Friday, December 1 : Saint Clement of Rome

Let us fix our eyes on the Father and Creator of the world and cling to his splendid and surpassing gifts of peace and his benefits. Let us see him with our mind and look with the eyes of the soul at his patient purpose. Let us consider how free from anger he is toward all his creation… For he ordered the universe to be in peace and harmony in his kindness to all things but especially to us who have taken refuge in his mercy… Take care, dear friends, that his many benefits do not bring condemnation upon us, if we do not live worthily of him… Consider how near he is and that none of our thoughts or the reflections in which we indulge escapes him. It is right therefore that we should not be deserters from what he wills…. Far be it from us that scripture where it says: “How wretched are those who waver, who are of a doubting heart, and say: “We heard those things even in our forefather’s time, and here we have grown old and none of them has happened to us.” You senseless people! Compare yourselves to a tree; take a vine. First it sheds its leaves, then a shoot appears, then a leaf, then a flower, and afterward a sour grape, then a ripe grape.” You see in that in a short time the fruit of the tree comes to maturity. In truth, his will will be quickly and suddenly accomplished as the scripture also bears witness: “He will come quickly and not delay” (Is 13:22) and “The Lord will come suddenly to his Temple, and the Holy One for whom you seek.” (Mal 3:1).

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team