Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never, Simplex Complex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the festival of Saint Junípero Serra, Priest, O.F.M. (1713-1784, the "Apostle of California;" A.K.A. Miguel José Serra): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Saint Junípero Serra y Ferrer, O.F.M., was a Roman Catholic Spanish priest & friar of the Franciscan Order who founded a mission in Baja California & the first nine of twenty-one Spanish missions in California from San Diego to San Francisco.

Wikipedia-link Missions

'Tis also the festival of Blessed George Beesley, Priest & Martyr (circa 1562-1591, also spelt Bisley), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Thomas Maxfield, Priest & Martyr (circa 1590-1616, also spelt Macclesfield), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king James VI & I, one of the one hundred fifty-eight Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Oliver Plunkett, Bishop & Martyr (circa 1625-1681, also spelt Oilibhéar Pluincéid), Archbishop of Armagh; martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles II, the last victim of the perjurer Titus Oates's "Popish Plot" hoax; one of the Irish Martyrs: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Armagh & Wikipedia-link Armagh; Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Plot; & Martyrs-link Éire & Wikipedia-link Éire.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter eighteen, verses sixteen thru thirty-three;
Psalm One Hundred Three, verses one(b) & two, three & four, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eight, verses eighteen thru twenty-two.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel a man who appears willing to become Jesus’ disciple makes a reasonable request: "Lord, let me go first and bury my father." But the man receives a shocking rebuke from Jesus: "Follow me, and let the dead bury their dead."

What is more important than the mission? Nothing. Not even one of the most sacred and revered practices of our society: piety toward our dead relatives. Could you imagine a scenario in which you wouldn’t give permission to someone to attend his father’s or mother’s funeral?

I don’t want to soften Jesus’ words or explain them away or contextualize them. They are what they are, and they’re harsh, for the man in his own time and for us. But they compel us to make a decision: Are we finally about the things of God or about something else? Is religion and the mission attached to it substantial for us, or merely decorative?

Now, mind you, we don’t usually have to make such a terrible choice. Normally, our love for God and our love for family don’t come into conflict. But this is a sort of spiritual exercise, an experiment. What if it came down to God or my family? Whom would I choose?

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

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Junípero Serra
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Ten, verse four(b);
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verses fifteen thru twenty.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Covenant Crag, Day 15
The Book of Genesis, chapter eleven, verses twenty-seven thru thirty;
The Book of Genesis, chapter twelve, verses one thru seven.

Commentary: Descendants of Terah (Genesis, 11:27-30) & the Call of Abram (Genesis, 12:1-7).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Do not remain passive when the dignity & honor of the human person are threatened. This threat is due to violence, economic exploitation, & the decay of morals, of which our permissive society too often gives a sorry display."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)

Little Flower Quote o' the Day

"Everything that I do, my actions, my looks, everything is done through love."
—St. Thérèse of Lisieux, Doctor of the Church (1873-1897, feast day: 1 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Always go forward & never turn back."
—St. Junípero Serra (1713-1784, feast day: 1 July)