Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
"A Devotional Journey into the Mass, Part 2"

'Tis the festival of Saint James Intercisus, Martyr (died 421; A.K.A. the Mutilated, Jakob Intercisus), martyred in the reign of the Sassanid king Bahram V: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. The epithet Intercisus means "cut into pieces." St. James was martyred by being cut into twenty-eight pieces.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Siffredus of Carpentras, Bishop (died circa 540; also spelt Siffrein, Syffroy), Bishop of Carpentras (circa 530-540), monk at Lérins Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Carpentras, & Abbey-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Fergus the Pict, Bishop (died circa 730, in the Latin Fergustus Pictus; also spelt Fergustian, A.K.A. Fergus Cruithneach), missionary bishop: Saint-link, Wikipedia-link Fergus, & Wikipedia-link Fergustus Pictus.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Vergilius of Salzberg, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 700-784, also spelt Fergal, etc.), Bishop of Salzberg, who built the first Salzberg Cathedral; abbot of Saint Peter's Archabbey & the Abbey of Aghaboe; a geometer & astronomer: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Salzberg, Wikipedia-link Salzberg, & Wikipedia-link Cathedral; Wikipedia-link Saint Peter's & Wikipedia-link Aghaboe; & Wikipedia-link Geometer.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Apollinaris of Monte Cassino, Abbot, O.S.B. (died 828), abbot of the Abbey of Monte Cassino: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link (list); Abbey-link Monte Cassino & Wikipedia-link Monte Cassino.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Thirty-fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Daniel, chapter five, verses one thru six, thirteen & fourteen, sixteen & seventeen, & twenty-three thru twenty-eight;
The Book of Daniel, chapter three (R/. fifty-nine[b]), verses sixty-two, sixty-three, sixty-four, sixty-five, sixty-six, & sixty-seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter twenty-one, verses twelve thru nineteen.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel passage describes the persecution Christians face before the end of the world. When will the Church stop being persecuted? When the Lord returns, but not before.

From the earliest days until the present, the community of Jesus Christ has been the focus of the world’s violence. The old principle of "killing the messenger" applies here. The Church will announce, until the end of time, that the old world is passing away, that a new world of love, nonviolence, and life is emerging. This announcement always infuriates the world of sin, which explains why the twentieth century was the bloodiest on record—and the one with the most martyrs.

What do we do in the meantime? We maintain a detachment from the world that is passing away, our eyes fixed on the world that will never end. And we speak confidently, boldly, provocatively the message of the Gospel, the dying and rising of the Lord.

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

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Relativism Ridge, Day 23
The Book of Judges, chapter sixteen, verses four thru nine & sixteen thru twenty-two.

Commentary: Samson & Delilah (Judges, 16:4-9, 16-22).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Be firm in rejecting injustice! Be strong in conceiving & accomplishing gestures of equity, humanity, & peace, gestures that will unravel the tangled skin of violence. Humanity expects this service from you: it is your honor & your duty."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"I once asked a missionary on a Pacific island what was the greatest virtue of the people. He said 'I can tell you the greatest virtue in terms of the greatest vice. It is the sin of kaipo, the sin of eating alone.' They would go without food for several days until they could find someone with whom they could share their food."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Commentary: Venerable Fulton Sheen is scheduled to be beatified on 21 December, after which he will be Blessed Fulton Sheen. It is not yet known on what date his feast will be observed. Glory to God!

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"When it comes to life, the critical thing is whether you take things for granted or take them with gratitude."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Bonus! Song o' the Book of Daniel
Sam Smith, "Writing's on the Wall" (theme song from Spectre, single) (Mike Papa Whiskey)