Saints + Scripture

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

9 Days for Life: Day 7
May all who support or participate in abortion experience a conversion of heart to seek & receive the Lord’s boundless mercy.

Diocese of Lansing @ March for Life 2020: YouTube-links "Why We March" & "A Pro-Life Generation"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Angela Merici, Virgin (1474-1540), foundress of the Angelines (C.S.U.), formally the Secular Institute of Saint Angela Merici (historically, the Company of Saint Ursula), from which grew the Ursulines (O.S.U.), formally the Order of Saint Ursula: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link C.S.U. & Wikipedia-link O.S.U.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

She was an Italian religious educator… & she founded the Company of Saint Ursula in 1535 in Brescia, in which women dedicated their lives to the service of the Church through the education of girls.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Julian of Sora, Martyr (died 150), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Antoninus Pius: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Julian of Le Mans, Bishop (third century), first (I) Bishop of Le Mans (Cenomanum): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Le Mans.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Devota, Virgin & Martyr (died circa 303), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Great Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Natalis of Ulster, Abbot (died 564, A.K.A. Naal, Naile), founding abbot of several abbeys, including Kinawley & Devenish Island: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Kinawley & Wikipedia-link Devenish Island.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Vitalian, Pope (died 672), seventy-sixth (LXXVI) Bishop of Rome (657-672): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link, & Wikipedia-link Pontifex.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Paul Joseph Nardini, Priest, T.O.S.F. (1821-1862), founder of the Nardini Sisters (A.K.A. the Mallersdorfer Sisters), formally the Poor Franciscan Sisters of the Holy Family: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sisters.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter five, verses one thru seven & ten;
Psalm Eighty-nine (R/. twenty-five[a]), verses twenty, twenty-one & twenty-two, & twenty-five & twenty-six;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses twenty-two thru thirty.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel scribes accuse Jesus of driving out demons by Beelzebul—by Satan.

The two great names of the devil in the Bible are "the accuser" and "the scatterer." Both are operative and visible in this story. And this helps us immensely to understand Jesus and his work.

We see in the Gospel of Mark that Jesus is known as an exorcist, someone who drives out the demonic. Jesus specifies that his work is in driving out Satan—which is to say, the accuser. The false way of organizing ourselves—present from the beginning—is through accusation, scapegoating, the establishment of us against them, insiders vs. outsiders.

The kingdom of God will be predicated on other assumptions—namely, love, nonviolence, forgiveness of enemies, the overcoming of division. When this vision of life comes into conflict with the powers of the world—which was more or less inevitable—Jesus becomes, himself, an accused victim, a scapegoat.

But instead of responding in kind, he takes upon himself that negative, satanic energy and swallows it up in the divine mercy.

Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Angela Merici
The First Letter of Peter, chapter four, verses seven(b) thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-eight (R/. see: twelve[a] & thirteen[a]), verses one(b/c) & two; eleven, twelve, & thirteen(a); & thirteen(c) & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter nine, verses thirty-four(b) thru thirty-seven.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 15
The Book of Exodus, chapter six, verse twenty-eight thru chapter seven, verse seven.

Commentary: Moses & Aaron Obey God's Commands (Exodus, 6:28-7:7).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"As people, we are meant to have human joys: the joy of living, the joy of love & friendship, the joy of work well done. As Christians, we have cause for further joy: like Jesus, we know that we are loved by God our Father."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Believers ought to be distinguished not only by their place, but by their way of life. They ought to be obvious not only by the gift, but also by the new life. He should be distinguishable by everything—by his walk, by his look, by his clothes, by his voice."
—St. John Chrysostom, Doctor of the Church (349-407, feast day: 13 September)