Thursday, July 13 : Saint Cyprian

The Holy Spirit warns us, saying: “Which of you desires life and takes delight in prosperous days? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips from speaking guile. Turn away from evil and do good; seek peace and pursue it” (Ps 34[33],13-15). A child of peace ought to seek and follow peace; those who know and love the bond of charity ought to restrain their tongues from the evil of dissension. Among his divine commands and salutary instructions the Lord, now very near his Passion, added the following: “Peace I leave you, my peace I give you” (Jn 14,27). This is the inheritance he bequeathed us: all the gifts and rewards he promised us he made dependant on the conservation of peace. So if we are heirs of Christ, let us remain in the peace of Christ; if we are children of God, we ought to be peace-makers. “Blessed,” he said, “are the peace-makers, for they shall be called the children of God” (Mt 5,9). God’s children should be peace-makers, gentle in heart, simple in speech, harmonious in affection, clinging to one another faithfully in the bonds of unanimity. This unanimity existed of old among the Apostles (Acts 4,32); thus the new assembly of believers, guards the commandments of the Lord and maintain charity. Scripture proves this in the following words: “The community of believers was of one heart and mind” (Acts 4,32). And again: ‘And all all devoted themselves with one accord to prayer with the women and Mary, the mother of Jesus, and his brothers” (1,14). In this way they prayed with efficacious prayers; they were able with confidence to obtain whatever they asked of God’s mercy.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team