Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine)

Remembrance of evil or rancor is one thing, loss of temper or rage another, annoyance another, and disturbance of mind yet another. I will give you an example so that you understand this clearly. Someone who is lighting a fire sets a spark to the tinder; this is some brother’s provoking remark, this is the point where the fire starts. Of what consequence is that brother’s remark? If you put up with it, the spark goes out; but if you go on thinking, “Why did he say that to me and what do I have to say to him?” (…) So you add a small bit of wood to the flame, or some bit of fuel, and you produce some smoke, that is a disturbance of mind. (…) If, therefore, you put up with a sharp retort from your brother, the little firebrand is extinguished, as I said, before it causes you any trouble. Even if you are a little troubled and you desire promptly to get rid of it, since it is still small, you can do so by remaining silent with a prayer on your lips and by one good, heartfelt act of humility. But if you dwell on it and inflame your heart and torment yourself with thoughts about why he said this to me, and what do I have to say to him, you are blowing on the embers and adding fuel and causing smoke! (…) And there you are in a passion. (…). But even this commotion can, if you want, be put out before it becomes a rage. If you allow yourself to remain disturbed, however, you will begin to let fly at others – you will be like someone piling logs on a blazing hearth and fanning the fire and so making more firebrands. This is how you get into a rage. (…) For just as burning logs are reduced to cinders and get covered with ash but do not go out for ages, even if water is thrown on them, so also anger that endures for a long time becomes rancor (…). Do you see how from one remark a grievous evil is reached? If, from the beginning, you take the blame when you are reproached, without trying to justify yourself or making counter charges and so repaying evil for evil (Rom 12:17), you will be delivered from all these ills.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

In several places in Holy Scripture our most loving Savior assures us he is in constant care and watchfulness on our account; that he himself carries, and will always carry us in his breast, his heart, his inmost being… Let us take great care not to place our trust on the power or favor of our friends, nor on our goods, nor our mind, our knowledge, our strength, nor on our good desires and resolutions, nor our prayers, nor even on the trust we feel ourselves to have in God, nor on human means nor any created thing but only on God’s mercy, It’s not that we shouldn’t employ the above mentioned things and contribute, on our part, all we can to overcome vice, to practise virtue, to carry out and fulfil the business God has set to hand and to perform the obligations attached to our situation in life. But we have to renounce any support and confidence we might have in such things and rely on the pure goodness of our Lord. In such a way that we are to take as much care and to work on our part as though we did not expect anything from God and, nevertheless, not rely on our own care and work either, as though we were not doing anything at all, but expecting everything from God’s mercy alone.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

Christ gave his life for you, and do you hold a grudge against your fellow servant? How then can you approach the table of peace? Your Master did not refuse to undergo every kind of suffering for you, and will you not even forgo your anger?… He has offered me an outrageous insult, you say. He has wronged me times without number, he has endangered my life. Well, what is that? He has not yet crucified you as the Jewish elders crucified the Lord. If you refuse to forgive your neighbor’s offense your heavenly Father will not forgive your sins either (Mt 6:15). What does your conscience say when you repeat the words: “Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name…,” and the rest? Christ went so far as to offer his blood for the salvation of those who shed it. What could you do that would equal that? If you refuse to forgive your enemy you harm not him but yourself… You earn for yourself eternal punishment on the Day of Judgment. Listen to the Lord’s words: “If you are bringing your gift to the altar, and there remember that your brother has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar and first go and be reconciled with your brother. Then come and offer your gift.” What do you mean? Am I really to leave my gift, my offering there? Yes, he says, because this sacrifice is offered in order that you may live in peace with your brother… For the Son of Man has come into the world to reconcile humanity with its Father. As Paul says: “Now God has reconciled everything to himself” (Col 1:20) “putting enmity to death through the cross” (Eph 2:16).

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

They have not only pierced his hands and his feet (Ps 22[21],17) but his side as well, and have opened up the inmost part of his most holy heart, already wounded by the lance of love. Oh how good and how pleasant it is to dwell in this heart! (cf Ps 133[132],2). O my good Jesus, your heart is a true treasure, a pearl of great price which we found when we dug in the field of your body (cf Mt 13,44-45). Would anyone toss it aside? Rather will I give all I have in exchange, I will give up all my thoughts and desires to buy it, tossing all my preoccupations into the heart of my Lord Jesus and, undoubtedly, that heart will sustain me. In this temple, in this Holy of Holies, before this Ark of the Covenant (1Kgs 6,19), I will adore and praise the name of the Lord, saying with David: “I have found courage to make this prayer to the Lord” (2Sam 7,27). As for me, I have found the heart of Jesus my King, my brother and my loving friend. And shall I not pray? Certainly I will pray. For his heart is with me – I will affirm it confidently – and even more than this: because Christ is truly beside me, how could he who is my leader and head (Col 1,18) not be on my side?… This spiritual heart is indeed my heart; it belongs to me. In truth, I hold my heart with Jesus. What is there surprising about this? A long time ago “the community of believers” were of “one heart” (Acts 4,32). And so, sweetest Jesus, since I have discovered this heart that is both yours and mine, I will make my prayer to you who are my God. Accept my prayers in that sanctuary in which you answer us or, rather, draw me wholly into your heart… You can enable me to pass through the eye of this needle when you have made me lay down the weight of the burden I carry on my shoulders (cf Mt 19,24; 11,28). Jesus, fairest of every human beauty, wash me yet more from my iniquity and cleanse me of my sin (Pss 45[44],3; 51[50],4) that, made pure by you, I can draw close to you, most pure; that I may merit “to dwell all the days of my life” in your heart and always see and accomplish your will (Ps 27[26],4 Vulg.).

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team

According to the people here we run two dangers. The first is that, after taking our money, our guide may leave us on some deserted island or throw us into the sea so as to escape the governor of Canton. The second is that, supposing he leads us to Canton and we come into the governor’s presence, the latter will treat us badly or throw us into prison. For our proceeding is unheard of. Numerous decrees prevent any one at all from gaining access to China and it is strictly forbidden for foreigners to make their way in without the king’s authorization. Besides these two dangers there are many other even greater ones, that the locals know nothing about. It would take a good deal of time to describe them all; however, I will not pass by without citing some of them. The first is to lose our hope and trust in God’s mercy. It is for his love and service that we go to make known his law and Jesus Christ his Son, our Redeemer and Lord. He well knows this since it was he, in his blessed mercy, who gave us these desires. But to lack confidence in his mercy and might in the midst of the hazards into which we may fall for his service’ sake is an incomparably greater danger than all the evils the enemies of God might raise up against us. For indeed, if his greater service requires it, he will keep us from the dangers of this life, while without God’s permission and authorization, the devils and their attendants can do nothing at all to harm us.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team