Saints + Scripture

'Tis the festival of Saint Olcán of Derken, Bishop (died circa 480, also spelt Bolcan): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Leo of Catania, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 703-789, A.K.A. the Thaumaturgus, meaning "Wonder-worker"), who opposed the first bout of the Byzantine Iconoclastic heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Heresy.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Wulfric of Haselbury, Priest (circa 1080-1154, also spelt Ulfrick, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Amata of Assisi, Religious, O.S.C. (died circa 1250): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Niece of St. Clare of Assisi [11 August].

'Tis also the festival of Saints Francisco Marto & Jacinta Marto (1908-1919 & 1910-1920) two of the three to whom were revealed the apparitions of Our Lady of Fátima (1917): Saints-link, Saint-link Foxtrot Mike, Saint-link Juliett Mike, & Wikipedia-link; Madonna-link & Wikipedia-link Fátima.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter eight, verses six thru thirteen, twenty, twenty-one, & twenty-two;
Psalm One Hundred Sixteen, verses twelve & thirteen, fourteen & fifteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses twenty-two thru twenty-six.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel records Jesus healing a blind man at Bethsaida. That Jesus was a wonderworker is taken for granted in the Gospels. Along with his preaching and his death on the cross, his working of miracles is one of the surest and most basic things we know about him.

He preached in order to share the truth of God’s kingdom; he went to the cross in order to demonstrate the range of the divine love; he worked miracles because he was the embodiment of Yahweh’s desire to save his people.

Listen to the words of the prophet Isaiah: “Here is your God, he comes with vindication; with divine recompense he comes to save you. Then will the eyes of the blind be opened, and the ears of the deaf cleared. Then will the lame leap like a stag, then the tongue of the dumb will sing.”

These are tremendous words, expressive of Israel’s hope in the saving God. God intends life and abundant life for his people, and he is impatient with a world gone wrong. He longs to set it right, to recreate what sin and fear and death have uncreated.

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

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 31
The Book of Exodus, chapter twelve, verses thirty-seven thru forty-two.

Commentary: The Exodus: From Rameses to Succoth (cont'd; Exodus, 12:37-42).

The Imitation of Christ
Book II: Considerations for Leading an Interior Life
Chapter 10: "On Gratitude for God's Grace"

Papal Quote o' the Day

"In a world that often reduces sex to the pursuit of pleasure, & in some cases to domination, the Church has a special mission. She is to place sex in the context of conjugal love & of generous & responsible openness to parenthood."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I realize better than ever before how tender & merciful Our Lord is; He has sent me this cross when I am capable of bearing it, whereas before I should have given way to discouragement."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Even if we claim not to believe, we still experience the moral effects of guilt. Some years ago, one of the archbishops of France, the archbishop of Paris, was preaching a sermon in which he said, 'Years ago, some boys came into Notre Dame Cathedral & stood outside a confessional box, & they bet one another, "Who is brave enough to go in and make a mock confession? We will give ten francs to anyone who does it." One boy said he would go in & make a mock confession. So he went in & made a mock confession, & he was given a penance. He came out & asked for the ten francs. They said, "Well, you haven't said your penance. You must have received one. What is your penance?" So he walked up to the communion rail & knelt before a crucifix, & he raised his fist & he said to our Lord on the cross, "You died for me, but I don't give a ___." He couldn't finish it.' The archbishop concluded the sermon saying, I am that boy."
—Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)