Daily Gospel Reflection
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October 13, 2023
When he saw the crowds, he went up the mountain,
and after he had sat down, his disciples came to him.
He began to teach them, saying:
“Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are they who mourn, for they will be comforted.
Blessed are the meek, for they will inherit the land.
Blessed are they who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be satisfied.
Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
Blessed are the clean of heart,
for they will see God.
Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called children of God.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
Blessed are you when they insult you and persecute you
and utter every kind of evil against you because of me.
Rejoice and be glad, for your reward will be great in heaven.”
Since I first heard the term as a child, I’ve been fascinated by the concept of the kingdom of heaven, mentioned several times in Matthew’s Gospel and referred to as the kingdom of God in other Gospels.
My fascination lies, for the most part, in the idea that this heavenly kingdom is not simply something we aim to gain entrance into after this earthly world but something that is here in our midst now. I find joy in the belief that, with God’s blessings, we have the opportunity—and call—to help build up this kingdom.
Today, October 13, is the Feast of Saint Edward the Confessor, patron saint of Notre Dame’s founder, Rev. Edward Sorin, C.S.C. As such, it has often been celebrated as Founder’s Day, prompting reflection about Fr. Sorin and his deep faith, fortitude, and determination in starting a school in a foreign country with a bold vision.
I reflected upon this at the “Founder’s Plaque,” which sits just east of the Log Chapel on campus, re-reading his words in a letter to Blessed Basil Moreau in December of 1842 about his vision for Notre Dame du Lac. He writes, “It will be one of the most powerful means for good in this country.”
To me, these visionary words and subsequent actions of Fr. Sorin are a perfect example of someone who accepted the call to build up the kingdom of heaven that Jesus describes in today’s gospel. Throughout Notre Dame’s one-hundred-and-eighty-one-year history, there are countless examples of people who have tirelessly hungered and thirsted for righteousness, worked to establish peace (often in very complex environments), and stood firm in conviction despite external pressure.
Prayer
Lord, on our own we simply do not have the conviction to side-step the negativity that darkens our path. Give us the grace to move through our obstacles with confidence, protection, and generosity. Wherever we are, there is your assurance. Where we fear, there is your light. And where we fall, there is your hand ready to assist. Amen.
Saint of the Day

St. Edward the Confessor was one of the great kings of England. Because he is the patron saint of University founder Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C., his feast day has traditionally been a day of celebration for Notre Dame.
Edward the Confessor’s name reflects less his own piety or status as a sacramental minister than the fact that he is a saint who did not suffer martyrdom. In ancient Christian tradition, saints were those who had been martyred for Christ. As Christianity grew, and local persecutions did not define sainthood as much, different titles were given to saints to designate their particular path to holiness. Confessors were those whose lives confessed the creed in a nonviolent manner.
Edward is a particularly prominent saint, as he was the last Anglo-Saxon king before the Norman conquest of England, which happened during the reign of his successor.
Edward was the seventh son of King Æthelred the Unready, and the first son of Æthelred’s second wife, Emma of Normandy. Edward was born between 1003 and 1005 in Oxfordshire, England.
When Edward was a child, England was plagued by Viking raids. A Viking chieftain, Sweyn, seized the English throne in 1013, causing several decades of turmoil and fighting. Sweyn’s son took over the throne and married Edward’s mother Emma, subsequently banishing Edward and his brothers. Edward was exiled most likely to Normandy but finally returned to England in 1042, invited back to take up the English throne. He was crowned king of England in 1043 in Winchester Cathedral. Winchester was the seat of the Saxon kings before Westminster Abbey, which, incidentally, Edward began the construction of. Westminster Abbey is a beautiful example of Norman Romanesque architecture, and it exhibits the Norman sensibilities of Edward, who spent large amounts of time in exile in Normandy.

Edward the Confessor was the first Anglo-Saxon and the only English king to be canonized by the Roman Catholic Church. There is considerable dispute over whether his canonization was politically motivated, or whether his cult grew from devoted Englishmen and women who truly loved King Edward. Edward has long been a patron saint of England, before finally being replaced by Saint George.
Edward died of an illness in 1066, and his relics rest in the reliquary chapel in the Basilica. St. Edward’s Hall, a men’s residence hall on campus, is named after this English king because he was the patron saint of Father Edward Sorin, C.S.C., founder of the University. The stained glass window above comes from the chapel in St. Edward's hall, and this statue of St. Edward stands in the courtyard in front; he holds a model of the Basilica of the Sacred Heart in his hand.

Today marks Founder’s Day for the University of Notre Dame, as it is the celebration of Edward Sorin's "name day," i.e., the feast of the saint after whom he is named. In Notre Dame's earlier years, classes were canceled and the day was marked by games, performances, and a large feast. Today the University commemorates Founder’s Day with a special Mass in the Basilica, celebrated by the university president.
Whether or not King Edward was “saintly,” as popular imagination defines it, does not diminish his extraordinary legacy in the building of Westminster Abbey. Westminster has been a home for countless English Catholics and Christians for nearly a millennium. It has been a home for pilgrims seeking a space to pray, beautiful liturgy, and heavenly music.
Much like his namesake Edward, Fr. Edward Sorin was also known for a rather prickly temperament—not a particularly “saintly” disposition. Fr. Edward Sorin, like Edward the Confessor, founded a place that became much larger than the cult of his own personality, which became a place for prayer, learning, and growth, that has been a source of grace for countless visitors and students for almost two hundred years.
St. Edward the Confessor, patron saint of Father Edward Sorin—pray for us!