Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine)

Calling together the Apostles, He gave them the Gospel doctrine, to one more, to another less, not as of His own bounty or scanting, but as meeting the capacity of the receivers, as the Apostle says, that he fed with milk those that were unable to take solid food. In the five, two, and one talent, we recognise the diversity of gifts wherewith we have been entrusted. He that had received five talents, that is, having received his bodily senses, he doubled his knowledge of heavenly things, from the creature understanding the Creator, from earthly unearthly, from temporal the eternal. He says, “Thou wast faithful in a few things, because all that we have at present though they seem great and many, yet in comparison of the things to come are little and few.” What greater thing can be given to a faithful servant than to be with his Lord, and to see his Lord’s joy? The servant who of five talents had made ten, and he who of two had made four, are received with equal favour by the Master of the household, who looks not to the largeness of their profit, but to the disposition of their will.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

On that night of light [ Christmas, at fourteen years of age] began the third period of my life, the most beautiful and the most filled with graces from heaven… I could say to Him like His apostles: “Master, I fished all night and caught nothing.” More merciful to me than He was to His disciples, ­Jesus took the net Himself, cast it, and drew it in filled with fish. He made me a fisher of souls. I experienced a great desire to work for the conversion of sinners. The cry of Jesus on the Cross sounded con­tinually in my heart: “I thirst!” These words ignited within me an unknown and very living fire. I wanted to give my Beloved to drink and I felt myself consumed with a thirst for souls… To awaken my zeal God showed me my desires were pleasing to Him. I heard talk of a great criminal just condemned to death for some horrible crimes; everything pointed to the fact that he would die impenitent. I wanted at all costs to prevent him from falling into hell… I felt in the depths of my heart certain that our desires would be granted, but to obtain courage to pray for sinners I told God I was sure he would pardon the poor, unfortunate Pranzini; that I’d believe this even if he went to his death without any signs of repentance or without having gone to confession. I was absolutely confident in the mercy of Jesus. But I was begging him for a “sign” of repentance only for my own simple consolation. My prayer was answered to the letter!… After this unique grace my desire to save souls grows each day, and I seemed to hear Jesus say what he said to the Samaritan woman: “Give me to drink!” It was a true interchange of love: to souls I was giving the blood of Jesus; to Jesus I was giving these same souls, refreshed by the divine dew. I slaked his thirst and the more I gave him to drink, the more the thirst of my poor, little soul increased, and it was this ardent thirst he was giving me as the most delightful drink of his love.
Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

Listen to Christ himself: “If a man loves me he will keep my words, and my Father will love him, and we will come to him” (Jn 14:23). I have read elsewhere, “The man who fears the Lord will do good” (Sir 15:1). But it is my opinion that more was said of the one who loves, namely that: “He will keep my words”. Where, then, are they to be kept? Without any doubt they are to be kept in the heart, as the prophet says: “I have kept your words in my heart, lest I sin against you” (Ps 119[118]:11). How are we to keep the word in our hearts? Is it sufficient to learn it by heart or keep it in mind? The apostle Paul has this to say about those who keep it like that: “Knowledge inflates pride” (1 Cor 8:1) and forgetfulness quickly wipes out what we have committed to memory. Keep the word of God in the same way as you would preserve food (…) since this word is the “bread of life” (Jn 6:35), the real food of the soul (…). Keep the word of God in that way for “blessed are they who keep it”. Let it pierce deep into your inmost soul and penetrate your feelings and actions. Eat well and your soul will delight and grow. Do not forget to eat your bread or your heart will wither, but let your soul feast richly. If you keep the word of God in this way, without a doubt you will be kept by it. The Son with the Father will come to you. The great prophet who will renew Jerusalem will come and “he will make everything new” (Acts 3:22; Jl 4:1; Rev 21:5).

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

Listen to God’s voice pushing you to come out of yourself to follow Christ (…) and you will become a perfect disciple : “Whoever does not renounce all he possesses cannot be my disciple.” After that, what is there to say? What answer can you give? All your hesitation and questioning falls flat before this single saying (…). And elsewhere Christ says : “Whoever hates his life in this world will preserve it for eternal life (…). The Father will honor whoever serves me” (Jn 12:25 f). Again, he says to his disciples: “Get up, let us go !” (Jn 14:31). By these words he shows us that neither his nor his disciples’ place lies here. Where are we going, then, Lord? “Where I am my servant will also be” (Jn 12:6). If Jesus cries out to us: “Get up, let us go !”, who would be so foolish as to stay here with the dead bodies in their tombs and live among the dead ? Therefore every time the world tries to hold you back, remember Christ’s words: “Get up, let us go !” (…) Every time you feel like sitting down, staying put, being happy to stay where you are, remember that insistent voice and say to yourself: “Up you get ! Let’s get going.” Because, in any case, you have to go. But go as Jesus went : go because he tells you to and not because the laws of nature carry you away in spite of yourself. Whether you like it or not you are on the way of those who are leaving. Leave, then, because your Lord tells you to and not because necessitated by constraint. “Get up, let us go !” This voice arouses the recumbent; it is the trumpet voice casting out the sleep of laziness with its cry. It is a force, not a word. All at once it clothes the one who hears it with new strength and pushes them on from one thing to another in a blink (…) “Get up, let us go!” Do you see how he, too, accompanies you ? What are you waiting for ? (…) God is calling you to set out alongside him.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

The Law given to Moses is a collection of various teachings and imperatives, a collection that is useful to everyone as regards what it is good to do in this life, and a mystical reflection of the customs of life in heaven: a torch and a lamp, a fire and a light, replicas of the lamps on high. The Law of Moses is the itinerary of piety, the rule for honest morals, the brake put on the first sin, the outline of the truth to come (Col 2:17)… The Law of Moses is a teacher for piety and a guide for righteousness, a light for the blind and a proof for the foolish, an educator for children and a mooring for the imprudent, a bridle for the stiff-necked, and a constraining yoke for the impatient. The Law of Moses is Christ’s messenger, the precursor of Jesus, the herald and prophet of the great King, a school of wisdom, a necessary preparation and a universal teaching, a doctrine that came at its time and a temporary mystery. The Law of Moses is a symbolic and enigmatic summary of future grace, announcing in images the perfection of truth that is to come. Through the sacrifices, it announces the Victim; through the blood, the Blood; through the lamb, the Lamb; through the dove, the Dove; through the altar, the High Priest; through the Temple, the dwelling place of divinity; through the altar’s fire, the full “light of the world” (Jn 8:12) that comes down from on high.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team