Saints + Scripture

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

'Tis the festival of Saint Prisca, Martyr (died circa 95), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian, on the site of her martyrdom on the Aventine stands the Church of Santa Prisca: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Persecution, & Wikipedia-link Santa Prisca.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Volusianus of Tours, Bishop (died circa 498), seventh (VII) Bishop of Tours (491-498): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Tours & Wikipedia-link Tours.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Faustina & Liberata of Como, Virgins, O.S.B. (died circa 580), foundresses of the Convent of Santa Margarita: Saint-link Foxtrot, Saint-link Lima, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Deicolus, Abbot (circa 530-625; also spelt Desle, Dichul, etc.), founding abbot of the Abbey of Lure (611-625): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Lure (en français).

'Tis also the festival of Saint Margaret of Hungary, Virgin, O.P. (1242-1271), subject of the Legend of Saint Margaret (fourteenth century): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Legend of Saint Margaret.

Commentary: Grand-niece of St. Hedwig of Silesia [16 October], niece of Ss. Elizabeth of Hungary [17 November] & Agnes of Prague [2 March], & sister of St. Kinga of Poland [24 July] & Bl. Yolanda of Poland [11 June].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Regina Protmann, Religious (1552-1613), foundress of the Sisters of Saint Catherine, Virgin & Martyr: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The First Book of Samuel, chapter nine, verses one thru four, seventeen, eighteen, & nineteen, & chapter ten, verse one;
Psalm Twenty-one (R/. two[a]), verses two & three, four & five, & six & seven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter two, verses thirteen thru seventeen.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus calls Matthew to become his disciple.

Jesus gazed at this man and said simply, "Follow me." Did Jesus invite Matthew because the tax collector merited it? Was Jesus responding to some hidden longing in the sinner’s heart? Certainly not. Grace, by definition, comes unbidden and without explanation.

In Caravaggio’s magnificent painting of this scene, Matthew responds to Jesus’ summons by pointing incredulously to himself and wearing a quizzical expression, as if to say, "Me? You want me?" The hand of Christ in Caravaggio’s picture is adapted from the hand of God the Father in Michelangelo’s depiction of the creation of man on the Sistine Chapel ceiling. Just as creation is ex nihilo, so conversion is a new creation.

Matthew immediately got up and followed the Lord. But where did he follow him? To a banquet! "While he was at table in his house…" is the first thing we read after the declaration that Matthew followed him. Before he calls Matthew to do anything, Jesus invites him to recline in easy fellowship around a festive table. As Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis comments, "The deepest meaning of Christian discipleship is not to work for Jesus but to be with Jesus."

Video reflection by Rebecca Drake (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 6
The Book of Exodus, chapter three, verses one thru six.

Commentary: Moses & the Burning Bush (Exodus, 3:1-6).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"I ask you to pray for those who cannot pray & also for those who do not know how to pray. Pray too for all who have lost faith in God & in His mercy."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"I remember once inviting a woman to see me who had just lost her eighteen-year-old daughter. She was very rebellious & had no faith whatever. She said, 'I want to talk about God.'

"I replied, 'All right, I will talk about Him for five minutes, & then you talk about Him or against Him for forty-five, & then we will have a discussion.' Well, I was talking about two minutes & she interrupted me.

"She stuck her finger under my nose and said, 'Listen, if God is good, why did He take my daughter?'

"I said, 'In order that you might be here, learning something about the purpose & meaning of life.' And that is what she learned. She found it & discovered it."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)