From the Breviary according to the use of the Roman Curia, 1529, the continuation of the sermon for the third day in the Octave of All Saints.
Thus far, we have mentioned the most holy fathers of the Old Testament, like the stars of night, who awaited the sun of justice, Christ the Savior. And at His coming, the darkness of ignorance and of prophecy unfulfilled was driven away, the night of sin began to shine with the light of truth, and in the knowledge of it, the errors of earlier times became like noon itself. But let us look upon the rays of this true sun, brethren, and consider what sort of guardians our fathers had when the time of the synagogue was coming to its end, and the Church was beginning: fishermen and princes, that is, the most holy Apostles and Evangelists, and other disciples of Christ. By their zeal and skill, the net of preaching drew a great multitude of the nations into the ship of the Church; and by their saving teaching, in wondrous manner the Church militant shines forth, and in her triumph, rejoices in their glorious merits.
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The Calling of the Apostles, one of the panels from the reverse of the large altarpiece of the Cathedral of Siena known as the Maestà, by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-11; now in the Cathedral Museum (Museo dell’ Opera Metropolitana del Duomo)
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