Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
"An Apology"

'Tis the festival of Saint Pantaleon, Martyr (circa 275-305, also spelt Panteleimon), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution; one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers in the West & one of the Holy Unmercenaries in the East: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Persecution; & Holy Helpers-link, Wikipedia-link Holy Helpers, & Wikipedia-link Unmercenaries.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Celestine I, Pope (died 432), forty-third (XLIII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontiffs-link, & Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Aurelius & Natalia: Felix & Liliosa: & George, Deacon; Martyrs (died 852), martyred in the reign of the Umayyad king Abd ar-Rahman II, five of the forty-eight Martyrs of Córdoba: Martyr-link Alpha & Martyr-link November, Martyr-link Foxtrot & Martyr-link Lima, Martyr-link Golf, & Wikipedia-link V; Wikipedia-link Córdoba.

Commentary: Tell me again how Islam is always & everywhere a religion of peace, while Christianity—especially Catholicism—is uniquely vile & violent.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Robert Sutton, Priest & Martyr (circa 1544-1588), 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 William Davies, Priest & Martyr (circa 1559-1593), 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.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-four, verses three thru eight;
Psalm Fifty, verses one(b) & two, five & six, & fourteen & fifteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses twenty-four thru thirty.

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

Friends, our Gospel today is the parable of the wheat and the weeds. God sows his good seed, his word, his love and compassion, but his project is met with opposition. And the evil is such that it insinuates itself right into the very fabric of the good.

In classical theology, we speak of evil as a privatio boni, a privation of the good, meaning that evil is always and everywhere parasitic on the good. Just as a parasite is living off of the healthy body (and thereby weakening it), so moral evil lives off of the good soul, the good society, the good Church (and thereby weakens them).

What is the result? That it is exceptionally difficult to extricate the evil from the good without damaging the good. That’s why it is extremely difficult—and often counter-productive—to go after these evils with a crusading spirit.

To be sure, there are certain evils that simply have to be addressed—right now, no questions, no hesitations. But there are other evils (and they really are evil) that are best left alone for the time being, lest more damage is done in the process of extricating them.

Video reflection by Harry Dudley, D.Min.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"If the Church is able to enter a preparation for the perennial coming of the Holy Spirit, He, the "Light of hearts," will not hesitate to come. He will give Himself for the joy, the light, the fortitude, the apostolic virtue, & the unitive charity that the Church needs today."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Private prayer is like straw scattered here & there: If you set it on fire it makes a lot of little flames. But gather these straws into a bundle & light them, & you get a mighty fire, rising like a column into the sky; public prayer is like that."
—St. Jean Vianney (1786-1859, feast day: 4 August)