Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Agnes, Virgin & Martyr (circa 291-304, of Rome, A.K.A. Ines), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution; martyred at the site of the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone & buried in the Catacombs of Saint Agnes, atop which sits the basilica of Sant'Agnese fuori le mura: Martyr-link ūna, Martyr-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution; & Wikipedia-link in Agone, Wikipedia-link Catacombs, & Wikipedia-link Outside the Walls.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

When the Diocletian[ic] Persecution was at its height, & when priests as well as laymen were apostatizing from the faith, Agnes, a girl of twelve, freely chose to die for Christ. When she was commanded to offer incense to false gods, she raised her hand to Christ & made the Sign of the Cross.

Wikipedia-link Sign of the Cross

'Tis also the festival of Saint Publius of Malta, Bishop & Martyr (circa 20-112, A.K.A. of Athens), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Bríga of Kilbride, Abbess (floruit sixth century; also spelt Brigid, A.K.A. of Killbrige), foundress of the monastery at Oughter Ard: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Monastery.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Meinrad of Einsiedeln, Priest & Martyr, O.S.B. (circa 797-861, the "Martyr of Hospitality;" A.K.A. of Reichenau) martyred by brigands who beat him to death once they discovered he possessed nothing worth stealing: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Edward Stransham, Priest & Martyr (circa 1557-1586), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyr-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Alban Roe, Priest & Martyr, O.S.B. (1583-1642), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyr-link XL & Wikipedia-link XL.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Second Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter five, verses one thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Ten, verses one, two, three, & four;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter two, verses eighteen thru twenty-two.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel people ask Jesus why he doesn’t encourage fasting among his followers. Jesus’ answer is wonderful: “How can the guests at a wedding fast while the groom is still with them?” (That’s a typically Jewish style, by the way: answering a question with another question.)

This great image of the wedding feast comes up frequently in the New Testament, most obviously in the wedding feast at Cana narrative. And it is echoed in the Tradition. Jesus is the wedding of heaven and earth, the marriage of divinity and humanity; he is the bridegroom and the Church is the bride. In him, the most intimate union is achieved between God and the world.

Could you imagine people fasting at a wedding banquet? Could you imagine going into an elegant room with your fellow guests and being served bread and water? It would be ridiculous! So says Jesus: “As long as the groom is with them, how could they fast?” The mark of the Christian dispensation is joy. Exuberance. Delight. God and the world have come together. What could be better news?

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Agnes
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter one, verses twenty-six thru thirty-one;
Psalm Twenty-three, verses one(b), two, & three(a), four; five; & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses forty-four, forty-five, & forty-six.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 1
The Book of Exodus, chapter one, verses one thru seven.

Commentary: The Sons of Israel (Exodus, 1:1-7).

The Imitation of Christ
Book I: Useful Admonitions for the Spiritual Life
Chapter 1: "On Following Christ Our Model"

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Despite her youth, St. Agnes experienced the victorious strength of the love of Christ. Sustained by that inner force, she was able to 'conquer overwhelmingly.' May she be your model of courage & generosity in every event of your life."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Lord, I suffer willingly for Thee whatsoever Thou art pleased should befall me."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"When I stand up to talk, people listen to me; they will follow what I have to say. Is it any power of mine? Of course not. St. Paul says: 'What have you that you have not received & you who have received, why do you glory as if you had not?' But the secret of my power is that I have never in fifty-five years missed spending an hour in the presence of our Lord in the Blessed Sacrament. That's where the power comes from. That's where sermons are born. That's where every good thought is conceived. I don't mean to say that these hours have always been good. I've had to walk up and down the church to stay awake. I once went into St. Roch's Church in Paris to pray an hour, when I only had two hours in Paris between trains on my way to Lourdes. There were only about five days a year that I can sleep in the daytime, & this was one. I sat down at two o'clock, & I slept perfectly until three. When I awoke I said to the good Lord, 'Did I make a holy hour?' And my angel said, 'Yes that's the way the apostles prayed the first one."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)