Saints + Scripture

Better Late Than Never, Simplex Complex Edition | Mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa!

'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Louis (1214-1270, A.K.A. King Louis IX of France), leader of the Seventh Crusade (1248-1254) & the Eighth Crusade (1270), & builder of the Sainte-Chapelle (1248, "Holy Chapel"): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, Saint-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Crusade-link VII & Wikipedia-link Seventh Crusade; Crusade-link VIII & Wikipedia-link Eighth Crusade; & Wikipedia-link Sainte-Chapelle.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth Minute Meditations from the Popes:

O Lord, grant me the generosity of spirit of St. Louis, the King. He served his country all his life; calling his fellow citizens to build a society based on Christ's teachings. Help me to do the same.

'Tis also the Optional Memorial of Saint Joseph Calasanz, Priest, Sch.P. (1557-1648, A.K.A. Josephus a Mater Dei ["Joseph of the Mother of God"]), founder of the Piarists (Sch.P.), formally the Order of Poor Clerics Regular of the Mother of God of the Pious Schools, A.K.A. the Scolopi: Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Order-link & Wikipedia-link Sch.P.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Aredius of Limoges, Abbot (circa 510-591, A.K.A. Yrieix), founding abbot of the abbey at Attanum (564-591; later, St. Yrieix): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Saint-Yrieix-le-Déjalat.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Gregory of Utrecht, Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 700-775, A.K.A. of Pfalzel), abbot of the Abbey of St. Martin (750-775) & apostolic administrator of Utrecht (754-775): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Utrecht.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Thomas de Cantilupe, Bishop (circa 1218-1282), Bishop of Hereford (1275-1282), an attendee of the Second Council of Lyon (1272-1274, the fourteenth [XIV] ecumenical council): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Hereford; & Wikipedia-link Lyon.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Luigi of the Consolata, Priest (1922-1977, A.K.A. Andrea Bordino): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Alessandro Dordi, Priest & Martyr (1961-1991), martyred by the Shining Path Communists, one of the Three Martyrs of Chimbote: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Chimbote.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Twenty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Second Letter to the Thessalonians, chapter two, verses one, two, three(a), & fourteen thru seventeen;
Psalm Ninety-six (R/. thirteen[b]), verses ten, eleven & twelve, & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-three, verses twenty-three thru twenty-six.

Commentary: Gospel reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus forcefully calls the Pharisees (and us) to change their hearts and behavior.

St. Augustine defines sin as incurvatus in se—that means “caved in around oneself.” To be in sin is to be “caved in” around the ego and its narrow concerns. When the Lord says, “Reform your life,” he means move from that old mind and make him the center of your life.

We must know and feel in our bones what is wrong in us; we must look it in the face and acknowledge it with uncompromising honesty. Without this journey into our own inner hell, we will not feel the compunction to shift our way of being and seeing. And we must awaken to what is godlike in us, what is rich and unbroken, what is united with the saving designs of God. Without this clear sense, we will fall into complacency and see metanoia as, at best, a cruel illusion.

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

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Louis
The Book of Isaiah, chapter fifty-eight, verses six thru eleven;
Psalm One Hundred Twelve (R/. one or "Alleluia"), verses one & two, three & four, five & six, seven & eight, & nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-two, verses thirty-four thru forty.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of St. Joseph Calasanz
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter twelve, verse thirty-one thru chapter thirteen, verse thirteen
(or, the First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter thirteen, verses four thru thirteen);
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. two or nine), verses two & three, four & five, six & seven, eight & nine, & ten & eleven;
The Gospel according to Matthew , chapter eighteen, verses one thru five.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Decapitation Rock, Day 23
The Second Book of Samuel, chapter nineteen, verses sixteen thru twenty-three.

Commentary: Shime-i Meets David & Is Forgiven (2 Samuel, 19:16-23).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Christians should conscientiously take up their civic duties in a spirit of disinterested service. This will lead them to renounce seeking their personal gain, power, or prestige, if it is harmful to others."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Have a tender pitiful heart for the poor & for all those whom you believe to be in misery of heart or body &, according to your ability, comfort & aid them with some alms."
—St. Louis (1214-1270, feast: 25 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"So helpless & weak. I think that is why God uses me, because I cannot depend on my own strength. I rely on Him twenty-four hours a day. If the day had even more hours, then I would need His help & grace during those hours too. I cling to Him in prayer, & I encourage you to do the same."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Evil is not positive. Evil is either an excess or a defect of what is good. Food is good. Too little of it is bad; too much of it is bad. Drink is good. Too little of it is bad; too much of it is bad. Sleep is good. However, when sleep interferes with duty, it is not good. Evil is very much like darkness. It is the absence of light. It has no purpose outside itself. Rather, it has no substance of its own. That is a better way to put it. All badness is spoiled goodness. A bad apple is a good apple that became rotten. Because evil has no capital of its own, it is a parasite that feeds on goodness. Living in this universe, with reason & will, we can see that this universe is a veil of soul-making. We were made to be good; we were made to attain the truth."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)