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August 17 |
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Angelus was born in Florence or near there; the year is unknown but it was before 1386. He was the first member of the reform observance of Our Lady of the Wood, was many times prior of various houses and was noted for his work in preaching the Word of God. He died in Florence in 1438.
From the Common of Men Saints (Religious), except the following:
Office of Readings
The Second Readin. (Alternative 1)
Bk 1, Ch 6 From the Institution of the First Monks
Love your neighbor as yourself
The Lord says, "The man who hears my commandments and keeps them, he it is who loves me." And the first of all commandments is: "Hear, O Israel: The Lord our God is one Lord; and you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your might. This is the greatest and first commandment." This cannot be observed without love of neighbor, because "he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, cannot love God whom he has not seen;" "and the second commandment is like it, You shall love your neighbor as yourself,' namely, in the things and for the reason that you love yourself. "His soul hates him who loves violence," says the Psalmist. Therefore, love your neighbor as yourself in good and not in evil, and "whatever you wish that men would do to you, do so to them" and "what you hate, do not do to any one." Thus you must love your neighbor, and so act that he becomes just if he is wicked, or remains just if he is good.
Again you must love yourself, not because of yourself but because of God. Whatever is loved because of itself is thus made a source of joy and a happy life, the hope of attaining which is comforting even on earth. But you must not place the hope of a blessed life in yourself or another man. "Cursed is the man who trusts in man and makes flesh his arm, whose heart turns away from the Lord.' Therefore you must make the Lord the source of your joy and the happy life, as the apostle says: "But now that you have been set free from sin and have become slaves of God, the return you get is sanctification and its end, eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord."
If you understand this clearly, you must love God because of himself, and yourself, not because of yourself, but because of God; and, since you must love your neighbor as yourself, you must love him, not because of himself, nor because of yourself, but because of God, and what else is this but to love God in your neighbor? "By this we know that we love the children of God, when we love God and obey his commandments." In the preparation of your soul you do all of this if you love God because of himself and your neighbor as yourself because of God. "On these two commandments depend all the law and the prophets."
The Second Reading (Alternative 2)
Ch 6:21 From the Dogmatic Constitution on Divine Revelation
Sacred Scripture in the life of the Church
The Church has always venerated the divine Scriptures just as she venerates the Body of the Lord, in so far as she never ceases, particularly in the sacred liturgy, to partake of the bread of life and to offer it to the faithful from the one table of the Word of God and the Body of Christ. She has always regarded, and continues to regard the Scriptures, taken together with sacred Tradition, as the supreme rule of her faith. For, since they are inspired by God and committed to writing once and for all time, they present God's Word in an unalterable form, and they make the voice of the Holy Spirit sound again and again in the words of the prophets and apostles. It follows that all the preaching of the Church, as indeed the entire Christian religion, should be nourished and ruled by sacred Scripture. In the sacred books the Father who is in heaven comes lovingly to meet his children, and talks with them. And such is the power and force of the Word of God that it can serve the Church as her support and vigor, and the children of the Church as strength for their faith, food for the soul, and a pure and lasting fount of spiritual life. Scripture verifies in the most perfect way the words: 'The Word of God is living and active' (Heb 4: 12) and 'is able to build you up and to give you theinheritance among all those who are sanctified' (Acts 20:32; cf. 1 Th 2:13).
Therefore, all clerics, particularly priests of Christ and others who, as deacons or catechists, are officially engaged in the ministry of the Word, should immerse themselves in the Scriptures by constant sacred reading and diligent study. For it must not happen that anyone becomes 'an empty preacher of the Word of God to others, not being a hearer of the Word in his own heart,' when he ought to be sharing the boundless riches of the divine Word with the faithful committed to his care, especially in the sacred liturgy. Likewise, the sacred Synod forcefully and specifically exhorts all the Christian faithful, especially those who live the religious life, to learn 'the surpassing knowledge of Jesus Christ' (Phil 3:8). 'Ignorance of the Scriptures is ignorance of Christ.' Therefore, let them go gladly to the sacred text itself, either in the sacred liturgy, which is full of the divine words, or in devout reading, or in such suitable exercises and various other helps which, with the approval and guidance of the pastors of the Church, are happily spreading everywhere in our day. Let them remember, however, that prayer should accompany the reading of sacred Scripture, so that a dialogue takes place between God and man. For 'we speak to him when we pray; we listen to him when we read the divine oracles.'
Responsory
R. Preach the word in season and out of season: refute falsehood, correct error, call to obedience: but do all with patience and the intention to teach.
-- Make the preaching of the gospel your life's work and service.
Attend to his word as to a lamp shining in a dark place, until the dawn comes and the morning star rises in our hearts.
-- Make the preaching of the gospel your life's work and service.
Prayer as at Morning Prayer
Morning Prayer
Hymn
Come raise a song to Angelus,
Who, looking from his heavenly place,
His brothers here will claim with love,
And win for them the gifts of grace.
The Holy Rule his constant guide
He reached Mount Carmel's lofty height,
His faithful heart aspiring still
To Love Supreme, love's sole delight.
A man of wise and peaceful zeal,
No toil or trouble would he shirk;
He led his brothers less by words
Than by his deeds, to strive and work.
His eloquence was not of earth
Christ's yearning care he could impart,
His precepts with such love convey
That peace and joy filled every heart.
Now he has reached his heavenly home,
Rejoicing at Our Lady's feet,
May he in kindness lead us on
From partial joy to joy complete.
We praise the Father with the Son
And Holy Spirit ever blest;
May we through prayer of Angelo
Attain the land of heavenly rest.
L.M. Hymnum canamus Angelo Tr. unknown
Prayer
Almighty and ever-living God,
you made this day holy
by welcoming Blessed Angelus Augustine Mazzinghi
into the glory of your kingdom.
Keep us true to the faith
he professed with untiring zeal,
and help us to bring it to perfection by acting in love.
We ask this through our Lord
