Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never—Losing Streak: 3 | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Catholic T-Shirt Club Unboxing 3"

'Tis the festival of Saint Priscilla of Rome, Martyr (died circa 95), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian, foundress & namesake of the Catacomb of Priscilla: Martyr-link ūna, Martyr-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Catacombs.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Marcellus I, Pope & Martyr (circa 255-309), thirtieth (XXX) Bishop of Rome, martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Maxentius & Maximinus II, a victim of the Great Persecution; buried in the Catacomb of Priscilla: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pontiff, Wikipedia-link Persecution, & Wikipedia-link Catacombs.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Honoratus of Arles, Bishop & Abbot (circa 350-429), founding abbot of the Lérins Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link & Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Berard of Cabrio, Priest, & Companions, Martyrs, O.F.M. (died 1220), martyred personally by the Moroccan king Yusuf II: Protomartyrs-link, Martyr-link Bravo & Wikipedia-link, Martyr-link Alpha, Martyr-link Oscar, & Martyr-link Papa.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Joseph Vaz, Priest, C.O. (1651-1711, the "Apostle of Ceylon" [A.K.A. Sri Lanka], a "slave of Mary"): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter two, verses fourteen thru eighteen;
Psalm One Hundred Five, verses one & two, three & four, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-nine.

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

Friends, in the Gospel of Mark today, we see Jesus in action. We are reading from the section of Mark’s first chapter that gives us a sort of "day in the life" of Jesus. And it is quite a day! Our Gospel opens just after the dramatic expulsion of a demon in the Capernaum synagogue. After entering the house of Simon, Jesus cures Peter’s mother-in-law.

Notice that he takes her by the hand and brings her to her feet so that she can be of service. What does sickness do to us? It draws us in around ourselves. Once she is cured, Simon’s mother-in-law commences to serve, to be for the other. Then the entire town comes to his door. He spends the whole evening curing presumably hundreds who were variously afflicted.

Mark presents Jesus as a healer, soter, which just means "the bearer of the salus" or health. In him, divinity and humanity have come together; in him, the divine life and divine power are breaking through. God’s deepest intentions appear—what God plans for us in the kingdom to come is now historically anticipated.

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

Papal Quote o' the Day

"If peace is to reign in your hearts, you must be willing to forgive, to forgive completely & sincerely. No community can survive without forgiveness. No family can live in harmony, no friendship can endure, without repeated forgiveness."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"The most privileged souls are those whom God keeps for Himself alone."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Women of the entire universe…, you to whom life is entrusted at this grave moment in history, it is for you to save the peace of the world."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)