Saints + Scripture: Holy Week (Quadragesima)

The Popish Plot
vLent 2019: "Top 10 Catholic Podcasts, Part 3"

'Tis the Tuesday of Holy Week: Holy Week-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of Holy Week
The Book of Isaiah, chapter forty-nine, verses one thru six;
Psalm Seventy-one, verses one & two, three & four(a), five(a/b) & six(a/b), & fifteen & seventeen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter thirteen, verses twenty-one thru thirty-three, thirty-six, thirty-seven, & thirty-eight.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus foretells the denial of Peter, which is fulfilled in the account of the Passion. Peter later denies Jesus three times before the cock crows and, remembering Jesus’ prediction, breaks down and weeps.

After the Resurrection, Peter and the other disciples returned to Galilee to work as fishermen again, and there spotted Jesus on the far shore. As Jesus draws Peter back into his circle of intimacy, we witness a beautiful act of spiritual direction. Three times the Lord asks Peter whether he loves him, and three times Peter affirms it: "Lord, you know that I love you."

St. Augustine was the first to comment that the threefold statement of love was meant to counteract the threefold denial. Peter emerges as the archetype of the forgiven and commissioned Church, for after each of his reaffirmations, Peter hears the command to tend the sheep. Once we are brought back into friendship with Jesus, we are called to love those whom he loves.

Reflect: What does the story of Peter’s denial and Jesus’ response teach us about forgiveness? What does is teach us about grace?

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

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 86
The Book of Leviticus, chapter one, verse one;
The Book of Leviticus, chapter four, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-one.

Commentary: Burnt Offerings (Leviticus, 1:1) & Sin Offerings (Leviticus, 4:27-31).

†

Otherwise, 16 April would be the commemoration of Saint Turibius of Astorga, Bishop (circa 402-460), Bishop of Astorga, who opposed the Priscillian heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Astorga & Wikipedia-link Heresy.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the commemoration of Saint Magnus of Orkney, Martyr (circa 1075-1115, A.K.A. Magnus Erlendsson), Earl of Orkney, martyred by the order of his cousin, the rival Norwegian earl Haakon Paulsson: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the commemoration of Saint Drogo, Hermit (1105-1186, of Sebourg; A.K.A. Dreux, Druon): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the commemoration of Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, T.O.S.F. (1748-1783, "the Beggar of Perpetual Adoration"): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the commemoration of Saint Bernadette of Lourdes, Virgin (1844-1879, A.K.A. Bernadette Soubirous), to whom was revealed the apparitions of Our Lady of Lourdes (1858): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Madonna.

'Twould also be the commemoration of Blessed Gaspër Suma, Priest & Martyr (1897-1950, A.K.A. Mikel Suma), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Enver Hoxha: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Wikipedia-link Albania.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The Church reaffirms the religious & supernatural values of penitence. She invites everyone to accompany the inner conversion of the spirit with the voluntary exercise of external acts of penitence."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Yes, all is well when we seek only the will of Jesus."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Death, which deprives humanity of all their rights, is unable to do anything against the rights of God."
—St. Ignatius of Loyola (1491-1556, feast day: 31 July)