Saints + Scripture

9 Days for Life: Day 8
May civic leaders work for the protection of all human life, in every stage and circumstance.

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.P. (1225-1274, the "Dumb Ox," the "Great Synthesizer," the "Angelic Doctor," & the "Common Doctor"), author of the Summa contra Gentiles & the Summa Theologiae, et al.: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, Doctor-link Array of Hope, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors; & Wikipedia-link Summa contra Gentiles & Wikipedia-link Summa Theologiae.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Dominican friar, philosopher, Catholic priest, & Doctor of the Church. An immensely influential philosopher, theologian, & jurist in the tradition of Scholasticism.

Wikipedia-link Scholasticism

Quoth Minute Meditations of the Popes:

God of wisdom, instruct me in Your ways. Help me dedicate myself to learning more about the Faith, so that like St. Thomas Aquinas my mind & heart may be united in Your love.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Charlemagne (742-814, the "Father of Europe;" Anglicized as Charles the Great), King of the Franks (768-814) & founder of the Carolingian Empire (the early phase of the Holy Roman Empire), formally the Empire of the Romans & Franks, as the inaugural Holy Roman Emperor (800-814); his reign spurred the Carolingian Renaissance: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Carolingian Empire, Wikipedia-link Holy Roman Empire, Wikipedia-link Holy Roman Emperor, & Wikipedia-link Carolingian Renaissance.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Julian of Cuenca, Bishop (circa 1127-1208), second (II) Bishop of Cuenca (1196-1208): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Cuenca.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Jerome Lu Tingmei, Martyr (died 1858), martyred in the reign of the Qing dynasty's Xianfeng Emperor, one of the one hundred twenty Martyr Saints of China: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List, № 17); Martyrs-link China & Wikipedia-link China.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Giuseppe Freinademetz, Priest, S.V.D. (1852-1908, A.K.A. Shèng Fú Ruòsè; Anglicized as Joseph): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Olympia Bida, Religious & Martyr (1903-1952, A.K.A. Olga Bida, Ohla Bida), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Joseph Stalin, one of the twenty-five Martyrs Killed under Communist Regimes in Eastern Europe: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List); Martyr-link Eastern Europe.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter six, verses twelve(b) thru fifteen, seventeen, eighteen, & nineteen;
Psalm Twenty-four (R/. eight), verses seven, eight, nine, & ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter three, verses thirty-one thru thirty-five.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus identifies as his mother and brothers those who do the will of God.

The proper attitude in the presence of the saving God is obedience and acquiescence, imitating his moves, responding to his commands, doing whatever he tells us. To live the good life is not finally a matter of autonomy but of obeying commandments: "If you keep my commandments, you will abide in my love, just as I have kept my Father’s commandments and abide in his love."

Mind you, listening to commands is tied closely to love on the part of the one who commands, and since love is nothing but the willing of the good of the other, the obedience that Jesus speaks of is a surrender to the one who massively wants what is best for the surrenderer.

When, through faith, we see every moment and every creature as an ingredient in the divine plan, we live in joyful surrender and with a sense of wonder. What is God doing for me now? What path is opening up to me? Why did God send that person, that trial, that pleasure to me just now?

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U.S. Con. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Thomas Aquinas
The Book of Wisdom, chapter seven, verses seven thru ten, fifteen, & sixteen;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen (R/. twelve), verses nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses eight thru twelve.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 16
The Book of Exodus, chapter seven, verses eight thru thirteen.

Commentary: Aaron's Miraculous Rod (Exodus, 7:8-13).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The way to the heart very often passes through the mind. Today, throughout the length & breadth of the Church there is need for a new effort of evangelization & catechesis directed to the mind."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Non nisi te Domine." ("Nothing but You, Lord.")
—St. Thomas Aquinas, Doctor of the Church (1225-1274, feast day: 28 January)