Commentary: Wayback Machine.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Justinian of Ramsey Island, Priest & Martyr (floruit sixth century, also spelt Jestin), martyred by his own diabolically-inspired servants, a cephalophore who walked across water to the site of Saint Justinian's; abbot of the monastic community of Saint David's Cathedral: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Cephalophore, Wikipedia-link Saint Justinian's, & Wikipedia-link Cathedral.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Gerbold of Bayeux, Bishop & Abbot (died circa 690), founding abbot of the abbey around which arose the commune of Livry: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Commune.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Gérald of Braga, Bishop, O.S.B. (died 1109, A.K.A. of Moissac): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Niels Stenson, Bishop (1638-1686, the "Father of Geology," Italicized as Nicolas Steno), a geologist & the anatomist who first described the Stenson duct (A.K.A. the parotid duct): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Stratigraphy & Wikipedia-link Duct.
Commentary: Bl. Niels (as Bl. Nicholas Steno) is listed as one of the "Founders of Science, Heroes of Faith" on the Word on Fire website ReasonFaithScience.com. Science!
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the First Week in Advent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter twenty-five, verses six thru ten(a);
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one, two, & three(a); three(b) & four; five; & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter fifteen, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-seven.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, our Gospel today tells about the feeding of the four thousand. Jesus instructs the crowd to sit on the ground. Taking the seven loaves and a few fish, Jesus makes a meal that satisfies the enormous crowd. They are hungry, tired, and worn out from their exertions, and Jesus gives them sustenance for the day.
For Thomas Aquinas, the great metaphor for the Eucharist is sustenance, food for the journey. The Eucharist is daily food, sustenance for the journey, nourishment to get us through the day-to-day. How effective would we be if we never ate, or ate only on special occasions and in a festive environment? Not very. So, in the spiritual life, we must eat and drink or we will not have strength.
Is this just meant in some vague symbolic way? No, rather in a vividly analogical way. For just as the body needs physical nourishment, the spirit needs spiritual nourishment, and there is no getting around this law.
Sometimes we think it’s no big deal if we stay away from Mass and refrain from receiving Communion. Think again!
Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
Video reflection by Doctor Greg Bottaro (uCatholic): Wednesday, Advent Week 1.
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Humility reduces the vision one has of oneself down to its proper proportion in accordance with right reason. The gift of fear of God follows close upon it to perfect the soul by making the Christian aware that God alone is the highest good."Little Flower Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)
"Let us go forward in peace, our eyes fixed on Heaven, the one goal of all our works."Saint Quote o' the Day
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)
"We must remember God more often than we draw breath."
—St. Gregory of Nazianzus, Doctor of the Church (329-390, feast day: 2 January)
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