Saints + Scripture

The Popish Plot
"Samson & Delilah & Temptation"

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Sharbel Makhlūf, Priest, O.L.M. (1828-1898, also spelt Charbel Makhlouf; A.K.A. Youssef Antoun Makhlūf, Joseph Zaroun Makhlūf): Saint-link ūnus, Saint-link duo & Wikipedia-link.

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

'Tis also the festival of Saint Declán of Ardmore, Bishop (fifth century, also spelt Déaglán), inaugural Bishop of Ardmore (Aird Mhór, Árd Mór): Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Árd Mór.

'Tis also the festival of Saints Roman & David of Kiev, Martyrs (died circa 1015, A.K.A. Boris & Gleb), martyred in the reign of their brother, the Kievan Rus' prince Sviatopolk the Accursed,: Martyr-link Romeo, Martyr-link Delta, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Sons of St. Vladimir of Kiev [15 July], great-grandsons of St. Olga of Kiev [11 July].

'Tis also the festival of Saint Christina the Astonishing, Religious, T.O.S.D. (circa 1150-1224): Saint-link, Wikipedia-link, & The Popish Plot-link.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Kinga of Poland, Abbess, O.S.C. (circa 1224-1292; A.K.A. Kunigunde, also spelt Cunegunda, etc.), Grand Duchess of Poland: Saint-link ūna, Saint-link duæ, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Great-niece of St. Hedwig of Silesia [16 October], niece of Ss. Elizabeth of Hungary [17 November] & Agnes of Prague [2 March], sister of St. Margaret of Hungary [18 January] & Bl. Yolanda of Poland [11 June], & sister-in-law of Bl. Salomea of Poland [17 November].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Louise of Savoy, Religious, O.S.C. (circa 1461-1503, also spelt Luisa): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Descendant of St. Elizabeth of Hungary [17 November] & so distant kin of St. Kinga of Poland [24 July], et al.; daughter of Bl. Amadeus of Savoy [30 March] & cousin of St. Joan of Valois [4 February].

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Joseph Lambton, Priest & Martyr (circa 1568-1592), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, one of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

'Tis the Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time (Tempus per annum, "time through the year"): Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Sixteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Exodus, chapter fourteen, verses five thru eighteen;
The Book of Exodus, chapter fifteen (R/. one[b]), verses one(b/c) & two, thre & four, & five & six;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twelve, verses thirty-eight thru forty-two.

Commentary: Daily Readings.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, the Lord tells his opponents, who asked for a sign, that no sign will be given except the sign of Jonah—that is, the Resurrection. According to the early Church Fathers, Christ’s coming precipitated a warfare with the powers that hold the world in their sway.

In bringing God’s ordo to the world, Jesus had to move into the arena of disorder, but this invasion was not met with passivity or acquiescence. Rather, the principalities of the world—Herod, Pilate, the scribes and Pharisees, the demons—waged a ferocious struggle against him, and it was only through the drama of the cross and Resurrection that Jesus managed to defeat them.

He took all of their violence and, through courageous forgiveness, robbed it of its authority, for violence feeds on itself, surviving only through reproduction. When it is met with compassion and forgiveness, it dissipates, its power source gone. In the language of the Fathers, Jesus thereby tied up the devil, frustrating him into submission, leading our captivity to hatred captive. So, as the hymn text has it, “The strife is o’er, the battle done….”

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

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

Audio reflection by Doctor Scott Hahn (St. Paul Center for Biblical Theology): Letters from Home.

Mass Readings—Optional Memorial of Saint Sharbel Makhlūf
The Book of Sirach, chapter three, verses seventeen thru twenty-four;
Psalm Fifteen (R/. one), verses two & three (a/b), three(c/d) & four (a/b), & five;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter nineteen, verses twenty-seven, twenty-eight, & twenty-nine.

Commentary: Memorial Readings.

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Strong in faith, put up a good fight; the future belongs to the believers & not to the skeptics & doubters. The future belongs to those who love, not to those who hate. The Church's mission in the world, far from being ended or outmoded, goes out to meet new trials & fresh enterprises."
—Pope Venerable Pius XII (1876-1958, r. 1939-1958)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"The principle trap that the devil sets of young people is idleness."
—Saint John Bosco, S.D.B. (1815-1888, feast: 31 January)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"All of us are called to work in a special way for the sake of peace. In order to bring about that peace, we need to learn from Jesus to be meek & humble of heart. Our humility will lead us to unity, & unity to peace."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"We must leave the world to help the world. That life is most effectively lived which every now & then withdraws from the scene of action to contemplation, where one learns the terrible defeat & futility which comes from excessive absorption in detail & action."
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)