Saints + Scripture: Quadragesima

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

'Tis the Wednesday 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—Wednesday of the First Week of Lent
The Book of Jonah, chapter three, verses one thru ten;
Psalm Fifty-one (R/. nineteen[b]), verses three & four, twelve & thirteen, & eighteen & nineteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses twenty-nine thru thirty-two.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel Jesus tells the crowd that the only sign he will give is the sign of Jonah—the victory of his death and Resurrection.

If Jesus had died and simply remained in his grave, he would be remembered (if he was remembered at all) as a noble idealist, tragically crushed by the forces of history. There could have been, in the first century, no surer sign that someone was not the Messiah than his death at the hands of the enemies of Israel, for one of the central marks of Messiahship was precisely victory over those enemies.

That Peter, James, John, Paul, Thomas, and the rest could announce throughout the Mediterranean world that Jesus was in fact the long-awaited Israelite Messiah, and that they could go to their deaths defending this claim, are the surest indications that something monumentally significant happened to Jesus after his death.

That something was the Resurrection. Though too many modern theologians have tried to explain the Resurrection away as a wish-fulfilling fantasy, a vague symbol, or a literary invention, the New Testament writers could not be clearer: the crucified Jesus, who had died and been buried, appeared alive again to his disciples.

Reflect: Where would your faith be without belief in the Resurrection?

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

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

In Today’s Gospel, Jesus warns us about hearing His word but not accepting or following it. The people demanded proof that Jesus was the Messiah before they believed Him. Jesus says “This generation is an evil generation; it seeks a sign, but no sign will be given it, except the sign of Jonah.” Jonah was a sign from God. He spent three days in the belly of a whale. Because of his witness, Nineveh, a pagan city, was converted and the people repented and began to believe in God and His mercy.

How often do we seek out signs in our lives, before believing? As human beings we are visual and rational beings. Sometimes we look for tangible signs from God. Maybe you are seeking affirmation for a decision or choice you need to make, or you need guidance in a particular situation or you simply want reassurance that Jesus is truly present with you. All of these desires are good, but we are called to step out of our comfort and live by faith, not by signs. Just as Jonah was a sign to the Ninevites, Jesus reveals to us that He himself is the sign. But is this enough for us to believe? True faith and trust lies in believing without seeing, and knowing that Christ is always with us, through all the good times and the bad. Throughout Lent we are reminded of His great love for us and how He sacrifices His life out of love for us.

Today’s Tip: Spend 30 minutes with Jesus in front of the Blessed Sacrament. Pray silently to the one who knows your heart inside and out and still loves you.

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 52
The Book of Exodus, chapter twenty-two, verse seven thru chapter twenty-three verse nine.

Commentary: Laws of Restitution (concluded; Exodus, 22:7-15), Social & Religious Laws (Exodus, 22:16-31), & Laws concerning Justice (Exodus, 23:1-9).

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

Then two harlots came to the king, & stood before him.

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Casimir (1458-1484, of Poland, of Cracow): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint Casimir's Fair.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Casimir grew up in a world where his life was not his own. As a prince of Poland, the second son of King Casimir IV & Elizabeth of Austria, his life was scheduled to cement his father's authority & increase Poland's power. Casimir realized from an early age that his life belonged to someone else, but to a much higher King than is father. Despite pressure, humiliation, & rejection, he stood by that loyalty through his whole life.

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Felix of Rhuys, Hermit & Abbot, O.S.B. (died 1038) who rebuilt the Abbey of Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint-Gildas-de-Rhuys.

'Tis also the commemoration of Saint Peter of Pappacarbone, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (died 1123, A.K.A. of La Cava), Bishop of Policastro (1079-1081), third (III) abbot of the Territorial Abbey of La Trinità della Cava (1079-1123): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Policastro & Wikipedia-link La Cava.

Commentary: Kinsman of the founding abbot, St. Alferius [12 April].

'Tis also the commemoration of Blesseds Alexander Blake & Nicholas Horner, Martyrs (died 1590), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Alpha Bravo, & Martyr-link November Hotel & Wikipedia-link November Hotel; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

'Tis also the commemoration of Blessed Christopher Bales, Priest & Martyr (circa 1564-1590, A.K.A. Christopher Evers), 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 commemoration of Blessed Placide Viel, Religious (1815-1877, A.K.A. Eulalie-Victoire Jacqueline Viel): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Niece of her order's foundress, St. Marie-Madeleine Postel [16 July].

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Becoming a priest or a man or woman religious is not primarily our own decision… Rather it is the response to a call & to a call of love."
—Pope Francis, S.J. (b. 1936, r. 2013-present)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, & our heart is restless until it rests in You."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"Let us forget for a day whatever we may think about the faults of others; & pray that we may not again wreck the hope of the world by faults of our own."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)