Thursday, July 6 : Saint Augustine

“God makes his sun rise on the bad and the good, and causes rain to fall on the just and the unjust” (Mt 5,45). He shows his patience; he does not exercise as yet his almighty power. So you, too,… withhold yourself from provocation and don’t increase the uneasiness of those who sow trouble. Are you a friend of peace? Remain peaceful within yourself… Set aside quarrelling and turn to prayer. Don’t return insult for insult but pray for the other person. Would you like to speak to him against him? Speak to God on his behalf. I don’t say be silent, but find a convenient place and see the one you are speaking to in silence, by a cry from the heart. There, where your enemy cannot see you, in that very place show goodness on his behalf. To this adversary of peace, this friend of argument, you, who are a friend of peace, give answer: “Say whatever you like, whatever your enmity may be about, for you are my brother”… “No matter how much you hate and repel me: you are my brother! Recognise within yourself the mark of my Father. This is my Father’s word: you are a disputatious brother yet you are my brother, for you, too, say the same as I do: ‘Our Father in heaven.’ We pray to one Father so why are we not at one? I beg you, acknowledge what it is you say together with me and renounce what you do against me… We have only one voice before the Father; why should we not together have one peace?”

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team