Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"Servus Dei Nicholas Black Elk"

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Kateri Tekakwitha, Virgin (1656-1680, the "Lily of the Mohawks"): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duae, Saint-link trēs, Saint-link Array of Hope, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Deusdedit of Canterbury, Bishop, O.S.B. (died circa 664; also spelt Adeodatus, A.K.A. Frithona, Frithuwine), sixth (VI) Archbishop of Canterbury (655-664): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Canterbury.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Francisco Solano, Priest, O.F.M. (1549-1610, the "Wonder Worker of the New World," Anglicized as Francis Solanus): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Namesake of Bl. Solanus Casey, O.F.M. Cap. [30 July].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Richard Langhorne, Martyr (circa 1624-1679), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles II, a victim of the perjurer Titus Oates's "Popish Plot" hoax: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Popish Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Popish Plot.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Ghébrē-Michael, Priest & Martyr, C.M. (1791-1855), martyred in the reign of the Ethiopian emperor Tewodros II: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Fifteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Isaiah, chapter seven, verses one thru nine;
Psalm Forty-eight (R/. see: nine[d]), verses two & three(a), three(b) & four, five & six, & seven & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eleven, verses twenty thru twenty-four.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus reproaches the unrepentant towns where he performed most of his mighty deeds. The idea of Jesus as judge is one with which we are distinctly uncomfortable, yet even the most cursory reading of the New Testament reveals its unavoidability. Indeed, it has been said that in front of every church there ought to be a statue of the compassionate Jesus and a statue of Christ in full flight of fury, since both are indisputably present in the Gospel stories.

The point is that when God’s own ordo appears in the world, he necessarily judges the disorder that surrounds him. To judge, in the biblical sense of the term, means to bring into the light, to throw into sharp relief. When good and evil are confused or intermingled, divine judgment separates them, clarifying the issue.

By his very nature, in his every word and gesture, in the very way that he stood, Jesus, God’s Word, was a judge. He was the light of the world, harshly exposing that which would prefer to remain in the dark; he was the unadulterated criterion, the truth in the presence of which falsity necessarily appeared for what it was.

Video reflection by Sister Peggy Gorman, R.S.M. (U.S.C. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Rob Corzine (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Kateri Tekakwitha
The Book of Hosea, chapter two, verses sixteen(b/c), seventeen(c/d), twenty-one, & twenty-two;
Psalm Forty-five (R/. eleven);
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses one thru thirteen.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Contentness Plateau, Day 23
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter seven, verses one thru seventeen.

Commentary: God's Promise to David (2 Samuel, 7:1-17).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"One of the most striking aspects of the public ministry of Jesus was His special love for those who were suffering. He touched, blessed, & healed them. He forgave their sins. He offered them consolation & hope by proclaiming to them the Gospel of salvation."
—Pope X (-, r. -; feast:)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"A good deed is never lost… he who sows courtesy reaps friendship, & he who plants kindness gathers love."
—St. Basil the Great, Doctor of the Church (330-379, feast: 2 January)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"I don't claim anything of the work. It's His work. I'm like a little pencil in His hand. That's all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"We have formed, & we must continue to form, associations to safeguard freedom, but let us also persuade Americans to form associations which will safeguard our responsibilities. The bane of democracy is the flight from responsibility on which freedom rests. If America is to continue to be great along the tradition of her Founding Fathers & not betray the Christian traditions, her citizens must release, not their evil inclinations from within, but rather the aspiration for total goodness that God put in their hearts."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)