Saints + Scripture: Quadragesima

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'Tis the Tuesday of the First Week of Lent (meaning "Spring;" the Latin name is Quadragesima, meaning "fortieth"): Quadragesima-link & Wikipedia-link Quadragesima.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the First Week of Lent
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-five, verses ten & eleven;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. eighteen[b]), verses four & five, six & seven, sixteen & seventeen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter six, verses seven thru fifteen.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel is Matthew’s version of the Lord’s Prayer. I want to reflect on the first verses. How wonderful that it comes directly from the prayer of Jesus himself. It is as though the prayer that he teaches them sums up the content of his own prayer.

We call God "Father" when we pray. We call him Abba, Daddy. The same intimacy that Jesus has with his Abba he invites us to share. We don’t just imitate his prayer, the way we would imitate the prayer of any spiritual teacher; rather, we enter into the dynamics of his own being when we pray.

"Hallowed be thy name." May your name be held holy. The first thing we ask is that we might honor him, that we might make him first in our lives, that he might be set apart from everything else. Job, family, money, success, the esteem of others, our friends—all of it is good, but none of it is to be held holy in this sense.

If we get this wrong, we get everything else wrong. If we don’t hold his name holy above all, everything becomes profane.

Reflect: What does it mean to "hold God’s name holy above all" in your own life? Is anything competing for that top position of honor?

Video reflection by Dennis Mahaney (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

"Easter of Hope" Reflection (Array of Hope):

Today’s Reading beautifully compares the power of God’s Word to the precipitation that sustains and nourishes all lifeforms on Earth. Without rain, snow, or any kind of precipitation, the Earth would not be able to survive. It would become a barren desert and every creature would perish.

Where do you get your nourishment? Like the earth, we need to be nourished and sustained by God’s Word. Thankfully, God sent His only son to nourish us. The same Christ who was with our Heavenly Father at the beginning of Creation, has been sent by God to dwell among men and reveal God’s glory through His words and deeds. As Catholics, we have an opportunity to receive Christ in the Eucharist everyday. How often do we think about the fact that the “Word-Made-Flesh” makes Himself available to us daily?

Today’s Tip: Go to daily Mass and receive the Eucharist. After receiving, pray and mediate on the many graces we receive when we consume the Body of Christ. Thanks be to Jesus, we have an opportunity to be nourished body and soul!

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 51
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-one, verse thirty-three thru chapter twenty-two, verse six.

Commentary: Laws concerning Violence & Harm (concluded; Exodus, 21:22-36) & Laws of Restitution (Exodus, 22:1-6).

Scripture Study—The 3:16 Project
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter chapter three, verse sixteen.

But her husband went with her, weeping after her all the way to Bahurim. Then Abner said to him, "Go, return;" & he returned.

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Katharine Drexel, Virgin, S.B.S. (1858-1955, also spelt Catherine Drexel), foundress of the Sisters of the Blessed Sacrament (S.B.S.) &, among other institutions, Xavier University of Lousiana: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.B.S. & Wikipedia-link Xavier University.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

An American heiress who devoted her life *& her considerable fortune) to establishing missions, schools, & homes for African-American & Native American children in this country.

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Winwaloe, Abbot (circa 460-532; also spelt Winwallus, Guénolé, Winwaloëus, etc.), founding abbot of the Abbey of Landévennec: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Landévennec.

Commentary: Son of St. Fragan [5 July] & St. Gwen Teirbron [3 October].

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Non, Religious (floruit circa 500; also spelt Nonna, Nonnita): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Mother of the bishop St. David of Wales [1 March].

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Anselm of Nonantola, Abbot, O.S.B. (died circa 805), Duke of Friuli, founding abbot of the Abbey of Nonantola (752-756 & 763-805): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link Nonantola & Wikipedia-link Nonantola.

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Teresa Eustochio Verzeri, Religious F.S.C.G. (1801-1852, A.K.A. Ignazia Verzeri), foundress of the Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus (1831, F.S.C.G.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link F.S.C.G.

'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Innocenzo of Berzo, Priest, O.F.M. Cap. (1844-1890; Anglicized as Innocent, A.K.A. Giovanni Scalvinoni): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Fasting wakes us up. It maks us more attentive to God & our neighbor."
—Pope Francis, S.J. (b. 1936, r. 2013-present)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Since you cannot do good to all, you are to pay special attention to those who, by the accidents of time, or place, or circumstances, are brought into closer connection with you."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"Little things please great minds."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Catholic Quote o' the Day

"Some may say, ‘Why not just go with the flow and give in to what feels natural?’ Try this attitude in sports, and you’ll never make the team. Try it in academics, and you’ll never attend college. Try it in marriage, and divorce will be inevitable. Try it as a father, and your children will resent you. We have been made to live for something greater than ourselves. So do not waste your manhood on yourself. Accept the demands and responsibilities of true love, and you will reap the rewards."
—Jason Evert (fl. 2020)