey & Wikipedia-link Commune.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Denis was bishop of Paris in the third century &, together with his companions Rusticus & Eleutherius, was martyred for his faith by decapitation. A popular story claims that the decapitated bishop picked up his head & walked several miles while preaching a sermon on repentance & is accounted one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers.

Martyr-link Romeo & Martyr-link Echo, Wikipedia-link Cephalophore, & Helpers-link XIV & Wikipedia-link XIV

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint John Leonardi, Priest O.M.D. (1541-1609, A.K.A. Giovanni of the Mother of God), founder of the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.M.D.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. John was an Italian Roman catholic priest & founder of the Clerks Regular of the Mother of God of Lucca… part of the movement known as the Counter-Reformation [more properly, the Catholic Reformation]. Leonardi worked with this group to spread devotion to the Blessed Mother & devotion to the Forty Hours as well as spreading the message of the importance of frequent reception of the Eucharist.

Wikipedia-link Reformation, Wikipedia-link Forty Hours, & Wikipedia-link Eucharist

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ghislain, Abbot (died circa 680, A.K.A. Gislenus), founder of the Abbey of Saint-Ghislain, namesake of the town of Saint-Ghislain: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey & Wikipedia-link Commune.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Luis Beltrán, Priest, O.P. (1526-1581, the "Apostle to the Americas;" also spelt Luis Bertrán, Anglicized as Louis Bertrand): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed John Henry Newman, Cardinal, C.O. (1801-1890), founder of the Birmingham Oratory & the London Oratory; namesake of the Newman Centers: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Birmingham & Wikipedia-link London; Wikipedia-link Centers.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter one, verses thirteen thru twenty-four;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-nine, verses One(b), two, & three; thirteen & fourteen(a/b); & fourteen(c) & fifteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel inspires protests more than almost any other that I’ve preached on. "Hey Bishop, I think Martha gets a bum rap." And for centuries the story has been read that Martha represents the "active" life and Mary the "contemplative" life. I would like to stress that the active/contemplative reading of the Martha and Mary story is not that helpful. We have to dig a little deeper.

What does he upbraid Martha for? "Martha, Martha, you are anxious and upset about many things." It is the frantic, divided, unfocused quality of her life that Jesus is drawing attention to. And what is Mary being praised for? Not precisely that she is "contemplative," but that she has chosen the unum necessarium (the one necessary thing). She sits quietly at the feet of the Lord, not so much eschewing work as gathering herself, learning what she is essentially about.

There is a cacophony of voices calling out to you; there are a thousand influences pulling you this way and that. What’s the one necessary thing? It is to listen to the voice of Jesus as he tells you of his love and as he tells you who you are.

Video reflection by Father Bryan Zielenieski: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Ss. Denis & Companions
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter six, verses four thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verse five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses thirteen thru sixteen.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. John Leonardi
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses one, two, five, six & seven;
Psalm Ninety-six, verse three;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter five, verses one thru eleven.

Bible Study—The Bible Timeline Reading Plan: Early World
The Book of Genesis, chapter nine (verses one thru twenty-nine);
The Book of Genesis, chapter ten (verses one thru thirty-two);
The Book of Genesis, chapter eleven (verses one thru thirty-two).

Commentary: The Covenant with Noah (Genesis, 9:1-17), Noah & His Sons (9:18-29), Nations Descended from Noah (10:1-32), the Tower of Babel (11:1-9), Descendants of Shem (11:10-26), & Descendants of Terah (11:27-32).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"A deeply Christian life cannot be sustained by religious feelings alone or by a vague identification with a religious tradition. What is required is an ever greater understanding of the Mystery of Salvation that is revealed in Christ & handed down in Sacred Scripture & Church teaching."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day:)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I realized that all souls have more or less the same battles to fight, but no two souls are exactly the same."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"We have lost paradise but have received heaven, & therefore the gain is greater than the loss."
—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (349-407, feast day: 13 September)