Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
"Catholic T-shirt Club Unboxing: All Saints"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Charles Borromeo, Bishop (1538-1584), Archbishop of Milan & founder of the Oblates of Saints Ambrose & Charles (O.SS.C.A.), who organized the third & final session of the Council of Trent (1545-1563, the nineteenth [XIX] ecumenical council) & significantly contributed to the Roman Catechism (1566): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Milan & Wikipedia-link Milan; Order-link O.SS.C.A. & Wikipedia-linkO.SS.C.A.; & Wikipedia-link Trent & Wikipedia-link Roman Catechism.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was Roman Catholic archbishop of Milan & a cardinal. He was a leading figure of the Counter-Reformation together with St. Ignatius of Loyola [31 July] & St. Philip Neri [26 May]. In that role he was responsible for significant reforms in the Catholic Church, including the founding of seminaries for the education of priests.

Wikipedia-link Catholic Reformation

'Tis also the festival of Saint Beornstan of Winchester, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 870-934; also spelt Byrnstan, Birstan), twenty-third (XXIII) Bishop of Winchester: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Winchester & Wikipedia-link Winchester.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Gregor of Burtscheid, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 940-999, of Calabria, of Cassano), inaugural abbot of the Burtscheid Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Burtscheid.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Elena of Arcella, Religious, O.S.C. (1207-1242, A.K.A. Elena Enselmini, Anglicized as Helen): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Teresa Manganiello, T.O.S.F. (1849-1876, A.K.A. Maria Luisa Manganiello), inspiration for the Franciscan Immaculate Sisters: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eleven, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-six;
Psalm Sixty-nine (R/. fourteen[c]), verses thirty & thirty-one, thirty-three & thirty-four, & thirty-six;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fourteen, verses twelve, thirteen, & fourteen.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus gives us this extraordinary command to consider the weakest and most vulnerable in our society: "When you hold a banquet, invite the poor, the crippled, the lame, the blind." This is one of his central concerns throughout the Gospels. Aliens, strangers, foreigners, widows, orphans, the poor—if these weak people are ignored, God will become angry.

God’s passion not only runs right through the biblical tradition, but it comes roaring up into the social teaching of the Catholic Church: "If you have two coats in your closet, one belongs to you; the other belongs to the man who has no coat."

Let us not forget the poor and marginalized today.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Charles Borromeo
The Letter to the Romans, chapter twelve, verses three thru thirteen;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two[a]), verses two & three, four & five, twenty-one & twenty-two, & twenty-five & twenty-seven;
The Gospel according to John, chapter ten, verses eleven thru sixteen.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"[The Virgin Mary] by her seed has crushed the head of the twisted serpent, & has alone destroyed all heresies, & by the blessed fruit of her womb has saved a world condemned by the fall of our first parent. From her, without human hand, was that stone cut, which, struck by wood, poured forth the abundantly flowing waters of graces."
—Pope St. Pius V (1504-1572, feast day: 30 April)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Everything could be a prayer if it were offered to God."
—St. Martin de Porres (1579-1639, feast day: 3 November)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"A book is assuredly a sacred object. In a book certainly the largest jewels are shut in the smallest casket."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)