Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
G. K. Chesterton's The Defendant: "Humility"

'Tis the festival of Saint Onesimus, Bishop (died circa 95), the principal subject of Saint Paul's [25 January, 29 June] Letter to Philemon: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Epistle.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Berach of Cluain Coirpthe, Abbot & Martyr (died 595; also spelt Barachias, Barry; A.K.A. of Termonbarry, of Kilbarry): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Nephew of St. Freoch [?], brother of St. Midabaria [?].

'Tis also the festival of Saints Sunaman, Deacon; Unaman, Priest; & Winaman, Subdeacon; Martyrs, O.S.B. (died circa 1040), martyred by pagan Swedes in the reign of the good king Anund Jakob: Martyr-link Sierra, Martyr-link Uniform, Martyr-link Whiskey, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Nephews of St. Sigfrid of Sweden [15 February]; see: below.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Sigfrid of Sweden, Bishop, O.S.B. (died circa 1045, the "Apostle of Sweden;" also spelt Siegfried, Sigurd, etc.; A.K.A. of Växjö, of Wexlow): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Claude de la Colombière, Priest, S.J. (1641-1682), promoter of devotion to the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus; imprisoned (ruinous to his health) & banished from England, a victim of the perjurer Titus Oates' "Popish Plot" hoax: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sacred Heart, Popish Plot-link, & Wikipedia-link Popish Plot.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Michał Sopoćko, Priest (1888-1975), founder of the Congregation of Sisters of Merciful Jesus, promoter of devotion to the Divine Mercy of Jesus: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Divine Mercy.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Fifth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter three, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Thirty-two, verses one & two, five, six, & seven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter seven, verses thirty-one thru thirty-seven.

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

Friends, our Gospel for today has to do with Jesus’ healing of a deaf man with a speech impediment. As always, we have to look at the surface and at the depth. Jesus is performing a physical miracle. But every one of his actions should also be read symbolically, so as to uncover a deeper spiritual meaning.

So what does Jesus do? He "put his finger in the man’s ears and, spitting, touched his tongue." Jesus establishes, as it were, an electrical current, running from God the Father, through him, to this man. He—almost literally—plugs him into the divine current, compelling him to hear the word. He says "Ephphatha," be opened. When he does, his speech impediment is immediately overcome. Now he is able to speak the word of God clearly.

So this deaf man stands for all of us who do not hear the word of God, who have grown oblivious to it. And what is the result of this deafness? A speech impediment. At the spiritual level, if you don’t hear the word of God clearly, then your capacity to speak it is also severely compromised.

Video reflection by Alejandro Orbezo-Elizaga: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 26
The Book of Exodus, chapter eleven, verses one thru ten.

Commentary: Warning of the Final Plague (Exodus, 11:1-10).

The Imitation of Christ
Book II: Considerations for Leading an Interior Life
Chapter 1: "On Interior Conversation"

Papal Quote o' the Day

"As a manifestation of the human spirit, music performs a function that is noble, unique, & irreplaceable. When music is truly beautiful & inspired, it speaks to us more than all the other acts of goodness, virtue, & peace."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"My penance consisted in breaking my will, always so ready to impose itself on others, in holding back a reply, in rendering little services without recognition."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"We fear Christ's goodness. I remember when I was a boy, if I had a toothache I would always go to my grandmother, never to my mother. I would go to my grandmother because she would get some oil of cloves & put it on my tooth & ease the pain. If I went to my mother, she would take me to the dentist, & the dentist would start probing about, & I was absolutely sure that he would find something wrong & inflict a little pain on me. I feared goodness. This is the psychology of our mediocrity."
—Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)