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Compiled by: Twitter X @Michael65413248 & Buddies
Ordinary Time 2025: Daily Mass Readings, Commentaries from Saints & Saints’ Feast Days
17 June 2025 (Tuesday) #MassReadings USCCB Commentaries: #StJohnChrysostom (#2Corinthians8:1-9) , #StAugustine (#Psalm146:2, 5-7, 8-9a) , Sending You Joy, Love & Peace from #Singapore! Some extracted Commentaries: Saint Gregory the Great. Love to an enemy is then observed when we are not sorrowful at his success, or rejoice in his fall. We hate him whom we wish not to be bettered, and pursue with ill-wishes the prosperity of the man in whose fall we rejoice. Yet it may often happen that without any sacrifice of charity, the fall of an enemy may gladden us, and again his exaltation make us sorrowful without any suspicion of envy; when, namely, by his fall any deserving man is raised up, or by his success any undeservedly depressed. But herein a strict measure of discernment must be observed, lest in following out our own hates, we hide it from ourselves under the specious pretence of others’ benefit. We should balance how much we owe to the fall of the sinner, how much to the justice of the Judge. For when the Almighty has struck any hardened sinner, we must at once magnify His justice as Judge, and feel with the other’s suffering who perishes. Saint Augustine. Here arises a question, that this commandment of the Lord, by which He bids us pray for our enemies, seems opposed by many other parts of Scripture. In the Prophets are found many imprecations upon enemies; such as that in the 108th Psalm, Let his children be orphans. (Psalm 109:9.) But it should be known, that the Prophets are wont to foretell things to come in the form of a prayer or wish. This has more weight as a difficulty that John says, There is a sin unto death, I sag not that he shall pray for it; (1 John 5:16.) plainly shewing, that there are some brethren for whom he does not bid us pray; for what went before was, If any know his brother sin a sin, &c. Yet the Lord bids us pray for our persecutors. This question can only be resolved, if we admit that there are some sins in brethren more grievous than the sin of persecution in our enemies. For thus Stephen prays for those that stoned him, because they had not yet believed on Christ; but the Apostle Paul (2Timothy 4:14.) does not pray for Alexander though he was a brother, but had sinned by attacking the brotherhood through jealousy. But for whom you pray not, you do not therein pray against him. What must we say then of those against whom we know that the saints have prayed, and that not that they should be corrected, (for that would be rather to have prayed for them), but for their eternal damnation; not as that prayer of the Prophet against the Lord’s betrayer, for that is a prophecy of the future, not an imprecation of punishment; but as when we read in the Apocalypse the Martyrs’ prayer that they may be avenged. (Revelation 6:10.) But we ought not to let this affect us. For who may dare to affirm that they prayed against those persons themselves, and not against the kingdom of sin? For that would be both a just and a merciful avenging of the Martyrs, to overthrow that kingdom of sin, under the continuance of which they endured all those evils. And it is overthrown by correction of some, and damnation of such as abide in sin. Does not Paul seem to you to have avenged Stephen on his own body, as he speaks, (1 Corinthians 9:27.) I chastise my body, and bring it into subjection. Our comments: So don’t be surprised when you are doing your best for God’s Mission work FREE and you experience slander, back-stabbing etc. by those “very active” in the Church but refuse to do fruitful work (especially by Priests) such as these: https://x.com/Michael65413248/status/1557400176649650176 https://x.com/Michael65413248/status/1572483925334978560 Just continue with your good work & ignore them, don’t waste time on those who deliberately want to end up in h*ll. See what Hebrews 6:4-6 says of them. See what Saint John Chrysostom commented on #Matthew5:20–22 concerning this kind of people: This is the first mention of hell, though the kingdom of Heaven had been mentioned some time before, which shews that the gifts of the one comes of His love, the condemnation of the other of our sloth. Many thinking this a punishment too severe for a mere word, say that this was said figuratively. But I fear that if we thus cheat ourselves with words here, we shall suffer punishment in deed there. Think not then this too heavy a punishment, when so many sufferings and sins have their beginning in a word; a little word has often begotten a murder, and overturned whole cities. And yet it is not to be thought a little word that denies a brother reason and understanding by which we are men, and differ from the brutes. June 17: Feast of Saint Albert Chmielowski, TOSF, Patron Saint of Painters, Soldiers, Volunteers, Harvests, Travellers etc. (quote), (Extracts: Karol Wojtyła (who became Pope John Paul II) in 1949, then a simple priest in Poland, wrote a well-received play about Albert, entitled Brat naszego Boga (movie) which was made into a film with the same title in 1997. John Paul II later said that he found great spiritual support for his own vocation in the life of the Polish saint whom he saw as an example of leaving behind the world of the arts to make a radical choice in favour of the religious life. Saint Botolph of Thorney, Patron Saint of Travellers and Farming & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
16 June 2025 (Monday) #MassReadings USCCB Commentaries: #StJohnChrysostom (#2Corinthians6:1-10 ) , #StAugustine (#Psalm98:1, 2b, 3ab, 3cd-4) Sending You Joy, Love & Peace from #Singapore! Some extracted Commentaries: Saint Augustine. …But that mercy forgives any debt, does not make it unjust that payment had been sought. Since then he sins who seeks an unmeasured vengeance, but he does not sin who desires only a just one; he is therefore further from sin who seeks no retribution at all. I might state it yet thus; It was said to them of old time, Thou shalt not take unequal retaliation; But I say unto you. Ye shall not retaliate; this is a completion of the Law, if in these words something is added to the Law which was wanting to it; yea, rather that which the Law sought to do, namely, to put an end to unequal revenge, is more safely secured when there is no revenge at all. Saint Jerome. But it maybe understood of the wealth of doctrine: wealth which never fails but the more of it is given away, the more it abounds. Saint Augustine. That Jesus commands, And from him that would borrow of thee, turn not away, must be referred to the mind; for God loveth a cheerful giver. (#2Corinthians9:7.) And every one that receives, indeed borrows, though it is not he that shall pay, but God, who restores to the merciful many fold. Or, if you like to understand by borrowing, only taking with promise to repay, we must understand the Lord’s command as embracing both these kinds of affording aid; whether we give outright, or lend to receive again. And of this last kind of shewing mercy it is well said, Turn not away, that is, do not be therefore backward to lend, as though, because man shall repay you, therefore God shall not; for what you do by God’s command cannot be without fruit. Some object that this command of Christ is altogether inconsistent with civil life in Commonwealths; Who, say they, would suffer, when he could hinder it, the pillage of his estate by an enemy; or would not repay the evil suffered by a plundered province of Rome on the plunderers according to the rights of war? But these precepts of patience are to be observed in readiness of the heart, and that mercy, not to return evil for evil, must be always fulfilled by the will. Yet must we often use a merciful sharpness in dealing with the headstrong. And in this way, if the earthly commonwealth will keep the Christian commandments, even war will not be waged without good charities, to the establishing among the vanquished peaceful harmony of godliness and righteousness. For that victory is beneficial to him from whom it snatches licence to sin; since nothing is more unfortunate for sinners, than the good fortune of their sins, which nourishes an impunity that brings punishment after it, and an evil will is strengthened, as it were some internal enemy. June 16: Feast of Saint Benno of Meissen, Confessor and Bishop of Meissen, Saint Lutgardis, Patron Saint of the blind and physically disabled (Lutgardis was one of the great precursors of the devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus…“And for what would you exchange it?” Christ asked. “Lord, said Lutgarde, I would exchange it for your Heart.” Christ then reached into Lutgarde and, removing her heart, replaced it with His own, at the same time hiding her heart within His breast… During this time she is known to have shown gifts of healing and prophecy, and was an adept at teaching the Gospels.) & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
15 June 2025 The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity #MassReadings, Commentaries from Rev. #GeorgeLeoHaydock, #StAugustine, #StRobertBellarmine, #StJohnChrysostom & other Saints https://emmanuel-maria.biz/index_files/Page2317.htm The Millions of #Singaporeans & http://emmanuel-maria.com.sg/index.htm sending You Peace, Love & Joy! #Singapore June 15: The Solemnity of the Most Holy Trinity, Feast of Saint Vitus, Martyr, Holy Helper, (extracts: Michael J. Towsend writes that "the phrase 'The patron saint of Methodism is St Vitus' summed up with reasonable accuracy many people's impressions of the Methodist Church. Methodists, surely, are supremely busy people, always rushing around organizing things and setting up committees to do good works. They can generally be relied upon to play their part in running Christian Aid Week, the sponsored walk for the local hospice or the group protesting about homelessness, and they are known, even now, to be activists in trades unions and political parties.") Saint Germaine Cousin , Patron Saint of abandoned people; disabled people & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
14 June 2025 (Saturday) #MassReadings USCCB Commentaries: #StJohnChrysostom (#2Corinthians5:14-21) , #StAugustine (#Psalm103:1-2, 3-4, 9-10, 11-12 ) Sending You Joy, Love & Peace from #Singapore! Some extracted Commentaries: Saint Augustine. But what we could not understand by mere words, from the conduct of the saints we may gather in what sense should be understood what might easily be drawn the contrary way, unless explained by example. The Apostle has used oaths in his Epistles, and by this shews us how that ought to be taken, I say unto you, Swear not at all, namely, lest by allowing ourselves to swear at all we come to readiness in swearing, from readiness we come to a habit of swearing, and from a habit of swearing we fall into perjury. And so the Apostle is not found to have used an oath but only in writing, the greater thought and caution which that requires not allowing of slip of the tongue. Yet is the Lord’s command so universal, Swear not at all, that He would seem to have forbidden it even in writing. But since it would be an impiety to accuse Paul of having violated this precept, especially in his Epistles, we must understand the word at all as implying that, as far as lays in your power, you should not make a practice of swearing, not aim at it as a good thing in which you should take delight. Saint Rabanus Maurus . Having forbidden swearing, He instructs us how we ought to speak, Let your speech be yea, yea; nay, nay. That is, to affirm anything it is sufficient to say, ‘It is so:’ to deny, to say, ‘It is not so.’ Or, yea, yea; nay, nay, are therefore twice repeated, that what you affirm with the mouth you should prove in deed, and what you deny in word, you should not establish by your conduct. Saint John Chrysostom. Or; of evil, that is, from their weakness to whom the Law permitted the use of an oath. Not that by this the old Law is signified to be from the Devil, but Jesus leads us from the old imperfection to the new abundance. June 14: Feast of Elisha the Jewish Prophet & Wonder Worker (Elisha Movie) & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
13 June 2025 (Friday) #MassReadings USCCB Commentaries: #StJohnChrysostom (#2Corinthians4:7-15) , #StAugustine (#Psalm116:10-11, 15-18 ) Sending You Joy, Love & Peace from #Singapore! Some extracted Commentaries: Saint Augustine. Thou shalt not commit adultery, that is, Thou shalt go no where but to thy lawful wife. For if you exact this of your wife, you ought to do the same, for the husband ought to go before the wife in virtue. It is a shame for the husband to say that this is impossible. Why not the husband as well as the wife? And let not him that is unmarried suppose that he does not break this commandment by fornication; you know the price wherewith you have been bought, you know what you eat and what you drink, therefore keep yourself from fornications. Forasmuch as all such acts of lust pollute and destroy God’s image, (which you are,) the Lord who knows what is good for you, gives you this precept that you may not pull down His temple which you have begun to be. See what Saint Paul says in #1Corinthians6:19-20. Saint Augustine. He then goes on to correct the error of the Pharisees, declaring, Whoso looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery already with her in his heart. For the commandment of the Law, Thou shall not lust after thy neighbour’s wife, (#Exodus20:17.) the Jews understood of taking her away, not of committing adultery with her. Saint John Chrysostom. If you permit yourself to gaze often on fair countenances you will assuredly be taken, even though you may be able to command your mind twice or thrice. For you are not exalted above nature and the strength of humanity. She too who dresses and adorns herself for the purpose of attracting men’s eyes to her, though her endeavour should fail, yet shall she be punished hereafter; seeing she mixed the poison and offered the cup, though none was found who would drink thereof. For what the Lord seems to speak only to the man, is of equal application to the woman; inasmuch as when He speaks to the head, the warning is meant for the whole body. Saint Augustine. As the eye denotes contemplation, so the hand aptly denotes action. By the eye we must understand our most cherished friend, as they are wont to say who would express ardent affection, ‘I love him as my own eye.’ And a friend too who gives counsel, as the eye shews us our way. The right eye, perhaps, only means to express a higher degree of affection, for it is the one which men most fear to lose. Or, by the right eye may be understood one who counsels us in heavenly matters, and by the left one who counsels in earthly matters. And this will be the sense; Whatever that is which you love as you would your own right eye, if it offend you, that is, if it be an hindrance to your true happiness, cut it off and cast it from you. For if the right eye was not to be spared, it was superfluous to speak of the left. The right hand also is to be taken of a beloved assistant in divine actions, the left hand in earthly actions. PSEUDO-CHRYSOSTOM. For when Moses brought the children of Israel out of Egypt, they were indeed Hebrews in race, but Egyptians in manners. And it was caused by the Gentile manners that the husband hated the wife; and if he was not permitted to put her away, he was ready either to kill her or ill-treat her. Moses therefore suffered the bill of divorcement, not because it was a good practice in itself, but was the prevention of a worse evil. Saint Augustine. Not only does He permit to put away a wife who commits fornication, but whoso puts away a wife by whom he is driven to commit fornication, puts her away for the cause of fornication, both for his own sake and hers. Saint Augustine. He also rightly puts away his wife to whom she shall say, I will not be your wife unless you get me money by robbery; or should require any other crime to be done by him. If the husband here be truly penitent, he will cut off the limb that offends him. Our Comments: With all mentioned, we have taken note of what Saint Paul said in #1Corinthians6:9-20 concerning the same. Watch this video we believe is a real experience “The Blinding Light That Changed Everything I Knew About Heaven”. Starting from 53:00/1:14:10 & note that in Heaven it is IMPOSSIBLE to hide any secret thoughts or acts. ALL will know what sins that one has committed & his evil thoughts & imagination will be published as video LOUD for all to see & hear. This is “good news” for those who live like “holy icons” exteriorly but within are full of w**kedness & ext**tions! Isn’t it better to have secret virtues that harbouring secret sins? June 13: Feast of Saint Anthony of Padua, OFM, Doctor of the Church (his miracles, Wikiquote, quotes), Saint Gerard of Clairvaux & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
12 June 2025 (Thursday) #MassReadings USCCB Commentaries: #StJohnChrysostom (#2Corinthians3:15 - #2Corinthians4:1, 3-6) , #StAugustine (#Psalm85:9ab and 10 -14 ) & Saints (#Matthew5:20-26 ) . Sending You Joy, Love & Peace from #Singapore! Some extracted Commentaries: Saint Hilary. Or, he who reproaches with emptiness one full of the Holy Spirit, will he arraigned in the assembly of the Saints, and by their sentence will be punished for an affront against that Holy Spirit Himself. Saint Augustine. Otherwise, unless your righteousness exceed the righteousness of the Scribes and Pharisees, that is, exceed that of those who break what themselves teach, as it is elsewhere said of them, They say, and do not; (#Matthew23:3.) just as if He had said, Unless your righteousness exceed in this way that ye do what ye teach, you shall not enter the kingdom of heaven… For almost all the precepts which the Lord gave, saying, But I say unto you, are found in those ancient books. But because they knew not of any murder, besides the destruction of the body, the Lord shews them that every evil thought to the hurt of a brother is to be held for a kind of murder. In all these three sentences there are some words understood. In the first indeed, as many copies read without cause, there is nothing to be supplied. In the second, He who saith to his brother, Racha, we must supply the words, without cause; and again, in He who says, Thou fool, two things are understood, to his brother, and, without cause. And this forms the defence of the Apostle, when he calls the Galatians fools (See Galatians 3:1), though he considers them his brethren; for he did it not without cause. PSEUDO-CHRYSOSTOM. He who is angry without cause shall be judged; but he who is angry with cause shall not be judged. For if there were no anger, neither teaching would profit, nor judgments hold, nor crimes be controlled. So that he who on just cause is not angry, is in sin; for an unreasonable patience sows vices, breeds carelessness, and invites the good as well as the bad to do evil. Saint John Chrysostom. This is the first mention of hell, though the kingdom of Heaven had been mentioned some time before, which shews that the gifts of the one comes of His love, the condemnation of the other of our sloth. Many thinking this a punishment too severe for a mere word, say that this was said figuratively. But I fear that if we thus cheat ourselves with words here, we shall suffer punishment in deed there. Think not then this too heavy a punishment, when so many sufferings and sins have their beginning in a word; a little word has often begotten a murder, and overturned whole cities. And yet it is not to be thought a little word that denies a brother reason and understanding by which we are men, and differ from the brutes. Saint Jerome. It is not, If thou hast ought against thy brother; but, If thy brother has ought against thee, that the necessity of reconciliation may be more imperative. Saint Augustine. And he has somewhat against us when we have wronged him; and we have somewhat against him when he has wronged us, in which case there were no need to go to be reconciled to him, seeing we had only to forgive him, as we desire the Lord to forgive us. Saint Gregory the Great. Lo God is not willing to accept sacrifice at the hands of those who are at variance. Hence then consider how great an evil is strife, which throws away what should be the means of remission of sin. Saint Augustine. Let us see who this adversary is to whom we are bid to be benevolent, It may then be either the Devil, or man, or the flesh, or God, or His commandments. But I do not see how we can be bid be benevolent, or agreeing with the Devil; for where there is good will, there is friendship, and no one will say that friendship should be made with the Devil, or that it is well to agree with him, having once proclaimed war against him when we renounced him; nor ought we to consent with him, with whom had we never consented, we had never come into such circumstances, Our Comments: Beware of these in the Church. Jesus, You take over: https://x.com/Michael65413248/status/1166641251443019776 https://x.com/Michael65413248/status/1557400176649650176 https://x.com/Michael65413248/status/1572483925334978560 https://x.com/Michael65413248/status/1215461764587851776 https://x.com/Michael65413248/status/1166201711146356736 https://x.com/Michael65413248/status/1204220967381127170 June 12: Feast of Saint John of Sahagún, OESA (from Academic), (extracts: Great was St John's devotion to the Blessed Sacrament, that at the celebration of Mass he frequently saw the Sacred Host resplendent in glory. He was gifted with a special power to penetrate the secrets of conscience, so that it was not easy to deceive him, and sinners were almost always forced to make good confessions. He was able to obtain wonderful results in doing away with enmities and feuds.) Saint Gaspare Bertoni & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
11 June 2025 (Wednesday) #MassReadings USCCB Commentaries: #StJohnChrysostom (#Acts11:21b-26 ; #Acts13:1-3 ) , & Saints (#Matthew 5:17-19 ) . Sending You Joy, Love & Peace from #Singapore! Some extracted Commentaries: Saint Augustine. And lastly, because even for them who were under grace, it was hard in this mortal life to fulfil that of the Law, Thou shalt not lust, He being made a Priest by the sacrifice of His flesh, obtained for us this indulgence, even in this fulfilling the Law, that where through our infirmity we could not, we should be strengthened through His perfection, of whom as our head we all are members. For so I think must be taken these words, to fulfil the Law, by adding to it, that is, such things as either contribute to the explanation of the old glosses, or to enable to keep them. For the Lord has shewed us that even a wicked motion of the thoughts to the wrong of a brother is to be accounted a kind of murder. The Lord also teaches us, that it is better to keep near to the truth without swearing, than with a true oath to come near to blasphemy. Saint John Chrysostom. Or, when you hear the words, least in the kingdom of heaven, imagine nothing less than the punishment of hell. For He oft uses the word ‘kingdom,’ not only of the joys of heaven, but of the time of the resurrection, and of the terrible coming of Christ. Saint Gregory the Great. Or, by the kingdom of heaven is to be understood the Church, in which that teacher who breaks a commandment is called least, because he whose life is despised, it remains that his preaching be also despised. Saint Jerome. …The learning of the master if joined with sin however small, loses him the highest place, nor does it avail any to teach righteousness, if he destroys it in his life. Perfect bliss is for him who fulfils in deed what he teaches in word. June 11: Feast of Saint Barnabas, Apostle & Bishop of Milan, (St. Luke described Barnabas as 'a good man, full of the Holy Spirit and of faith' (Acts 6:24), and he was known for his exceptional kindliness and personal sanctity, and his openness to pagans.) Saint Paula Frassinetti, Foundress of the Congregation of the Sisters of Saint Dorothy (quotes, others, her other quotes: Work in full simplicity. We're in God's hands, and we are so very well. Our mission is to educate through heart and love. The will of God is my paradise. Be burning flames that inflame with God's love all those you come in contact with.) & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
10 June 2025 (Tuesday) #MassReadings USCCB Commentaries: #StJohnChrysostom (#2Corinthians1:18-22) , #StAugustine (#Psalm119:129-135) , & Saints (#Matthew5:13-16) . Some extracted Commentaries: Saint Hilary. There may be here seen a propriety in our Lord’s language which may be gathered by considering the Apostles’ office, and the nature of salt. This, used as it is by men for almost every purpose, preserves from decay those bodies which are sprinkled with it; and in this, as well as in every sense of its flavour as a condiment, the parallel is most exact. The Apostles are preachers of heavenly things, and thus, as it were, salters with eternity; rightly called the salt of the earth, as by the virtue of their teaching, they, as it were, salt and preserve bodies for eternity. Saint Remigius. Moreover, salt is changed into another kind of substance by three means, water, the heat of the sun, and the breath of the wind. Thus Apostolical men also were changed into spiritual regeneration by the water of baptism, the heat of love, and the breath of the Holy Spirit. That heavenly wisdom also, which the Apostles preached, dries up the humours of carnal works, removes the foulness and putrefaction of evil conversation, kills the work of lustful thoughts, and also that worm of which it is said their worm dieth not. (#Isaiah 66:24.) Saint Augustine. Not he that suffers persecution is trodden under foot of men, but he who through fear of persecution falls away. For we can tread only on what is below us; but he is no way below us, who however much he may suffer in the body, yet has his heart fixed in heaven. Saint Hilary. It is the nature of a light to emit its rays whithersoever it is carried about, and when brought into a house to dispel the darkness of that house. Thus the world, placed beyond the pale of the knowledge of God, was held in the darkness of ignorance, till the light of knowledge was brought to it by the Apostles, and thenceforward the knowledge of God shone bright, and from their small bodies, whithersoever they went about, light is ministered to the darkness. Saint Augustine. With what meaning do we suppose the words, to put it under a corn-measure, were said? To express concealment simply, or that the corn-measure has a special signification? The putting the lamp under the corn-measure means the preferring bodily ease and enjoyment to the duty of preaching the Gospel, and hiding the light of good teaching under temporal gratification. The corn-measure aptly denotes the things of the body, whether because our reward shall be measured out to us, as each one shall receive the things done in the body; (#2Corinthians5:10.) or because worldly goods which pertain to the body come and go within a certain measure of time, which is signified by the corn-measure, whereas things eternal and spiritual are contained within no such limit. He places his lamp upon a stand, who subdues his body to the ministry of the word, setting the preaching of the truth highest, and subjecting the body beneath it. For the body itself serves to make doctrine shine more clear, while the voice and other motions of the body in good works serve to recommend it to them that learn. June 10: Feast of Saint Maximus of Aveia, Martyr (quotes about the Saint) & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
9 June 2025 (Monday) Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church #MassReadings USCCB. Commentaries: Rev #GeorgeLeoHaydock (#Genesis3:9-15, 20) , #StJohnChrysostom (#Acts1:12-14) , #StAugustine (#Psalm87:1-2, 3 and 5, 6-7) , Sending You Joy, Love & Peace from #Singapore! Some extracted Commentaries: Genesis 3 by Rev #GeorgeLeoHaydock: Ver. 15. She shall crush. Ipsa, the woman: so divers of the fathers read this place, conformably to the Latin: others read it ipsum, viz. the seed. The sense is the same: for it is by her seed, Jesus Christ, that the woman crushes the serpent's head... We believe, however, with Saint Epiphanius, that "it is no less criminal to vilify the holy Virgin, than to glorify her above measure." We know that all the power of the mother of God is derived from the merits of her Son. We are no otherwise concerned about the retaining of ipsa, she, in this place, that in as much as we have yet no certain reason to suspect its being genuine… Christ crushed the serpent's head by his death, suffering himself to be wounded in the heel. His blessed mother crushed him likewise, by her co-operation in the mystery of the Incarnation; and by rejecting, with horror, the very first suggestions of the enemy, to commit even the smallest sin. S. Bern. ser. 2, on Missus est. "We crush," says S. Greg. Mor. 1. 38, "the serpent's head, when we extirpate from our heart the beginnings of temptation, and then he lays snares for our heel, because he opposes the end of a good action with greater craft and power." The serpent may hiss and threaten; he cannot hurt, if we resist him. H. Saint Ambrose. Mary the mother of our Lord stood before the cross of her Son. None of the Evangelists hath told me this except John. The others have related how that at our Lord’s Passion the earth quaked, the heaven was overspread with darkness, the sun fled, the thief was taken into paradise after confession. John hath told us, what the others have not, how that from the cross whereon He hung, He called to His mother. He thought it a greater thing to shew Him victorious over punishment, fulfilling the offices of piety to His mother, than giving the kingdom of heaven and eternal life to the thief. For if it was religious to give life to the thief, a much richer work of piety it is for a son to honour his mother with such affection. Behold, He saith, thy son; behold thy mother. Christ made His Testament from the cross, and divided the offices of piety between the Mother and the disciples. Our Lord made not only a public, but also a domestic Testament. And this His Testament John sealed, a witness worthy of such a Testator. A good testament it was, not of money, but of eternal life, which was not written with ink, but with the spirit of the living God: My tongue is the pen of a ready writer. (Psalm 45:1) Mary, as became the mother of our Lord, stood before the cross, when the Apostles fled, and with pitiful eyes beheld the wounds of her Son. For she looked not on the death of the Hostage, but on the salvation of the world; and perhaps knowing that her Son’s death would bring this salvation, she who had been the habitation of the King, thought that by her death she might add to that universal gift. But Jesus did not need any help for saving the world, as we read in the Psalm, I have been even as a man with no help, free among the dead. (Psalm 87) He received indeed the affection of a parent, but He did not seek another’s help. Imitate her, ye holy matrons, who, as towards her only most beloved Son, hath set you an example of such virtue: for ye have not sweeter sons, nor did the Virgin seek consolation in again becoming a mother. Saint Theophylact. To please the Jews, they pierce Christ, thus insulting even His lifeless body. But the insult issues in a miracle: for a miracle it is that blood should flow from a dead body. Saint Augustine. The Evangelist has expressed himself cautiously; not struck, or wounded, but opened His side: (ἔνυξε, aperuit V.) whereby was opened the gate of life, from whence the sacraments of the Church flowed, without which we cannot enter into that life which is the true life: And forthwith came thereout blood and water. That blood was shed for the remission of sins, that water tempers the cup of salvation. This it was which was prefigured when Noah was commanded to make a door in the side of the ark, by which the animals that were not to perish by the deluge entered; which animals prefigured the Church. To shadow forth this, the woman was made out of the side of the sleeping man; for this second Adam bowed His head, and slept on the cross, that out of that which came therefrom, there might be formed a wife for Him. O death, by which the dead are quickened, what can be purer than that blood, what more salutary than that wound! June 9: Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Mother of the Church. Feast of Saint Columba, Apostle of the Picts (quotes), Saint Joseph of Anchieta, Apostle of Brazil, Priest, Missionary, Religious (quotes), Saint Ephrem the Syrian, Harp of the Spirit, Deacon, Confessor and Doctor of the Church; Venerable Father, Hymn Writer, Teacher of the Faith (quotes, quotes, quotes) & other Saints. Please pray for us & help us daily (especially the Sick & the Needy) till we meet in Heaven. Many Thanks.
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