Some Thoughts to Consider On This Last Sunday In August
It's the last Sunday in August 2021. If you follow the traditional Liturgical Calendar, you know that it's the 14th Sunday after Pentecost, as well as the commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. Oh, and let's not forget St. Sabina, one of the earliest of our glorious Roman martyrs.
Given the current drift back into the C-Virus Mess imposed by our fearless leaders - both secular and religious - this end of summertime has turned into a new phase of what we were told would be long gone by now. (Not that all of us believed that.) So this Sunday respite from the daily grind may find some of us looking to the Lord, Whose Day this is, for some answers, if not relief. As we appeal to the Divine Mercy, here are some thoughts that have popped up on our end.
First, we recall today's commemoration of the Beheading of St. John the Baptist. You would think such a momentous event would not be glossed over. But, of course, such is the case in the newfangled Liturgical Calendar. There it's just the "Twenty-Second Sunday in Ordinary Time." To be fair, it may be a commemoration when it doesn't fall on a Sunday. But this is an ancient commemoration, almost as old as the Birthday of St. John. And it's a rather big deal, no? Isn't anything related to "the greatest of the prophets" a big deal? But we ignore it on Sunday? Does any of that make sense?
I'll leave it at that. We've commented about the newfangled vs. the traditional calendar many times in the past. No need to dwell on the matter now.
Second, we recall St. Sabina. She was martyred in 125 AD, the daughter of a wealthy noble Roman, the widow of Senator Valentino, who predeceased her. After her murder, her house became one of the so-called titular churches of Rome, eventually being built into the Basilica of Santa Sabina.
It irks me that many martyrs, whose commemorations fall on a Sunday, are shunted aside in the newfangled calendar. Again, maybe St. Sabina would be commemorated if her day did not fall on a Sunday. If so, that doesn't change the fact that many other martyrs somehow dropped into the abyss when the newfangled calendar was authorized.
If anything, we need more reminders of these martyrs. Their example was the fertile soil in which Our Lord's Church grew. We have so much to thank them for, so neglecting them in any fashion is simply not acceptable.
One way we can counter this would be to read and meditate on the Roman Martyrology. If you're not familiar with this, you should be. Maybe today might be a good time to get up to speed. A sure way to get familiar with the Martyrology and make these saints a steady part of your spiritual life would be to pray Prime in the Divine Office. It's prayed in the morning, so you can get to it before the work of the day begins. Every day, one part of Prime includes a selection from the Martyrology. It's a great way to wake up your soul and prepare you for the day's struggle against the world, the flesh, and the devil. Being reminded of the martyrs' suffering, their exquisite love of their Savior, should awaken even the most somnolent souls amongst us.
For whatever the reason, we just don't hear much about martyrs these days. We should. When I was growing up, attending a Catholic school taught by good nuns, they weren't shy about telling us what our forbears went through, not only in those first centuries but throughout the history of our Holy Church. Is this history generally taught today? Hmmm...
With the martyrs in our thoughts, filling our hearts with their selfless sacrifices, the current revival of the C-Virus Mess may not appear or feel so bad.
Not saying it's going to be a walk in the park.
And not saying that even more may be in store for us in the coming months - if not years - from what is so far a never-ending pandemic.
Just saying that if we commemorate and honor our martyrs, their strength will sustain us through whatever awaits us this week and the weeks and months to come.
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