Saints + Scripture: V Week of Pascha (Easter)

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter: Wikipedia-link.

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Bernardine of Siena, Priest, O.F.M. (1380-1444, the "Apostle of Italy"), who popularized devotion to the Holy Name of Jesus thru the IHS Christogram: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link The True Enlightenment!, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Holy Name & Wikipedia-link IHS.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was an Italian priest & Franciscan missionary. He was a systemizer of Scholastic economics. His popular preaching made him famous during his own lifetime because it was frequently directed against sorcery, gambling, infanticide, witchcraft, sodomy, Jews, & usury.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Lucifer of Calgiari, Bishop (died circa 370), who vigorously opposed the Arian heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Heresy.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Æthelberht (II) the King (died circa 794, modernized as Ethelbert), king of East Anglia: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ælfthryth of Crowland, Virgin (died circa 835, modernized as Alfreda, Etheldrytha, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: St. Æthelberht was betrothed to St. Ælfthryth, but died before they could marry.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed María Crescentia, Religious (1897-1932, "Sister Sweetness;" A.K.A. María Angélica Pérez): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Fifth Week of Easter
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter fourteen, verses five thru eighteen
Psalm One Hundred Fifteen, verses one & two, three & four, & fifteen & sixteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fourteen, verses twenty-one thru twenty-six.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus promises to send the Holy Spirit to inspire, strengthen, and defend his followers. Speaking to his disciples the night before he dies, Jesus tells them that he and his Father will send another Parakletos. The word, from kaleo (to call) and para (for, or on behalf of) designates something like an advocate or a lawyer, someone who would plead on behalf of another, offering support and encouragement.

Jesus will depart physically from the scene, but he and his Father will send the Spirit as a friend. This is the supporter, the Advocate who will inspire Christians up and down the ages.

When the martyrs went to their deaths, it was with the help of the Holy Spirit; when the missionaries went to proclaim the faith in hostile lands, it was the Holy Spirit who pleaded on their behalf; when Michelangelo painted the Sistine Chapel ceiling, it was the Holy Spirit who lifted him up; and when Thomas Aquinas wrote his theological masterpieces, it was at the prompting of the Advocate.

What is the Advocate prompting you to do today?

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

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Bernardine of Siena
The Acts of the Apostles, chapter four, verses eight thru twelve;
Psalm Forty, verses two, four, seven & eight, eight & nine, ten, & eleven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses fifty-seven thru sixty-two.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Reflection Peak, Day 18
The Book of Genesis, chapter three, verses six & seven.

Commentary: The Fall of Man (cont'd; Genesis, 3:6-7).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"In the Divine Master's school we shall all remember to love poverty & the poor. We shall love the poor in order to devote special interest to them, whether they be persons, classes, or nations in need of love & aid."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 26 September)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"I am not dying, I am entering into Life…"
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"All badness is spoiled goodness. A bad apple is a good apple that became rotten. Because evil has no capital of its own, it is a parasite that feeds on goodness."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)