CALENDARIUM ROMANUM FORMA ORDINARIA

When, after abandoning the darkness of error to bind himself to God’s love, Paul was joined to the number of the disciples, Luke went with him everywhere and became his travelling companion (Acts 16:10 f.). (…) He got on with him so well, was so close to him and shared all his graces so nearly that Paul, in writing to the faithful, called Luke his “beloved” (Col 4:14). From Jerusalem and the country round about as far as Dalmatia (Rom 15:19) he preached the Gospel with him. From Judea to Rome he shared the same chains with him, the same work, the same difficulties, the same shipwrecks. He desired to receive the same prize with him since he had shared the same labors. Having acquired the gift of preaching along with Paul and won over and led so many peoples to the love of God, Luke truly seemed like the Savior’s loving and beloved disciple in addition to being the evangelist who wrote his sacred history. For formerly he had followed the Lord (cf. Lk 10:1), gathered together the testimonies of his first servants (Lk 1:1) and received inspiration from on high. It was this evangelist who related the mystery of Gabriel, the messenger sent to the Virgin to announce joy to the whole world. It was he who told in full the birth of Christ, showing us the newborn child lying in a manger and describing shepherds and angels shouting for joy. (…) He reports the parabolic teachings in greater number than the other evangelists. And just as he makes known to us the descent of the Word of God to earth, so too he describes his Ascension to heaven and return to the Father’s throne (24:51). (…) But in Luke, grace does not stop there. His speech is not limited to serving the Gospel alone. At the end of Christ’s miracles he also relates the Acts of the Apostles. (…) Luke was not just a spectator of all those things but really participated in them. And that is why he put so much care into teaching us about them.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team

What need was there that the Son of God should suffer for us? There was great need: and indeed it can be assigned to two reasons. The first is that it was a remedy against sin, and the second is for an example of what we should do. (…) For the Passion of Christ can bring about a complete reformation of our lives. (…) If you seek an example of charity, then “no one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends” (Jn 15:13). (…) If you seek an example of patience, you will find it in its highest degree on the cross. (…) Christ suffered greatly upon the cross and with all patience, because “when he was insulted, he returned no insult” (1 Pt 2:23), “like a lamb led to the slaughter, he opened not his mouth” (Is 53:7). (…) “Let us persevere in running the race that lies before us while keeping our eyes fixed on Jesus, the leader and perfecter of faith. For the sake of the joy that lay before him he endured the cross, despising its shame” (Heb 12:1-2). If you seek an example of humility, look upon him who is crucified; although he was God, he chose to be judged by Pontius Pilate and put to death. (…) If you seek an example of obedience, imitate him who was obedient to the Father “even to death” (Phil 2:8). “For just as through the disobedience of one person, Adam, the many were made sinners, so through the obedience of one the many will be made righteous” (Rom 5:19). (…) If you seek an example of contempt for earthly things, imitate him who is “King of kings and Lord of lords” (1 Tm 6:15), “in whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge” (Col 2:3). On the cross he was stripped naked, ridiculed, spat upon, bruised, crowned with thorns, given to drink of vinegar and gall.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team