OCTOBER 24 SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET

“St. Anthony Mary Claret”
Artist and Date are UNKNOWN

OCTOBER 24

SAINT ANTHONY MARY CLARET, BISHOP 

Biographical Information about St. Anthony Mary Claret[1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. Anthony Mary Claret

Readings and Commentary: [2]

FIRST READING
Isaiah 52:7-10

How beautiful upon the mountains
are the feet of him who brings glad tidings,
Announcing peace, bearing good news,
announcing salvation, and saying to Zion,
"Your God is King!"
Hark! Your sentinels raise a cry,
together they shout for joy,
For they see directly, before their eyes,
the LORD restoring Zion.
Break out together in song,
O ruins of Jerusalem!
For the LORD comforts his people,
he redeems Jerusalem.
The LORD has bared his holy arm
in the sight of all the nations;
All the ends of the earth will behold
the salvation of our God. 
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Commentary on Is 52:7-10

At the time of its writing, the Prophet’s intent was to proclaim the joy of the return of the Jews from the Babylonian exile to Judah. He sees the event as salvation for the Hebrew people. God leads them back to the land he gave their fathers.

 

“These verses form the famous poem of the ‘messenger of peace’ who ‘brings good tidings.’ The ideas of the first oracle of this second part of the book (40:1-11) are repeated here very beautifully. The messenger's feet are praised - a symbol of his speed and surefootedness when crossing the mountains, which is where important news comes from (cf. 40:9). His message (v. 7) is described very significantly as involving ‘peace,’ which in Isaiah means safety in Israel after the hardships of exile; ‘good tidings’ or, more literally, ‘news of goodness and well-being,’ that is, genuine material and spiritual prosperity; and "salvation", which is permanent renewal on all levels. The three words read together mean the highest degree of happiness imaginable. The core of this message is the enthronement of God: ‘Your God reigns,’ similar to 40:9: ‘Behold your God.’”[4]

 

From a greater distance and depth of understanding, we see him announcing the coming of the Messiah and the salvation that comes to the New Jerusalem through Jesus Christ.

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RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
Psalm 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8, 10

R. (3) Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Sing to the LORD a new song;
sing to the LORD, all you lands.
Sing to the LORD; bless his name. 
 R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
 
Announce his salvation, day after day.
Tell his glory among the nations;
among all peoples, his wondrous deeds. 
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Give to the LORD, you families of nations,
give to the LORD glory and praise;
give to the LORD the glory due his name! 
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.

Say among the nations: The LORD is king.
He has made the world firm, not to be moved;
he governs the peoples with equity. 
R. Proclaim God's marvelous deeds to all the nations.
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Commentary on Ps 96:1-2a, 2b-3, 7-8, 10

“Announce his salvation, day after day.” This song of praise to the Lord invites all humanity to participate in God’s salvation. “This psalm has numerous verbal and thematic contacts with Isaiah ch. 40-55, as does Psalm 98. Another version of the psalm is 1 Chronicles 16:23-33.”[3]

 

CCC: Ps 96:2 2143
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GOSPEL Mark 1:14-20

After John the Baptist had been arrested,
Jesus came to Galilee proclaiming the Gospel of God:
"This is the time of fulfillment.
The Kingdom of God is at hand.
Repent, and believe in the Gospel."

As he passed by the Sea of Galilee,
he saw Simon and his brother Andrew casting their nets into the sea;
they were fishermen.
Jesus said to them,
"Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."
Then they abandoned their nets and followed him.
He walked along a little farther
and saw James, the son of Zebedee, and his brother John.
They too were in a boat mending their nets.
Then he called them.
So they left their father Zebedee in the boat
along with the hired men and followed him. 
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Commentary on Mk 1:14-20

It is noteworthy to observe that all of the Gospel accounts show Jesus beginning his public ministry after the active ministry of St. John the Baptist has ended. The “Voice” decreases while the “Word” increases (see John 3:30). We see the charismatic power of the Lord in the call of the first disciples from St. Mark’s Gospel. They follow him without inducement beyond his simple invitation to follow him. It is also notable that three of these first four, Simon, James, and John, develop the closest relationships with the Lord of all the disciples. From other Gospel sources (John 1:35-42), we know that at least Andrew was a disciple of St. John the Baptist and would have shared Jesus' status with his brother, Simon (Peter).

"The message in 1:15 consists of two declarative and two imperative statements, each pair set in synthetic parallelism. The good news from God proclaimed by Jesus concerns the coming to pass of God’s appointed time, the coming of God’s rule into history. The initial statement clearly declares that God is at work bringing to pass the appointed time, the time, of salvation anticipated by the prophets including the Baptist. The coming of God’s appointed time meant no less than that God’s rule had entered into history. Yet the language chosen to express the latter, the 'coming' of the Kingdom, connoted a complex event of arrival and nearness." [5]

CCC: Mk 1:15 541, 1423, 1427; Mk 1:16-20 787
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Reflection:
 
The Gospel of St. Mark describes the call of the first four disciples, Peter, Andrew, James, and John. What the Lord saw in them we can only surmise. They were not what most would have expected. They were not of the class of priests, they were not even Pharisees. They were ordinary men with an ordinary profession. We know from other scripture that Andrew at least was a disciple of St. John the Baptist. Perhaps that is what led the Lord to them. The fact remains, the Lord called them and they accepted his call.

In many ways the saint we memorialize today was the same. St. Anthony Mary Claret was, in his youth, not a person one would have pointed at and said “Ah, there is a future saint and great leader of the Church.” He had humble beginnings and was largely self-taught in the basics. We suspect the same was true of those first disciples. What makes St. Anthony Mary most cherished by the Church is his zeal and vigor in the cause of Christ and the call God placed upon him.

It is this strength of spirit and dedication to the Lord that we see and take to heart. He is a lived example of what it means to hear the voice of the Lord and accept the challenges of living his acceptance to that call. Today we pray for the intercession of St. Anthony Mary Claret; may his prayers strengthen our own will to accept what the Lord calls us to and lead us on the path to holiness.

Pax

[1] The picture is “St. Anthony Mary Claret” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[3] See NAB footnote on Psalm 96
[4] The Navarre Bible: “Major Prophets”, Scepter Publishers, Princeton, NJ, © 2002, pp. 231.

[5] Robert A. Guelich, Mark 1–8:26, vol. 34A, Word Biblical Commentary (Dallas: Word, Incorporated, 1989), 45–46.

OCTOBER 23 SAINT JOHN OF CAPISTRANO

“St. John Capistrano”
by Alois Niederstätter: c. 1400s 

OCTOBER 23

SAINT JOHN OF CAPISTRANO, PRIEST 

Biographical Information about St. John of Capistrano [1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. John of Capistrano

Readings and Commentary: [2]

FIRST READING 
2 Corinthians 5:14-20

Brothers and sisters:
The love of Christ impels us,
once we have come to the conviction that one died for all;
therefore, all have died.
He indeed died for all,
so that those who live might no longer live for themselves
but for him who for their sake died and was raised.

Consequently, from now on we regard no one according to the flesh;
even if we once knew Christ according to the flesh,
yet now we know him so no longer.
So whoever is in Christ is a new creation:
the old things have passed away;
behold, new things have come.
And all this is from God,
who has reconciled us to himself through Christ
and given us the ministry of reconciliation,
namely, God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ,
not counting their trespasses against them
and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation.
So we are ambassadors for Christ,
as if God were appealing through us.
We implore you on behalf of Christ,
be reconciled to God. 
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Commentary on 2 Cor 5:14-20

This passage from St. Paul’s Second Letter to the Corinthians has a distinctly sacramental flavor. First he speaks of dying with Christ, becoming one with him in the spirit. This occurs in the sacrament of Baptism. The whole idea of being reconciled to God in Christ is inherent in the Sacrament of Confirmation and concluded in the Eucharist. These of course are the three sacraments of Christian Initiation.

CCC: 2 Cor 5:14 616, 851; 2 Cor 5:15 605, 655, 1269; 2 Cor 5:17 1214, 1265; 2 Cor 5:17-18 1999; 2 Cor 5:18-21 2844; 2 Cor 5:18 981, 1442, 1461; 2 Cor 5:19 433, 620; 2 Cor 5:20 859, 1424, 1442
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
Psalm 16:1b-2a and 5, -8, 11

R. (see 5a) You are my inheritance, O Lord.
 
Keep me, O God, for in you I take refuge.
I say to the LORD, "My Lord are you."
O LORD, my allotted portion and my cup,
you it is who hold fast my lot. 
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

I bless the LORD who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the LORD ever before me;
with him at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. 
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever. 
R. You are my inheritance, O Lord.
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Commentary on Ps 16:1b-2a and 5, -8, 11

Psalm 16 is an individual hymn of praise.  The psalmist prays that God will shield the faithful from harm and expresses confidence in the Lord’s salvation; closing the passage with praise for God’s loving mercy.  This selection is structured to support the Pauline ideal of placing God first in the life of the psalmist, their greatest possession being loved by God and loving God in return.

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GOSPEL
Luke 9:57-62

As Jesus and his disciples were proceeding on their journey
someone said to him, "I will follow you wherever you go."
Jesus answered him,
"Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests,
but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head."
And to another he said, "Follow me."
But he replied, "Lord, let me go first and bury my father."
But he answered him, "Let the dead bury their dead.
But you, go and proclaim the Kingdom of God."
And another said, "I will follow you, Lord,
but first let me say farewell to my family at home."
He said, "No one who sets a hand to the plow
and looks to what was left behind is fit for the Kingdom of God." 
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Commentary on Lk 9:57-62

This passage from St. Luke’s Gospel gives us three sayings of Jesus about the requirement to place the values of Christian discipleship above all other requirements of life. Proclaiming the Kingdom of God must come before even family obligations.

In the first, “Foxes have dens,” Jesus does not deceive anyone – he lives in poverty, dedicated to his mission.

The second, “Let the dead bury their dead,” is a play on words: let the spiritually dead bury the physically dead. Jesus' message is the message of life. This saying was never intended to be taken literally as filial piety is deeply ingrained in Jewish life.

In the third saying; “No one who…looks to what was left behind,” Jesus demands more than Elisha (see 1 Kings 19:19-21). “Plowing for the Kingdom demands sacrifice.”[3] 

CCC: Lk 9:58 544
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Reflection:

What strikes us most directly when looking at the legacy of St. John of Capistrano is his personal vision of what a priest must be. His writings make it clear that in an age where abuses among clergy were common (June 24, 1386 – October 23, 1456), St. John was a voice calling for holiness He saw the role of the Priest as an imitation of Christ’s character, holy and blameless striving always to emulate the humility and honesty demonstrated by the Lord.

It is appropriate that on his feast day the Roman Missal provides us with Jesus’ instructions regarding the priorities of the Christian disciple. First is the emphasis on material poverty; when he tells his followers “Foxes have dens and birds of the sky have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to rest his head” he makes it clear that his kingdom is not of this world and that ownership of property may not be something that ties him down.

Next he is emphatic about the primacy of the Lord in the life of his disciples. When he tells one who would follow him he must attend to his family, Jesus makes it clear that God’s work must come above family. This saying makes a good argument for the celibate priesthood as a Priest must dedicate so much of his life to the spiritual wellbeing of the flock he is given to shepherd.

Finally Luke’s Gospel records the Lord’s demand that his followers are called to sacrifice. Being a member of Christ’s priesthood requires great sacrifice. The priest’s service must be a genuine gift to God’s people on their behalf. As St. John says in one of his letters; “By the brightness of their holiness they must bring light and serenity to all who gaze upon them.”[4]

Today we ask for St. John’s prayers; may we too bring light to the world through our holiness. We also pray for all who live in the clerical state. May they be infused with a spirit of holiness and be salt for the earth.

Pax

[1] The picture is “St. John Capistrano” by Alois Niederstätter: c. 1400s 
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[3] See Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, 44:97.
[4] Pars I, Venetiae 1580, 2

OCTOBER 20 SAINT PAUL OF THE CROSS

“St. Paul of the Cross”
Artist and Date are not sited.

OCTOBER 20
[In the Dioceses of the United States]

SAINT PAUL OF THE CROSS, PRIEST

Biographical Information about St. Paul of the Cross [1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. Paul of The Cross

Readings and Commentary: [2]

FIRST READING
1 Corinthians 1:18-25

Brothers and sisters:
The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing,
but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.
For it is written:I will destroy the wisdom of the wise,
and the learning of the learned I will set aside.
Where is the wise one?
Where is the scribe?
Where is the debater of this age?
Has not God made the wisdom of the world foolish?
For since in the wisdom of God
the world did not come to know God through wisdom,
it was the will of God through the foolishness of the proclamation
to save those who have faith.
For Jews demand signs and Greeks look for wisdom,
but we proclaim Christ crucified,
a stumbling block to Jews and foolishness to Gentiles,
but to those who are called, Jews and Greeks alike,
Christ the power of God and the wisdom of God.
For the foolishness of God is wiser than human wisdom,
and the weakness of God is stronger than human strength
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Commentary on 1 Cor 1:18-25

St. Paul begins this selection refuting those who point to Christ’s crucifixion as proof of Jesus’ fallibility by saying that faith, graciously given by God allows the Christian to see the victory in what appears to the scoffers to be a defeat (“The message of the cross is foolishness to those who are perishing, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God.”) St. Paul supports his premise by quoting Isaiah 29:14 attacking the “wisdom of the wise”. He calls Jesus a stumbling block for the Jews (probably because they expected a Royal Messiah taking power like King David) and again foolishness for the rational gentiles (Greeks) who pride themselves in logic – the cross is not logical for a savior.

St. Paul concludes by telling the community “those who were called”, that it is God who acts in them giving them faith (see also Romans 9:16) and that in the face of God’s omnipotence all the wisdom and strength of humanity pales in comparison.

CCC: 1 Cor 1:18 268; 1 Cor 1:24-25 272
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM
Psalm 117:1bc, 2

R. (Mark 16:15) Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

Praise the LORD, all you nations;
glorify him, all you peoples!
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.

For steadfast is his kindness toward us,
and the fidelity of the LORD endures forever.
R. Go out to all the world and tell the Good News.
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Commentary on Ps 117:1bc, 2

“This shortest of hymns calls on the nations to acknowledge God's supremacy. The supremacy of Israel's God has been demonstrated to them by the people's secure existence, which is owed entirely to God's gracious fidelity.”[3] Using a refrain from St. Mark’s Gospel, the psalm is one of praise for the Good News of God’s salvation.

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GOSPEL
Matthew 16:24-27

Jesus said to his disciples,
"Whoever wishes to come after me must deny himself,
take up his cross, and follow me.
For whoever wishes to save his life will lose it,
but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.
What profit would there be for one to gain the whole world
and forfeit his life?
Or what can one give in exchange for his life?
For the Son of Man will come with his angels in his Father's glory,
and then he will repay each one according to his conduct."
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Commentary on Mt 16:24-27

This is the second time within the Gospel of St. Matthew the Lord instructs the disciples that if they wish to follow him, they must take up the cross (the first time is in Matthew 10:38). This passage focuses the followers of Christ on the idea that serving the Lord must come before any other purposes in life since it is through following Jesus that eternal life is gained.

CCC: Mt 16:24-26 736; Mt 16:24 226, 618, 2029; Mt 16:25-26 363; Mt 16:25 2232; Mt 16:26 1021
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Reflection:

St. Paul of the Cross (1694 - 1775) is memorialized on this, his feast day, because he lived the Gospel proclaimed in his honor. He was raised in Ovada in Liguria (in the Province of Alessandria in the Italian region Piedmont) the son of a merchant. The Lord called him and he answered, giving up all he owned and working to serve the poor and the infirm. He saw in these stricken people the passion of the Lord and the Cross upon which he suffered, giving great reverence to the sacrifice of the Crucifixion. While espousing a cheerful service, he took upon himself severe penance for his own failures, constantly seeking perfection in the love of Christ.

The Lord used him as an example of the lived faith for us. We see in our own lives, opportunities to reach out to those less fortunate and give to them not just from our surplus but from our own need. In this way we join our brothers and sisters who bear the cross of their sufferings in union with the Lord, offering their pain to him who bears all sin for our salvation.

Today we ask for the prayers of St. Paul of the Cross. We ask that the Lord give us the strength to bear any hardship with grace, always seeking his face and recalling his great passion. We also ask that whatever hardships we encounter be borne in union with the Lord, lessening our pain and bringing us closer to him.

Pax

[1] The picture is “St. Paul of the Cross” Artist and Date are not sited.
[2] The readings are taken from the New American Bible with the exception of the Psalm and its response which were developed by the International Committee for English in Liturgy (ICEL).  This re-publication is not authorized by USCCB and is for private use only.
[3] See NAB footnote on Psalm 117

OCTOBER 19 SAINTS JOHN DE BRÉBEUF AND ISAAC JOGUES

“Sts. John De Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues
and their companions” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN

OCTOBER 19
[In the Dioceses of the United States]

SAINTS JOHN DE BRÉBEUF AND ISAAC JOGUES,
PRIESTS AND MARTYRS, AND THEIR COMPANIONS,
MARTYRS MEMORIAL 

Biographical Information about Sts. John De Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues
and their companions [1]

Readings for the Memorial of Sts. John De Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues
and their companions

Readings and Commentary:[2]

FIRST READING 
2 Corinthians 4:7-15

Brothers and sisters:
We hold this treasure in earthen vessels,
that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.
We are afflicted in every way, but not constrained;
perplexed, but not driven to despair;
persecuted, but not abandoned;
struck down, but not destroyed;
always carrying about in the body the dying of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may also be manifested in our body.
For we who live are constantly being given up to death
for the sake of Jesus,
so that the life of Jesus may be manifested in our mortal flesh.

So death is at work in us, but life in you.
Since, then, we have the same spirit of faith,
according to what is written, I believed, therefore I spoke,
we too believe and therefore speak,
knowing that the one who raised the Lord Jesus
will raise us also with Jesus
and place us with you in his presence.
Everything indeed is for you,
so that the grace bestowed in abundance on more and more people
may cause the thanksgiving to overflow for the glory of God. 
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Commentary on 2 Cor 4:7-15

St. Paul is speaking to the Corinthians about suffering and death in the human existence of this life, in spite of living in the faith. The image he uses, fragile earthen pots, speaks of God’s instruments being easily broken but nonetheless effective. The image of small terracotta lamps in which light is carried is mentioned elsewhere. The point the evangelist makes contrasts our mortality with God’s omnipotence and power, our death in the flesh with life in the spirit of Christ. With such a spirit at work within us, we must, like St. Paul, spread that news to others (“we too believe and therefore speak”).

CCC: 2 Cor 4:7 1420; 2 Cor 4:14 989
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
Psalm 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6

R. (5) Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
When the LORD brought back the captives of Zion,
we were like men dreaming.
Then our mouth was filled with laughter,
and our tongue with rejoicing. 
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Then they said among the nations,
"The LORD has done great things for them."
The LORD has done great things for us;
we are glad indeed. 
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Restore our fortunes, O LORD,
like the torrents in the southern desert.
Those who sow in tears
shall reap rejoicing. 
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.

Although they go forth weeping,
carrying the seed to be sown,
They shall come back rejoicing,
carrying their sheaves. 
R. Those who sow in tears shall reap rejoicing.
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Commentary on Ps 126:1bc-2ab, 2cd-3, 4-5, 6

Psalm 126 is a lament. In this short psalm the singer rejoices at the return of Israel following the Diaspora, the conquering of Israel and its enslavement. In this hymn, the people remember the greatness of God as he restores their nation and brings the people back to their own land ("Although they go forth weeping, carrying the seed to be sown, they shall come back rejoicing, carrying their sheaves."). The sense is one of being overflowing with thanksgiving.

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GOSPEL 
Matthew 28:16-20

The Eleven disciples went to Galilee,
to the mountain to which Jesus had ordered them.
When they saw him, they worshiped, but they doubted.
Then Jesus approached and said to them,
"All power in heaven and on earth has been given to me.
Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations,
baptizing them in the name of the Father,
and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit,
teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.
And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age."
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Commentary on Mt 28:16-20

This passage from the Gospel of St. Matthew presents “The Commissioning” monolog that concludes this Gospel. The doubting disciples are reassured that all the Lord had predicted, and all the prophets had foretold, had come to pass, and the Lord had now assumed his place with the Father. 

“This moment of encounter on the mountain is fraught with tense solemnity that cuts deep into the flesh of the apostles’ faith. Yes, they have responded to the summons that both the angel and Jesus himself sent them through the women. And yes, despite their misgivings, they have faithfully come to the precise place of their appointment with Jesus on this mountain. Nevertheless, it is all too evident that the apostles are not as unequivocally filled with joy as the two Marys were. The text tellingly makes no mention of the rejoicing by the disciples in its description of their reaction on encountering their risen Lord.  Instead we read: ‘When they saw him they worshiped him; but some doubted.’ There are different ways of interpreting this mixed response. I, for my part, read it as signifying a total shift of theological focus on the part of the evangelist as he portrays the meeting that is the climax of his whole Gospel.” [3]

The Lord then sends them out to continue his earthly mission. His command to them is an important one: “Go, therefore, and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all that I have commanded you.” In this statement, we receive the proper “form” and institution of the Sacrament of Baptism and the command to bring all nations to follow the Lord. The critically important emphasis here is: "make disciples," which goes beyond the sacramental act of baptism, the imparting of the Holy Spirit, to converting the hearts of those so washed. Finally, he reassures them that he will be with them always.

CCC: Mt 28:16-20 857, 1444; Mt 28:16-17 645; Mt 28:17 644; Mt 28:18-20 1120; Mt 28:19-20 2, 767, 849, 1223, 1257, 1276
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Reflection:
 
The Gospel passage from St. Matthew provides us with the institution of the sacrament of Baptism. Going beyond that Jesus makes it clear to the disciples that they are sent into the world to “make disciples of all the nations.” This instruction has been passed down to all who call themselves Christian. By word and example we are called to take the message of Jesus to all we meet.

In the history of Church there are among the Saints some who have taken this command to its extreme, taking the word of Christ to peoples who have no knowledge of God or His Son. Such were the brave Jesuits, Sts. John De Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and their companions. This group of eight brothers came to the Americas to evangelize the Native Americans in the seventeenth century and between 1642 and 1649 met their deaths at the hands of those they came serve. Because of this heroic virtue, they have been included with the white robed army of martyrs who stand before the Throne of the Lamb, having achieved what the Lord had asked.

Their example of living the Gospel proclaimed to us on this day provides yet another example of how the Holy Spirit provides strength of heart when supported by a vibrant and lively faith. May these Jesuit saints intercede for us on this day, offering prayers for us that we to might be valiant in making disciples in places hostile to the Word of God.

Pax
[1] The picture is Sts. John De Brébeuf and Isaac Jogues and their companions, Artist and Date are UNKNOWN 
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.

[3] Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume IV, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 2021 pp. 642-43.

OCTOBER 17 SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH

“Madonna and Child with
St Ignatius of Antioch
and St Onophrius”
(detail) by Lorenzo Lotto, 1508

OCTOBER 17

SAINT IGNATIUS OF ANTIOCH,
BISHOP AND MARTYR MEMORIAL 

Biographical Information about St. Ignatius of Antioch [1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. Ignatius of Antioch

Readings and Commentary:[2]

FIRST READING 
Philippians 3:17-- 4:1

Join with others in being imitators of me, brothers and sisters,
and observe those who thus conduct themselves
according to the model you have in us.
For many, as I have often told you
and now tell you even in tears
conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.
Their end is destruction.
Their God is their stomach;
their glory is in their "shame."
Their minds are occupied with earthly things.
But our citizenship is in heaven,
and from it we also await a savior, the Lord Jesus Christ.
He will change our lowly body
to conform with his glorified Body
by the power that enables him also
to bring all things into subjection to himself.

Therefore, my brothers and sisters,
whom I love and long for, my joy and crown,
in this way stand firm in the Lord, beloved. 
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Commentary on Phil 3:17-- 4:1

In the first part of the reading St. Paul exhorts the community to imitate him and those who act in accord with his teaching. He goes on to identify those who “…conduct themselves as enemies of the cross of Christ.” They do so by focusing their efforts on themselves (their stomach, their glory, earthly things).

The second part of the reading is the promise to the faithful members of the community. The promise is that, in the end, they will be conformed to Christ in spirit and body.

CCC: Phil 3:16-17 1156, 2633; Phil 3:18-21 2204; Phil 3:20 2217; Phil 3:21 2286
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RESPONSORIAL PSALM 
Psalm 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

R. (5) The Lord delivered me from all my fears.

I will bless the LORD at all times;
his praise shall be ever in my mouth.
Let my soul glory in the LORD;
the lowly will hear me and be glad. 
R. The LORD delivered me from all my fears.

Glorify the LORD with me,
let us together extol his name.
I sought the LORD, and he answered me
and delivered me from all my fears. 
R. The LORD set me free from all my fears.
 
Look to him that you may be radiant with joy,
and your faces may not blush with shame.
When the poor one called out, the LORD heard,
and from all his distress he saved him. 
R. The LORD delivered me from all my fears.

The angel of the LORD encamps
around those who fear him, and delivers them.
Taste and see how good the LORD is;
blessed the man who takes refuge in him. 
R. The LORD delivered me from all my fears.
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Commentary on Ps 34:2-3, 4-5, 6-7, 8-9

Psalm 34 is a song of thanksgiving and a favorite for celebrating the heroic virtue of the saints. The psalmist, fresh from the experience of being rescued (Psalm 34:5, 7), can teach the "poor," those who are defenseless, to trust in God alone. This psalm, in the words of one being unjustly persecuted, echoes hope for deliverance and freedom.

CCC: Ps 34:3 716; Ps 34:8 336
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GOSPEL
John 12:24-26

Jesus said to his disciples:
"Amen, amen, I say to you,
unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies,
it remains just a grain of wheat;
but if it dies, it produces much fruit.
Whoever loves his life loses it,
and whoever hates his life in this world
will preserve it for eternal life.
Whoever serves me must follow me,
and where I am, there also will my servant be.
The Father will honor whoever serves me."
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Commentary on Jn 12:24-26

 

Jesus has made his final entry into Jerusalem.  His hour is at hand and, in the presence of Gentiles as well as his disciples he reflects on his salvific mission.  St. John’s passage, given here, is foundational to our understanding of the paschal mystery. Using the analogy of the grain of wheat, the Lord invites us to his own sacrifice.

"Beautifully, Christ begins to elucidate the mystery of his atoning death.  If it be thought strange that he must die in order to bring life, let it be remembered that this paradox already exists in nature.  The grain of wheat left to itself produces nothing; only when it appears to have died and has been buried does it bring forth fruit - in far greater abundance than itself (cf. 1 Corinthians 15:36)." [3]

Out of the Lord's analogy, wheat that comes from the seemingly dead and buried seed becomes the eucharistic sacrifice. Into the body's death to sin in Baptism, we are invited to share the salvation that comes from following Christ from death to life.

CCC: Jn 12:24 2731

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Reflection:

We celebrate today the feast of one of the early Saints (martyred in 107 AD). He truly followed the Lord in cardinal ways. He was betrayed by one of his own; it is said he was denounced by one of the members of his own faith community. He was cruelly treated by his captors; according to references in his letters he referred to the guards who transported him to Rome as “Ten Leopards” who responded to kindness with hatred. During his ordeal he wrote several letters to various churches exalting the Lord and faithfully guiding the flock. His ordeal culminated in being martyred by wild beasts for the amusement of the crowds in the arena in Rome.

 

From another of his letters we hear the following account of his faith as he was going to his death:

I am writing to all the churches to let it be known that
I will gladly die for God if only you do not stand in my
way. I plead with you: show me no untimely kindness.
Let me be food for the wild beasts, for they are my way to
God. I am God's wheat and shall be ground by their teeth
so that I may become Christ's pure bread. Pray to Christ
for me that the animals will be the means of making me

a sacrificial victim for God. -St. Ignatius of Antioch

What we take away from his life is a lived response to what St. John’s Gospel records as part of Jesus teaching. Referring to himself he tells us that “…unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains just a grain of wheat;” In dying to this life, faithful to the last, St. Ignatius followed Christ’s example and word. Like the grain of wheat that falls to the ground, he as, we believe, already achieved what we hope for – rebirth to eternal life in the Heavenly Kingdom.

Today as we recall the life and death of St. Ignatius of Antioch, washed clean in the Blood of the Lamb, we ask for his prayers for us; that we might remain faithful to Christ in the face of opposition and that our witness to that faith might bring others to do the same.

Pax

[1] The picture is “Madonna and Child with St Ignatius of Antioch and St Onophrius” (detail) by Lorenzo Lotto, 1508
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[3] Jerome Biblical Commentary, Prentice Hall, Inc., © 1968, 63:131, p. 449

OCTOBER 16 SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE

“The Vision of
St. Margret Mary Alacoque”
Artist and Date are UNKNOWN

OCTOBER 16

SAINT MARGARET MARY ALACOQUE, VIRGIN 

Biographical Information about St. Margret Mary Alacoque [1]

Readings for the Memorial of St. Margret Mary Alacoque

Readings and Commentary: [2]

FIRST READING 
Ephesians 3:14-19

Brothers and sisters:
I kneel before the Father,
from whom every family in heaven and on earth is named,
that he may grant you in accord with the riches of his glory
to be strengthened with power through his Spirit in the inner self,
and that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith;
that you, rooted and grounded in love,
may have strength to comprehend with all the holy ones
what is the breadth and length and height and depth,
and to know the love of Christ that surpasses knowledge,
so that you may be filled with all the fullness of God.
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Commentary on Eph 3:14-19

St. Paul is addressing the Gentiles in Ephesus. “The apostle prays that those he is addressing may, like the rest of the church, deepen their understanding of God's plan of salvation in Christ. It is a plan that affects the whole universe (Ephesians 3:15) with the breadth and length and height and depth of God's love in Christ (Ephesians 3:18) or possibly the universe in all its dimensions. The apostle prays that they may perceive the redemptive love of Christ for them and be completely immersed in the fullness of God (Ephesians 3:19)." [3]

 

CCC: Eph 3:14 239, 2214, 2367; Eph 3:16-17 1073, 2714; Eph 3:16 1995; Eph 3:18-21 2565
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RESPONSORIAL PSALMPsalm 23:1b-3a, 4, 5, 6

R. (1) The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.
In verdant pastures he gives me repose;
Beside restful waters he leads me;
he refreshes my soul. 
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Even though I walk in the dark valley
I fear no evil; for you are at my side
With your rod and your staff
that give me courage. 
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

You spread the table before me
in the sight of my foes;
You anoint my head with oil;
my cup overflows. 
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.

Only goodness and kindness follow
me all the days of my life;
And I shall dwell in the house of the LORD
for years to come. 
R. The Lord is my shepherd; there is nothing I shall want.
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Commentary on Ps 23:1b-3a, 4, 5, 6

Psalm 23 is one of the most familiar songs in the entire psalter. “God's loving care for the psalmist is portrayed under the figures of a shepherd for the flock (Psalm 23:1-4) and a host's generosity toward a guest (Psalm 23:5-6). The imagery of both sections is drawn from traditions of the exodus (Isaiah 40:11; 49:10; Jeremiah 31:10).” [4] While the theme of shepherd is mentioned in the first strophe, the psalm really speaks to the peace given to those who follow the Lord and place their trust in Him, even into the “dark valley.”

 

The reference in the third strophe above: “'You spread the table before me in the sight of my foes' occurs in an exodus context in Psalm 78:19. As my enemies watch: my enemies see that I am God's friend and guest. Oil: a perfumed ointment made from olive oil, used especially at banquets (Psalm 104:15; Matthew 26:7; Luke 7:37, 46; John 12:2).” [4]

CCC: Ps 23:5 1293
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GOSPEL 
Matthew 11:25-30

At that time Jesus answered:
"I give praise to you, Father, Lord of heaven and earth,
for although you have hidden these things
from the wise and the learned
you have revealed them to the childlike.
Yes, Father, such has been your gracious will.
All things have been handed over to me by my Father.
No one knows the Son except the Father,
and no one knows the Father except the Son
and anyone to whom the Son wishes to reveal him.

"Come to me, all you who labor and are burdened,
and I will give you rest.
Take my yoke upon you and learn from me,
for I am meek and humble of heart;
and you will find rest for yourselves.
For my yoke is easy, and my burden light."
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Commentary on Mt 11:25-30

Jesus has just completed a fairly scathing criticism of the people in the places he has been and performed miracles, yet many have not accepted him as the Messiah. He now concludes this section on a more joyous note as he reflects that, while the scribes and Pharisees (“the wise and learned”) have not understood who he is, those with simple faith have accepted him freely. He then issues an invitation to all who “labor and are burdened” quoting an invitation similar to one in Ben Sirach to learn wisdom and submit to her yoke (Sirach 51:23, 26).

“This Q saying, identical with Luke 10:21-22 except for minor variations, introduces a joyous note into this section, so dominated by the theme of unbelief. While the wise and the learned, the scribes and Pharisees, have rejected Jesus' preaching and the significance of his mighty deeds, the childlike have accepted them. Acceptance depends upon the Father's revelation, but this is granted to those who are open to receive it and refused to the arrogant. Jesus can speak of all mysteries because he is the Son and there is perfect reciprocity of knowledge between him and the Father; what has been handed over to him is revealed only to those whom he wishes.” [5]

The final verses of this section are found only in St. Matthew’s Gospel and promise salvation to those who are downtrodden or in pain. “In extending his extraordinary invitation Jesus is speaking as one possessing the full authority and compassion of God. ‘Come to me, you all you grown weary with labor and heavily burdened!’ The proclamation has all the universality and power that only a divine call to mankind can have, the sort of blessed clamor of God’s compassion within human history that we hear in the prophets.” [6]

CCC: Mt 11:25-27 2603, 2779; Mt 11:25-26 2701; Mt 11:25 153, 544, 2785; Mt 11:27 151, 240, 443, 473; Mt 11:28 1658; Mt 11:29-30 1615; Mt 11:29 459
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Reflection:

Although it is difficult for us to consider, we must be reminded that the Church, Christ’s bride, was founded by human beings with all their faults and frailties. St. Peter was given the Keys to the Kingdom and we recall that this is the same St. Peter who denied our Savior three times the evening of his great passion. It is no wonder then that among even the best intentioned people, vowed to serving our Lord, there is petty bitterness and uncharitable impulses. These were encountered by the Saint we memorialize today. Margaret Mary Alacoque’s vocation was a gift to the Church as was her devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. It seemed as if the Lord’s own Passion in the Garden was relived in this frail servant of God. In addition to the humble service she laid upon herself, the very holiness she tried to emulate and which was clearly accepted by our Lord, as was evidenced numerous times through miraculous interventions, earned her the envy and in some cases, malice of her sisters in her cloister at the Visitation Sisters at Paray-le-Monial.

Still, even this injustice served to strengthen her resolve to offer herself to the mercies of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus. In the words of the Gospel she accepted the yoke of Christ, a yoke that guided her, even in the greatest of trials, unswervingly to the Love of Christ. Her intimate relationship with the Lord, developed through prayer and devotion, established a mystic relationship with Jesus with whom she spoke and with whose visage she walked.

Today we ask St. Margret Mary to pray for us. We ask that we may be given the grace and strength to accept the Lord’s yoke as she did and, by doing so, find a place with her in the courts of the Heavenly Kingdom.

Pax
 

[1] The picture is “The Vision of St. Margret Mary Alacoque” Artist and Date are UNKNOWN
[2] Text of Readings is taken from the New American Bible, Copyright © Libreria Editrice Vaticana, Excerpts from the English translation of The Roman Missal © 1973, International Committee on English in the Liturgy, Inc. All rights reserved.
[3] See NAB Footnote on Ephesians 3:14-19 
[4] See NAB Footnote on Psalm 23
[5] See NAB footnote on Matthew 11:25ff
[6] Fire of Mercy Heart of the Word Volume I, Erasmo Leiva-Merikakis, Ignatius Press, San Francisco, CA, © 1996 p. 710