Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Denis, Bishop, & Companions, Martyrs (died circa 258, of Paris, of France), inaugural (I) Bishop of Paris; martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Valerian, in his empire-wide persecution, a cephalophore; atop his grave was built the Basilica of Saint-Denis, around which arose the city of Saint-Denis; one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Paris & Wikipedia-link Paris; Persecutions-link, Wikipedia-link Persecution ūnus, Wikipedia-link Persecution duo, & Wikipedia-link Cephalophore; Wikipedia-link Basilica & Wikipedia-link Saint-Denis; Holy Helpers-link, & Wikipedia-link Holy Helpers.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

In 250, St. Denis was sent to France with six other missionary bishops by Pope Fabian. Denis became the first bishop of Parish. He was beheaded in 258 with the priest Rusticus & the deacon Eleutherius.

Martyr-link Romeo & Martyr-link Echo

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint John Leonardi, Priest, O.M.D. (1541-1609, A.K.A. Giovanni of the Mother of God), founder of the Clerics Regular of the Mother of God (O.M.D.): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link O.M.D..

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Gradually, St. John's influence as a champion of the Catholic faith against Protestantism became known throughout Italy. He founded in Rome what became the Institute De Propaganda Fide (Society for the Propagation of the Faith) & the Confraternity of Christian Doctrine for the promotion of the Catholic Faith & the formation of missionaries.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Ghislain, Abbot (died circa 680, A.K.A. Gislenus), founder of the Abbey of Saint-Ghislain, namesake of the town of Saint-Ghislain: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Abbey & Wikipedia-link Commune.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Goswin, Abbot, O.S.B. (1086-1165), abbot of Anchin Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Anchin.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Luis Beltrán, Priest, O.P. (1526-1581, the "Apostle to the Americas;" also spelt Luis Bertrán, Anglicized as Louis Bertrand): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: A distant kinsman of St. Vincent Ferrer [5 April].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed John Henry Newman, Cardinal, C.O. (1801-1890), founder of the Birmingham Oratory & the London Oratory; posthumous namesake of the Newman Centers: Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Birmingham & Wikipedia-link London; & Wikipedia-link Newman Centers.

Commentary: Bl. John is scheduled to be canonized next Sunday, 13 October. By his next feast, he ought to be St. John Henry Newman.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jonah, chapter four, verses one thru eleven;
Psalm Eighty-six (R/. fifteen), verses three & four, five & six, & nine & ten;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses one thru four.

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

Friends, our Gospel for today gives us an opportunity to reflect on the great prayer that Jesus taught us. Think how this prayer links us to all of the great figures in Christian history, from Peter and Paul to Augustine, Thomas Aquinas, Francis of Assisi, John Henry Newman, G.K. Chesterton, John Paul II, and right up to the present day.

A desire to pray is planted deep within us. This just means the desire to speak to God and to listen to him. Keep in mind that prayer is not designed to change God’s mind or to tell God something he doesn’t know. God isn’t like a big city boss or a reluctant pasha whom we have to persuade. He is rather the one who wants nothing other than to give us good things—though they might not always be what we want.

Can you see how this prayer rightly orders us? We must put God’s holy name first; we must strive to do his will in all things and at all times; we must be strengthened by spiritual food or we will fall; we must be agents of forgiveness; we must be able to withstand the dark powers.

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

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Denis & Companions
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter six, verses four thru ten;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six (R/. five), verses one(b/c) & two(a/b), two(c/d) & three, four & five, & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses thirteen thru sixteen.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. John Leonardi
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses one, two, five, six, & seven;
Psalm Ninety-six (R/. three), verses one & two, two & three, seven & eight, & ten;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter five, verses one thru eleven.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Decision Dome, Day 17
The Book of Joshua, chapter eight, verses twenty-four thru thirty-five.

Commentary: Capture & Destruction of Ai (concluded; Joshua, 8:24-29) & (Joshua, 8:30-35).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"A deeply Christian life cannot be sustained by religious feelings alone or by a vague identification with a religious tradition. What is required is an ever greater understanding of the Mystery of Salvation that is revealed in Christ & handed down in Sacred Scripture & Church teaching."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"It is the saying of holy men that, if we wish to be perfect, we have nothing more to do than to perform the ordinary duties of the day well. A short road to perfection—short, not because easy, but because pertinent & intelligible. There are no short ways to perfection, but there are sure ones… I think this is an instruction which may be of great practical use to persons like ourselves."
—Bl. John Henry Newman (1801-1890, feast day: 9 October)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"To be good & idiotic is not a poor fate, but, on the contrary, an experience of primeval innocence, which wonders at all things."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)