June 2016

Pope's Intentions

Universal: Human Solidarity, That the aged, marginalized, and those who have no one may find “even within the huge cities of the world” opportunities for encounter and solidarity.

Evangelization: Seminarians and Novices, That seminarians and men and women entering religious life may have mentors who live the joy of the Gospel and prepare them wisely for their mission.

Thursday of the Ninth week in Ordinary Time

Commentary of the day
Saint Augustine (354-430), Bishop of Hippo (North Africa) and Doctor of the Church
De Trinitate, VIII, 12 ; PL 42, 958

Loving God, one's neighbor and oneself

      Whoever does not love his brother does not remain in love; and those who do not remain in love do not remain in God, “for God is love”. (1Jn 4:8)

      Further, anyone who does not remain in God, does not live in light, for "God is light, and in him is no darkness at all."(1Jn 1:5) He therefore who does not live in light, what wonder is it that he does not see light, that is, does not see God, because he is in darkness? He sees his brother with human sight, with which God cannot be seen. But if he loved with spiritual love those whom he sees with human sight, he would see God, who is love itself, with the inner sight by which he can be seen...

      Let us not ask how much love we ought to spend upon our brother and how much upon God: incomparably more upon God than upon ourselves, but upon our brother as much as upon ourselves; and we love ourselves more, the more we love God. Therefore we love God and our neighbor from one and the same love; but we love God for his own sake, and ourselves and our neighbors for the sake of God.