Saints + Scripture: Quadragesima

The Popish Plot
vLent 2019: "Mike's Story: Practicing Catholic"

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Third Week of Lent
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter four, verses one & five thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-seven, verses twelve & thirteen, fifteen & sixteen, & nineteen & twenty;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses seventeen, eighteen, & nineteen.

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

Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus declares that he would not undermine the law and the prophets but fulfill them. Jesus himself was an observant Jew, and the themes and images of the Holy Scriptures were elemental for him.

But what is he going to fulfill? Protestant theologian N.T. Wright has pointed out that the Old Testament is essentially an unfinished symphony, a drama without a climax. It is the articulation of a hope, a dream, a longing—but without a realization of that hope, without a satisfaction of that longing.

Israel knew itself to be the people with the definite mission to become holy and thereby to render the world holy. But instead, Israel fell into greater and greater sins, and instead of being the catalyst for the conversion of the world, the world was continually overwhelming and enslaving Israel.

And then came Jesus, who turned out to be, in the most unexpected way, the fulfillment of the dream. From the beginning of his ministry, Jesus effected the gathering of the tribes of Israel through conversion and the forgiveness of sins.

Reflect: Have you ever asked Jesus to fulfill one of your dreams? Why or why not?

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

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 66
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-eight, verses one thru four, thirty-six, thirty-seven, & thirty-eight.

Commentary: Holy Garments for the Priests (Exodus, 28:1-4) & Other Priestly Garments (Exodus, 28:36-38).

'Tis the commemoration of Saint Ruprecht of Salzburg, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 660-718; Anglicized as Rupert; A.K.A. Robert, Hrodbert, etc.; A.K.A. of Worms), founding abbot of Saint Peter's Abbey, founder of Nonnberg Abbey & Salzburg Cathedral, Bishop of Salzburg, & Bishop of Worms: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link St. Peter's, Wikipedia-link Nonnberg, Wikipedia-link Cathedral, Diocese-link Salzburg & Wikipedia-link Salzburg, & Wikipedia-link Worms.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Uncle of the virgin St. Erentude [30 June].

'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Haymo of Halberstadt, Bishop, O.S.B. (died 853, also spelt Haimo, Aimone): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Halberstadt.

'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Frowin of Engelberg, Abbot, O.S.B. (died 1178, also spelt Frodowin), abbot of Engelberg Abbey: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Engelberg.

'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Francesco Faà di Bruno, Priest (1825-1888), founder of the Minim Sisters of Saint Zita: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link (in lingua italiano).

Commentary: As a mathematician, Bl. Francesco is best known for Faà di Bruno's Formula, the meaning & purpose of which I won't even pretend to understand: Wikipedia-link Formula

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Lent comes providentially to reawaken us, to shake us from our lethargy."
—Pope Francis (born 1936, reigning since 2013)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"My life is but an instant, an hour that passes by."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Have patience with all things, but first of all with yourself."
—St. Francis de Sales (1567-1622, feast day: 24 January)