Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
"Catholic Traditions Collaboration Announcement"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Ignatius of Antioch, Bishop & Martyr (circa 35-107, A.K.A. Ignatius Theophorus, Ignatius Nurono), third (III) Patriarch of Antioch, martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan, in his persecution: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Antioch; & Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was an early Christian writer & bishop of Antioch. While in route to Rome, where he met his martyrdom, Ignatius wrote a series of letters. This correspondence now forms a central part of the later collection known as the Apostolic Fathers.

Wikipedia-link Epistles, Apostolic Fathers-link, & Wikipedia-link Apostolic Fathers.

'Tis also the festival of Saint John the Dwarf, Priest & Abbot (circa 339-405, A.K.A. John Kolobus), one of the Desert Fathers: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Desert Fathers.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Nothhelm of Canterbury, Bishop (died 739), tenth (X) Archbishop of Canterbury: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Canterbury & Wikipedia-link Canterbury.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Baldassare Ravaschieri, Priest, O.F.M. (1420-1492, of Chiavari): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Richard Gwyn, Martyr (circa 1537-1584, Anglicized as Richard White), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Twenty-eighth Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Romans, chapter three, verses twenty-one thru thirty;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty (R/. seven), verses one(b) & two, three & four, & five & six(a/b);
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses forty-seven thru fifty-four.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus launches a blistering attack on the scholars of the Law.

The Son teaches, heals, preaches to, and forgives those who feel far from the mercy of God. He is the hand that the Father stretches out to sinners and to those who are lost. And by the same token, he is the judge of a sinful world. When the light of God’s forgiving love appears, the shadows of sin become all the deeper and more obvious. In light of him, there is nowhere to hide. And Jesus, the Word of the Father, gives voice to this judgment: "Woe to you, scholars of the law! You have taken away the key of knowledge. You yourselves did not enter and you stopped those trying to enter."

The Son names all those powers that are opposed to the creative and loving intentions of his Father. He speaks a word of judgment on a world grown cozy with sin. He "channels" all of the feelings of the Father toward the world: intense, forgiving love to those who are lost, and equally intense hatred for the structures of darkness.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter three, verse seventeen(c) thru chapter four, verse one;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. five), verses two & three,four & five, six & seven, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twelve, verses twenty-four, twenty-five, & twenty-six.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Decision Dome, Day 25
The Book of Joshua, chapter thirteen, verses one thru seven.

Commentary: Still Unconquered Parts of Canaan (Joshua, 13:1-7).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Well, Lord. It's Your Church. I'm tired & going to bed."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The best way to understand that the Church is not just an institution is to understand it as the Body of Christ. That’s the way St. Paul understood the Church, & that’s the way we have it in sacred scripture. Our Blessed Lord says all through the gospels that He is going to establish a new body, a new qahal, a new people of God. After all, when people are united for a given purpose, they are a body. Now our Lord did not use the word 'body' precisely because His own physical body was before everyone. He used the word 'kingdom' because that was a word the Jews could understand. But when St. Paul was talking to the pagans, he had to use a word which was more understandable, namely, “body.” Our Lord communicated exactly the same idea. He said that the new people He would unite with Himself would be related to Him as branches & vine. He said, 'I am the vine, you are the branches.' The truth that He had, He said He would give to them. 'My truth I give to you. My power I give you.' Also He communicated the power to forgive sins. Our Blessed Lord said that He would develop & form a new body which would be very small at first like a mustard seed, & then it would grow & spread throughout the entire world."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"Unless we strive every instant to be monsters of virtue, we ourselves may easily be monsters of vice."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)