Saints + Scripture: Quadragesima

The Popish Plot
vLent 2019: "Final Four 2019: Death"

'Tis the commemoration of Saint Lazarus of Milan, Bishop (died circa 449), Archbishop of Milan: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Bishops (List), Diocese-link, & Wikipedia-link Diocese.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Leobinus of Chartres, Bishop & Abbot (died circa 558, also spelt Lubin, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Bishops (List), Diocese-link, & Wikipedia-link Diocese.

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Boniface Curetán, Bishop (died circa 660, also spelt Curitan): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Matilda of Ringelheim (circa 894-968; A.K.A. of Saxony; also spelt Mathilde, Maud), Queen of the East Franks, foundress of Quedlinburg Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey.

Commentary: Mother of St. Bruno the Great [11 October] & mother-in-law of St. Adelaide of Italy [16 December].

'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Giacomo Cusmano, Priest (1834-1888), founder of the "Morsel for the Poor," formally the Congregation of Missionary Servants of the Poor, & the Sisters Servants of the Poor: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the First Week of Lent
The Book of Esther, chapter C, verses twelve, fourteen, fifteen, sixteen, twenty-three, twenty-four, & twenty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-eight, verses one & two(a/b), two(c/d/e) & three, & seven(c) & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter seven, verses seven thru twelve.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel assures us of the power of prayer. When some people ask in a spirit of trust, really believing that what they are asking for will happen, it happens. Just as Jesus suggests in the Gospel, “Everyone who asks, receives; and the one who seeks, finds; and to the one who knocks, the door will be opened.”

The power of prayer is the confidence that we are being guided and cared for, even when that guidance and care are not immediately apparent. It is what allows someone to live in detachment from all of the ups and downs of life. In the language of Ignatius: “Lord, I don’t care whether I have a long life or a short life, whether I am rich or poor, whether I am healthy or sick.”

Someone that lives in that kind of detachment is free, and because they are free, they are powerful. They are beyond the threats that arise in the context of this world. This is the source of dynamis, real power. This is the power that Martin Luther King, Dorothy Day, and John Paul II wielded: world-changing power.

Reflect: Can you honestly say with St. Ignatius: “Lord, I don’t care whether I have a long life or a short life, whether I am rich or poor, whether I am healthy or sick”? Why or why not?

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

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 53
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-three, verses ten thru nineteen.

Commentary: The Sabbatical Year & the Sabbath (Exodus, 23:10-13) & Annual Feasts (Exodus, 23:14-19).

Proverb o' the Day (Proverbs, 5:3-6)

For the lips of a loose woman drip honey,
and her speech is smoother than oil;
but in the end she is bitter as wormwood,
sharp as a two-edged sword.
Her feet go down to death;
her steps follow the path to Sheol;
she does not take heed to the path of life;
her ways wander, and she does not know it.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"In the face of the phenomenon of the diminished number of those consecrated to the priesthood & the religious life, we cannot remain passive, not doing much as we possibly can. Above all, we can pray very much."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I am quite resigned to live or to die, I am even willing to recover & go to Cochin-China if it is God's will."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"If we fear not death, we shall entirely escape from death."
—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (349-407, feast day:13 September)