Commentary: Wayback Machine. Damascene is a toponym, meaning "of Damacus;" Chrysorrhoas is a epithet, meaning "golden-stream." Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
A polymath whose fields of interest & contribution included law, theology, philosophy, & music, he is said by some sources to have served as a chief administrator to the Muslim caliph of Damascus before his ordination. He wrote works expounding the Christian faith, & composed hymns which are still used… liturgically in Eastern Christian practice.'Tis also the festival of Saint Barbara, Virgin & Martyr (died circa 235), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Maximinus Thrax, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Helpers-link XIV & Wikipedia-link XIV.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Anno of Cologne, Bishop (circa 1010-1075, A.K.A. Archbishop Anno II), founder of Michaelsberg Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Adolph Kolping, Priest (1813-1865, the "Father of All Apprentices" & "Apostle of the Working Man"), founder of the International Kolping Society: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Kolping International-link.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the First Week in Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter eleven, verses one thru ten;
Psalm Seventy-two, verses one & two, seven & eight, twelve & thirteen, & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses twenty-one thru twenty-four.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today in the Gospel we hear Jesus in intimate conversation with his Father. The passage invites us into very deep mysteries. Jesus addresses his Father and thereby reveals his own deepest identity within the Holy Trinity. He says, "I praise you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth, for although you have hidden these things from the wise and learned, you have revealed them to the little ones."
It is important to keep in mind that this is not simply a good and holy man addressing God, but rather the very Son of God addressing his Father. We are being given a share in the inner life of God, the conversation between the first two Trinitarian persons.
And what are the "things" that have been concealed from the learned and revealed to the little ones? Nothing other than the mystery of Jesus’ relationship to his Father, the love that obtains between Father and Son, the inner life of God. From the beginning, this is what God wanted to give us.
Video reflection by Father John Staak, O.M.I.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. John Damascene
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter one, verses thirteen & fourteen & chapter two, verses one, two, & three;
Psalm Nineteen, verse ten;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses fourteen thru thirty
(or, the Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses fourteen thru twenty-three).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"At this point, the drama is either 'Yes' or 'No' for the modern generation that has shown that it has understood the possibility & happiness of an encounter with Christ. Christ is peaking from His crib, 'Blest are they who hear the Word of God & keep it' (Luke, 11:28)."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)
"We have only the short moment of this life to give to God, & He is already preparing to say: 'Now, my turn.'"Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"Show me the icons that you venerate, that I may be able to understand your faith"Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day
—St. John Damascene, Doctor of the Church (675-749, feast day: 4 December)
"This human heart of yours is not perfect in shape as a valentine heart. There's a small piece missing out of the side of your heart and out of every human heart. That is the piece that was torn out of the universal heart of humanity on the cross. When God made your heart and every other heart, he found it so good that he kept a small sample of it in heaven and then sent the rest of it into this world where it would try to fill up all the love it could, but where it would never be really happy, never totally in love, never able to love anyone with a whole heart because it hasn't a whole heart to love with. It will never be happy until it goes back again to God to recover that piece that he has been keeping for it from all eternity."
—Ven. Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)
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