Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine)

Brethren, let us pursue our calling: we are called by Life to the source of life and this source is a source, not just of «living water» (Jn4,10) but of eternal life, source of light and illumination. Indeed, all things flow from it: wisdom, life and eternal light… O Lord, you are yourself this source that always exists and is always to be desired, and at which it is always permitted and always necessary for us to draw. «Lord Jesus, give us this water always» that it may also become within us a spring of water «welling up to eternal life» (Jn 4,15.14). It is true that I am asking you for a great deal, who could deny it? But you, O King of glory, know well how to give great things, and you have promised them. There is nothing greater than you are and it is you yourself you give to us, it is you who gave yourself for us. Therefore it is you we are asking for… since we desire nothing other than you. You are our all: our life, our light and our salvation, our food and our drink, our God. Breathe into our hearts, I beseech you, O our Jesus; with the breath of your Spirit wound our souls with your love that each of us may say in truth: «Show me him whom my soul loves» (Sg 3,3) for I have been wounded by your love. I desire these wounds to be in me, O Lord. Happy the soul that love wounds in this way – the soul who seeks the source, who drinks and who, nevertheless, never ceases to thirst even as she drinks, nor to draw continually by her desire, nor to continue drinking in her thirst. Thus she always seeks in loving, for in her wound she finds healing.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

The man in travelling into a far country is our Redeemer, who ascended into heaven in that flesh which He had taken upon Him. For the proper home of the flesh is the earth, and it, as it were, travels into a foreign country, when it is placed by the Redeemer in heaven. Otherwise; The five talents denote the gift of the five senses, that is, the knowledge of things without; the two signify understanding and action, the one talent understanding only. There are also some who though they cannot pierce to things inward and mystical, yet for their measure of view of their heavenly country they teach rightly such things as they can, what they have gathered from things without, and while they keep themselves from wantonness of the flesh, and from ambition of earthly things, and from the delights of the things that are seen, they restrain others also from the same by their admonitions. Again, there are some who by their understanding and their actions preach to others, and thence gain as it were a twofold profit in such merchandize. This their preaching bestowed upon both sexes is thus a talent doubled. To hide one talent in the earth is to devote the ability we have received to worldly business. This lesson from this Gospel warns us to consider whether those who seem to have received more in this world than others shall not be more severely judged by the Author of the world; the greater the gifts, the greater the reckoning for them. Therefore should every one be humble concerning his talents in proportion as he sees himself tied up with a greater responsibility.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

Everyone, without exception, wants happiness, blessedness. However they all have different ideas about it: one thinks it lies in the delight of the senses and an easy life; another, in virtue; another, in knowledge of the truth. Hence he who teaches us all… begins by correcting those who stray, guiding those who are on the way, and welcoming those who are knocking at the door… So he who is “the Way, the Truth and the Life” (Jn 14,6) both corrects and guides and welcomes, and he begins with these words: “Blessed are the poor in spirit”. The false wisdom of this world, which is really foolishness (1Cor 3,19), gives its opinions without understanding what it is saying. It pronounces blessed “aliens, whose mouths swear false promises while their right hands are filled with perjury” because “their garners are full, affording every kind of store, their sheep increase to myriads, their oxen are fat,” (cf. Ps 144[143]. 7-13). Yet all their wealth is unstable and their peace is no peace (Jer 6,14), their satisfaction is unthinking. To the contrary, the Wisdom of God, Son by nature, the Father’s right hand, mouth that speaks the truth, declares that it is the poor who are blessed, destined to become kings, kings of the eternal Kingdom. It is as if he said: “You are searching for blessedness but it is not to be found where you are looking for it; you run, but off the track. This is the way that leads to happiness: voluntary poverty for my sake, such is the way. The Kingdom of heaven in me: this is blessedness. You are running hard but running badly; the faster you go, the farther you distance yourself from the goal…” Don’t let us be afraid, my brothers. We are poor; let us listen to the Poor One recommend poverty to the poor. We can put our faith in his experience. Born poor, he lived poor and died poor. He had no wish to enrich himself; yes, he accepted to die. So let us believe in the Truth who shows us the way to life. It is hard but short, whereas blessedness is eternal. The road is constricted but it leads to life (Mt 7,14).

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

“I overflow with hope in your word” (Ps 118[119]:81 Vg)… The soul does not have just a bare hope in God; it overflows with hope, hope mounting upon hope as trial comes upon trial, delay upon delay. I am absolutely sure that in the end “he will appear and will prove not to have deceived me”; so “in spite of the delay he imposes I shall go on waiting for him confidently, because he certainly will come and will not be later” (Hab 2:3 Vg) than the most timely day. When will this timely day be? When the full number of all these brethren of ours has been reached (Rv 6:11) and the time of mercy set for penance is completed. Listen to Isaiah… tell us with what design the Lord puts off the judgment for a time: “The Lord delays so that he can be merciful towards you, and thus he will be honored for having spared you. The Lord is a God of judgment; blessed is everyone who waits for him” (30:18). So, if you are wise, give an eye to yourself and see how you are using this delay. If you are a sinner, do not be heedless but take the opportunity to repent. If you are holy the time is given you to progress in holiness, not to slip away from the faith. For if “the evil servant said in his heart: ‘My Lord’s coming is delayed,’ and began to behave brutally towards his subordinates, even indulging in feasting and carousals with drunken companions, it will be a day he did not know upon which the Lord of that servant will return and mark him out and give him a place among the hypocrites”… This is the proper way of waiting for the Lord, keeping his troth. Even though we may miss the consolation of his presence we must not look about us adulterously but wait in suspense for his return. The Lord says this in the same prophet: “The people will wait in suspense for my return” (Hos 11:7 Vg). Fitting indeed it is that the people should be in suspense, as it were, between heaven and earth, unable as yet to grasp heavenly affairs but preferring even so not to have contact with those of earth.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

There is no way in which man is more like God than in his capacity to do good, and even if we are only able to do it to a wholly different degree, let us at least do all we can. God created man and raised him up after he had fallen so don’t you, on your part, despise anyone who has fallen into hard times. God, moved by man’s great distress, gave him the Law and the prophets, having already given him the unwritten law of nature. He took care to guide us, help us, correct us. Ultimately, he gave himself as a ransom for the life of the world… As for you, when you are sailing before the wind in the stern, hold out your hands to those who suffer shipwreck. When you enjoy good health and plenty, give help to the unfortunate. Don’t wait to learn to your own cost what an evil egoism is and how good it is to open your heart to those in need. Take care, because God’s hand chastises the presumptuous who forget about the poor. Learn your lesson from other people’s misfortunes and be lavish to the needy, even though it be with only the smallest forms of assistance. For him, who lacks everything, it won’t be valueless. Nor for God either, if you have done what you can. Let your haste to give supply for the insignificance of your gift. And if you have nothing, offer him your tears. Pity that springs from the heart is a great comfort to the unfortunate and a sincere compassion sweetens the bitterness of suffering.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team