Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Memorial of Saints Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Priest, & Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, & Companions, Martyrs (died 1839-1867), martyred in the reign of the Joseon kings Jeongjo, Sunjo, Heonjong, Cheoljong, & Gojong: Martyr-link Alpha Kilo Tango & Wikipedia-link Alpha Kilo Tango; Martyr-link Papa Charlie Hotel & Wikipedia-link Papa Charlie Hotel; & Martyrs-link Korea ūnus, Martyrs-link Korea duo, & Wikipedia-link Korea.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Andrew was assigned to arranger for more missionaries to enter by the Yelow Sea that would elude the border patrol. He was arrested, tortured, & finally beheaded. Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, a lay apostle & married man, also died in 1839 at age forty-five.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Fausta & Evilasius of Cyzicus, Martyrs (died 311), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Maxentius & Galerius, victims of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link Foxtrot & Wikipedia-link Foxtrot, Martyr-link Echo & Wikipedia-link Echo; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Great Persecution.

Commentary: After three years, CatholicSaints.info still has the names Fausta & Evilasius backwards. I've matched each entry up with the right life, the name "Evilasius" with the life of Fausta & the name "Fausta" with the life of Evilasius.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Agapetus I, Pope (died 536, also spelt Agapitus), fifty-seventh (LVII) Bishop of Rome: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontiffs-link & Wikipedia-link Pontiff.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Thomas Johnson, Priest & Martyr, O.Cart. (died 1537) martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VIII, one of the Carthusian Martyrs of London: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Charterhouse & Wikipedia-link Charterhouse.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Jean-Charles Cornay, Priest & Martyr, M.E.P (1809-1837), martyred in the reign of the Nguyễn dynasty emperor Minh Mạng, one of the Martyrs of Vietnam: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Vietnam & Wikipedia-link Vietnam.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Twenty-fourth Week in Tempus per annum
The First Letter to Timothy, chapter six, verses two(c) thru twelve;
Psalm Forty-nine, verses six & seven; eight, nine, & ten; seventeen & eighteen; & nineteen & twenty;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eight, verses one, two, & three.

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

Friends, our Gospel today celebrates the female disciples of Jesus. One of the principal marks of Jesus’ teaching is the overturning of social conventions. In service of what he calls the kingdom of God, God’s way of ordering the world, he says and does all sorts of outrageous things.

And one of the most striking and surprising of Jesus’ moves is a radical inclusion of women. He allows women into his inner circle (practically unheard of for a rabbi). He speaks publicly to the woman at the well. He engages with the Syro-Phoenician woman. He forgives the woman caught in adultery. And the first witnesses of the Resurrection are women.

Luke, who told this story, was a companion of Paul, and his Gospel reflects many of Paul’s themes. Paul famously says, "In Christ, there is no slave or free, no Jew or Greek, no male or female." This was very radical stuff in those times, for these were some of the most basic social divisions of the ancient world. Free men were a lot better off than slaves, Jews had huge advantages over Greeks, and males were seen as superior to females. But not anymore—not in light of the kingdom of God that Jesus announces.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Ss. Andrew Kim Tae-gŏn, Paul Chŏng Ha-sang, & Companions
The Book of Wisdom, chapter three, verses one thru nine;
or, the Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses thirty-one(b) thru thirty-nine;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six, verses one(b/c) & two(a/b), two(c/d) & three, four & five, & six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nine, verses twenty-three thru twenty-six.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"We must have our own deep, continual inward life of prayer, of faith, of charity. Without that we cannot participate usefully & wisely in the rebirth & reflowering of the liturgy. We cannot think, breathe, act, suffer, & fully hope with the living pilgrim Church. We must pray."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"If we pray, we will believe. If we believe, we will love. If we love, we will serve."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta (1910-1997, feast day: 5 September)