CALENDARIUM ROMANUM FORMA ORDINARIA

Well it is said, “Who changeth the lip of the truthful, and taketh away the instruction of the aged.” (Job 12:20); may nevertheless may be understood more plainly of the Jews, who before the Lord’s Incarnation were ‘truthful,’ in that they believed that He was to come, and proclaimed the same; but when He appeared in the flesh, they denied that it was He. Therefore ‘the lip of the truthful was changed,’ in that Him, of Whom they had told that He was about to come, they denied when present; ‘and the instruction of the aged was taken away,’ in that they never followed in believing the things, which they remembered their fathers to have foretold. Whence too at the coming of Elijah it is promised, that he shall ‘turn the hearts of the children to their fathers;’ that ‘the instruction of the aged,’ which is now ‘taken away’ from the heart of the Jews, upon the Lord taking compassion on them, may then be brought back, when the children begin to understand that concerning the Lord, which their fathers foretold. But if by ‘the aged’ we understand likewise those same Jews, who, by the persuasions of unbelief, set themselves to oppose the word of ‘Truth,’ then ‘the instruction of the aged was taken away,’ when the Church consisting of the Gentiles, being indeed young, received it, as she saith by the Psalmist, I understand more than the ancients. [Ps. 119, 100] And because she kept this same in practising it, in what way she came to understand more than the ancients, she makes plain, whereas she adds directly, Because I keep thy precepts. For whereas she aimed to fulfil in practising that thing which she learnt, it was vouchsafed her to understand what she might teach.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team

Do not nurture hatred for sinners; all of us are guilty. If you accuse him for love of God, weep over him. Why should you hate him? His sins are what need to be hated as you pray for him, if you want to be like Christ. Far from being angered by sinners, he prayed for them (Lk 23,34)… What reason is there, then, for you to hate the sinner, mere man that you are? Is it because he is without your virtue? But where is your virtue if charity is lacking?

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team

Did I not teach you that alms are done with heart, words and works? You will never have an excuse in this: when you see the need for the poor, you are required to have compassion with your heart. When you go to the hospital and cannot cure the infirm’s sentence, at least grant him the alms of the heart: take pity on him. And you can give him another, which may be more valuable to him: speech. By the good of two words, you will lighten his pain. You will never be excused in this omission. In any state or condition that you see the unfortunate, you can console him. It pleases so much the poor, this alms of the Word, that as soon as you speak he is comforted and calmed. Listen to the holy scriptures: “Doesn’t dew not refresh the burning wind ?” (Daniel 3:49). Do you remember the feeling you experience in the time of the great heat, when you find an abundant dew in the morning? Likewise sometimes, when, unable to assist the miserable by the goods of this world, you support him through your words; It seems to be refreshing and consoling, although you have not relieved him of its material necessity. -But if he is deaf, how will I send him these alms? – You are not for that excused: you can at least sew his clothes, help him dress, warm him, and help according to your means. Who will be exempt from sympathizing with the needy? Person. See in the exodus (cf. ex 23.5): you are ordered if you see a donkey falling, even that of your enemy, to help to raise it. If you are required to help your enemy’s donkey, what will it be for the prisoner? You have no excuse before God not to assist him! Give your alms in joy.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team