Wednesday, August 23 : Anonymous 9th century author in present-day Italy

Let none of you, beloved, think yourself safe because you are baptized, for just as those who run in the stadium do not all receive the prize of victory, but only he who came first in the race, so not all who have faith are saved, but only those who persevere in the good works they have begun. (…) No one should feel secure because of his faith alone, but should rather fear what is said: “Many are called, but few are chosen” (Mt 22:14). That we are called by faith, we know, but if we are elected, we do not know. Everyone must therefore be all the more humble because they do not know if they are elected. May Almighty God grant you not to be among those who crossed the Red Sea on dry ground, ate the manna in the wilderness, drank the spiritual drink, and yet perished because of their murmurings in the wilderness. May you be of those who entered the promised land, and obtained by working faithfully in the vineyard of the Church to receive the denarius of eternal happiness, so that with Christ your head, you who are its members, may reign from age to age.
Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team