Friday, November 29 : Saint Gregory the Great

“The powers of heaven will be moved.” What does the Lord mean by the powers of heaven if not the angels and archangels, Thrones, Dominations, Rulers and Powers? (Col 1,6). At the coming of the severe Judge they will appear visibly before our eyes… “Then they will see the Son of Man coming on the clouds with great authority and majesty”. In other words, they are going to see in power and majesty him whom they chose not to hear in a state of humility… He said these things about the condemned; words of consolation for the elect follow at once: “When these things begin to take place, look up and lift up your heads because your redemption is drawing near.” Truth is exhorting his elect by saying: “When the disasters of the world become more frequent… let your hearts exult! While the world which is not your friend is coming to an end, the redemption you have sought is coming near.” Those who love God are ordered to rejoice and be merry at the world’s end. They will soon find him whom they love, while what they have not loved is passing away. It should be far from the hearts of all the faithful who long to see God to grieve over the disasters of a world they know these very disasters are to end. It is written that: “Whoever wishes to be Q friend of this world makes himself an enemy of God (Jas 4,4). Someone who does not rejoice as the end of the world approaches testifies that he is its friend, and this convicts him of being God’s enemy. Let this be far from the hearts of the faithful, let it be far from those who believe by their faith that there is another life, and who love it by their activities… What is our mortal life except a way? Consider carefully, my friends, what sort of thing it is to grow weary with the exertions of the way, and yet to be unwilling that the way be ended!… Therefore, my friends, do not love what you see cannot long exist.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team