Thursday, March 24 : Saint Caesarius of Arles

“Blessed are the merciful for they shall obtain mercy” (Mt 5,7). Sweet is the name of mercy, dearest brethren; and if the name is sweet, how much sweeter is the quality itself?… Since we all wish for mercy, let us make her our patroness in this age that she may free us in the future. For there is mercy in heaven and we attain it through the acts of mercy that we perform on earth. This is what scripture says: “O Lord, your mercy is in heaven” (Ps 35,6 Vg). There are two kinds of mercy, then: mercy on earth and mercy in heaven, human mercy and divine mercy. What is human mercy like? It makes you concerned for the hardship of the poor. What is divine mercy like? It forgives sinners. Whatever generosity human mercy shows during our life on earth, divine mercy repays when we reach our fatherland. In this world God is cold and hungry in all the poor, as he himself said: “As you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me” (Mt 25,40). God, then, is pleased to give from heaven, but he desires to receive on earth.

maronite readings – rosary,team