Saints + Scripture

Simplex Edition

'Tis the festival of Saint Chad of Mercia, Bishop & Abbot (circa 620-672, the "Apostle of Mercia;" also spelt Ceadda, A.K.A. of Lichfield): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Brother of Ss. Cedd [26 October] & Cynibild [also 2 March].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Cynibild of Laestinggaeu, Priest (circa 622-664; also spelt Cynibil, A.K.A. of Lastingham): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Brother of Ss. Chad [also 2 March] & Cedd [26 October]

'Tis also the festival of Saint John Maron, Bishop (628-707, A.K.A. the Sarumite), first (I) Maronite Patriarch of Antioch & all the East: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Patriarch.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Charles the Good, Martyr (circa 1083-1127, Count Charles I of Flanders), martyred by the price-gouging Erembald family: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Son of the martyr St. Canute [10 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Agnes of Bohemia, Abbess, O.S.C. (circa 1205-1282, A.K.A. of Prague), foundress of the Convent of Saint Agnes in Prague: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Convent.

Commentary: First cousin of St. Elizabeth of Hungary [17 November] & thus first cousin once removed of Bl. Gertrude of Aldenberg [13 August].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Angela of the Cross, Virgin, H.C.C. (1846-1932; A.K.A. Angela Guerrero y González, María de los Angeles), foundress of the Sisters of the Company of the Cross (H.C.C.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link H.C.C. (en español)

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Sirach, chapter seventeen, verses one thru fifteen;
Psalm One Hundred Three, verses thirteen & fourteen, fifteen & sixteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter ten, verses thirteen thru sixteen.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus declares that the kingdom of God belongs to children. “Let the children come to me; do not prevent them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.”

How so? Well, children are like stars or flowers or animals, things that are what they are, unambiguously, uncomplicatedly. They are in accord with God’s deepest intentions for them. The challenge of the spiritual life is to realize what God wants us to be—to find out what is in line with the deepest grain of our being—and thereby come to the same simplicity and directness in our existence.

Let me put this another way: children haven’t yet learned how to look at themselves. Why can a child immerse himself so eagerly and thoroughly in what he is doing? Because he can lose himself; because he is not looking at himself, conscious of the reactions, expectations, and approval of those around him. The best moments in life are when we lose ourselves in the world and just are as God wants us to be.

Video reflection by Mar Muzoz-Visoso: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 41
The Book of Exodus, chapter sixteen, verses twenty-two thru thirty-six.

Commentary: Manna from Heaven (cont'd; Exodus, 16:22-36).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Being a Chritian is not a secondary, questionable, changeable thing; it is not a subjective ideology. It is truth that happily transfigures & vivifies. The truth will make you free."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Many people say, "I don't have the courage to make this sacrifice." Let them do what I did: exert a great effort. God never refuses that first grace which gives one the courage to act; afterwards the heart is strengthened."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Our modern world is very fond of passing the buck. That is to say, of denying responsibility. It began in the garden. Adam blamed Eve. When Adam was asked why he sinned, he said, 'It was on account of the woman You gave me.' You see, he did not say his wife. He blamed God: 'On account of the woman You gave me.' Eve blamed the serpent, & the buck was passed on. Aaron blamed the furnace for turning out the calf. Children blame their parents; people blame their pastors; pastors blame their curates; the curates blame their pastors. All blame their bishops, & bishops blame congregations. Psychiatrists & psychoanalysts blame the grandfathers & grandmothers. They blame the want of sufficient playgrounds. They blame bad instincts. No one is responsible, & so the buck is passed on. President Truman used to have a sign on his desk reading: 'The buck stops here.' But it did not. Where does the passing of the buck & the denial of responsibility cease? At the cross. There it ends. At last there's someone to blame."
—Venerable Fulton J. Sheen (1895-1979)