Saints + Scripture

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

The Popish Plot
"Searching Catholicism: How Do Catholics…?, Part 1"

'Tis the Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church (died 64), martyred in the reign of the Roman emperor Nero: Martyrs-link ūnus, Martyrs-link duo, & Wikipedia-link.

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

O Lord, the First Martyrs of Rome were not rich or wise, but You filled them with Your riches, Your wisdom. Fill me, too, with Your gifts, for without You I can do nothing.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Thirteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Genesis, chapter twenty-one, verses five & eight thru twenty(a);
Psalm Thirty-four (R/. seven[a]), verses seven & eight, ten & eleven, & twelve & thirteen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eight, verses twenty-eight thru thirty-four.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, we see Jesus, the miracle worker, healing two demoniacs. I think it’s hard to deny that the first Christians were intensely interested in the miracles of Jesus and that they didn’t see them as mere literary symbols. Anglican theologian N.T. Wright argues that it’s hard to explain the enormous popularity of Jesus apart from this fascination with his wonder-working.

Though God typically lets the universe run according to its natural rhythms and patterns, what is to prevent God from shaping it or influencing it occasionally in remarkable ways in order to signal his purpose and his presence?

For evidence of this, I would like to draw your attention to an extraordinary book. It bears the simple title Miracles: The Credibility of the New Testament Accounts, and it is written by the Protestant scholar Craig Keener. It is a truly exhaustive study of the theology and phenomenology of miracles, but the most surprising and exciting section of the book—at least for me—was his rehearsal of some of the literally millions of reports of miracles that come, even today, from every corner of the world. If you doubt God still works in the world today, pick up that book and think again.

Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D. (U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor John Bergsma (Saint Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Daily Reflection.

Video reflection by Doctor Tim Gray (Augustine Institute/Formed.org): Daily Reflection.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of the First Martyrs of the Holy Roman Church
The Letter to the Romans, chapter eight, verses thirty-one(b) thru thirty-nine;
Psalm One Hundred Twenty-four (R/. seven), verses two & three, four & five, & seven(b) & eight;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-four, verses four thru thirteen.

Scripture Study—Day 91: False Peak, Day 17
The Book of Jeremiah, chapter eighteen, verses one thru seventeen.

Commentary: The Potter & the Clay (Jeremiah, 18:1-11) & Israel's Stubborn Idolatry (Jeremiah, 18:12-17).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Remember how the first Christians, most of them simple & humble people, suffering the most cruel persecutions, were successful in spreading Christ's message to all parts of the empire. Their only weapons were prayer, the Gospel, & the Cross."
—Pope St. John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"To leave Loreto was my greatest sacrifice, the most difficult think I have ever done. It was much more difficult than to leave my family & country. In Loreto I received my spiritual training."
—St. Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"How good & pleasant it is to dwell in the Heart of Jesus! Who is there who does not love a Heart so wounded? Who can refuse a return of love to a Heart of loving?"
—St. Bernard of Clairvaux, O.Cist, Doctor of the Church (1090-1153, feast: 20 August)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"In order to understand the knowledge of God, you must make a distinction between foreknowledge & predetermination. The two are not identical. God does foreknow everything, but He does not predetermine things independent of our will & our merits. Just suppose that you knew the stock market very well. Because of your superior knowledge of business conditions, you said that such & such a stock within six months would be selling ten points higher than it is now. Suppose six months later it actually sold ten points higher. Would you have predetermined & caused it to be ten points higher? Although you foreknew it, other influences were there besides your superior knowledge."
—Ven. Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)