'Tis the festival of Saints Victoria & Anatolia, Virgins; & Audax; Martyrs (died circa 250), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, victims of the Decian Persecution: Martyr-link Victor, Martyr-link Alpha-November, Martyr-link Alpha-Uniform, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Persecution.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Ss. Victoria & Anatolia were sisters; St. Audax was one of their persecutors who, as happens, was converted by their piety & courage in the face of injustice & death.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Amalburga of Maubeuge, Religious, O.S.B. (died circa 690): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Kinswoman of St. Pepin of Landen [21 February]; mother of Ss. Gudula of Brussels [8 January], Emebert of Cambrai [15 January], Reineldis of Saintes [16 July], & Pharaildis [4 January].
'Tis also the festival of Saints Lantfrid, Waltram, & Elilantus, Abbots, O.S.B. (eight century), founders & first, second, & third abbots of the Benediktbeuern Abbey: Saint-link Lima, Saint-link Whiskey, Saint-link Echo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Benediktbeuern.
Commentary: Brothers.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Canute, Martyr (circa 1042-1086, King Canute IV of Denmark; A.K.A. the Holy, also spelt Knud), martyred by rebellious Vikings: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Uncle of the martyr St. Canute Lavard [7 January].
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter forty-one, verses fifty-five, fifty-six, & fifty-seven & chapter forty-two, verses five, six, seven(a), & seventeen thru twenty-four(a);
Psalm Thirty-three, verses two & three, ten & eleven, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses one thru seven.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus commissions the twelve Apostles. Perhaps we can see here a fulfillment of his prophetic invitation to the first disciples: “Come after me and I will make you fishers of men.”Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.
“Come after me.” This is a Hebraicism that indicates discipleship. Jesus is not offering a doctrine, a theology, or a set of beliefs. He is offering himself. He’s saying, “Walk in my path; enter into the world that I have opened up.”
“And I will make you fishers of men.” This is one of the best lines in Scripture. Notice the first part of the phrase: “I will make you . . .” God is the one who makes us from nothing. To live in sin is to live outside of the creative power of God, to pretend that we can make ourselves. How wonderful that he tells us that he will make us!
And what he makes us is always a reflection of himself: a fisher of men. God wants to draw all things and all people into a community around him, in him. He is a fisher of people—and so wants us to
Scripture Study—Day 91: Covenant Crag, Day 24
The Book of Genesis, chapter seventeen, verses one, three thru eight, ten, eleven, fourteen, fifteen, & sixteen.
Commentary: The Sign of the Covenant (Genesis, 17: 1, 3-8, 10-11, 14-16).
Bonus! Song o' Covenant Crag
Jim Gaffigan, "Circumcision" from King Baby (The Last Angry Man)
Commentary:
"My wife told me that in the Bible, Abraham circumcised himself. Wow! I can't even get to the bank before it closes.… I tell you, those challenges in the Bible took a leap in difficulty there. You know, 'Don't eat this apple. Build Me a boat. Cut off part of your penis!'Papal Quote o' the Day
'What if I build you two boats?'…"
"There can be no outward peace unless it reflects & is ruled by that interior peace without which the affairs of human beings shake, totter, & fall. Only God's holy religion can foster, strengthen, & maintain such peace."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)
"A priest who was in the German prison camp Dachau describes the Mass after all the German guards were in bed. He said, 'Our lives were in danger if we were ever discovered. A young priest had to memorize the names of all of those who had received communion, but it was forbidden for us to gather in groups for prayer. After night call & bed check, we would set our guards, darken the windows, & the lucky one to be chosen to celebrate for this momentous occasion would carefully brush his pathetic prison garb, put the stole over his shoulders, & by the small light of his smuggled candle begin the commemoration of that other great Passion of which our own was the physical continuation. We could understand the Mass. All that could crowd into the room were there, tears of joy running down our cheeks. Christ the Lord, Who knew what suffering was, was coming to suffer with us, to bring us strength & consolation. The small hosts were broken into as many particles as possible so the greatest number could communicate. We had to keep a secret roster of those who received. We missed some of the liturgy perhaps, but I think that God looked down into that prison room & found a particularly refreshing response to His cry of love from the cross, "I thirst." There was nothing that could keep us from doing all in our power to be closer to God.'"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
No comments:
Post a Comment