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)