Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
"Rash Vow: The Yeard"

'Tis the festival of Saint Marcellus of Tangier, Martyr (died circa 298, A.K.A. the Centurion), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Asterius of Amasea, Bishop (circa 350-410), Bishop of Amasea: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Amasea.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Talarican of Sodor, Bishop (floruit 720, A.K.A. Tarkin), Bishop of Sodor (A.K.A. of the Isles): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sodor & Wikipedia-link Bishops.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Gerard of Potenza, Bishop (died 1119, A.K.A. Gerard La Porta), Bishop of Potenza, patron of Potenza's Cathedral of San Gerardo: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Potenza & Wikipedia-link Cathedral.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Benvenuta Bojani, Virgin, T.O.S.D. (1254-1292): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds John Bodey & John Slade, Martyrs (died 1583), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the one hundred sixty Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link Juliett Bravo, Martyr-link Juliett Sierra, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses twenty-six thru thirty;
Psalm Thirteen (R/. six[a]), verses four & five, six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter thirteen, verses twenty-two thru thirty.

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

Friends, our Gospel for today features a question that people have been asking from time immemorial and that they still ask today: "Lord, will only a few people be saved?" Heaven, hell, salvation, damnation, who will be in and who will be out? We have remained fascinated with these questions for a long time.

Here’s how I would recommend we approach this issue. The doctrine concerning hell is a corollary of two more fundamental truths—namely, that God is love and that we are free. Love (willing the good of the other) is all that God is. He doesn’t go in and out of love; he doesn’t change his mind; he’s not loving to some and not to others. He is indeed like the sun that shines on the good and bad alike, in the words of Jesus.

No act of ours can possibly make him stop loving us. In this regard, he is like the best of parents. However, we are free. We are not God’s marionettes, and hence we can say yes or we can say no to his love. If we turn toward it, we open like a sunflower; if we turn from it, we get burned.

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

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Decision Dome, Day 38
The Book of Joshua, chapter twenty-two, verses one thru nine.

Commentary: The Eastern Tribes Return (Joshua, 22:1-9).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"To recite the Rosary is nothing other than to contemplate the face of Christ with Mary."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Let us now speak with our good Mother."
—Servant of God Anselm Treves (regarding the Rosary)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"Cocktails are perhaps the only practical product of Prohibition."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)