Saints + Scripture: Christmastide

Simplex Edition
Joy to the world, the Christmastide rolls on: Wikipedia-link Christmastide. Merry Christmas!

'Tis the festival of Saint Hyginus, Pope (died circa 142), ninth (IX) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Theodosius the Cenobiarch, Hermit & Abbot (circa 429-523, A.K.A. of Cappadocia), founder of the Monastery of Saint Theodosius: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Monastery.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Vitalis of Gaza, Hermit (died circa 625): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed William Carter, Martyr (circa 1548-1584), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link LXXXV & Wikipedia-link LXXXV.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Anna Maria Janer Anglarill, Religious (1800-1885), foundress of the Sisters of the Holy Family of Urgell: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday after Epiphany
The First Letter of John, chapter five, verses five thru thirteen;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-seven, verses twelve & thirteen, fourteen & fifteen, & nineteen & twenty;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter five, verses twelve thru sixteen.

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

Friends, our Gospel for today has to do with Jesus’ healing of a leper. Leprosy frightened people in ancient times, just as contagious and mysterious diseases frightened people up through modern times. But, more than this, leprosy rendered someone unclean and therefore incapable of engaging in the act of worship. It is not accidental that the person who should do the examining of the patient in ancient Israel should be the priest.

The man who knelt before Jesus and begged for a cure was not simply concerned about his medical condition; he was an Israelite in exile from the Temple—and hence he was a very apt symbol of the general condition of scattered, exiled, wandering Israel. In curing him, Jesus was, symbolically speaking, gathering the tribes and bringing them back to the worship of the true God.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"You may say that it is hard to think of yourself as a brother or sister of Someone Who died so long ago. But no, Jesus is alive today & always! This is our Faith. This is the source of everything it means to be a Christian."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Jesus! Jesus! if the desire of love be so unutterably sweet, what must it be to possess and enjoy it for all eternity?"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Thank God ahead of time."
—Bl. Solanus Casey (1870-1957, feast day: 30 July)