Saints + Scripture — Please Stand By

'Tis the Friday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: 41 Jahre

Fountains of Wayne, "Bright Future in Sales" from Welcome Interstate Managers (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"And if I make it home alive—

"I'm gonna get my shit together,
'Cause I can't live like this forever…"

Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"Catholic T-shirt Club Unboxing: Saint Joseph"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Peter Chrysologus, Bishop & Doctor of the Church (circa 380-450, the “Doctor of Homilies”), Bishop of Ravenna (430-450): Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, Doctor-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Ravenna & Wikipedia-link Bishops; & Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Chrysologus is an epithet, meaning "golden-worded."

'Tis also the festival of Saint Tatwine of Canterbury, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 670-734; also spelt Tatuini, Tadwinus), tenth (X) Archbishop of Canterbury (731-734), abbot of Breedon Abbey (731): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link, Wikipedia-link Canterbury, & Wikipedia-link Archbishops; & Abbey-link & Wikipedia-link Breedon.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Hatebrand, Abbot, O.S.B. (died 1198), abbot of the abbey at Olden-Klooster (1183-1198): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Thomas Abel, Richard Featherstone, & Edward Powell, Priests & Martyrs (died 1540; also spelt Abell, Able; also spelt Fetherston), martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VIII: Martyr-link Tango Alpha & Wikipedia-link Tango Alpha, Martyr-link Romeo Foxtrot & Wikipedia-link Romeo Foxtrot, & Martyr-link Echo Papa & Wikipedia-link Echo Papa.

Commentary: Bls. Thomas, Richard, & Edward were twinned with & executed alongside a trio of Lutherans: Robert Barnes, Thomas Gerrard, & William Jerome. The Catholics were hanged, drawn, & quartered for treason; the Lutherans were burned at the stake for heresy. Wikipedia-link Romeo Bravo & Wikipedia-link Tango Golf.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Leopold of Castelnuovo, Priest, O.F.M. Cap. (1866-1942, the "Apostle of Confession" & the "Apostle of Unity;" A.K.A. Bogdan Ivan Mandić): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Solanus Casey, Priest, O.F.M. Cap. (1870-1957, A.K.A. Bernard Francis Casey): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter eighteen, verses one thru six;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-six (R/. five[a]), verses one & two, three & four, & five & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses forty-seven thru fifty-three.

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

Friends, today’s Gospel reminds us of the final judgment when the wicked will be separated from the righteous. When good and evil are confused or intermingled, divine judgment separates them, clarifying the issue.

Bob Dylan said, “The enemy I see wears the cloak of decency.” One of the favorite ruses of evil is to cover itself in the mantle of justice and piety, at the same time aping and hiding behind that which it opposes. Christ’s judgment rips away these cloaking devices, these deceits, and shows things as they are.

Authentic Christianity is a fighting religion, and it calls evil by its name. The Church knows what stands outside of itself, and it turns its back on it. The bearer of light and truth, it separates good from evil, sometimes painfully, like a “two-edged sword.”

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

Video reflection by Becket Ghioto (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Peter Chrysologus
The Letter to the Ephesians, chapter three, verses eight thru twelve;
Psalm One Hundred Nineteen (R/. twelve), verses nine, ten, eleven, twelve, thirteen, & fourteen;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter six, verses forty-three, forty-four, & forty-five.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"If humanity 'groans & travails in pain,' it does so to the extent that people's minds & hearts are not lifted up with Christ to God. Their consciences are not conformed through Christ to the wisdom that comes from God."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Let us foster confidence in God, & thank Him ahead of time for whatever He chooses to send us."
—Bl. Solanus Casey (1870-1957, feast: 30 July)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"Serve God joyfully. Let there be no sadness in your life. The only true sorrow is sin."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Our Blessed Lord's last meal is more than a meal. It is a memorial of His death. He used bread & wine because these were the two substances which traditionally nourished man. In using bread & wine He was therefore using a symbol of ourselves. He now prepares the new passover. The old Passover was to celebrate the Jews leaving their bondage in Egypt & coming into the promised land. The new covenant, the new exodus, the new passover, is passing from sin to union with God through Christ. Our Lord then says, 'I am going to give you a memorial of My death.' He then symbolized for them His death by the separate consecration of His bread & wine. He said first, 'This is my Body.' Over the wine He said, 'This is my Blood,' not 'this symbolizes.' This is. That separate consecration of bread & wine was like the tearing apart of blood from body, which is the way He would die on the cross the next day. And then He said, 'Do this in memory of me.' Every time we assist at Mass we are watching the renewal of the death of Christ & incorporating our own death into His. That is the meaning of the Eucharist."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Saints + Scripture — Please Stand By

'Tis the Thursday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time.

The Stars My Destination: Mars 2020

Bonus! Song o' Perseverance & Ingenuity
The Skatalites, "Trip to Mars" from Greetings from Skamania (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary: Congratulations to N.A.S.A. & U.L.A. for this morning's successful launch of the Mars 2020 mission! Godspeed, Perseverance & Ingenuity!

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: 41 Jahre

Jimmy Soul, "If You Wanna Be Happy" from If You Wanna Be Happy (single) (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"If you wanna be happy for the rest of your life,
Never make a pretty woman your wife,
Go for my personal point of view:
Get an ugly girl to marry you…"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: 41 Jahre

Melbourne Ska Orchestra, "While You Wait" from Melbourne Ska Orchestra (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"You know how the world operates,
No time like the present to make
The change that you want to create.

"Come on, take a ride
And feel the bumps as you fly,
'Cause if you don't try,
She'll think you are wasting her time.

"Oh, while you wait,
Oh, while you wait, she's gone.
Oh, while you wait,
Oh, while you wait, she's gone…

"Oh, while you wait,
Oh, while you wait, she's gone.
Oh, while you wait,
Oh, while you wait, she's gone.
Oh, while you wait and hesitate,
It's someone else steppin' in your place.
While you wait,
Oh, while you wait, she's gone…

"Oh, while you wait,
Oh, while you wait, she's gone,
Oh, while you wait,
Oh, while you wait, she's gone,
Oh, while you wait and hesitate,
It's someone else steppin' in your place,
Soon find out you have lost the race,
Late courage never made the grade,
While you wait,
Oh, while you wait, she's gone."

Saints + Scripture

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

'Tis the festival of Memorial of Saint Martha (died circa 80, of Bethany, the "Wonder Worker of Southern Gaul"): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, Saint-link tria, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Sister of Ss. Lazarus & Mary of Bethany [29 July].

Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

Lord Jesus, You taught St. Martha a lesson in the true meaning of love. Help me to realize that You have called me to be Your friend & enable me to respond to that call with all my heart, soul, & strength.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Mary of Bethany (first century): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Sister of Ss. Martha & Lazarus of Bethany [29 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Lazarus of Bethany, Bishop & Martyr (died circa 96; A.K.A. Lazarus of the Four Days, the Resurrected), inaugural Bishop of Marseille, martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Domitian, a victim of his persecution (89-96): Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Marseille, & Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Persecution.

Commentary: Brother of Ss. Martha & Mary of Bethany [29 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Sulien, Abbot (sixth century; also spelt Sulian, Silin), founding abbot of the abbey at Luxulyan: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Luxulyan.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Olaf, Martyr (circa 995-1030, A.K.A. King Olaf II of Norway [1015-1028], the Fat, the Stout, the Big; also spelt Olave, Ólafr Haraldsson), martyred by pagan Vikings, celebrated as the Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae ["Perpetual King of Norway"]: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Rex Perpetuus Norvegiae.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Urban II, Pope, O.S.B. (1040-1099; A.K.A. Odo, also spelt Otho, Eudes; of Châtillon, of Lagery), one hundred fifty-ninth (CLIX) Bishop of Rome (1088-1099), who called the Council of Piacenza (March 1095), the Council of Clermont (November 1095), & the First Crusade (1096-1099); Cardinal-Bishop of Ostia (1078-1088): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Ostia; Pontifex-link & Wikipedia-link Pontifex; & Wikipedia-link Piacenza, Wikipedia-link Clermont, & First Crusade-link & Wikipedia-link First Crusade.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Lek Sirdani, Priest & Martyr (1891-1948), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Enver Hoxha, one of the thirty-eight Martyrs of Albania: Martyrs-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Albania.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter fifteen, verses ten & sixteen thru twenty-one;
Psalm Fifty-nine (R/. seventeen[d]), verses two & three, four, ten & eleven, seventeen, & eighteen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eleven, verses nineteen thru twenty-seven;
or, the Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus says, "I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and anyone who lives and believes in me will never die."

Jesus came primarily as a warrior whose final enemy is death. It is easy to domesticate Jesus, presenting him as a kindly moral teacher. But that is not how the Gospels present him. He is a cosmic warrior who has come to do battle with those forces that keep us from being fully alive.

Throughout the Gospels, Jesus deals with the effects of death and a death-obsessed culture: violence, hatred, egotism, exclusion, false religion, phony community. But the final enemy he must face down is death itself. Like Frodo going into Mordor, he has to go into death’s domain, get into close quarters with it, and take it on.

Coming to Lazarus’ tomb, Jesus feels the deepest emotions and begins to weep. This is God entering into the darkness, confusion, and agony of the death of sinners. He doesn’t blithely stand above our situation, but rather takes it on and feels it at its deepest level.

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

Video reflection by Doctor John Bergsma (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Martha
The First Letter of John, chapter four, verses seven thru sixteen;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. two or nine), verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to John, chapter eleven, verses nineteen thru twenty-seven;
or, the Gospel according to Luke, chapter ten, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Lord Jesus, grant that those You have called Your friends may come to know in fullness the joy You have promised. May they know the joy of praising You, the joy of serving their brothers & sisters, the joy of abiding in Your love."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"St. Joseph has the power to assist us in all causes, in every necessity, in every undertaking."
—St. Thomas Aquinas, O.P., Doctor of the Church (1225-1274, feast: 28 January)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"Prayer is necessary as air to breathe, as necessary as the blood in our bodies, as necessary as anything. We think so many things are necessary, but we are wrong. We have been deceived & we deceive ourselves. So few things are necessary, & prayer is one of them."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"There are two ways of knowing: knowing from the outside & knowing from the inside, knowing by study & knowing by communion. Hence, sacred scripture always speaks of the union of husband & wife as 'knowledge.' For example, 'Adam knew Eve, & she conceived.' Mary, 'I know not man.' Paul said, 'Husbands, possess your wives in knowledge.' The Old Testament said, 'Solomon knew her not.' There is a knowledge that comes from the intimate, personal union of husband & wife that transcends any other kind of knowledge. And so in the Eucharist there is another kind of knowledge by communion that is not given to us by study. This is the incorporation to the higher life."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Saints + Scripture — Please Stand By

'Tis the Wednesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time.

Operation ÖSTERREICH: Auspicious Day Special

We made the birthday cake last for three days, which is pretty good for us; often, it is gone by the second day. The Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in will return next Wednesday, 5 August, in triumph or ignominy.

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH
Jim Gaffigan, "Cake" from Beyond the Pale (Mike Papa Waffle)

Bonus! Song o' the Day

Mahalia Jackson, "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!" from Toys for Tots: 25 All-Time Christmas Favorites (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: Christmas in July? I woke up this morning with Mahalia Jackson's majestic rendition of "Hark! The Herald Angels Sing!" playing in my head.

"…Hail the heaven-born Prince of Peace!
Hail the sun of righteous!
Light and life to all He brings,
Filled with healing in His wings,
More, He lay his glory by,
Born that man no more may die!
Born to raise the sons of earth!
Born to given them second birth!

"Hark! the herald angels sing!
Glory to the newborn King!"

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: 41 Jahre

The Peacocks, "Older Than Punk" from It's Time for the Peacocks (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary: I'm not actually older than punk.

"Baby, I am older,
I'm older than punk,
If you wanna know
What that means to me,
It's that I can say, 'No!'…

"Or just ask why I don't believe in everything they say…"

Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"Attachments"

'Tis the festival of Saints Nazarius & Celsus of Rome, Martyrs (died circa 68), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero, victims of the Neronian Persecution (64-68): Martyr-link November, Martyr-link Charlie, & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Neronian Persecution.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. St. Nazarius is the son of St. Perpetua [4 August].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Victor I, Pope & Martyr (circa 155-199), fourteenth (XIV) Bishop of Rome (189-199), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Septimius Severus, a victim of the Severan Persecution (199-211): Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, Martyr-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link & Wikipedia-link Pontifex; & Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Severan Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Samson of Dol, Bishop & Abbot (circa 485-565, A.K.A. of York, of Brittany; also spelt Sampson, Samsun), one of the Seven Founder Saints of Brittany: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Brittany.

Commentary: Brother of Ss. Gwyneth of Cornwall & Veep [both 1 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Jaime Hilario Barbal, Religious & Martyr, F.S.C. (1898-1937, A.K.A. Manuel Barbal i Cosín), martyred by Spanish Communist "Republicans": Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Alphonsa of the Immaculate Conception, Religious, F.C.C. (1910-1946, A.K.A. Anna Muttathupadathu): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Stanley Rother, Priest & Martyr (1935-1981), martyred by a Guatemalan death squad: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter fourteen, verses seventeen thru twenty-two;
Psalm Seventy-nine (R/. nine), verses eight, nine & eleven & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses thirty-six thru forty-three.

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

Friends, in our Gospel today Jesus explains the parable of the weeds among the wheat. God’s word creates the Church, the community of those who strive to build up the kingdom. But this Church is never absolutely pure and untrammeled, for God’s ways are opposed by a spiritual power, an enemy. His task is to sow weeds among the wheat—clandestinely, quietly, unobtrusively.

This sort of coming together of good and evil is to be expected. The Church will always be a place of saints and sinners, and the sinners will often look like saints. The enemy of the Church, who never rests, ensures it.

Vigilance in regards to evil is necessary in a fallen world, yet we must be wary of a zeal that, in its passion for setting things right, comes to believe that evil can be dealt with by destroying what is good.

In the midst of a fallen world, what is expected of us is that we live in hope that at the end, at harvest time, the Master will separate the good from the bad.

Video reflection by Father Jack Ledwon (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The Eucharist is the privileged summit of the meeting of Christ's love for us; a love that is made available for each of us, a love that is made to be sacrificial lamb & food for our hunger for life. As the Apostle says, 'He loved me & gave Himself up for me.'"
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"What I wish above all is, that you busy yourselves in the pure love of Jesus Christ, in the desire for His glory, & the salvation of souls which He has so dearly purchased."
—St. Igantius of Loyola, S.J. (1491-1556, feast: 31 July)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"We must know that we have been created for greater things, not just to be numbers in the world, not just to go for degrees & diplomas. Not just to work & accomplish. We have been created to love & to be loved. This is easy to forget amidst the busyness of life. You have been created to love & to be loved. Make love a priority."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

The Explorers' Club, № DCCLXI

Operation AXIOM: After the World War—The Greco-Turkish War, Part III
22 June-September 1920: The Greek Summer Offensive—The British & Greeks launched a series of coordinated attacks & amphibious landings throughout the lands south of the Sea of Marmara & the Aegean Region, advancing over 125 miles out from Smyrna; the captive Ottoman government in Constantinople countered Atatürk's nationalists by invoking the sultan's authority as Islamic caliph.

Lest we forget.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' Today: 41 Jahre

Montag, 27. Juli
Dennis McCarthy, "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine—After 3:00 A.M. at Quark's" from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine—After 3:00 A.M. at Quark's (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Bonus! Song o' Yesterday: 41 Jahre

Sonntag, 26. Juli
They Might Be Giants, "It's Not My Birthday" from Then: The Earlier Years (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"It's not my birthday,
It's not today,
It's not my birthday,
So why do you lash out at me?…"

Saints + Scripture — Please Stand By

'Tis the Monday of the Seventeenth Week in Ordinary Time.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Lord's Day: XVII

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Sunday Afternoons on Wisdom Ave." from The Magic of Youth (St. Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture: XVII Sunday — Please Stand By

'Tis the Seventeenth Sunday in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year").

Bonus! Bonus! Song o' This Auspicious Day

Jim Gaffigan, "Presents" from Beyond the Pale (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"They give the alert 'cause, you know, there's so much pressure in our society to have a good time on your birthday. You know, it's like, 'Can't believe I'm going to work on my birthday!' 'Can't believe I'm doing laundry on my birthday!' 'Can't believe I'm paying for sex on my birthday! Ripoff!'

"It is fun getting those gifts, though…"

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint James

'Tis the Feast of Saint James, Apostle (died 44, the Greater, the Son of Zebedee, one of the two "Sons of Thunder;" originally Ya'qob, in Latin Iacobus, in English Jacob), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Claudius, at the command of the client tetrarch Herod Agrippa: Apostle-link ūnus, Apostle-link duo, Apostle-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Apostles-link & Wikipedia-link Apostles.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of Saint James
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses seven thru fifteen;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-six (R/. five), verses one(b/c) & two(a/b), two(c/d) & three, four & five, & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty, verses twenty thru twenty-eight.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the mother of James and John asks Jesus in their name that they might play leading roles in his kingdom. This Gospel reveals that the brothers are in a bad spiritual place. We have to move from the play that we are writing, directing, and starring in to the play that God is directing.

To be fair to them, their request makes a certain amount of sense, as the Messiah was expected to be a new David, and David was a man of tremendous power and honor. Power is the capacity to get things done; without it, nothing of value would ever have been accomplished. Honor is a way of signaling to others something that’s worth noticing.

But James and John are asking for these two things in the wrong spirit. When the ego grabs power and honor for itself, things get dysfunctional very quickly. So what must we do? In other versions of this story, Jesus placed a child in the midst of the Twelve, showing someone who had neither power nor honor. Here he simply says, “Whoever wishes to be great among you shall be your servant; whoever wishes to be first among you shall be your slave.”

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

Scripture Study—Day 91: Contentness Plateau, Day 34
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter twelve, verses fifteen thru twenty-three.

Commentary: Nathan Condemns David, & God Punishes Him (cont'd; 2 Samuel, 12:15-23).

'Tis also the festival of Saint Christopher, Martyr (died circa 251, A.K.A. Offero, Reprobus), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Decius, a victim of the Decian Persecution (250-251); one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Decian Persecution, & Holy Helpers-link & Wikipedia-link Holy Helpers.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Olympias of Constantinople, Deaconess (circa 361-408, A.K.A. the Younger; also spelt Olympiad): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Deaconess.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Glodesind of Metz, Abbess (died circa 608): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Rodolfo Acquaviva, Priest & Martyr, S.J. (1550-1583), martyred by Hindu Kshatriyas, one of the twenty martyrs of the Cuncolim Revolt: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Cuncolim.

Commentary: Cousin of St. Aloysius Gonzaga, S.J. [21 June].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Antonio Lucci, Bishop, O.F.M. Cov. (1682-1752, the "Angel of the Poor;" A.K.A. Angelo Nicola Lucci), Bishop of Bovino (1729-1752): Blessed-link ūnus, Blessed-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Bovino.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Faith in the God of Jesus Christ means faith in the God who still opens up, really & truly, a future behind the wall of death. Only if that happens is the future truly promised."
—Pope Benedict XVI (b. 1927, r. 2005-2013)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Patience is necessary for the servant of God, & we must not be distressed at trouble, but wait for consolation."
—St. Philip Neri, Cong. Orat. (1515-1595, feast: 26 May)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I believe that many people today think the poor are not humans like them. They look down on them. But if they had a deep respect for the poor, I am sure it would be easy for them to come closer to them, & to see that they have as much right to the things of life & to love as anybody has."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"The best way to understand that the Church is not just an institution is to understand it as the body of Christ. That’s the way St. Paul understood the Church, & that’s the way we have it in sacred scripture. Our Blessed Lord says all through the gospels that He is going to establish a new body, a new qahal, a new people of God. After all, when people are united for a given purpose, they are a body. Now our Lord did not use the word 'body' precisely because His Own physical body was before everyone. He used the word 'kingdom' because that was a word the Jews could understand. But when St. Paul was talking to the pagans, he had to use a word which was more understandable, namely, 'body.' Our Lord communicated exactly the same idea. He said that the new people He would unite with Himself would be related to Him as branches & vine. He said, 'I am the vine, you are the branches.' The truth that He had, He said He would give to them. 'My truth I give to you. My power I give you.' Also He communicated the power to forgive sins. Our Blessed Lord said that He would develop & form a new body which would be very small at first like a mustard seed, & then it would grow & spread throughout the entire world."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' This Auspicious Day

The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, "Everybody's Better" from A Jackknife to a Swan (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"Everybody's better than I am,
I think everybody's better than me,
And everybody's swell, I guess,
They're doing well, more or less
And everybody's better than I am, I think…

"Everybody's acting like I don't matter,
Everybody's into the act,
Too many of them to avoid,
It could be that I'm paranoid,
I matter as a matter of fact…"

Bonus! Song o' This Auspicious Day

They Might Be Giants, "Older" from Mink Car (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Commentary:

"You're older than you've ever been
And now you're even older,
And now you're even older,
And now you're even older.
You're older than you've ever been
And now you're even older,
And now you're older still.

"Time! Is marching on!
And time! Is still marching on!

"This day will soon be at an end
And now it's even sooner,
And now it's even sooner,
And now it's even sooner.
This day will soon be at an end
And now it's even sooner,
And now it's sooner still.

"You're older than you've ever been
And now you're even older,
And now you're even older,
And now you're even older.
You're older than you've ever been
And now you're even older,
And now you're older still."

Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"Letter from the Jehovah's Witnesses"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest, O.L.M. (1828-1898, also spelt Charbel Makhlouf; A.K.A. Youssef Antoun Makhlūf, Joseph Zaroun Makhlūf): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Declán of Ardmore, Bishop (fifth century, also spelt Déaglán), inaugural Bishop of Ardmore (Aird Mhór, Árd Mór): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Árd Mór.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Roman & David of Kiev, Martyrs (died circa 1015, A.K.A. Boris & Gleb), martyred in the reign of their brother, the Kievan Rus' prince Sviatopolk the Accursed,: Martyr-link Romeo, Martyr-link Delta, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Sons of St. Vladimir of Kiev [15 July], great-grandsons of St. Olga of Kiev [11 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Kinga of Poland, Abbess, O.S.C. (circa 1224-1292; A.K.A. Kunigunde, also spelt Cunegunda, etc.), Grand Duchess of Poland: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Great-niece of St. Hedwig of Silesia [16 October], niece of Ss. Elizabeth of Hungary [17 November] & Agnes of Prague [2 March], sister of St. Margaret of Hungary [18 January] & Bl. Yolanda of Poland [11 June], & sister-in-law of Bl. Salomea of Poland [17 November].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Louise of Savoy, Religious, O.S.C. (circa 1461-1503, also spelt Luisa): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Descendant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary [17 November] & so distant kin of St. Kinga of Poland [24 July], et al.; daughter of Bl. Amadeus of Savoy [30 March] & cousin of St. Joan of Valois [4 February].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Joseph Lambton, Priest & Martyr (circa 1568-1592), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Friday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter three, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter thirty-one, (R/. ten[d]) verses ten, eleven & twelve(a/b/c/d), & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses eighteen thru twenty-three.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus explains the parable of the sower. This parable is reminiscent of another well-known story of Jesus: that of the shepherd and the lost sheep.

"Which man among you," asks Jesus, "having a hundred sheep and losing one of them would not leave the ninety-nine in the desert and go after the lost one until he finds it?" Can we imagine the shepherds in Jesus’ audience shaking their heads? No shepherd would be so foolish! Which is just the point: God’s love is so extravagant that it breaks all of our categories of what is reasonable.

One of our favorite pastimes is setting limits to the love of God. We say that God loves those who love him, or that God loves those who are in the right church or have the right doctrines. But God does not sow only on the receptive soil; he sows everywhere, even in those places that are least receptive.

Video reflection by Father Praveen Lakkisetti (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor John Bergsma (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Sharbel Makhlūf
The Book of Sirach, chapter three, verses seventeen thru twenty-four;
Psalm Fifteen (R/. one), verses two & three(a/b), three(c/d) & four(a/b), & five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-seven, twenty-eight, & twenty-nine.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Contentness Plateau, Day 33
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter twelve, verses one thru seven, thirteen, fourteen, & fifteen.

Commentary: Nathan Condemns David, & God Punishes Him (2 Samuel, 12:1-7, 13-15).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Strong in faith, put up a good fight; the future belongs to the believers & not to the skeptics & doubters. The future belongs to those who love, not to those who hate. The Church's mission in the world, far from being ended or outmoded, goes out to meet new trials & fresh enterprises."
—Pope Ven. Pius XII (1876-1958, r. 1939-1958)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The moth flies round the flame & falls into it… let your soul be drawn into the divine light & consumed in it."
—St. Paul of the Cross, C.P. (1694-1775, feast: 19 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"All of us are called to work in a special way for the sake of peace. In order to bring about that peace, we need to learn from Jesus to be meek & humble of heart. Only humility will lead us to unity, & unity to peace."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"When our Lord does come to use the word qahal—the word used for God’s people—He calls it 'My qahal:' I will found My Church, My people. The bond that Christ establishes with this new qahal is not a bond of law, it is a bond of love. The very best moment for establishing this bond was a banquet where His Twelve sat about Him in love. Just as Moses often sprinkled blood upon the people as a sign of covenant, so He said that He would make a new covenant, a new pact, a new testament. And there was the sprinkling of the blood of goats & bullocks & sheep; He gave His Own Blood & said, 'This is the Blood of the new covenant'—the new testament, the new pact. This is the bond that will unite all of My people together. Now do you see that the Church is not an institution?"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Wake Up Song o' the Day

Tokyo Ska Paradise Orchestra featuring Asian Kung-Fu Generation, "Wake Up!" from Ska Me Forever (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture

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

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Bridget, Religious, O.Ss.S. (circa 1303-1373, of Sweden, of Vadstena; A.K.A. Birgitta Birgersdotter), foundress of the Bridgettines (1346, O.Ss.S.), formally the Order of the Most Holy Savior; one of the six Patron Saints of Europe: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, Saint-link tria, & Wikipedia-link; Order-link O.Ss.S. & Wikipedia-link O.Ss.S.; & Wikipedia-link Europe.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Kinswoman of St. Ingrid of Skänninge [2 September] & mother of St. Catherine of Sweden [24 March].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Phocas the Gardener, Martyr (died circa 303, of Sinope), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian, a victim of the Great Persecution (303-313): Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Persecutions-link & Wikipedia-link Great Persecution.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Liborius of Le Mans, Bishop (died circa 397), second (II) Bishop of Le Mans (348-397): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Le Mans.

'Tis also the festival of Saint John Cassian, Deacon (circa 360-435, A.K.A. the Ascetic, the Roman), founder of the Abbey of Saint Victor (415): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint Victor.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Krystyn Gondek, Priest & Martyr, O.F.M. (1909-1942, A.K.A. Wojciech Gondek), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List, № 47); Martyrs-link Polska & Wikipedia-link Polska.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Basil Hopko, Bishop & Martyr (1904-1976, also spelt Vasil'), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Gustáv Husák: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Thursday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter two, verses one, two, three, seven, eight, twelve, & thirteen;
Psalm Thirty-six (R/. ten[a]), verses six & seven(a/b), eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter thirteen, verses ten thru seventeen.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus explained that he spoke in parables to baffle the crowds, who “look but do not see and hear but do not listen or understand.” The parables of Jesus are often exercises whose purpose is to confuse and confound the hearer, overturning her expectations and upsetting her theological convictions.

God is just, but in light of the parable of the vineyard owner, one realizes that the ordinary notion of justice only vaguely indicates what divine justice is like. God is compassionate, but after hearing the story of the prodigal son, one knows that divine compassion infinitely surpasses even the most radical mode of human love.

But why is the biblical God so elusive? Because he brought the whole of the finite universe into existence. God must be other in a way that transcends any and all modes of otherness discoverable within creation.

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

Video reflection by Becket Ghioto (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Bridget
The Letter to the Galatians, chapter two, verses nineteen & twenty;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. two or nine), verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses one thru eight.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Contentness Plateau, Day 32
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter eleven, verses sixteen thru twenty-five.

Commentary: David Has Uriah Killed (cont'd; 2 Samuel, 11:16-25).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"In prayer we seek, find, & converse with God just as we would with an intimate friend. We can speak of our sorrows & joys, our weaknesses & problems, & our desires to be better & to help others to be better too."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Our concern must be to know God's will. We must enter that path… if God wants, when God wants, how God wants."
—St. Gianna Beretta Molla (1922-1962, feast: 28 April)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I have never been in a war, but I have seen famine, death, & destruction. I was asking myself the other day: What do people feel when they provoke war? I don't understand it. We are all children of God. In every war, on both sides, everyone involved, everyone affected is a child of God."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Maybe you have often said, 'I do not want an institution standing between God and me.' Well, that’s right. After all, you have a right to communicate with God. But the Church is not that kind of an institution, standing between you & God. Israel was not between the world & God. Think of the Church somewhat in the fashion of a body. Do you ever say, for example, I do not want your lips & eyes & hands & so forth standing between me & you? After all, how can I communicate anything to you, except by something visible & tangible & carnal? Anything visible that you see about me or will ever see about me is nothing but the sign of an invisible soul. The carnal is the token of the spiritual. So when our Blessed Lord came to this earth & took upon Himself a human body, you would not say, 'I do not want this body of Christ standing between me & my love of Christ.' That is the only way of the Incarnation, to communicate the divine through the human. This human nature of our Blessed Lord, this body of His was the instrument of His divinity. When, therefore, our Lord came as priest, as prophet, & as king, everything He did was done through the power & the means of this human nature."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Rebel Black Dot Wake Up Song o' the Day

Melbourne Ska Orchestra, "Time to Wake Up" from Melbourne Ska Orchestra (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"Just imagine we are floating on the sea
Where one boat survives,
We all understand that balance is the key
To stay alive.

"Yet we steal the world and sell it to ourselves,
Slowly tearing us apart,
We believe that everyone knows how it goes:
It's time to wake up.

"Every day that you are dragging your feet
Is one day too much…"

The Rebel Black Dot Wake Up Song o' the Day

Mustard Plug, "Time to Wake Up" from In Black and White (Rude Boy Mike Papa Whiskey)

Skammentary:

"Time to wake up, darling,
Time to open your eyes,
Rise and shine, my darling,
Time to wake up from this nightmare!

"And we're saying:
You were promised faith and compassion,
You delivered strife and aggression,
As you sugarcoat your discretion
The blood rolls down your fingers…"

Operation ÖSTERREICH

Weekly Wednesday Weigh-in
Last weigh-in: 361 lbs
This weigh-in: 361 lbs.
Difference: +/-0 lbs.

In the last fortnight, with the goal of losing four pounds (4 lbs.), I've lost a grand total of one pound (1 lbs.). That's not going to get the job done.

Bonus! Lied von ÖSTERREICH
"Weird Al" Yankovic, "The White Stuff" from Off the Deep End (Mike Papa Waffle)

Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

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

'Tis the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene (died circa 63, the "Apostle to the Apostles;" A.K.A. of Magdala, the Madeleine): Magdelene-link ūna, Magdelene-link duæ, Magdelene-link tria, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of St. Mary Magdalene
The Song of Songs, chapter three, verses one thru four(b);
or, the Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
Psalm Sixty-three (R/. two), verses two, three & four, five & six, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty, verses one, two, & eleven thru eighteen.

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

Friends, today we celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the first witness of Christ’s rising, who declared the Resurrection to the Apostles.
In point of fact, the Easter declaration, properly understood, has always been and still is an explosion, an earthquake, a revolution. For the Easter faith is that Jesus of Nazareth, who had been brutally put to death by the Roman authorities, is alive again through the power of the Holy Spirit—and not in some metaphorical sense.

That the Resurrection is a literary device or a symbol that Jesus’ cause goes on is a fantasy born in the faculty lounges of Western universities over the past couple of centuries. The still startling claim of the first witnesses is that Jesus rose bodily from death, presenting himself to his disciples to be seen, even handled.

The hope of ancient Israel was the unification of heaven and earth in a great marriage. Recall a central line from the Lord’s Prayer: "Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven." The bodily Resurrection of Jesus is the powerful sign that the two orders are in fact coming together.

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

Video reflection by Doctor John Bergsma (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Contentness Plateau, Day 31
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter eleven, verses six thru fifteen.

Commentary: David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba (cont'd; 2 Samuel, 11:6-13) & David Has Uriah Killed (11:14-15).

'Tis also the festival of Saint Joseph of Palestine (circa 285-356, A.K.A. of Tiberias), builder of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves & Fish (350) & a foe of the Arian heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Church, & Heresy-link & Wikipedia-link Arianism.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Wandregisel, Priest & Abbot (circa 600-668, A.K.A. Wandrille), founding abbot of Fontenelle Abbey (649, later the Abbey of Saint Wandrille): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link & Wikipedia-link Fontenelle.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Gerolamo of Pavia, Bishop (died circa 787, Anglicized as Jerome), Bishop of Pavia (778-787): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pavia.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Benno of Osnabrück, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 1020-1088, A.K.A. Bernard, Benno II), nineteenth (XIX) Bishop of Osnabrück (1068-1088), founder of the Abbey at Schloss Iburg (1080): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Osnabrück & Wikipedia-link Iburg.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Augustine of Biella, Priest, O.P. (1430-1493, A.K.A. Agostino Fangi), prior of monasteries at Biella, Soncino (1464), Vercelli, & Vigevano: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Philip Evans, S.J., & John Lloyd, Priests & Martyrs (died 1679), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles II, victims of the perjeror Titus Oates's "Popish Plot" hoax; two of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Papa Echo, Martyr-link Juliett Lima, & Wikipedia-link; Popish Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Popish Plot; & Martyr-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"The story of Mary of Magdala reminds us all of a fundamental truth. A disciple of Christ is one who, in the experience of human weakness, has had the humility to ask for His help, has been healed by Him & has set out following closely after Him, becoming a witness of the power of His merciful love that is stronger than sin & death."
—Pope Benedict XVI (b. 1927, r. 2005-2013)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Don't allow any sadness to dwell in your soul, for sadness prevents the Holy Spirit from acting freely."
—St. Pius of Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap. (1887-1968, feast: 23 September)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"Be kind & merciful. Let no one ever come to you wihout coming away better & happier. Be a living expression of God's kindness."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Chemicals have to die to themselves to live in plants; plants have to be ground beneath the jaws of death to live in animals; and animals have to submit themselves to the knife and fire to live in man. We also have to die to ourselves to continue to live in Christ. So communion also has another aspect. Paul says, “Know you not that as often as you eat of this bread or drink of this chalice you announce the death of the Lord until he comes.” This, then, is the communion where we begin now to live in Christ and become dead to the world. What a blessed privilege this is!"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

The Explorers' Club, № DCCLX

Operation AXIOM: The Space Race—The 59th Anniversary of Mercury-Redstone 4
21 July 1961: Mercury 4 lifted off from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station, carrying Gus Grissom (1926-1967), U.S.A.F. aboard the Mercury capsule Liberty Bell 7 atop a Redstone rocket for a suborbital flight; the escape hatch blew unexpectedly shortly after splashdown, the Liberty Bell 7 filled with seawater, & sank into the Atlantic Ocean; Grissom was recovered by the U.S.S. Randolph.

Commentary: Gus Grissom is a fondly familiar face to regular readers of The Secret Base, between this year's "Explorers' Club" episode about the fifty-fifth anniversary of Gemini 3 (Wayback Machine № DCCXXXIX) & our annual commemoration of the Apollo 1 disaster (Wayback Machine Apollo 1).

The Liberty Bell 7 was recovered on 20 July 1999 from a depth of nearly sixteen thousand feet (16,000 ft.), was painstakingly cleaned & restored, & is now proudly displayed as a museum piece.

Bonus! Space Race Song o' Mercury-Redstone 4
Fountains of Wayne, "Sink to the Bottom" from Fountains of Wayne (Space Cadet Mike Papa Whiskey)

Semper Exploro.

Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"A Guide for Friends of Mourners"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Lawrence of Brindisi, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.F.M. Cap. (1559-1619, A.K.A. Giulio Cesare Russo), Vicar General of the Capuchins (1602-1605, O.F.M. Cap.), formally the Order of Friars Minor Capuchin: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, Doctor-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors; & Wikipedia-link O.F.M. Cap..

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Práxedes of Rome, Virgin (died circa 165; also spelt Praxedis, Praxed): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Daughter of Ss. Pudens [19 May] & Claudia [7 August] & sister of Ss. Prudentia [19 May], Novatus [20 June], & Timotheus [?].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Victor of Marseilles, Martyr (died circa 290), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperors Diocletian & Maximian: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Simeon the Holy Fool, Hermit (died circa 570, A.K.A. the Insane, Simeon Salus, Simeon Solos): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Arbogast of Strasbourg, Bishop (died circa 678, A.K.A. Arascach), sixth (VI) Bishop of Strasbourg (630-678): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Strasbourg.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Alberico Crescitelli, Priest & Martyr, P.I.M.E. (1863-1900, A.K.A. Guo Xide), martyred in the reign of the Qing dynasty Guangxu Emperor, a victim of the Boxer Rebellion, one of the one hundred twenty Martyr Saints of China: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Boxer Rebellion, Martyrs-link China, & Wikipedia-link China.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Micah, chapter seven, verses fourteen, fifteen, eighteen, nineteen, & twenty;
Psalm Eighty-five (R/. eight[a]), verses two, three, & four; five & six; & seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses forty-six thru fifty.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus teaches that obedience to God’s will makes disciples his close relatives. “Who is my mother? Who are my brothers? . . . Whoever does the will of my heavenly Father is my brother, and sister, and mother.”

The life of a disciple is a matter of obeying commandments. Listening to commands is tied closely to love on the part of the one who commands, and since love is nothing but the willing of the good of the other, the obedience that Jesus speaks of is a surrender to the one who massively wants what is best for the surrenderer.

I am urging you all to see the radicality of Jesus’ call to discipleship, which cuts through so many of the social conventions of his time and ours. I am urging you to see that everyone—rich and poor, men and women, those on the inside and those on the outs—are summoned to discipleship, and that this summons is the most important consideration of all. It is the one thing necessary.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M. (U.S.C. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Lawrence of Brindisi
The Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter four, verses one, two, five, six, & seven;
Psalm Forty (R/. eight[a] & nine[a]), verses two & four(a/b), seven & eight(a), eight(b) & nine, ten, & eleven;
The Gospel according to Mark, chapter four, verses one thru ten & thirteen thru twenty
(or, the Gospel according to Mark, chapter four, verses one thru nine).

Scripture Study—Day 91: Contentness Plateau, Day 30
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter eleven, verses three, four, & five.

Commentary: David Commits Adultery with Bathsheba (2 Samuel, Z).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Christians must restore their spiritual & moral unity. It is not enough to say we are Christians. We must live as Christians. Genuine Christians derive the rule, style, & strength of their life from the Faith."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"When you invoke St. Joseph, you don't have to say much. Say, 'If you were in my place, St. Joseph, what would you do?' Well, pray for this on my behalf."
—St. André of Montreal (1845-1937, feast: 6 January)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I have met many famous people, successful people, wealthy people, & powerful people. None of us—not you, or me, or them—ever do great things. But we can all do small things with great love, & together we can do something wonderful."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"How does God deal with humanity when humanity begins to multiply? Out of all of the peoples of the world, He chooses one people who are to be His people. This group, this corporation, or this special people are to be the means of bringing salvation to everyone else in the world. Now who were His people? His people were the people of Israel, & He called them first through Abraham, & He governed them through Moses; He ruled them through the judges & the kings; He threatened, pleaded, & coaxed; He warned, & He loved through the prophets. Over & over in the Old Testament we find that God Who loves humanity deals with them through this particular group. In His own words, God says in the book of Exodus, 'You shall be My peculiar possession above all people. For all the earth is Mine, & you shall be to Me a priestly kingdom, a holy nation.' And again God speaks & says, 'You shall be My people, & I shall be your God.'"
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)