Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine)

The lovers of this world display their generosity by giving money, clothes and various gifts, but not one of them gives his own blood. Christ gives his. In this way he demonstrates the tenderness he feels for us and his ardent love. Under the Old Law (…) God consented to receive the blood of sacrifices but this was just to prevent his people from offering it to false gods and, already, this was proof of a very great love. But Christ transformed this rite (…); there is no longer the same sacrificial victim; it is himself he offers in sacrifice. “The bread that we break, is it not a communion in the body of Christ?” (1 Cor 10:16)(…) What is this bread? The body of Christ. What becomes of those who communicate in it? The body of Christ: not a large number of bodies but just one body. Just as this bread, made up of so many wheat grains, makes only one loaf into which the grains disappear – for even though the grains remain in it yet it is impossible to distinguish them in such a closely compacted mass – so all of us, together with Christ, make up a single whole (…). Now, if we all share in the same bread and are united to the same Christ, why don’t we show the same love to each other? Why don’t we become one in this case too? This is what was seen at the beginning: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind” (Acts 4:32) (…) Christ came in search of you who were far away from him to unite himself to you, but you, don’t you want to become one with your brother? (…) You violently separate yourself from him after winning from the Lord so great a proof of his love – and life! For he did not only give his body but, just as our flesh, drawn from the earth, had lost its life and died through sin, so he has introduced, so to speak, another substance like a leaven: this is his body, the body sharing the same nature as ours but free from sin and abounding in life. And he has given it to all of us so that, fed with this banquet of this new food (…) we might enter immortal life.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

I urge you, in the grace in which you are clothed, to press on in your race and urge everyone to be saved. Assert your office with all the diligence of flesh and spirit. Give your attention to unity for there is nothing better. carry your brethren as the Lord also carries you. Patiently bear with them all in love, as indeed you do bear with them. Devote yourself to unceasing prayer. Ask for greater understanding than you have. Be watchful, possessing a wakeful spirit. Speak to each one individually concerning God’s way. “Bear the infirmities” (cf. Mt 8:17) of each as a perfect athlete. Where there is more toil, there is greater gain. If you only love the good disciples, this wins you no advantage. Rather, subdue by meekness the more annoying. Not every wound is cured by the same salve. Ease sharp pains with a hot compress. In everything “be wise as serpents” and always “harmless as doves”. You who are of flesh and spirit, humor those things visibly present before you but pray, too, that what is invisible may be manifested to you so that you may lack nothing and may abound in every spiritual gift. As pilots invoke the winds and tempest-tossed mariners call for haven, this season invites you to return to God. Be temperate, as God’s athlete. The prize is incorruption and life eternal (…). It is the part of a great athlete to suffer blows and to conquer. It is above all for God’s sake we ought to endure all things that He, too, may endure us. Become more zealous than you are. Consider the times. Look for Him who is above all times, who is timeless, invisible, but made visible for our sakes – He who, beyond the touch of our hands, beyond suffering, yet knew the Passion for our sakes and endured every suffering.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

For our well-being and salvation all the Holy Scriptures warn us constantly and humbly to confess our sins, not only before God but also before a holy and godfearing man. This is what the Holy Spirit advises us to do through the mouth of James the apostle: “Confess your sins to one another and pray for one another that you may be healed” (5:16) (…), and the psalmist says: “I confess my faults to the Lord and you took away the guilt of my sin” (Ps 32[31]:5). We are always wounded by our sins and, in the same way, we should always have recourse to the medicine of confession. For indeed, if God wants us to confess our sins, it is not because he would be unable to know what they are but because the devil wants to find something of which to accuse us before the judgement seat of the eternal Judge. That is why he would rather we thought more about excusing them than accusing ourselves of them. Our God, to the contrary, being good and merciful, wants us to confess them in this world so that we may not be ashamed because of them in the next. So if we confess them then he, on his part, shows himself to be merciful; if we acknowledge them then he forgives (…) As for ourselves, my brethren, we are really your spiritual physicians, seeking with all concern to heal your souls.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

Having spoken to Peter concerning the love towards Himself, He foretells to him the martyrdom which he should undergo, showing that He said not to Him what he said as distrusting, but as greatly trusting him; wishing besides to point out a proof of love towards Him, and to instruct us in what manner especially we ought to love Him. Wherefore He says… When you were young, you girded yourself, and walked whither you would, but when you are old, others shall gird you, and carry you whither you will not. (John 21:18) And yet this he did will, and desired; on which account also He has revealed it to him. For since Peter had continually said, I will lay down my life for You John 13:37, and, Though I should die with You, yet will I not deny You (Matthew 26:35): He has given him back his desire….This He said not to terrify, but to rouse Him; for He knew his love, and that he long had yearned for this blessing. At the same time He declares the kind of death. For since Peter ever desired to be in the dangers which were for His sake, Be of good cheer, He says, I will so satisfy your desire, that, what you suffered not when young, you must suffer when you are old. Then the Evangelist, to rouse the hearer, has added, This spoke He, signifying by what death he should glorify God. (John 21:19) He said not, Should die, but, Should glorify God, that you may learn, that to suffer for Christ, is glory and honor to the sufferer.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

Now, O love, my king and my God, now, O Jesus my dear one, receive me into the most gracious care of your divine heart. There, there, so that I may live entirely for you, fasten me to your love. Now release me into the great ocean of your mercy’s abyss: there, there, commit me to the bowels of your overflowing kindness. Ah! Now cast me into the voracious flame of your living love. There, there, transmit me into you until my soul and spirit are reduced to ashes in the conflagration. And at the hour of my passing away, commit me to the providence of your fatherly charity. There, there, O my sweet Savior, console me with the sight of your gentle presence. There, by the taste of your dear ransom with which you have redeemed me, recreate me. There, with the loving voice of your incomparable love, call me to you. There, there, receive me in the embrace of your infinitely merciful forgiveness. There, by the exquisite scent of the breath of your Spirit’s sweetness, draw me to you, draw me in, and draw me. There, in the kiss of perfect union of your fruition, immerse me forever. And grant me then to see you, to have you, to enjoy you eternally in the greatest happiness, for my soul has yearned for you, O Jesus, dearest of all dear ones. Amen.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team