examination of the heart 378 commanded those whom He honored with apostolic dignity to proclaim the Gospel to every creature: to kings and to citizens; to rulers and their subjects; to masters and to servants; to the rich and to the poor together; to old people and also to children; indeed, to all men, to everyone! Decide for yourself how great would be the impious deed committed by you, if at the moment opportune for fulfilling your duty regarding salvation, you preferred the magnates to the plebeians, and the wealthy to the poor!178 How much would you deviate from the celestial Master’s teaching if you seek only noble houses because of their sumptuousness and avoid with contempt the humble ones; if you did not serve the little and the great with an equal disposition! On account of our religious vocation, by which we are equal to the apostles, it is fitting indeed that we show to God at least this kind of gratitude of not treating any of His creatures with contempt and not neglecting their instruction in salutary commandments and provision with necessary aids, in so far as it is our duty. FOR THE FEAST OF CORPUS CHRISTI Before Holy Communion 1. “behold, I am with you always, to the close of the age” (Mt 28:20). Consider that on His departure to Heaven the Redeemer could not possibly leave us any more pleasing, sweeter, and excellent token of remembrance than His true Body, which was tortured to death and pierced for our salvation. [f.120r] Indeed, as nothing is dearer and greater than God in Heaven, thus nothing is more worthy and more excellent here in the 178 Although the original Latin says the opposite (pauperes locupletibus), it is presumed that this was a mistake and that St. Stanislaus wanted to say: “and the wealthy to the poor,” which corresponds to the general context of the exhortation.
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy MjI2Mw==