Do we have to always be yelling?
Plus: We are less than two weeks away from Lent.
Good morning and happy Saturday. Today is the memorial of St. Blase.
St. Blase is typically associated with the blessing of throats on his feast day. Truth be told, there is not much more than pious legend to support this reasoning and this isn’t uncommon of early saints. (Remember St. Fabian who was elected pope after a dove landed on his head?)
The story goes that as Blase was being brought to prison a mother brought her son to him who had a fishbone lodged in his throat. Blase was able to command the child to cough up the bone. Hence, St. Blase is now the patron of throat illnesses.
Blase was martyred around 316 AD by the Romans.
Now, is it Blase or Blaise? Depends on who you ask. Blaise appears to be more accepted but my four-volume set of the Liturgy of the Hours, which is the official version here in America, says Blase as does the Lectionary for Mass for Dioceses in the United States for his optional memorial.
Here is a calendar for the upcoming week:
Tomorrow is the Fifth Sunday in Ordinary Time. The readings at Mass are Job 7:1-4, 6-7; Psalm 147:1-6; 1 Corinthians 9:16-19, 22-23; and Mark 1:29-39.
In the Liturgy of the Hours, we are beginning Psalter Week I. During the Office of Readings, we will be reading from St. Paul’s letter to the Galatians.
Monday, February 5th - Memorial of St. Agatha, Virgin and Martyr
Tuesday, February 6th - Memorial of St. Paul Miki and Companions, Martyrs
Thursday, February 8th - Optional Memorial of St. Jerome Emiliani
Saturday, February 10th - Memorial of St. Scholastica, Virgin
Christ took away our infirmities
and bore our diseases.
Matthew 8:17
In the news:
The United States
For those who need some red: Sen. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa): It looks like the FBI is trying to sweep the Traditional Latin Mass memo under the rug - Catholic News Agency
The Vatican
Pope urges Consecrated men and women to make room for God’s action - Vatican News
Vatican News adds Mongolian as its fifty-second print language - Vatican News
For those who need some blue: Pope Francis says African bishops are a “special case” regarding Fiducia Supplicans; says other resistance is small - Reuters
The World
Islamic State assailants kill 1 in attack during Catholic Mass in Istanbul - America Magazine
Anglican / Catholic summit concludes in Rome - Anglican-Roman Catholic Dialogue
Requiescat in pace
Catholic priest and his sister killed in shooting spree in Florida - America Magazine
If you think the Purple Catholic newsletter has been helpful to you, I ask that you forward it on to a friend or share it on social media. I started this project with the desire to share stories from the Church around the world and to provide balance and the opportunity to step back from our own echo chambers.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops began their letter about social media by quoting St. Paul’s letter to the Colossians: “Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you know how you should respond to each one (4:6).” Too often, we do not check our human tendencies before we think and speak about others.
Nowhere was this more apparent this week than in the media coverage of the trial of Jennifer Crumbley. For those of you outside of Michigan, she is the mother of the shooter who killed four students at Oxford High School in November 2021. Both she and her husband are facing involuntary manslaughter charges for failing to seek mental health help for their son in the months, days, and hours leading up to the shooting.
I’ve reported on the testimony that has taken place fairly extensively on my southeast Michigan radio show and have had much of the trial on the background during the week. Both sides made their closing arguments yesterday and I am not going to be commenting here on the merits of the case. Those closest to me know my opinion already.
I will comment on, however, the inability for some to provide a charitable interpretation of another person’s analysis of the matter. On CBS News Detroit’s coverage of the case, two lawyers have joined the regular news anchors seemingly for no other reason than to yell at the other and scream in front of a television audience that the other is a terrible lawyer and a moron.
On CNN and other mainstream networks, opinion writers and analysts with no connection to Oxford, southeast Michigan, or Michigan in general shared their opinions that the community is simply angry about the shooting and should take a breath before trying more people in court.
Now, I will grant that this is the nature of television. Many would not watch if there was not some sort of conflict or disagreement between individuals on the air. But the endless yelling and the pandering or patronizing attitudes that those seem to take on the air is sickening.
It is, without a doubt, a result of our fallen nature. It is also a result of failing to recognize the dignity of others.
The bottom line is this: the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops have published a very good letter about social media and its teachings and recommendations can be used in other areas of our life as well.
We are less than two weeks away from Lent (already). If you haven’t thought of something to do yet, maybe take time each day during your examination of conscience to think about how you acknowledged (or failed to acknowledge) the dignity of others. Perhaps unfollow divisive voices on social media or put it down altogether.
If you think Purple Catholic falls into that category do let me know either here on or X (@radioHandley). I certainly hope no one reading is considering giving up this newsletter for Lent.
On the other hand, if you think this is a good resource, perhaps even a calm resource, maybe share it with someone. If we all start to think and act with calmer minds and hearts, think about the good work we could do in the name of Jesus.
Have a good weekend,
Matthew