Memorial of Saints (November 3)

Feasts, Obligatory and Optional Memorials of Saints

• Martin de Porres, religious
• Winifrid, virgin and martyr
• Rumwald
• Hubert, bishop
• Pirminus, bishop
• Amicus
• Malachy, bishop
• Rupert Mayer

Martin: (died 1639 A.D.); born in Lima of a Spanish father and a black slave mother; O.P. lay brother who humbly ministered to the poor and the sick, especially African slaves; devoted to the Holy Eucharist; a close friend of Rose of Lima; patron of social justice and of peoples of mixed races.

Blessed Rupert Mayer, SJ, (1876-1945 A.D.) was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1899 A.D. He became a chaplain in World War I where he lost a leg in action while giving absolution to a German soldier. After the end of WWI he worked among the poor in Munich. Upon Adolf Hitler's rise to power, he was one of the first German clergymen to challenge the Nazis, declaring 'a true Catholic cannot be a National Socialist.' The Nazis arrested him many times. In 1939 A.D., his arrest led to solitary confinement for four years and was finally released by Allied forces in 1945 A.D. He returned to Munich, renewed his apostolate to the poor and died among them.

The Jesuits of the Philippines composed a song in honor of Blessed Rupert Mayer, SJ. The song is entitled, "Prayer of Rupert Mayer".

Lord, what You will let it be so
Where You will there we will go
What is Your will help us to know

Lord, when You will the time is right
In You there's joy in strife
For Your will I'll give my life

To ease your burden brings no pain
To forego all for You is gain
As long as I in You remain!

Because You will it, it is best
Because You will it, we are blest
Till in Your hands our hands find rest

Our hearts find rest
Till in Your hands our hands find rest

31st Sunday of the Year (B)

(Edited) Sunday Reflections (from) Liturgical Years 2011 (A), 2012 (B), and 2013 (C)

31st Sunday of the Year (B), November 4, 2012

Liturgical readings

Deuteronomy 6:2-6
Psalm 18
Hebrews 7:23-28
Mark 12:28b-34

"There is no other commandment greater than these."

A scribe went to ask the Lord about God's commandments. Jesus replied with two commandments that summarize what can be found in the Ten Commandments: first, to love God with our whole being (1st to 3rd commandments); and second, to love our neighbor as ourselves (4th to 10th commandments). Then Jesus added, "there is no other commandment greater than these." The scribe was pleased with the answer of Jesus, and confirmed that following these commandments "is worth more than any burnt offering or sacrifice."

To love God with all our heart, soul, mind and strength. And to love our neighbor as ourselves. These commandments is one Christian ethic that cultivates reverence and respect for God and all He has created. We can test ourselves if we are obeying God by examining what fills up our hearts and minds, and how we treat others and ourselves. (The more official examination of conscience is in the Sacrament of Reconciliation). When we fill our souls with God's Word and the Sacraments, then we are strengthened in faith to continue to do the good we ought to do. Only in patience and in constancy do we do God's will and are directed to receive His promise of eternal life.

By experience everyone knows that following God's commandments is not always easy. It can be easy at certain times or stages in one's life, but it can be difficult at specific states of life. But practicing a devotion is a great help. Devotion to the Eucharist and reflection on the Scriptures is one. But a popular devotion that all Catholics can make, and one that is close to the hearts of many, is a devotion to the Blessed Mother. St. Louis-Marie de Montfort (member of the French school of spirituality which includes St. Jean-Baptiste de la Salle, St. Francis de Sales, and St. John Eudes) advices this devotion to Mary because:

The Blessed Virgin prevents virtues from fading away ... merits from being wasted ... and graces from being lost; she prevents devils from doing harm (True Devotion to Mary #174)

Together with a devotion to the Jesus in the Eucharist, both can anchor us well to God in difficult times. Through these devotions, the Lord will certainly sustain each of His children and keep their souls firmly rooted in His Life and teachings.

Sts. Pontian and Hippolytus, Two Martyrs of the 3rd century A.D.

St. Pontian, Pope and Martyr, and St. Hippolytus, Priest and Martyr: died ca. 235 A.D.

A Pope and an AntiPope (reconciled to the Church before death)

A Pope and an AntiPope existed as early as the 3rd century A.D. St. Pontian was a Roman and the son of Calpurnius. He was elected Pope to succeed Pope St. Urban I on July 21, 230 A.D. He held a synod at Rome in 232 A.D. that confirmed the condemnation of Origenism at Alexandria, 231-232 A.D. When the Emperor Maximinus came to power in 235 A.D., this emperor began a new persecution of Christians. He exiled St. Pontian to Sardinia, where the Pope had been forced to work in the mines. Here in the mines, he met the exiled antipope, Hippolytus, and was instrumental in reconciling Hippolytus back to the Church.

St. Pontian resigned from his office on September 28, 235 A.D., to allow the election of a nephew. There are two versions of how he met his end: one tradition says that he died of ill treatment, while another tradition holds that he was beaten to death. The Church celebrates the feast of his martyrdom on August 13.

St. Hippolytus was a priest at Rome known for his learning. Together with his followers, he felt that even orthodox teaching and practice in the Church was not strict enough. In a bold gesture, he censured Pope St. Zephyrinus for being lenient on heresy. He also accused the Pope of being influenced by the deacon Callistus. When Pope St. Zephyrinus died and Callistus was chosen as successor, Hippolytus was enraged. He and his followers eventually accused Pope St. Callistus of being too lenient with sinners. The followers of Hippolytus proceeded to elect him as their pope - serving in this role of "antipope" for eighteen years. His tenure lasted through three popes, the last of whom was Pope St. Pontian.

Although at times, Hippolytus came close to heresy, he nevertheless was one of the most important theologians in the first three centuries of the Church. He was a prolific writer, and it is from his Church Order that all the Eucharistic prayers which are in use today were derived. His other writings include:

• A Refutation of All Heresies;
• commentaries on Daniel,
• commentaries on the Song of Songs,
• commentaries on the The Apostolic Tradition

St. Hippolytus is one of the Greek Fathers of the Church. Though an "antipope", he was one of the leaders of the Church which Emperor Maximinus took special care to target in his persecution of the Christians. So, he was also seized in the roundup and exiled to the mines of Sardinia. While in the mines, the two "popes" (Pontian and Hippolytus) met. What influenced Hippolytus to return to the Church was when he saw the selfless concern of Pope St. Pontian, who resigned the papacy for the good of the Church. Within a few months of Pontian's resignation and Hippolytus's repentance, both men died of the harsh treatment they suffered while doing forced labor in the mines.

Pope St. Fabian (reigned 236-250 A.D.) arranged for the bodies of the two martyrs to be brought back and buried in Rome, where the Christians of the city accepted the onetime antipope's (Hippolytus) repentance, forgave him his schism, and venerated him as a saint.

References of this series

• Pocket Catholic Dictionary, by John A. Hardon, S.J.
• Saints Behaving Badly, by Thomas J. Craughwell
• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• Saints for Our Time, by Ed Ransom