Saints + Scripture: Adventus

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

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Memorial of Saint John of the Cross, Priest & Doctor of the Church, O.C.D. (1542-1591, A.K.A. Juan de Santa María de Yepes y Álvarez), co-founder of the Discalced Carmelites (1562, O.C.D.), formally the Order of the Discalced Carmelites of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Mount Carmel: Doctor-link ūnus, Doctor-link duo, Doctor-link trēs, & Wikipedia-link; Doctors-link & Wikipedia-link Doctors; & Order-link & Wikipedia-link O.C.D.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '18.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Spyridon of Cyprus, Bishop & Confessor (circa 270-348; A.K.A. of Corfu, of Trimythous, the Wonder-Worker), Bishop of Trimythous (A.K.A. Tremithus), a father of the First Council of Nicaea (325, the first [I] ecumenical council) & the Synod of Sardica (343): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Trimythous, & Wikipedia-link Nicaea & Wikipedia-link Sardica.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Viator of Bergamo, Bishop (died 370), second (II) Bishop of Bergamo (343-370), a father of the Synod of Sardica (343): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Bergamo, & Wikipedia-link Sardica.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Nicasius of Reims, Bishop (died circa 407), Bishop of Reims (400-407): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Reims.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Venantius Fortunatus, Bishop (circa 530-610), Bishop of Poitiers (600-610): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link & Wikipedia-link Poitiers.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Folcwin of Thérouanne, Bishop (died 855; also spelt Folquin, etc.), Bishop of Thérouanne (816-855): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Thérouanne.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Nimatullah Kassab, Priest, O.L.M. (1808-1858, A.K.A. Youssef Kassab Al-Hardini): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Third Week in Advent
The Book of Numbers, chapter twenty-four, verses two thru seven, fifteen, sixteen, & seventeen(a);
Psalm Twenty-five (R/. four), verses four & five (a/b), six & seven(b/c), & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-one, verses twenty-three thru twenty-seven.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the chief priests and elders question Jesus: "By what authority are you doing these things? And who gave you this authority?"

The Greek word used for "authority" is most enlightening: exousia. It means, literally, "from the being of." Jesus speaks with the very exousia of God, and therefore, his words effect what they say. He says, "Lazarus, come out!" and the dead man comes out of the tomb. He rebukes the wind and says to the sea, "Be still!" and there is calm. And the night before he dies, he takes bread and says, "This is my body." And what he says is.

Friends, this is the authority of the Church. If we are simply the guardians of one interesting philosophical perspective among many, then we are powerless. If we rely on our own cleverness in argumentation, then we will fail. Our power comes—and this remains a great mystery—only when we speak with the authority of Jesus Christ.

Reflect: How and why does Christ pass his authority to the Church?

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

Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. John of the Cross
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter two, verses one thru ten(a);
Psalm Thirty-seven (R/. thirty[a]), verses three & four, five & six, & thirty & thirty-one;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fourteen, verses twenty-five thru thirty-three.

Scripture Study—Bishop's Year of the Bible: Day 16
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter five (verses one thru forty-eight);

Commentary: The Beatitudes (Matthew, 5:1-12), Salt & Light (Matthew, 5:13-16), the Fulfillment of the Law & the Prophets (Matthew, 5:17-20), Concerning Anger (Matthew, 5:21-26), Concerning Adultery (Matthew, 5:27-30), Concerning Divorce (Matthew, 5:31-32), Concering Swearing Oaths (Matthew, 5:33-37), Concerning Retaliation (Matthew, 5:38-42), & Love for Enemies (Matthew, 5:43-48).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Open your hearts to Christ & go out to meet Him; quench your thirst at His spring. He offers a water that will satisfy your thirst for truth, for joy, for happiness, & for love."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"It is not a sin to be rich. When it provokes avarice, it bcomes a sin. Richness is given by God & it is our duty to divide it with those less favored."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Well & good if all things change, O Lord God, provided I am rooted in You."
—St. John of the Cross, O.C.D. Doctor of the Church (1542-1591, feast: 14 December)