Saints + Scripture: Octave of Easter (Pascha)

'Tis the Monday within the Octave of Easter: Easter-link, Octave-link, & Wikipedia-link Octave.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday within the Octave of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter two, verses fourteen & twenty-two thru thirty-three;
Psalm Sixteen, verses one, two(a), & five; seven & eight; nine & ten; & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-eight, verses eight thru fifteen.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Mary Magdalene and the other Mary encounter the risen Jesus. I know that I have harped often on this theme, but I do so only because the Bible harps on it—and also because the culture tends so thoroughly to miss the point. I’m talking about the meaning of Easter. Many people agree with David Cameron, the former Prime Minister of Great Britain, who once said that the message of Easter is "kindness, compassion, hard work, and responsibility."

Now, don’t get me wrong: I’m for all of those things. But so is, I would guess, any decent person from any religious or nonreligious background. Buddhists, Muslims, Hindus, Jews, and fair-minded atheists and agnostics would all sign on for those values.

None of it is getting anywhere near the heart of what Easter really means. What Easter means is that Jesus of Nazareth, who claimed throughout his public life to be speaking and acting in the very person of God, and who was brutally put to death by Roman executioners, rose bodily from the dead. That’s what it’s all about.

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

†

Otherwise, 22 April would be the festival of Saint Soter, Pope (circa 119-174, the "Pope of Charity"), twelfth (XII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontiffs-link & Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Caius, Pope (circa 245-296, also spelt Gaius), twenty-eighth (XXVIII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontiffs-link & Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Theodore of Sykeon, Bishop (died 613, A.K.A. the Sykeote): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Arwald, Martyr (died 686), martyred in the reign of the West Saxon king Cædwalla: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Cædwalla later repented & converted to Christianity shortly before his death, & is remembered as St. Peter of Wessex [20 April].

'Twould also be the festival of Blessed Maria Gabriella, Religious, O.C.S.O. (1914-1939, A.K.A. Maria Sagheddu): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Christians of these last years of the Second Millennium, you have an honorable yet burdensome task. You must be bearers of the Word to those who have lost its full meaning & importance."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Still God cannot be giving me trials beyond my strength. He gave me the courage to sustain this one."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Have you ever noticed in the Apostles' Creed how quickly we pass over the earthly life of our Lord? Born, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, rose from the dead. We say nothing about the beatitudes, nothing about miracles. Just He was born, suffered, died, & rose again. Just those three. That's all there is in life. We're born; the earthly life is passed over, because all that matters concerning an earthly life is whether we are doing the will of God. And then, resurrection. First, we are born to Christ in baptism. Remember that our Lord was born into a sinful, sorrowful humanity. If we follow Him as a rule of life, we are born into that kind of a world: the poor, the afflicted, the sick, the ignorant. That is why Jesus' birth was in a stable. He identified with the poor. Here is the second great commandment: love your neighbor. The fundamental reason for loving our neighbor is because we're born into the same humanity that our Lord was born into, & we must help redeem it. Second, He suffered & was crucified. We suffer. Our Lord said, 'In this world you will have tribulation.' We are given crosses. We bear the cross for Him & with Him, recalling always what He did for us. And finally, He rose from the dead. Scripture says of our Blessed Lord, 'having joy set before Him, He endured the cross.' That means that in any kind of trial which we have, there should be a hidden gladness. Why? Because we're assured of the resurrection. Even though God does send us some kind of trial, if we've borne His cross, we can be absolutely sure of the crown."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)