August 25
The legacy of the saints
ven while the
saints seemed to be with us they were not so in reality, for their minds
were turned to God. They lived on earth as citizens of heaven. Having here
no lasting city, they sought the heavenly one; having no earthly riches,
they sought the riches of heaven. They were strangers and sojourners as
their ancestors were. Strangers to the world, to the things of the world,
and to the ways of the world, their whole hearts were absorbed in the things
of heaven; these were the things they thought about and were concerned
about. They longed for the beauty of heaven, its mansions and dwellings,
its choirs and hymnody, its feasts and its eternal blessedness.
The saints contemplated, sought, and hastened toward these things, and
so at last they attained them. Their striving was rewarded by admission
to the heavenly bridal chamber. Because they labored they now exult. Because
they were not negligent they now rejoice. Precious in the eyes of the
Lord is the death of his saints.
From John E. Rotelle, O.S.A., Tradition Day by Day: Readings from
Church Writers. Augustinian Press. Villanova, PA, 1994.
HTML text prepared by David P. Steelman
