Saints + Scripture: Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene

'Tis the Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene (died circa 63, the "Apostle to the Apostles;" A.K.A. of Magdala, the Madeleine): Magdalene-link ūna, Magdalene-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '21 & Wayback Machine '20.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Feast of Saint Mary Magdalene
The Song of Songs, chapter three, verses one thru four(b);
or, the Second Letter to the Corinthians, chapter five, verses fourteen thru seventeen;
Psalm Sixty-three (R/. two), verses two, three & four, five & six, & eight & nine;
The Gospel according to John, chapter twenty, verses one, two, & eleven thru eighteen.

Commentary: Festal Readings.

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

Friends, today we celebrate the Feast of St. Mary Magdalene, the first witness of Christ’s rising, who declared the Resurrection to the Apostles.

In point of fact, the Easter declaration, properly understood, has always been and still is an explosion, an earthquake, a revolution. For the Easter faith is that Jesus of Nazareth, who had been brutally put to death by the Roman authorities, is alive again through the power of the Holy Spirit—and not in some metaphorical sense.

That the Resurrection is a literary device or a symbol that Jesus’ cause goes on is a fantasy born in the faculty lounges of Western universities over the past couple of centuries. The still startling claim of the first witnesses is that Jesus rose bodily from death, presenting himself to his disciples to be seen, even handled.

The hope of ancient Israel was the unification of heaven and earth in a great marriage. Recall a central line from the Lord’s Prayer: “Thy kingdom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven.” The bodily Resurrection of Jesus is the powerful sign that the two orders are in fact coming together.

Video reflection by Deacon Clarence McDavid (U.S. Conf. of Catholic Bishops): Festal Reflection.

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

Audio reflection by Clement Harrold (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Letters from Home.

Saints of the Day
'Tis also the festival of Saint Joseph of Palestine (circa 285-356, A.K.A. of Tiberias), builder of the Church of the Multiplication of the Loaves & Fish (350) & a foe of the Arian heresy: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Church, & Heresy-link & Wikipedia-link Arianism.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Dabius, Priest (fifth century; also spelt Davius, A.K.A. Bavins): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Wandregisel, Priest & Abbot (circa 600-668, A.K.A. Wandrille), founding abbot of Fontenelle Abbey (649, later the Abbey of Saint Wandrille): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Abbey-link & Wikipedia-link Fontenelle.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Gerolamo of Pavia, Bishop (died circa 787, Anglicized as Jerome), Bishop of Pavia (778-787): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Pavia.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Benno of Osnabrück, Bishop, O.S.B. (circa 1020-1088, A.K.A. Bernard, Benno II), nineteenth (XIX) Bishop of Osnabrück (1068-1088), founder of the Abbey at Schloss Iburg (1080): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Osnabrück & Wikipedia-link Iburg.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Augustine of Biella, Priest, O.P. (1430-1493, A.K.A. Agostino Fangi), prior of monasteries at Biella, Soncino (1464), Vercelli, & Vigevano: Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Philip Evans, S.J., & John Lloyd, Priests & Martyrs (died 1679), martyred in the reign of the Anglo-Scottish king Charles II, victims of the perjeror Titus Oates's "Popish Plot" hoax; two of the Forty Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Papa Echo, Martyr-link Juliett Lima, & Wikipedia-link; Popish Plot-link & Wikipedia-link Popish Plot; & Martyr-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Someone would have a poor idea of human & marital love by thinking that affection & joy vanish when difficulties come. This is when we really see what motivates people. Here also is where gift & tenderness are consolidated, because true love does not think about itself, but about how to increase the good of the beloved."
—Pope Saint John Paul II the Great (1920-2005, r. 1978-2005; feast: 22 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"If you have the courage to imitate Mary Magdalene in her sins, have the courage to imitate her penance."
—Saint Pius of Pietrelcina, O.F.M. Cap. ("Padre Pio," 1887-1968, feast: 23 September)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"Be kind & merciful. Let no one ever come to you without coming away better & happier. Be a living expression of God's kindness."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"Pleasure is best enjoyed when it comes to us as a 'treat,' in contrast to experiences that are less pleasurable.What a greta mistake if we try to have all our nights party-nights. No one would enjoy Thanksgiving if every meal were a turkey dinner. New Year's Eve would not delight us if the whistles blew at midnight every night."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)