Sunday, November 14 : Saint Theodore the Studite

What fear and trembling will overwhelm us when we leave this world? (…) How shall we face that daunting day should one of us live negligently? When, at the sound of the archangel’s trumpet, every people will come to life (1 Thes 4:16) and all peoples, tribes and languages (cf. Rv 5:9) come to judgement, then the sky will dissolve with a great sound, the elements will burn (cf. 2 Pt 3,10.12), and all creation will be transformed, the great multitude of holy angels will advance with fear and the judge of all things will take his seat. Then will the words and deeds of each one will be openly laid bare and he will set before us the items for judgment: the fault as it appears at first sight, the fault together with its circumstances of place, manner and time, and all of this in the blink of an eye (cf. 1 Cor 15:52). Then, Scripture says, “they will go off to eternal punishment, but the righteous to eternal life” (Mt 25:46); there there will be “weeping and grinding of teeth” (Mt 8:12), “their fire will never go out and their worm will not perish” (Is 66:24). (…) Not unto us, Lord, not unto us but unto thy name be the glory (cf. Ps 113B:1) and praise to thy name on that day as you set us at your right hand. (…) “Who can separate us from the love of Christ? Tribulations, anguish, hunger, persecution, danger or the sword?”, for “for your sake we are put to death the whole day long, we have been sent like sheep to the slaughter” (cf. Rom 8:35-36). To him be glory for ever. Amen.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team