Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Martin of Tours, Bishop (circa 316-397), third (III) Bishop of Tours (371-397), founder of Ligugé Abbey (361), formally the Abbey of Saint Martin of Ligugé, & Marmoutier Abbey (372): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Tours, & Wikipedia-link Tours; & Wikipedia-link Ligugé & Wikipedia-link Marmoutier.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

As he was passing through the city gates one bitterly cold winter, he spied & forlorn & tattered beggar pleading for alms. Having nothing to give him but a share of his own clothing, Martin drew his sword & cut his cloak in two. That night in a dream, Martin saw Christ wearing that portion of cloak that he had given to the beggar, & heard Him saying to the angels that surrounded Him, "Martin the catechumen has clothed Me with this garment."

'Tis also the festival of Saint Menas of Egypt, Martyr (circa 285-309, also spelt Mina, etc.), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Galerius & Maximinus II, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Turibius of Liébana, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (floruit 527, A.K.A. the Monk), Bishop of Palencia, founding abbot of the Monastery of Santo Toribio de Liébana: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Palencia & Wikipedia-link Santo Toribio.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Maria Vincenza, Religious, I.S.M. (1802-1855, A.K.A. Luigia Poloni), co-foundress of the Sisters of Mercy of Verona (I.S.M., 1840): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link I.S.M.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Alicja Maria Jadwiga Kotowska, Religious & Martyr, C.R. (1899-1939), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, in the Massacres in Piaśnica, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Piaśnica, Martyrs-link Polska, & Wikipedia-link Polska.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Eugene Bossilkov, Bishop (C.P.); Josaphat Chichkov, Pavel Djidjov, & Kamen Vitchev, Priests (A.A.); Martyrs (died 1952), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Vâlko Chervenkov: Martyr-link Echo Bravo & Wikipedia-link Echo Bravo, Martyr-link Juliett Charlie & Wikipedia-link Juliett Charlie, Martyr-link Papa Delta & Wikipedia-link Papa Delta, & Martyr-link Kilo Victor & Wikipedia-link Kilo Victor.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Thirty-second Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Wisdom, chapter one, verses one thru seven;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-nine (R/. twenty-four[b]), verses one(b), two, & three; four, five, & six; seven & eight; & nine & ten;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter seventeen, verses one thru six.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel we hear Jesus speak about faith. Faith is powerful, for it is a link to the reality of God, the power that made and sustains the cosmos. Sometimes, the power of faith is manifested in spectacular and immediately obvious ways. For example, there is a long tradition of faith healing, stretching back to Jesus himself and through many of the saints. There is also the power of prayer. When some people ask in a spirit of trust, really believing that what they are asking for will happen, it happens.

But more often than not, the power of faith manifests itself in the courage to face trauma, sickness, even the terror of death. It is the confidence that we are being guided and cared for, even when that guidance and care are not immediately apparent.

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

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Martin of Tours
The Book of Isaiah, chapter sixty-one, verses one, two, & three(a/b/c/d);
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. two[a]), verses two & three, four & five, twenty-one & twenty-two, & twenty-five & twenty-seven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses thirty-one thru forty.

Scripture Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Sirach, chapter twenty-four (verses one thru thirty-four);
The Book of Sirach, chapter twenty-five (verses one thru twenty-six).

Commentary: The Praise of Wisdom (Sirach, 24:1-34) & the Good & the Evil in Daily Life (Sirach, 25:1-26).

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Relativism Ridge, Day 7
The Book of Judges, chapter three, verses seven thru eleven.

Commentary: Othniel (Judges, 3:7-11).

Proverb o' the Day (Sirach, 25:10)

How great is he who has gained wisdom!
But there is no one superior to him who fears the Lord.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"In order to see Jesus, we first need to let Him look at us!"
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Let us then at once return to God, but let it be at once. We have offended Him enough already let us not tempt His anger any further. Behold Him, He calls us & is ready to pardon us if we repent of our evil deeds & promise Him to change our lives."
—St. Alphonsus Liguori, Doctor of the Church (1696-1787, feast day: 1 August)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"Courage is almost a contradiction in terms. It means a strong desire to live taking the form of a readiness to die."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)