Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine)

That Luke was inseparable from Paul and his fellow-laborer in the Gospel, he himself clearly evinces, not as a matter of boasting, but as bound to do so by the truth itself. For when Barnabas and John Mark, had parted company from Paul and sailed to Cyprus, Luke writes: “We came to Troas” (Acts 16,8.11)… Then he carefully indicates all the rest of their journey as far as Philippi, and how they delivered their first address… And all the remaining details of his journey with Paul he recounts with all possible diligence… As Luke was present at all these occurrences, he carefully noted them down in writing, so that he cannot be convicted of falsehood or boastfulness, because all these details were well known… That Luke was not merely a follower, but also a fellow-laborer of the apostles, and especially of Paul, Paul himself declared too in his Epistles, saying: “Demas has forsaken me and has left for Thessalonica; Crescens to Galatia, Titus to Dalmatia. Only Luke is with me” (2Tim 4,11). From this Paul shows that Luke was always attached to and inseparable from him. And again, in the Letter to the Colossians he says: “Luke, the beloved physician, greets you” (Col 4,14)… There are also many other particulars to be found in the Gospel that are mentioned by Luke alone… It may be, indeed, that it was of set purpose that God set forth very many Gospel truths, through Luke’s instrumentality alone…, in order that all might follow his subsequent testimony treating of the acts and doctrine of the apostles, and that thus holding the unadulterated rule of truth, they might be saved. Luke’s testimony, therefore, is true and the doctrine of the apostles is open and steadfast, holding nothing in reserve… Theirs are the voice of the Church from which the Church takes its origin.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

Peculiar to a star is the light that surrounds it. And peculiar to those who worship and fear God are poverty and humility. For there is nothing so distinctive nor is there so plain a sign of the disciples of Christ as a humble spirit and an unpretentious appearance. All four gospels speak of this. Those who do not live humbly in this way lose their portion in him who humbled himself even to the cross and to death (cf. Phil 2:8), he who was also the lawgiver and has out into practice the commandments of the holy gospels. It is said: “Come to the waters, you who are thirsty” (Is 55:1). You who are thirsty for God, come to purity of thought. For there is none higher than the humble. As when there is no light all things are obscure and dark, so when there is no humility all our acts are foolish, vain and barren. (…) The soul that is benefited and sweetened by Jesus repays its benefactor, acknowledging him with exultation and love. And it render thanks and with sweetness of heart calls upon him who gives peace. For it sees him, within itself, disperse the fantasies of evil spirits. (…) So let us practice prayer and humility, those two weapons with which, together with sobriety, spiritual warriors arm themselves against the demons as with a flaming sword. If we live thus we shall be able to hold in our hearts a secret feast of rejoicing every day and every hour. (…) The Lord has said: “Learn from me for I am meek and humble of heart, and you shall find rest for your souls.” (Mt 11:29).

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

Our Lord was an example of incomparable patience. He bore with a “devil” among his disciples even to his Passion (Jn 6,70). He said: “Let them grow together until the harvest lest you uproot the wheat when you pull out the weeds” (cf. Mt 13,29f.). As a symbol of the Church he preached that the net would bring back to shore, namely the end of the world, every kind of fish, both good and bad. And he made it known in various other ways, whether openly or in parables, that there would always be a mixture of good and bad. But nevertheless he stresses that we have to protect the Church’s discipline when he says: “If your brother sins against you, go and tell him his fault between you and him alone. If he listens to you, you have won over your brother” (Mt 18,15)… Yet today we see people who think of nothing but stern commandments, who order that troublemakers be reproved, « not giving what is holy to the dogs », « treating like the publicans » anyone who despises the Church, cutting off the scandalous member from the body (Mt 7,6 ; 18,17 ; 5,30). Their stormy zeal so troubles the Church that they pull out the weeds before their time and their blindness makes of them enemies of the unity of Jesus Christ… Take care not to let these presumptuous thoughts enter our hearts, trying to separate ourselves from sinners so as not to be soiled by contact with them, wanting to form a band of pure and holy disciples. We will achieve nothing but breaking up our unity under the pretext of not associating with the wicked. To the contrary, let us remember the parables of Scripture, their inspired words, their striking examples, where we are shown that, until the end of the world and the day of judgement, the bad will always be mingled amongst the good in the church without their participation in the sacraments being harmful to the good so long as these latter have not played a part in their sins.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

The union of the soul with Christ differs from the union among people in the world: it is a rooting and growing in him, as we are told by the parable of the vine and the branches, which begins with baptism and is constantly strengthened and formed through the sacraments in diverse ways. However this real union with Christ implies the growth of a genuine community among all Christians. Thus the Church forms the mystical body of Christ. The body is a living body, and the spirit which gives the body life is Christ’s spirit, streaming from the head to all parts. The spirit which Christ radiates is the Holy Spirit; the Church is thus the temple of the Holy Spirit. In spite of the real organic oneness of head and body, the Church stands by the side of Christ like an independent person. Christ lived prior to all time and all humanity as Son of the eternal Father. Humankind came into being by the act of creation before Christ assumed its nature and entered into it. By entering into creation, he brought his divine life into it. From himself he generated human nature anew in that, through his redemption, he made humanity receptive to grace… The original cell of all redeemed humanity is Mary, in whom first took place the purification and sanctification through Christ and impregnation by the Holy Spirit. Before the Son of Man was born of the Virgin, the Son of God conceived of this very virgin as one full of grace, and he created the Church in and with her. Thus the Church stands as a new creation beside him, although it is indissolubly bound to him. Every soul purified through baptism and raised to the state of grace is thereby conceived through Christ and is born for his sake. Yet the soul is conceived and born through the Church… The Church is thus the mother of all the redeemed. But it is so because of its most intimate union with Christ, because it stands at his side as the Spouse of Christ and cooperates with him in his work, the redemption of humankind.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

What then says Christ? You are Simon, the son of Jonas; you shall be called Cephas. Thus since you have proclaimed my Father, I too name him that begot you; all but saying, As you are son of Jonas, even so am I of my Father. Else it were superfluous to say, You are Son of Jonas; but since he had said, Son of God, to point out that He is so Son of God, as the other son of Jonas, of the same substance with Him that begot Him,. He added this, “And I say unto you, You are Peter, and upon this rock will I build my Church”; (Matthew 16:18) that is, on the faith of his confession. Hereby He signifies that many were now on the point of believing, and raises his spirit, and makes him a shepherd. And the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. And if not against it, much more not against me. So be not troubled because you are shortly to hear that I shall be betrayed and crucified.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team