Saints + Scripture

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

Knights of Columbus @ March for Life 2020: "Pro-Life Native Americans March for Life"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Blaise, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 316, also spelt Blase), Bishop of Sebaste, martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Licinius; one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, known especially for the Blessing of the Throats: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, Martyr-link Array of Hope, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sebaste; Holy Helpers-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Helpers; & Wikipedia-link Blessing of the Throats.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Blaise was a physician in Armenia who was made a bishop, he is attributed with many miracles. One of these involved the miraculous removal of a fish bone from a young boys throat—which is why he is considered protector from throat diseases.

Quoth Joyfully Living the Gospel Day by Day:

On the feast of St. Blaise, we have our throats blessed. The Holy Spirit cleanses us of every evil, in particular fro diseases of the throat. In this purgation we offer all our sins that they may be washed away forever.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Ansgar, Bishop, O.S.B. (801-865, the "Apostle of the North" & "Apostle of Scandivania;" also spelt Anskar, Anschar), first (I) Archbishop of Hamburg & jointly Bishop of Bremen (847-865), founder of the school at the Abbey of Corvey (823): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link, Wikipedia-link Hamburg-Bremen, & Wikipedia-link Archbishops; & Wikipedia-link Corvey.

Commentary: Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

St. Ansgar became known as the "Apostle of the North" for his great evangelical work in Denmark & Sweden. He was Bishop of Hamburg & then of Bremen.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Berlinda of Meerbeke, Religious, O.S.B. (died 702; also spelt Berlindis, Berelenda; A.K.A. Bellaude): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Niece of St. Amand of Maastricht [6 February].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Margaret of England, Religious, O.Cist. (died 1192): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Kinswoman of the martyr St. Thomas Becket [29 December].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed John Nelson, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (circa 1534-1578), 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 Anne-Marie Rivier, Religious (1768-1838), foundress of the Sisters of the Presentation of Mary (1796): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Sisters.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Maria Virgo, Abbess, S.Sp.S.A.P. (1852-1900, A.K.A. Helena Stollenwerk), co-foundress of the Holy Spirit Missionary Sisters (1889, S.Sp.S.) & the Holy Spirit Adoration Sisters (1896, S.Sp.S.A.P.): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.Sp.S. & Wikipedia-link S.Sp.S.A.P.

Commentary: Co-foundress with St. Arnold Janssen, S.V.D. [15 January] & Bl. Josefa Stenmanns, S.Sp.S., T.O.S.F. [20 May].

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Fourth Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter fifteen, verses thirteen, fourteen, & thirty & chapter sixten, verses five thru thirteen;
Psalm Three (R/. eight[a]), verses two & three, four & five, & six & seven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter five, verses one thru twenty.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus goes into the country of the Gerasenes and is confronted by a man with an unclean spirit, who is chained and living among the tombs.

Why has the man been chained? Is he there on the outskirts of the town for a reason? Philosopher René Girard has written persuasively on the theme of scapegoating violence. Scapegoats perform an important function in the maintenance of human societies, effectively channeling away the competition and violence that would, otherwise, tear a community apart.

And thus the Gerasene demoniac is chained to keep him close. Can we not imagine the citizens of the town coming out to gawk at the poor soul? The tortured man calls himself Legion, for there are "many" in him. Could the many in question be the citizens of the town who have projected their hateful shadows onto him?

By curing the Gerasene demoniac, Jesus announces his intention to break the pattern of scapegoating, and thus to show the people of the village a new way of being in community. Instead of projecting their violence and negativity onto an innocent other, they should turn to the difficult but ultimately soul-enlarging task of self-criticism and conversion.

Video reflection by Monsignor Jams Vlaun (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Blaise
The Letter to the Romans, chapter five, verses one thru five;
Psalm One Hundred Seventeen, verses one(b/c), two
(R/. the Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verse fifteen; or, "Alleluia");
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter sixteen, verses fifteen thru twenty.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Ansgar
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-two, verses seven thru ten;
Psalm Ninety-six (R/. three), verses one & two(a), two(b) & three, seven & eight, & ten;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter one, verses fourteen thru twenty.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 22
The Book of Exodus, chapter nine, verses eight thru twelve.

Commentary: The Sixth Plague: Boils (Exodus, 9:8-12).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Grace builds upon nature. The Gospel does not make inhuman demands on us. It enlightens, elevates, & perfects what is human through the power of God's grace."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast day: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"If I were worthy of such a favor from my God, I would ask that He grant me this one miracle: That by His grace He would make of me a good man."
—St. Ansgar (801-865, feast day: 3 February)