Meditation Monday: "2nd Week of Advent"
Commentary: The title is written on-screen as "Week 2 of Advent" but in the description as "2nd Week of Advent." The day is categorized in speech as "Meditative Monday" but in the description as "Meditation Monday." We at The Popish Plot apparently cleave to the sophomoric idiocy of Ralph Waldo Emerson that, "a foolish consistency is the hobgoblin of little minds."
'Tis the festival of Our Lady of Loreto & the Translation of the Holy House: Madonna-link, Holy House-link, & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Holy House, Batman!
'Tis also the festival of Saint Miltiades, Pope (died 314, A.K.A. Melchiades the African), thirty-second (XXXII) Bishop of Rome, who opposed the Donatist heresy: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Heresy.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Gregory III, Pope (died 741), ninetieth (XC) Bishop of Rome, who opposed Byzantine iconoclasm: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff & Wikipedia-link Iconoclasm.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. My sources agree that St. Gregory died on 28 November 741, but are divided on the date of his festival, the majority now citing 10 December rather than 28 November.
'Tis also the festival of Saints Edmund Gennings, Polydore Plasden, & Eustace White, Priests; & Swithun Wells, Martyrs (died 1591), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, four of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Echo Golf & Wikipedia-link Echo Golf, Martyr-link Papa Papa & Wikipedia-link Papa Papa, Martyr-link Echo Whiskey & Wikipedia-link Echo Whiskey, Martyr-link Sierra Whiskey & Wikipedia-link Sierra Whiskey; & Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.
'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Sidney Hodgson, Brian Lacey, & John Mason, Martyrs (died 1591), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I: Martyr-link Sierra Hotel & Wikipedia-link Sierra Hotel, Martyr-link Bravo Lima, Martyr-link Juliett Mike; & Wikipedia-link Topcliffe.
'Tis also the festival of Saint John Roberts, Priest & Martyr, O.S.B. (1577-1610), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king James VI & I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales, & founder of the community that eventually settled at Downside Abbey: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL, & Wikipedia-link Abbey.
Scripture of This Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Second Week of Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter thirty-five, verses one thru ten;
Psalm Eighty-five, verses nine(a/b) & ten, eleven & twelve, & thirteen & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter five, verses seventeen thru twenty-six.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel for today tells that wonderful story of the healing of the paralytic. People gather by the dozens to hear Jesus, crowding around the doorway of the house. They bring him a paralyzed man, and because there is no way to get him through the door, they climb up on the roof and open a space to lower him down.
Can I suggest a connection between this wonderful narrative and our present evangelical situation? There are an awful lot of Catholics who are paralyzed, unable to move, frozen in regard to Christ and the Church. This might be from doubt, from fear, from anger, from old resentment, from ignorance, or from self-reproach. Some of these reasons might be good; some might be bad.
Your job, as a believer, is to bring others to Christ. How? A word of encouragement, a challenge, an explanation, a word of forgiveness, a note, a phone call. We notice the wonderful urgency of these people as they bring the sick man to Jesus. Do we feel the same urgency within his Mystical Body today?
Video reflection by Msgr. James Vlaun (Telecare T.V.): United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Papal Quote o' This Day
"Nazareth is the school in which one can begin to understand the life of Jesus: the school of the Gospel. Here one learns to watch, to listen, to meditate, & to penetrate the most profound & mysterious meaning of this manifestation of the Son of God."Little Flower Quote o' This Day
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)
"More than ever, I understand that the smallest events of our life are conducted by God; He is the One who makes us desire & who grants our desires."Saint Quote o' This Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"It is possible to offer frequent & fervent prayer even at the market place or strolling alone. It is possible also in your place of business, while buying or selling, or even while cooking."
—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (349-407, feast day: 13 September)
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