Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"Announcing… The Popish Plotcast"

'Tis the festival of Saint Simeon of Jerusalem, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 107), second (II) Bishop of Jerusalem (62-107), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Trajan: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Jerusalem & Wikipedia-link Jerusalem; & Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Son of St. Cleopas [25 September].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Colmán of Lindisfarne, Bishop & Abbot (circa 605-676), third (III) Bishop of Lindisfarne (661-664), founding abbot of the School of Mayo (668-670): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Holy Island, Wikipedia-link Bishop-Abbots, & Wikipedia-link Mayo.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Giovanni of Fiesole, Religious, O.P. (circa 1387-1455, the famous "Fra Angelico" [the "Angelic friar"]; Anglicized as John; A.K.A. Guido di Pietro): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed William Harrington, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1566-1594), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the one hundred sixty Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed John Pibush, Priest & Martyr (died 1601), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the one hundred sixty Martyrs of Douai: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link Douai & Wikipedia-link Douai.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Sixth Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter of James, chapter one, verses twelve thru eighteen;
Psalm Ninety-four (R/. twelve[a]), verses twelve & thirteen(a), fourteen & fifteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter eight, verses fourteen thru twenty-one.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus warns his disciples against the leaven of the Pharisees and of Herod. Conversely, he wanted them to be the leaven that would transform their culture.

The Second Vatican Council spoke of the universal call to holiness—the summons of all the baptized to be a transforming leaven in the wider society. The Vatican II fathers wanted to inspire a generation of great Catholic professionals in the hopes that such people would carry the holiness they learned in the Church out to their areas of specialization in the secular world.

The Church manifests the way of ordering things born of love—love for God and love for neighbor. Generosity, peace, nonviolence, and trust will give rise to a new way of ordering things. This is true of a family, a school, a parish, a community, a nation-state.

Now, how in the world does one get this project off the ground? As should be clear to even the most naïve person, this never happens all at once, overnight. Rather, in small ways, people begin living according to the Lord’s ways. And then, in God’s time, this new community begins to have a leavening effect on the wider society.

Video reflection by Fr. James Vacco, O.F.M. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 37
The Book of Exodus, chapter fifteen, verses one thru twenty-one.

Commentary: The Songs of Moses & Miriam (Exodus, 15:1-21).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Only those persons who recognize that they are sinners, in need of salvation because they cannot save themselves, only then can they extend their hands to Jesus as to their Savior."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"In other parts of the world, our brothers in Christ are suffering for their faith. And here we are at ease, just undergoing a slight test & dividing our loyalty between Christ & the world. We must realize in minds & hearts that this is a new age, that we will have to be a creative minority, & that the only argument that is left to convince others is holiness. The world has heard every other argument, & it is ready to reject them all, all except one: holiness."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Catholic Quote o' the Day

"The miracles of Jesus need no defense. Even His enemies found they could not deny or explain them away. They are an essential part of the Gospel. To ignore or downplay the miracles of Jesus is to rob the Gospel of its unique power."
—Matthew Arnold (fl. 2020)