Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
"33 Days to Morning Glory, Week 4: St. John Paul II"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 480-547, of Nursia), founder of the Abbey of Saint Scholastica (A.K.A. Subiaco Abbey) & the Abbey of Monte Cassino, & author of the Rule of Saint Benedict: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Subiaco, Abbey-link Monte Cassino & Wikipedia-link Monte Cassino: & Rule-link, Wikipedia-link Rule, & Wikipedia-link Ora et labora.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Brother of St. Scholastica [10 January].

Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was founder of the Western monasticism; the rule that he established became the norm for monastic living throughout Europe. In 1964, in view of the work of monks followinf the Benedictine Rule in the evangelization & civilization of so many European countries in the Middle Ages, Pope [St.] Paul VI [29 May] proclaimed him the patron saint of all Europe.

Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

O Lord, St. Benedict taught that "to work is to pray." Help me to discern Your Presence in my workplace & bear witness to Your love to my coworkers.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Pius I, Pope (circa 81-155), tenth (X) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontiffs-link & Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Olga of Kiev (879-969; also spelt Helga, A.K.A. Helena), Queen consort & Regent of Kievan Rus': Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Grandmother of St. Vladimir [15 July] & great-grandmother of Ss. Boris & Gleb [24 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Thurketyl, Abbot, O.S.B. (887-975), first abbot of the restored Crowland Abbey & abbot of Bedford Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link Crowland, Wikipedia-link Crowland, Wikipedia-link Abbots, & Wikipedia-link Bedford.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Thomas Hunt & Thomas Sprott, Priests & Martyrs (died 1600), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Tango Hotel, Martyr-link Tango Sierra, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter forty-four, verses eighteen thru twenty-one & twenty-three(b) thru twenty-nine & chapter forty-five, verses one thru five;
Psalm One Hundred Five, verses sixteen & seventeen, eighteen & nineteen, & twenty & twenty-one;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses seven thru fifteen.

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

Friends, in our Gospel today, Jesus sends the Apostles on a mission of evangelization, a mission that we continue today.

We Catholics cannot avoid the demand of evangelization, of proclaiming the faith. Vatican II couldn’t be clearer on this score, seeing the Church itself as nothing but a vehicle for evangelization. According to Vatican II, it’s not so much the case that the Church has a mission, but rather that a mission has the Church. Bringing people to Christ is not one work among many; rather, it is the central work of the Church, that around which everything else we do revolves.

Do we need evangelization? The statistics couldn’t be clearer. Did you know that the fastest-growing “religious” group in the United States is the “nones”—that is, those who claim no religious affiliation? In the latest Pew Research Center survey, fully 25 percent of the country—80 million people—say that they have no formal religion. When we focus on young people, the picture is even more bleak. Almost 40 percent of those under thirty are nones, and among Catholics in that age group, the number rises to 50 percent. Of all the Catholic children baptized or confirmed these last thirty years, half no longer participate in the life of the Church.

We need evangelization more than ever before. Will you answer the call?

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Benedict
The Book of Proverbs, chapter two, verses one thru nine;
Psalm Thirty-four, verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-seven, twenty-eight, & twenty-nine.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Covenant Crag, Day 25
The Book of Genesis, chapter eighteen, verses one thru ten.

Commentary: A Son Promised to Abraham & Sarah (Genesis, 18:1-10).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Work is a fundamental part of our earthly life. It often involves heavy fatigue & even suffering, but it can also forge strong character & vigorous personality. It can be the means by which we build up the world according to the values in which we believe."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Prayer ought to be short & pure, unless it be prolonged by the inspiration of Divine grace."
—St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547, feast day: 11 July)