Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Damian, Bishop & Doctor of the Church, O.S.B. (circa 988-1073), prior of Fonte Avellana, formally the Verenable Hermitage of the Holy Cross; author of the Liber Gomorrhianus (the Book of Gomorrah), a treatise against the clerical abuses of the day: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctor; & Wikipedia-link Hermitage & Wikipedia-link Liber Gomorrhianus.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was a reforming Benedictine monk & cardinal in the circle of Pope [Saint] Leo IX [19 April]. Dante placed him in one of the highest circles of Paradiso as a great predecessor of Saint Francis of Assisi [4 October] & he was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1828.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Pepin of Landen (circa 575-646, also spelt Pippin, etc.; A.K.A. the Elder, the Old), Mayor of the Palace of Austrasia, Duke of Brabant: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Husband of St. Itta of Metz, O.S.B. [8 May] & father of Ss. Begga, O.S.B. [17 December]; Bavo of Ghent [1 October]; & Gertrude of Nivelles, O.S.B. [17 March]

'Tis also the festival of Saint Germanus of Granfelden, Priest & Martyr (circa 612-677), inaugural abbot of Moutier-Grandval Abbey, martyred by henchmen of the Alsatian duke Adalrich: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Robert Southwell, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (circa 1561-1595), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Noël Pinot, Priest & Martyr (1747-1794, A.K.A. Natale Pinot), martyred in the reign of the French National Convention for refusing an oath to the Civil Constitution of the Clergy: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Constitution.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter nine, verses one thru thirteen;
Psalm One Hundred Two, verses sixteen, seventeen, & eighteen; nineteen, twenty, & twenty-one; twenty-nine, twenty-two, & twenty-three;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-three.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel reports Peter’s confession of faith. In the midst of his disciples, Jesus asks that strange question: "Who do people say that I am?" What he gets by way of response is, first, a public opinion survey: some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah, Jeremiah, or one of the prophets.

Then Jesus turns to those closest to him, and he asks them, "But who do you say that I am?" They are silent, afraid, unwilling to speak. Finally it is Peter who says: "You are the Christ." And he gets it right. Does he get it right because he is the most intelligent? Please. Because he is holy and close to Jesus? No. We know the whole story of Peter’s weakness, which is marked by betrayal and stupidity.

It is the Father who has given Peter this insight—not Peter’s clever mind or searching heart. It is a supernatural gift, a special charism. And it is upon Peter and this inspired confession that the Church is built.

Video reflection by Father Don Miller, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Peter Damian
The Second Letter to Timothy, chapter four, verses one thru five;
Confer Psalm Sixteen, verses five(a);
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses one thru eight.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 32
The Book of Exodus, chapter twelve, verses forty-three thru fifty-one.

Commentary: The Ordinance of the Passover (Exodus, 12:43-51).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Christ's love for us: behold the Eucharist! Love that gives itself, love that remains, love that communicates itself, love that multiples itself, love that sacrifices itself. The Eucharist is the love that unites us & the love that saves us."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"The Gospel is my chief support in prayer, & I find in it all that my poor little soul needs."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Let us faithfully transmit to posterity the example of virtue which we have received from our forefathers."
—St. Peter Damian, Doctor of the Church (988-1073, feast day: 21 February)