Saints + Scripture

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

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Benedict, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 480-547, of Nursia), founder of the Abbey of Saint Scholastica (A.K.A. Subiaco Abbey) & the Abbey of Monte Cassino (529), author of the Rule of Saint Benedict, & one of the six Patrons of Europe: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Subiaco, Abbey-link Monte Cassino, & Wikipedia-link Monte Cassino; Rule-link, Wikipedia-link Rule, & Wikipedia-link Ora et labora; & Wikipedia-link Patrons.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Brother of St. Scholastica [10 January].

Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

O Lord, St. Benedict taught that "to work is to pray." Help me to discern Your Presence in my workplace & bear witness to Your love to my coworkers.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Pius I, Pope (circa 81-155), tenth (X) Bishop of Rome (140-155): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Pontifex-link & Wikipedia-link Pontifex.

Commentary: Brother of Hermas, author of The Shepherd of Hermas: Wikipedia-link Hermas & Wikipedia-link The Shepherd.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Olga of Kyiv (879-969; also spelt Helga, A.K.A. Helena), Queen consort & Regent of Kievan Rus': Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Grandmother of St. Vladimir [15 July] & great-grandmother of Ss. Boris & Gleb [24 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Thurketyl, Abbot, O.S.B. (887-975), first abbot of the restored Crowland Abbey (948-975) & abbot of Bedford Abbey: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link Crowland, Wikipedia-link Crowland, Wikipedia-link Abbots, & Wikipedia-link Bedford.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Thomas Hunt & Thomas Sprott, Priests & Martyrs (died 1600), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, two of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Tango Hotel, Martyr-link Tango Sierra, & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Valeriu Traian Frențiu, Bishop & Martyr (1875-1952), Bishop of Oradea Mare (1922-1948), Bishop of Lugoj (1912-1922), martyred in the reign of the Communist dictator Gheorghe Gheorghiu-Dej: Matryr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Oradea Mare.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Saturday of the Fourteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter six, verses one thru eight;
Psalm Ninety-three (R/. one[a]), verses one(a/b), one(c/d) & two, & five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter ten, verses twenty-four thru thirty-three.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus tells his disciples not to fear those who kill the body but cannot kill the soul. Through the power of his being, he has linked us to the creative source of all existence. And in that “place,” loved in the Spirit by the Father and the Son, we are safe—even from those who would kill the body.

But this means that our perspective can and must change. Most of us spend most of our lives defending ourselves against assaults on the “body”—keen, almost every waking moment, to protect our psyches, our emotions, our fortunes, our health, our reputations.

When we do that, we warp ourselves, turning our lives defensively inward, living in a very small spiritual space. But when we live out of the divine center, we breathe the air of real spiritual freedom. No longer cramped fearfully around the “body,” we can move into the wide expanse of the divine will, following God however he prompts us. And this state of affairs, this great soul, is simultaneously alluring in its beauty and terrifying in its demand.

Video reflection by Harry Dudley, D.Min. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Benedict
The Book of Proverbs, chapter two, verses one thru nine;
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. two or nine), verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-seven, twenty-eight, & twenty-nine.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Contentness Plateau, Day 20
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter six, verses eight, nine, & ten.

Commentary: David Brings the Ark to Jerusalem (cont'd; 2 Samuel, 6:8-10).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Work is a fundamental part of our earthly life. It often involves heavy fatigue & even suffering, but it can also forge strong character & vigorous personality. It can be the means by which we build up the world according to the values in which we believe."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"What, dear brothers, is more delightful than the voice of the Lord calling to us?"
—St. Benedict of Nursia, O.S.B. (480-543, feast: 11 July)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"A high-ranking government official once said to me, 'You are doing social work & we also do the same. But we are doing it for something & you are doing it for somebody.' To do our work we have to be in love with God."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Someday we will thank God, not only for what He gave us, but also for that which He refused."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)