Saturday, November 02, 2019

The Feast of All Saints 2019: The Praise of God in His Creation

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.

Therefore, first let us reverently rise today to praise Him, whom all the world obeys, who also Himself praises His servants, and makes them worthy of praise. For He is God Almighty, whose understanding is superior to all, whose being is most mighty, whose power and will are great above all; the sole beginning and creator of all things spiritual and corporeal; substance that surpasses all understanding, maker of such works that in their goodness and perfection, commend Him as their creator and declare him in very deed, namely, the world, and the rational creatures. And in His might, He made those things that are very great, the world, that is, in its immensity; and in His wisdom, He made those things which are very beautiful, to wit, the rational creatures which are capable of understanding; and in His goodness, He made those things which are useful, each one most excellent in its kind, distinct in their various ways, and arranged in a most becoming order. And by their service, we are helped to serve Him, and spurred on to praise Him here (in this world) and forever.

God Creating the World, from a Bible Moralisée made for King St Louis IX of France in 1226-34, now kept at the cathedral of Toledo, Spain. (Public domain image from Wikimedia Commons.)

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