Welcome to Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.
'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Hilary, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (circa 310-368; of Poitiers, the "Hammer of the Arians" & "Athanasius of the West"), Bishop of Poitiers (circa 349-368), a foe of the Arian heresy: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Poitiers & Wikipedia-link Poitiers; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors; & Heresy-link Arianism & Wikipedia-link Arianism.
Commentary: Wayback Machine. Father of St. Abra [12 December].
Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:
While in exile, he continued to govern his diocese, as well as writing two of the most important of his contributions to dogmatic & polemical theology: theDe synodis or De fide Orientalium, an epistle addressed in 358 to the semi-Arian bishops in Gaul, Germania, & Britain, analyzing the views of the Eastern bishops on the Nicene controversy. In reviewing the professions of faith of the Oriental bishops in the Councils of Ancyra, Antioch, & Sirmium, he sought to show that sometimes the difference between certain doctrines & orthodox beliefs was rather in the words than in the ideas.'Tis also the festival of Saint Elian of Cornwall (floruit 450, A.K.A. Elian ap Erbin): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
'Tis also the festival of Saint Remigius, Bishop (circa 437-533, of Reims; the "Apostle of the Franks," also spelt Rémy, etc.), Bishop of Reims (459-533), who baptized Clovis I, King of the Franks (25 December 496): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Reims & Wikipedia-link Reims.
Commentary: Son of St. Cilinia [21 October], brother of St. Principius of Soissons [25 September], & uncle of St. Lupus of Soissons [19 October].
'Tis also the festival of Saint Mungo, Bishop (circa 518-614, A.K.A. Kentigern, Cyndeyrn Garthwys), Bishop of Strathclyde (540-553 & 573-614): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.
Commentary: Son of St. Thevena [18 July]. "Let Glasgow flourish."
'Tis also the festival of Saint Berno of Cluny, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 850-927), first (I) abbot of Cluny Abbey (910-927), abbot of Baume Abbey (886-909): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link Cluny, Wikipedia-link Cluny, & Wikipedia-link Abbots; & Abbey-link Baume & Wikipedia-link Baume.
'Tis also the festival of Blessed Veronica of Milan, Religious, O.S.A. (circa 1445-1497, A.K.A. of Binasco): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.
Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the First Week in Ordinary Time
The First Book of Samuel, chapter one, verses one thru eight;
Psalm One Hundred Sixteen (R/. seventeen[a] or, "Alleluia"), verses twelve & thirteen, fourteen thru seventeen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses fourteen thru twenty.
Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):
Friends, today’s Gospel reports Jesus’ first sermon.Video reflection by Monsignor James Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.
After his Baptism and temptation, Jesus begins to preach in Galilee. The first words out of his mouth serve as a summary statement of his life and work: "This is the time of fulfillment. The kingdom of God is at hand. Repent, and believe in the Gospel."
Something that human beings have been longing for has appeared, and the time is now for a decision. Jesus’ very first words are a wake-up call. This is not the time to be asleep, not the time for delaying tactics, procrastinating, and second-guessing. The initial words of Jesus’ first sermon are an invitation to psychological and spiritual awareness: there is something to be seen, so open your eyes!
But what is it that he wants us to notice? What is this astonishing state of affairs that must not be missed? "The kingdom of God is at hand." To my mind, the metaphor of the kingdom has a primary referent in the person of Jesus himself. Jesus wants us to open our eyes to see what God is doing in and through him. He himself is the kingdom of God coming into the world with transformative power.
Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Hilary
The First Letter of John, chapter two, verses eighteen thru twenty-five;
Psalm One Hundred Ten (R/. four[b]), verses one, two, three, & four;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five, verses thirteen thru nineteen.
Scripture Study—Exodus 90, Day 1
The Book of Exodus, chapter one, verses one thru seven.
Commentary: The Sons of Israel (Exodus, 1:1-7).
Papal Quote o' the Day
"Among man's rights is that of being able to worship God in accordance with the right dictates of his own conscience, & to profess his religion both in private & in public."Saint Quote o' the Day
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, reigned 1958-1963, feast day: 11 October)
"When I first went to Europe to study as a young priest, I lived in a boardinghouse which belonged to a certain woman, whom we will call Madame Citroff. I was there about a week when she came to me & told me the tragic story of her family. After her marriage, her husband left her. A daughter that was born to them became immoral on the streets of Paris. Then Madame Citroff pulled out of her pocket a small vial of poison. She said, 'I do not believe in God. Sometimes the thought comes to me that there is a God, & in case there be one, I curse him. So I've decided simply, because life has no meaning & is absurd, to do away with it. I intend to take this tonight. Can you do anything for me?'
"'Well,' I said, 'I can't if you're going to take that stuff.' So I asked her to postpone her suicide for nine days. I think it's the only case on record of a woman postponing her suicide for nine days. Well I never prayed before in my life like I prayed for that woman. On the ninth day, the good Lord gave her great grace. Some years later, on the way to Lourdes, I stopped off at a city where I enjoyed the hospitality of the Monsieur & Madame & Madamoiselle Citroff. And I said to the village curé, 'Are the Citroffs good Catholics?'
"He replied, 'Oh, it's wonderful when people keep the faith all during their lives.' He did not know."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)
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