There are only two saints this week, and then next Sunday we begin a new Church Year and new readings cycle (Year C Sunday and Year I Daily).
*Sunday was the Solemnity of Christ, the King of the Universe. This picture from the Basilica in Washington DC does a good job of one person's imagining what the second coming will be like, as described in the first reading for this Sunday from Daniel, but the gospel gives us another image, that of the Suffering Servant, of the ruler who lays down his life for his flock. Both are simultaneously true of Christ.
*Today is the optional memorial of St. Catherine of Alexandria. She was removed from the calendar in 1969 and added back in 2002. She was supposed to be executed on a spiked wheel but she touched it and it broke apart. She was beheaded and is honored as a virgin martyr (and philosopher). She was one of the saints that appeared to St. Joan of Arc.
*Saturday is the feast of St. Andrew. He is the Protoclete, the first called, and the older brother of St. Peter. He was martyred on an X shaped cross. From a homily of St. John Chrysostom on the Gospel of John: "After Andrew had stayed with Jesus and had learned much from him, he did not keep this treasure to himself, but hastened to share it with his brother Peter. Notice what Andrew said to him: “We have found the Messiah, that is to say, the Christ.” Notice how his words reveal what he has learned in so short a time. They show the power of the master who has convinced them of this truth. Andrew’s words reveal a soul waiting with the utmost longing for the coming of the Messiah, looking forward to his appearing from heaven, rejoicing when he does appear, and hastening to announce to great an event to others. To support one another in the things of the spirit is the true sign of good will between brothers, loving kinship and sincere affection." “Saint Andrew the Apostle“. CatholicSaints.Info. 16 June 2024. Web. 25 November 2024. <https://catholicsaints.info/saint-andrew-the-apostle/>
No comments:
Post a Comment