Thursday, October 12 : Saint Augustine

What is this wedding garment or nuptial robe? The apostle Paul says: “The aim of this instruction is love from a pure heart, a good conscience and a sincere faith” (1Tm 1:5). Here is the nuptial robe! It’s not a question of any kind of love since we often see people with a bad conscience loving one another. People who abandon themselves to robbery and evil, who attract to themselves the love of actors, charioteers and gladiators, generally love amongst themselves but not with the charity that arises from a pure heart, a good conscience and unfeigned faith. Now it is this latter kind of charity that represents the nuptial robe. So, you who haven’t yet done so, put on your wedding garment. You have already entered the banqueting hall, you are about to approach the Lord’s table, but as yet you do not have a wedding garment in the bridegroom’s honor: you are still looking for your own interests, not those of Jesus Christ. The wedding garment is worn in honor of the nuptial union, that is to say, of the Bridegroom and the Bride. The Bridegroom, you know: he is Jesus Christ; the Bride: she is the Church (Eph 5:32). Show respect to the one who is wed and also to him who weds her.

Roman Extraordinary (Tridentine) Daily Readings – rosary,team