Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
"The Pope's Prayer Intentions for October 2019"

'Tis the Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels: Angels-link ūnus, Angels-link duo, Angels-link Array of Hope, Wikipedia-link Angels, & Wikipedia-link Feast.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

[St.] John XXIII [11 October] wrote a Meditation for the Feast of the Guardian Angels, which reads, in part: "We must remember how admirable was the intention of divine Providence in entrusting to the angels the mission of watching over all mankind, & over individual human beings, lest they should fall victims to the grave dangers which encounter."

Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

Lord Jesus, You have promised that You would have our Angels watch over us. Let my Angel always be close at hand to protect & guide, intercede & respond in Your Name.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Leodegar of Poitiers, Bishop & Martyr (circa 615-679, also spelt Leger), Bishop of Autun, martyred by the Frankish mayor of the palace Ebroin: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Auton & Wikipedia-link Auton.

Commentary: Son of St. Sigrada [8 August] & brother of St. Warinus [25 August].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Émilie de Villeneuve, Religious (1811-1854, A.K.A. Jeanne-Emilie), foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Jan Beyzym, Priest, S.J. (1850-1912): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Maria Anna Kratochwil, Religious & Martyr, S.S.N.D. (1881-1942, A.K.A. Maria Antonina Kratochwil), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Polska & Wikipedia-link Polska.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Twenty-sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Nehemiah, chapter two, verses one thru eight;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-seven (R/. six[a/b]), verses one & two, three, four & five, & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses one thru five & ten.

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

Friends, today we celebrate the feast of our Guardian Angels. Why does God send these spiritual messengers to help us? Well, Aquinas says that each of us, due to our fallen nature, has been assigned a heavenly guide. Is all of this just speculation and conjecture?

One of my favorite stories about angels is this one: Two relatively inexperienced pilots found themselves lost on a foggy day. Though they tried desperately to make contact with an airport, they were incapable of doing so. One of them then prayed for protection.

In time, a voice crackled onto the radio. The speaker identified himself as a controller from a small airport. Through very precise instructions, he guided the two pilots through the fog to a landing strip at that airport.

Once they had arrived, to their astonishment they discovered that the airport was closed and that there was no one on duty. A bizarre coincidence? A happy accident? Or perhaps a sign that we are being protected by powers at a higher pitch of ontological perfection? As you know, stories such as this come out of the woodwork once people are given the opportunity to share them.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of the Holy Guardian Angels
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-three, verses twenty thru twenty-three;
Psalm Ninety-one (R/. eleven), verses one & two; three & four(a/b); four(c), five & six; & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses one thru five & ten.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Decision Dome, Day 10
The Book of Joshua, chapter five, verses nine thru fifteen.

Commentary: The Sons of Israel Are Circumcised (concluded; Joshua, 5:9), the Passover at Gilgal (Joshua, 5:10-12), & Joshua's Vision (Joshua, 5:13-15).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Holiness is the awareness of being 'watched over,' watched over by God. Saints know very well their frailty, the precariousness of their existence. Yet they are not frightened. They feel secure in spite of all this."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

G. K. Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"It is the paradox of history that each generation is converted by the saint who contradicts it most."
—Gilbert Keith Chesterton (1874-1936)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"How great the dignity of the soul, since each one has from his birth an angel commissioned to guard it."
—St. Jerome, Doctor of the Church (347-420, feast day: 30 September)

Bonus! Song o' the Holy Guardian Angels
The Stanley Brothers, "Angel Band" from O Brother, Where Art Thou?: Music from a Film by Joel Coen & Ethan Coen (Mike Papa Whiskey)