Saints + Scripture: Adventus

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

'Tis the Thursday of the Third Week of Advent: Advent-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Video reflection by Bishop Earl Boyea: "Bishop Boyea on the Seven 'O Antiphons' of Advent, Part 1: O Sapientia (O Wisdom)"

Saints of the Day
'Tis the festival of Saint Olympias of Constantinople, Deaconess (circa 361-408, A.K.A. the Younger): Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine, 25 July.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Tydecho, Hermit (floruit sixth century; also spelt Tudoc, etc.): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '19. Brother of St. Cadfan [1 November].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Judicaël, Religious (circa 590-658; also spelt Judhael, etc.), king of Domnonée (in Brittany): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Brother of Ss. Judoc [13 December] & Winnoc [6 November].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Begga of Ardenne, Abbess (circa 613-693; also spelt Begue, Begge), founding abbess of a convent at Ardenne: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Daughter of St. Pepin of Landen [21 February], sister of St. Gertrude of Nivelles [17 March], & great-great-grandmother of Bl. Charlemagne [28 January].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Sturm of Fulda, Priest & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 705-799, the "Apostle of the Saxons;" also spelt Sturmi, Sturmius), founding abbot of the Abbey of Fulda (744-799): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Fulda.

'Tis also the festival of Saint John of Matha, Priest, O.SS.T. (circa 1160-1223), co-founder of the Trinitarians (1198, O.SS.T.), formally the Order of the Most Holy Trinity & of the Captives: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Order-link & Wikipedia-link O.SS.T.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Josep Manyanet i Vives, Priest (1833-1901), founder of the Sons of the Holy Family (S.F., 1864), formally the Congregation of the Sons of the Holy Family of Jesus, Mary and Joseph, & the Missionary Daughters of the Holy Family (1874): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link S.F.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Final Advent Days (17 December)
The Book of Genesis, chapter forty-nine, verses two, eight, nine, & ten;
Psalm Seventy-two (R/. cf. seven), verses one & two, three & four(a/b), seven & eight, & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter one, verses one thru seventeen.

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

Friends, today we read the opening lines of Matthew’s Gospel— the first words that one reads in the New Testament. They are a listing of the genealogy of Jesus, the forty-two generations that stretch from Abraham to Christ. If the Word truly dwelt among us, then he was part of a family that, like most, was fairly dysfunctional—a mix of the good and bad. And this is such good news for us.

Let me highlight just two figures from Jesus’ family. First, Ruth, who was not an Israelite but rather a Moabite, a foreigner. Some of you reading this feel like outsiders, not part of the "in" crowd, looked at askance by others. Well, the Messiah came forth from Ruth the foreigner and was pleased to be her relative.

Then there is Rahab, a prostitute living and working in Jericho. Are there people reading these words who feel like Rahab? Who think that their whole lives have been sunk in sin? Well, the Messiah came forth from Rahab the prostitute, and he was pleased to be her relative.

The good news of Christmas is that God himself pushed into the dysfunctional and ambiguous family of man.

Reflect: How does the love of God, which is unconditional, heal all dysfunction?

Video reflection by Deacon Harold Burke-Sivers (U. S. C. of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Becket Ghioto (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Scripture Study—Bishop's Year of the Bible: Day 19
The Gospel according Matthew, chapter eight (verses one thru thirty-four);

Commentary: Jesus Cleanses a Leper (Matthew, 8:1-4), Jesus Heals a Centurion's Servant (Matthew, 8:5-13), Jesus Heals Many at Peter's House (Matthew, 8:14-17), Would-be Followers of Jesus (Matthew, 8:18-22), Jesus Calms the Storm at Sea (Matthew, 8:23-27), & Jesus Heals the Gadarene Demoniacs (Matthew, 8:28-34).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"How beautiful it is to open our spirit to the history of human life starting from the humble crib at Bethlehem. Oh, the greatness of Christ's littleness! Oh, the coming of Christ at the human level of our lowliness in order to raise us to the heights of His divinity!"
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"We never base our assistance on the religious beliefs of the needy, but on the need itself. We are not concerned with the religious beliefs of those we help. We only focus on their urgent need for our love & care."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Thou hast created us for Thyself, & our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee."
—St. Augustine of Hippo, Doctor of the Church (354-430, feast: 28 August)