Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"Bible Bites for 13 August 2019"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saints Pontian, Pope, & Hippolytus, Priest, Martyrs (died 235), respectively eighteenth (XVIII) Bishop of Rome & first (I) Antipope, martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Maximinus Thrax, in his persecution: Martyrs-link; Martyr-link Papa ūnus, Martyr-link Papa duo, & Wikipedia-link Papa; Martyr-link Hotel & Wikipedia-link Hotel; Pontiffs-link & Wikipedia-link Pontiff; Antipope-link & Wikipedia-link Antipope; & Persecutions-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Both died some time int he fourth century after mistreatment in exile & were brought back to Rome for burial on this day. Honored as seeks of the truth, Pontian resigned so that a successor could be elected in Rome.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Maximus the Confessor, Abbot (circa 580-662, of Constantinople; A.K.A. the Theologian), persecuted & physically mutilated in the reign of the Byzantine emperor Constans II for opposing the Monothelite heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Heresy-link Monothelitism & Wikipedia-link Monothelitism.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed William Freeman, Priest & Martyr (circa 1558-1595), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Jan Berchmans, Religious, S.J. (1599-1621, Anglicized as John): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Jakob Gapp, Priest & Martyr, S.M. (1897-1943), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-one, verses one thru eight;
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-two, verses three & four(a/b), seven, eight, & nine & twelve;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses one thru five, ten, twelve, thirteen, & fourteen.

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

Friends, one feature of today’s Gospel passage is the craziness of the shepherd: “If a man has a hundred sheep and one of them goes astray, will he not leave the ninety-nine in the hills and go in search of the stray?” Well, the implied answer is “No.” Who would take that great a risk, putting the ninety-nine in danger to find the one? It’s just bad economics. Why would God fret over one little soul? Why would he bother?

Well, it’s his nature. It’s what he does. As Catherine of Siena put it, he is pazzo d’amore (crazy in love). God is as crazy for you as if you were the only one in the world.

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

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Ss. Pontian & Hippolytus
The First Letter of Peter, chapter four, verses twelve thru nineteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-four, verses two & three, four & five, & seven & eight;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses eighteen thru twenty-one.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Progeny Point, Day 16
The Book of Genesis, chapter thirty-four, verses one, two, twenty-five, twenty-six, & twenty-seven.

Commentary: Shechem Defiles Dinah (Genesis, 34:1-2) & Dinah Is Avenged by Her Brothers (Genesis, 34:25-27).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Whenever you help a sick person, you are sign of Christ's compassion for all who suffer."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Don't ever forget to love."
—St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941, feast day: 14 August)