Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"The Pope's Prayer Intentions for February 2020"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint John Bosco, Priest (1815-1888, "Don Bosco"), founder of the Salesians of Don Bosco (1859, S.D.B.), A.K.A. the Salesian Society, formally the Society of Saint Francis de Sales; the Daughters of Mary Help of Christians (1872, F.M.A.), A.K.A. the Salesian Sisters of Don Bosco; & the Association of Salesian Cooperators (1876, A.S.C.); & publisher of the Salesian Bulletin (1877): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link Array of Hope, Saint-link Aleteia, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.D.B., Wikipedia-link F.M.A., & Wikipedia-link A.S.C.; & Wikipedia-link Salesian Bulletin.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

He was an Italian Roman catholic priest, educator, & writer of the nineteenth century. While working in Turin, where the population suffered many of the ill-effects of industrialization & urbanization, he dedicated his life to the betterment & education of street children, juvenile delinquents, & other disadvantaged youth. He developed teaching methods based on love rather than punishment, a method that became known as the Salesian Preventive System.

Wikipedia-link Salesian Preventive System

'Tis also the festival of Saint Marcella, Religious & Confessor (325-410): Confessor-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Tysul, Bishop (circa 462-544; also spelt Tyssil, A.K.A. Tysul ap Corun ap Cunedda): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Áedan of Ferns, Bishop (circa 550-632; also spelt Aiden, Anglicized as Hugh; Máedóc, Anglicized as Mogue; etc.), first (I) Bishop of Ferns (598-632): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Ferns & Wikipedia-link Ferns.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Ludovica Albertoni, T.O.S.F. (1473-1533): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Subject of a funerary sculpture by Bernini: Wikipedia-link Blessed Ludovica Albertoni.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Francesco Saverio Bianchi, Priest, C.R.S.P. (1743-1815, Anglicized as Francis Xavier Bianchi): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Third Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter eleven, verses one thru four(a), five thru ten(a), & thirteen thru seventeen;
Psalm Fifty-one (R/. see: three[a]), verses three & four, five & six(a), six(b/c/d) & seven, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter four, verses twenty-six thru thirty-four.

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

Friends, our Gospel for today features the parable of the mustard seed.

How does God tend to work? From the very small to the very great—and by a slow, gradual process. God tends to operate under the radar, on the edges of things, quietly, clandestinely, not drawing attention to himself.

C.S. Lewis speaks to this principle. How, he asks, did God enter history? Quietly, in a forgotten corner of the Roman Empire, sneaking behind enemy lines. How was European Christianity established? Through the handful of people that listened to St. Paul in Philippi and Athens. How did the mighty Franciscan movement come to be? One odd, mystical kid who heard a voice coming from a crucifix: "Francis, rebuild my church, which is falling into ruin." A handful of followers joined him in his quixotic project, then dozens, then hundreds, then thousands.

So don’t be afraid to do small things at the prompting of God! Plant the seed, make the move, take the risk—take even the smallest step, and don’t worry about who notices or how much attention you’re getting. Sow the seed and leave the rest to the mercy and providence of God.

Video reflection by Barbara McCrabb (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. John Bosco
The Letter to the Philippians, chapter four, verses four thru nine;
Psalm One Hundred Three (R/. one), verses one(b/c) & two, three & four, eight & nine, thirteen & fourteen, & seventeen & eighteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses one thru five.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 19
The Book of Exodus, chapter eight, verses sixteen thru nineteen.

Commentary: The Third Plague: Gnats (Exodus, 8:16-19).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The Church is the unifying effect of the love of Christ for us. She can herself be considered a living sign, a Sacrament of unity & of love. To love is her mission."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast day: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"A scientia crucis [knowledge of the Cross] can be gained only when one comes to feel the Cross radically."
—St. Teresa Benedicta of the Cross (1891-1942, feast day: 9 August)