Saints + Scripture: The Presentation of the Lord

Simplex Complex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

The Popish Plot
"Whistle Pig Extravaganza!"

'Tis the Feast of the Presentation of the Lord (circa 1, A.K.A. Candlemas): Presentation-link ūnus, Presentation-link duo, Wikipedia-link Presentation, & Wikipedia-link Candlemas.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

The Presentation of Jesus at (or in) the Temple is an early episode in the life of Jesus, describing His presentation at the Temple in Jerusalem in order to officially induct Him into Judaism, that is celebrated by many Christian Churches on the holiday of Candlemas.

Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

Lord Jesus, Simeon & Anna greeted You when You were brought into the Temple as an infant by Mary Your Mother & Joseph Your foster father. May I be as anxious to recognize Your Presence in our midst.

Scripture of the Week
Mass Readings—Feast of the Presentation of the Lord
The Book of Malachi, chapter three, verses one thru four;
Psalm Twenty-four (R/. eight), verses seven, eight, nine, & ten;
The Letter to the Hebrews, chapter two, verses fourteen thru eighteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses twenty-two thru forty
(or, the Gospel according to Luke, chapter two, verses twenty-two thru thirty-two).

Commentary: As The Lanky Guys podcast pointed out, Luke 2:22 on 02.02.2020.

Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, our Gospel today celebrates the Presentation of the Lord in the temple. We are meant to understand that the glory of Yahweh is returning to the temple in the arms of Mary and Joseph, thus fulfilling one of the deepest aspirations of Israel’s people.

Now, there is more to this story than the return of the Lord to his temple. The Son of God, having taken to himself a human nature, is presented to the Father, and thereby the human race is brought back on line. This little baby is the reconciliation of divinity and humanity, is the very essence of temple sacrifice.

At the climax of his life, this baby, now come of age, would enter the temple again. This time, he would pass judgment on it and declare his own body as the new Temple. A few days later, on the cross, he would perform the final temple sacrifice, offering himself to the Father, even as he bore the sins of the human race.

The Presentation of Jesus in the temple, perfected on the cross, is re-presented every time the Mass is celebrated. The Presentation of the Lord goes on now in our churches, in our temples

Video reflection by Father Joseph Elston (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Sunday Reflection.

Video reflection by Father Claude Burns (uCatholic): Weekend Reflection with Father Pontifex.

Audio reflection by Scott Hahn, Ph.D. (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Breaking the Bread.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 21
The Book of Exodus, chapter nine, verses one thru seven.

Commentary: The Fifth Plague: Death of the Egyptians' Livestock (Exodus, 9:1-7).

†

Otherwise, were 2 February not a Sunday, 'twould be the festival of Saint Laurence of Canterbury, Bishop, O.S.B. (died 619), second (II) Archbishop of Canterbury (604-619), a member of the Gregorian Mission: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Canterbury & Wikipedia-link Canterbury, & Wikipedia-link Mission.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Adalbard of Ostrevant, Martyr (died circa 652), Duke of Douai, founder of Marchiennes Abbey, martyred by his in-laws: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Marchiennes.

Commentary: Husband of St. Rictrude of Marchiennes [12 May]; father of Ss. Maurontius of Douai [5 May], Eusebia of Douai [16 March], Adalsinda of Hamay [5 May], & Clotsinda of Marchiennes [5 May].

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Bruno of Ebsdorf, Martyr (circa 830-880; also spelt Brun, Braun), Duke of Saxony; martyred in the Battle of Lüneburg Heath against the Great Heathen Army, one of the Martyrs of Ebsdorf: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Lüneburg Heath, Wikipedia-link Great Heathen Army, Martyrs-link Ebsdorf, & Wikipedia-link Ebsdorf.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Caterina de' Ricci, Religious, T.O.S.D. (1522-1590, A.K.A. Alessandra Lucrezia Romola de' Ricci), stigmatist: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Stigmata-link & Wikipedia-link Stigmata.

'Twould also be the festival of Saint Nicola of Longobardi, Religious, O.M. (1650-1709, A.K.A. Giovanni Battista Clemente Saggio): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The origin, nature, destiny, & history of humanity are bound up in that Infant by the very fact of His birth among us. Without the knowledge of that history our human nature would remain an impenetrable enigma."
—Pope Ven. Pius XII (1876-1958, r. 1939-1958)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Son of the living God, for Whom nothing is impossible, before Whom sins melt away, demons flee, transgressions are erased, bindings are cut & chains undone, the dead are born again, infirmities are cured, wounds are healed, corruption is cleansed, sadness withdraws, sighs retreat, darkness flees, fog departs, twilight vanishes, darkness lifts, the night passes, evil is destroyed, & despair is exiled—blessed in the highest."
—St. Gregory of Narek, Doctor of the Church (950-1011, feast day: 27 February)