Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"Door to Door"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary: Madonna-link ūna, Madonna-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

The feast is a counterpart to the Feast of the Holy Name of Jesus (January 3). Its object is to commemorate all the privileges bestowed upon Mary by God & all the graces received through her intercession & mediation.

The Holy Name of the Blessed Virgin Mary, a day on which the inexpressible love of the Mother of God for her Holy Child is recalled, & the eyes of the faithful are directed to the figure of the Mother of the Redeemer, for them to invoke with devotion.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Juventius of Pavia, Bishop (first century), inaugural (I) Bishop of Pavia: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Pavia & Wikipedia-link Pavia.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ailbe of Emly, Bishop (died circa 541, A.K.A. Elvis, Eilfyw): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Eanswith, Religious (circa 614-640), foundress of the original Folkestone Priory: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Priory.

Commentary: Grand-daughter of Ss. Æthelberht [24 February] & Bertha of Kent [1 May].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Guy of Anderlecht (circa 950-1012, the "Poor Man of Anderlecht;" also spelt Guido, Guidon; A.K.A. Wye of Láken): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Twenty-third Week in Tempus per annum
The Letter to the Colossians, chapter three, verses twelve thru seventeen;
Psalm One Hundred Fifty, verses one(b) & two, three & four, & five & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses twenty-seven thru thirty-eight.

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

Friends, our Gospel today is taken from Jesus’ Sermon on the Plain in Luke. It is one of the more puzzling texts in the New Testament. It speaks of loving our enemies—not tolerating them, or vaguely accepting them, but loving them. When you hate your enemy, you confirm him as your enemy. But when you love him in response to his hatred, you confuse and confound him, taking away the very energy that feeds his hatred.

There is a form of oriental martial arts called aikido. The idea of aikido is to absorb the aggressive energy of your opponent, moving with it, continually frustrating him until he comes to the point of realizing that fighting is useless.

Some have pointed out that there is a great deal of this in Jesus’ strategy of nonviolence and love of the enemy. You creatively absorb the aggression of your opponent, really using it against him, to show him the futility of violence. So when someone insults you, send back a compliment instead of an insult.

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

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of the Most Holy Name of Mary
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter four, verses four thru seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses forty-six & forty-seven, forty-eight & forty-nine, fifty & fifty-one, fifty-two & fifty-three, & fifty-four & fifty-five;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter one, verses thirty-nine thru forty-seven.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"I look to all of you, brothers & sisters of every state of life—to you, Christian families; to you, the sick & elderly; & to you, young people: Confidently take up the Rosary once again. Rediscover the Rosary in light of Scripture, in harmony with the Liturgy, & in the context of your daily lives. May this appeal of mine not go unheard!"
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Let no one ever come to you without coming away better & happier. Be the living expression of God's kindness."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997, feast day: 5 September)