The Explorers' Club, № MCXXII

Operation AXIOM: Between the Wars
9 November 1925: The Schutzstaffel ("Protection Squadron;" S.S.) was officially founded as the personal bodyguard of Adolf Hitler, on the second anniversary of the Beer Hall Putsch; originally part of the Sturmabteilung (S.A.), the S.S. eventually superseded the S.A., becoming the key organ of Nazi tyranny & the Shoah (the Holocaust); the S.S. was outlawed by the victorious Allies in 1945.

Commentary: It really shouldn't have to be said at this point, but NAZIS ARE BAD.

Lest we forget.

The Explorers' Club, № DCCCLXXXIV

Operation AXIOM
1 June 1962: Adolf Eichmann (1906-1962) was executed by hanging at Ramla Prison, Israel; he was convicted on fifteen counts of murdering Jews & Romani in the Shoah, during the Second World War; a key Schutzstaffel administrator of the Nazi "Final Solution," Eichmann had fled to Argentina after the war & lived under a pseudonym; in 1960, he was kidnapped by Israeli agents & smuggled into Israel.

Lest we forget.

The Rebel Black Dot Song o' the Day: The Shoah

International Holocaust Remembrance Day
Topol, Miriam Karlin, Cynthia Grenville, Paul Whitsun-Jones, Brian Hewitt-Jones, & George Little, "Anatevka" from Fiddler on the Roof (Mike Papa Whiskey)

Saints + Scripture

Saints of the Day
'Tis the Optional Memorial of Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross, Virgin & Martyr, O.C.D. (1891-1942, A.K.A. Edith Stein), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler: Martyr-link ūna, Martyr-link duæ, Martyr-link tria, & Wikipedia-link.

Commentary: Wayback Machine '18.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Nathy of Achonry, Priest (floruit sixth century; also spelt Nath Í, A.K.A. Crumnathy), founder of Achonry: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Achonry.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Richard Bere, Priest & Martyr, O.Cart. (died 1537), martyred in the reign of the English king Henry VIII, one of the Carthusian Martyrs of London: Martyr-link; Martyrs-link Charterhouse; Wikipedia-link Charterhouse.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Thomas Palasor, Priest; John Norton; & John Talbot; Martyrs (died 1600), martyred in the reign of the English queen Elizabeth I, three of the Eighty-five Martyrs of England & Wales: Martyr-link Tango Papa & Wikipedia-link Tango Papa, Martyr-link Juliett November, & Martyr-link Juliett Tango & Wikipedia-link Juliett Tango; Martyrs-link England & Wales & Wikipedia-link England & Wales.

'Tis also the festival of Blesseds Michał Tomaszek & Zbigniew Adam Strzałkowski, Priests & Martyrs, O.F.M. Conv. (died 1991), martyred by the Shining Path Communists, two of the Three Martyrs of Chimbote: Martyr-link Mike Tango & Martyr-link Zulu Alpha Sierra; Wikipedia-link Chimbote.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Monday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter ten, verses twelve thru twenty-two;
Psalm One Hundred Forty-seven (R/. twelve[a]), verses twelve & thirteen, fourteen & fifteen, & nineteen & twenty;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter seventeen, verses twenty-two thru twenty-seven.

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

Friends, in today’s Gospel, Jesus prophesies his Crucifixion and Resurrection: “The Son of Man is to be handed over to men, and they will kill him, and he will be raised on the third day.”

What enabled the first Christians to hold up the cross, to sing its praises, to wear it as a decoration is the fact that God raised up and ratified precisely this crucified Jesus. “The author of life you put to death, but God raised him from the dead.” Therefore, God was involved in this terrible thing; God was there, working out his salvific purposes.

But what does this mean? There have been numerous attempts throughout the Christian centuries to name the salvific nature of the cross. Let me offer just one take on it. It became clear to the first Christians that somehow, on that terrible cross, sin had been dealt with. The curse of sin had been removed, taken care of. On that terrible cross, Jesus functioned as the “Lamb of God,” sacrificed for sin.

Does this mean God the Father is a cruel taskmaster demanding a bloody sacrifice so that his anger might be appeased? No; Jesus’ crucifixion was the opening up of the divine heart so that we could see that no sin of ours could finally separate us from the love of God.

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

Video reflection by Curtis Mitch (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 Saint Teresa Benedicta of the Cross
The Book of Hosea, chapter two, verses sixteen(b/c), seventeen(c/d), twenty-one, & twenty-two;
Psalm Forty-five (R/. eleven; or, "The bridegroom is here; let us go out to meet Christ the Lord."), verses eleven & twelve, fourteen & fifteen, & sixteen & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter twenty-five, verses one thru thirteen.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Leo's Ledge, Day 1
The Book of Daniel, chapter one, verses one thru eight.

Commentary: Four Young Israelites at the Babylonian Court (Daniel, 1:1-8).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"Every apostolate is an action of Christ Himself; it cannot be exercised except under the impulse of the Spirit. The Spirit searches out the deep things of God. The Spirit also arouses in us an ineffable prayer & continues the salvific action of Christ through the Church's members."
—Pope Saint Paul VI (1897-1978, r. 1963-1978; feast: 29 May)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Son, nothing in this world now affords me delight. I do not know what there is now left for me or why I am still here. All my hopes in this world being now fulfilled."
—Saint Monica (332-387, feast: 27 August)

Mother Teresa Quote o' the Day

"If peace & love are not allowed to take their rightful place at the table of negotiation, then hatred & anger will produce conflict that will continue for many years to come. It will solve nothing, & thousands of innocent lives will be lost. I ask you all to pray for peace. It is such an urgent priority."
—Saint Teresa of Calcutta, M.C. (1910-1997, feast: 5 September)

Archbishop Sheen Quote o' the Day

"We hate others, & call it 'zeal;' we flatter others because of what they can do for us, & call it 'love;' we lie to them, & call it 'tact.'"
—Venerable Fulton Sheen (1895-1979)

Saints + Scripture

'Tis the festival of Saint Magnus of Milan, Bishop (died circa 530), Archbishop of Milan, patron of the Basilica of San Magno in Legnano: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Diocese-link Milan & Wikipedia-link Milan, & Wikipedia-link San Magno.

Commentary: Wayback Machine.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Guido Maria Conforti, Bishop (1865-1931), Bishop of Parma (1907-1931), Archbishop of Ravenna (1902-1904), & founder of the Xaverian Missionary Fathers: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Parma, & Diocese-link Ravenna & Wikipedia-link Ravenna.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Narcyz Putz, Priest & Martyr (1877-1942), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, one of the One Hundred Eight Blessed Polish Martyrs: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link (List, № 60); Martyrs-link Polska & Wikipedia-link Polska.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Bernhard Lichtenberg, Priest & Martyr (1875-1943), martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler, honored as one of the Righteous among the Nations: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Righteous among the Nations.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Tuesday of the Thirty-first Week in Ordinary Time
The Letter to the Romans, chapter twelve, verses five thru sixteen(a/b);
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-one, verses one(b/c/d/e), two, & three;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter fourteen, verses fifteen thru twenty-four.

Commentary: Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today’s Gospel likens the kingdom of heaven to a man giving a great dinner. In the parallel passage of this parable from the Gospel of Matthew, that man is presented as a king and the great dinner as a wedding feast. Notice that the father (God the Father) is giving a banquet for his son (God the Son), whose bride is the Church. Jesus is the marriage of divinity and humanity—and we his followers are invited to join in the joy of this union.

The joyful intimacy of the Father and the Son is now offered to us to be shared. Listen to Isaiah to learn the details of this banquet: "On this mountain the Lord of hosts will provide for all peoples a feast of rich food and choice wines, juicy, rich food and pure, choice wines."

Now, there is an edge to all of this. For it is the king who is doing the inviting, and it is a wedding banquet for his son. We can see how terribly important it is to respond to the invitation of the King of kings.

We have heard the invitation of God to enter into intimacy with him, to make him the center of our lives, to be married to him in Christ—and often we find the most pathetic excuses not to respond.

Video reflection by Father Greg Friedman, O.F.M.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Scripture Study—Wisdom Books
The Book of Sirach, chapter twenty-two (verses one thru twenty-seven);
The Book of Sirach, chapter twenty-three (verses one thru twenty-seven).

Commentary: On Wisdom, Folly, & Self-Control (Sirach, 22:1-23:27).

Scripture Study—Exodus 90: Day 91: Relativism Ridge, Day 1
The Book of Judges, chapter 1, verses one thru four, seventeen, eighteen, & nineteen.

Commentary: Israel's Failure to Complete the Conquest (Judges, 1:1-4, 17-19).

Proverb o' the Day (Sirach, 22:27)

O that a guard were set over my mouth,
& a seal of prudence upon my lips,
that it may keep me from falling,
so that my tongue may not destroy me!

Papal Quote o' the Day

"To live the Christian life well there is need of continual repairing, of recurring reforms, of repeated renewals. The Christian life is not soft or easy. It is not blindly optimistic. It is joyous but it is not happy-go-lucky."
—Pope St. Paul VI (1897-1978, feast day: 29 May)

Christian Quote o' the Day

"You can choose to look the other way, but you can never again say that you did not know."
—William Wilberforce (1759-1833)

Chesterton Quote o' the Day

"There are some people who would hardly accept any direct happiness, unless you sprang it on them as a surprise."
—G. K. Chesterton (1874-1936)

Saints + Scripture

'Tis the Memorial of Saint Maximilian Kolbe, Priest & Martyr, O.F.M. Conv. (1894-1941, the "Apostle of Consecration to Mary" & "Patron Saint of Our Difficult Century" [the Twentieth]; A.K.A. Rajmund Kolbe), founder of the Militia Immaculatae, martyred in the reign of the Nazi dictator Adolf Hitler: Martyr-link ūnus, Martyr-link duo, Martyr-link Array of Hope, Martyr-link Aletheia, Martyr-link Gracefully Catholic, & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link Militia & Wikipedia-link Marian Consecration.

Commentary: Wayback Machine. Quoth the Holy Redeemer bulletin:

Maximilian Maria Kolbe, O.F.M. Conv., a Polish Conventual Franciscan friar, volunteered to die in place of a stranger in the German death camp of Auschwitz, located in German-occupied Poland during World War II.

Reflection by Bishop Robert Barron (Word on Fire):

Friends, today we celebrate the feast of Maximilian Kolbe, the great saint of Auschwitz. A prisoner from Fr. Kolbe’s barracks escaped, and in retaliation, the Nazi guards picked out ten other prisoners at random for execution. When one of those chosen broke down in tears, protesting that he was the father of a family, Kolbe stepped forward and said, "I am a Catholic priest; take me and spare this man."

Priests are called "father" because they are life-givers in the spiritual order. Spiritual fathers protect their children; they teach them; they are there for them; and at the limit, they even give their lives for them. And that’s what we see in today’s great saint.

Jesus gathered around himself a band of Apostles whom he shaped according to his own mind and heart and whom he subsequently sent on mission. Priests, down through the centuries—from Augustine and Aquinas to Francis Xavier and John Henry Newman to John Paul II and your own pastor—are the descendants of those first friends and apprentices of the Lord. They have been needed in every age, and they are needed today, for the kingdom of heaven must be proclaimed, the poor must be served, God must be worshiped, and the sacraments must be administered.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Eusebius of Rome, Priest (died circa 357), persecuted in the reign of the Roman emperor Constantius II for opposing the Arian heresy; on the site of his house stands the titular church of Sant'Eusebio: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Heresy-link Arianism, Wikipedia-link Arianism, & Wikipedia-link Church.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Arnold of Soissons, Bishop & Abbot, O.S.B. (circa 1040-1087; also spelt Arnulf, A.K.A. of Oudenburg), abbot of the Abbey of Saint-Médard, then Bishop of Soissons, then founder of the Abbey of St. Peter: Saint-link & Wikipedia-link; Wikipedia-link, Wikipedia-link, & Wikipedia-link St. Peter.

'Tis also the festival of Saint Antonio Primaldo & Companions, Martyrs (died 1480, A.K.A. the eight hundred thirteen [813, DCCCXIII] Martyrs of Otranto), martyred for refusing to convert to Islam in the reign of the Ottoman emperor Mehmed II the Conqueror: Martyr-link & Wikipedia-link.

'Tis also the festival of Blessed Aimone Taparelli, Priest, O.P. (circa 1395-1495, also spelt Aimo, Haymo): Blessed-link & Wikipedia-link.

Scripture of the Day
Mass Readings—Wednesday of the Nineteenth Week in Ordinary Time
The Book of Deuteronomy, chapter thirty-four, verses one thru twelve;
Psalm Sixty-six, verses one, two, & three(a), five & eight; & sixteen & seventeen;
The Gospel according to Matthew, chapter eighteen, verses fifteen thru twenty.

Commentary: Video reflection by Jem Sullivan, Ph.D.: United States Conference of Catholic Bishops.

Mass Readings—Memorial of St. Maximilian Kolbe
The Book of Wisdom, chapter three, verses one thru nine;
or, the First Letter of John, chapter three, verses fourteen thru eighteen;
Psalm One Hundred Sixteen, verses ten & eleven, twelve & thirteen, & sixteen(a/c) & seventeen;
The Gospel according to John, chapter fifteen, verses twelve thru sixteen.

Mass Readings—Vigil of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary
The First Book of Chronicles, chapter fifteen, verses three, four, fifteen, & sixteen & chapter sixteen, verses one & two;
Psalm One Hundred Thirty-two, verses six & seven, nine & ten, & thirteen & fourteen;
The First Letter to the Corinthians, chapter fifteen, verses fifty-four(b) thru fifty-seven;
The Gospel according to Luke, chapter eleven, verses twenty-seven & twenty-eight.

Scripture Study—Day 91: Progeny Point, Day 17
The Book of Genesis, chapter thirty-five, verses sixteen thru twenty.

Commentary: The Birth of Benjamin & the Death of Rachel (Genesis, 35:16-20).

Papal Quote o' the Day

"You must trust God, but also in yourselves. You must trust in the admirable energies that God has given to every person for the development of personality & in a chosen form of life."
—Pope St. John XXIII (1881-1963, feast day: 11 October)

Saint Quote o' the Day

"Let us remember that love lives through sacrifice & is nourished by giving. Without sacrifice there is no love."
—St. Maximilian Kolbe (1894-1941, feast day: 14 August)

Operation AXIOM

Seventy-six years ago to the day, 20 January 1942, the Wannsee Conference, a meeting of Nazi governmental & party officials chaired by S.S.-Obergruppenführer Reinhard Heydrich, was held to ensure inter-agency cooperation in the execution of the "Final Solution to the Jewish Question," the Nazis' euphemistic name for the attempted genocide of all the Jews in Europe—the Shoah, or the Holocaust. The Wannseekonferenz was not the kickoff of the Shoah, that had been underway since the Nazi seizure of power in Germany in 1933 & had accelerated with the conquest of Poland in 1939. But Wannsee did initiate a new phase in the "Final Solution," involving the deliberate allocation of significant resources to the mass transportation of populations from the conquered Eastern European territories to purpose-built extermination camps, expressly for the purpose of killing all the Jews in Nazi-occupied Europe. What records we do have of the conference—the Nazis attempted to destroy all transcripts of the discussions, not in the panicked days before final defeat in 1945, but from the very moment the conference adjourned—indicate that it was not a fiery series of speeches meant to whip the assembled bureaucrats into a frothy killing frenzy, but a cold, dispassionate analysis of the logistical & administrative means necessary to slaughter human being on an industrial scale. We dare never forget! The Wannsee Conference was held to plan the Shoah, the extermination all the Jews in Europe, on 20 January 1942, seventy-six years ago today.

I've marked the occasion by re-watching the 2001 television movie Conspiracy: Wikipedia-link & I.M.D.B.-link.