Saints + Scripture

Better Late than Never | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the festival of Saint Ecgbert of York, Bishop (died 766, also spelt Egbert), first Archbishop of York (732-766, seventh [VII] bishop overall): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link York & Wikipedia-link York.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Medan, Virgin (eighth century): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Toto, Abbot, O.S.B. (died 815, also spelt Tuto), founding abbot of Ottobeuren Abbey: Saint-link; Abbey-link Ottobeuren & Wikipedia-link Ottobeuren.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Mechtilde of Helfta, Religious, O.S.B. (circa 1240-1298, "the Nightingale of Helfta," A.K.A. Matilda von Hackeborn-Wippra): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Giacomo Benefatti, Bishop, O.P. (died 1332, the "Father of the Poor;" Anglicized as James Benefatti), Bishop of Mantua: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Mantua & Wikipedia-link Mantua.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Thirty-third Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Book of Maccabees, chapter six, verses eighteen thru thirty-one;
Psalm Three (R/. six[b]), verses two & three, four & five, & six & seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter nineteen, verses one thru ten.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel declares in the story of Zacchaeus how quickly God responds to any sign of faith. Zacchaeus’ climbing the sycamore tree shows he had more than a passing interest in seeing Jesus. He had a deep hunger of the spirit. His principal virtue was his willingness to go to great extremes. But this is what we do when we know that something of great moment is at stake. When our health is endangered, we move, we act; when our job is threatened, we go to almost any extreme to keep it.

When Jesus spotted him he said, "Zacchaeus, hurry down. I mean to stay at your house today." Christians, God responds to us readily when we show the least interest in him. He doesn’t play hard to get; he is not coy with us. When we seek him, he responds, because loving us is his entire game.

Notice how Jesus tells Zacchaeus to hurry. Don’t wait, don’t hesitate. Seize the moment of conversion when it comes.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Relativism Ridge, Day 15
The Book of Judges, chapter seven, verses sixteen thru twenty-three.

Commentary: Gideon Routs the Midianites (Judges, 7:16-23).

Proverb o' the Day (Sirach, 19:2-3)

Wine & women lead intelligent men astray,
& the man who consorts with harlots is very reckless.
Decay & worms will inherit him,
& the reckless soul will be snatched away.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Peace is needed. This refers to inner peace, peace of the conscience freed from all the fragmentation caused by sin & open to the true good. It also means peace with others, in mutual respect & friendship,made of truth & love."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Fly from bad companions as from the bite of a poisonous snake. If you keep good companions, I can assure you that you will one day rejoice with the blessed in Heaven; whereas if you keep with those who are bad, you will become bad yourself, & you will be in danger of losing your soul."
—St. X (1815-1888, feast day: 31 January)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"We may concede that a straw may break the camel’s back, but we like to know that it really is the last straw and not the first."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)