Saints + Scripture — Sunday, 11 November

The Longest Road Back, Part XVII of XX | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

Sunday, 11 November was the Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time: Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of That Week
Mass Readings—Thirty-second Sunday in Ordinary Time
The First Book of Kings, chapter seventeen, verses ten thru sixteen;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-six, verses seven, eight & nine, & nine & ten;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter nine, verses twenty-four thru twenty-eight;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter twelve, verses thirty-eight thru forty-four
(or, the Gospel according to Mark, chapter twelve, verses forty-one thru forty-four).

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

Friends, today we read about the poor widow who gave her all to the Lord. Her simple generosity, her offering of her whole livelihood, was a response to God’s unconditional love. God’s love comes first. When we get this wrong, everything else in the spiritual life is thrown off-kilter. Listen to how St. John expresses this love of predilection: "In this is love: not that we have loved God, but that he loved us and sent his Son as the expiation of our sins."

If we play the game of loving God in order to get God to love us, then we are lost. If we think that we can earn salvation or we can work our way into God’s heart, then we are lost. Here’s a way to think about it: we wouldn’t exist were it not for God’s love. God needs nothing; therefore, whatever exists outside of God exists because God desires some good for it. Love precedes, therefore, our intelligence, our courage, our wills, our designs and purposes, indeed, our very existence.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Mass Journal: Week Forty-six
Reflection by Matthew Kelly, founder of the Dynamic Catholic Institute:

Prayer is central to the Christian experience. A Christian life is not sustainable without it, because growth in the Christian life is simply not possible without prayer. Growing in character & virtue, learning to hear the voice of God in our lives & walking where He calls us—all require the discipline of prayer. And it is not enough simply to pray when we feel like it. Prayer requires a daily commitment. Get to know the Shepherd. Stop trying to put together a master plan for your life & for your happiness. Instead, seek out the Master's plan for your life & for your happiness. Allow Him to lead you, to guide you, to be your mentor. He will lead you to green pastures. He will restore your soul. And your cup will overflow.

†

Otherwise, Sunday, 11 November would have been the festival of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop (circa 316-397), founder of the Abbey of Ligugé & the Abbey of Marmoutier: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Lima & Wikipedia-link Mike.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also have been the festival of Saint Turibius of Liébana, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (floruit 533, A.K.A. of Palencia, the Monk), founder of the Monastery of Liébana: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Monastery.

'Twould also have been the festival of Blessed Maria Vincenza, Religious, I.S.M. (1802-1855, A.K.A. Luigia Poloni), co-foundress of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link I.S.M.

'Twould also have been the festival of Blessed Alicja Maria Jadwiga Kotowska, Religious & Martyr, C.R. (1899-1939), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, in the Massacres in Piaśnica; one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Piaśnica, Martyrs-link CVIII, & Wikipedia-link CVIII.

'Twould also have been the festival of Blesseds Eugene Bossilkov, Bishop (C.P.); Josaphat Chichkov, Pavel Djidjov, & Kamen Vitchev, Priests (A.A.); Martyrs (died 1952), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Vâlko Chervenkov: Martyr-link Echo Bravo & Wikipedia-link Echo Bravo, Martyr-link Juliett Charlie & Wikipedia-link Juliett Charlie, Martyr-link Papa Delta & Wikipedia-link Papa Delta, & Martyr-link Kilo Victor & Wikipedia-link Kilo Victor,.

Papal Quote o' That Day

"Our understanding is limited: thus the Spirit's mission is to introduce the Church, in an ever new way from generation to generation, into the greatness of Christ's mystery."
—Pope Benedict XVI (born 1927, reigned 2005-2013)

Little Flower Quote o' That Day

"Yes, the Lord will work wonders for me, which will infinitely surpass my immeasurable desires."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' That Day

"Where others lose themselves, those who trust in Christ can do everything. In harmony with order & the justification & magnificence of God, they rise above the disorders & storms of the world with equal courage & order."
—Pope St. Pius X (1835-1914, feast day:21 August)