Léctio Epístolæ beáti Pauli Apóstoli ad Timótheum
Lesson from the first letter of St. Paul the Apostle to Timothy.
Caríssime: Est quæstus magnus píetas cum sufficiéntia. Nihil enim intúlimus in hunc mundum: haud dúbium, quod nec auférre quid póssumus. Habéntes autem aliménta, et quibus tegámur, his conténti simus. Nam qui volunt dívites fíeri, incídunt in tentatiónem et in láqueum diáboli, et desidéria multa inutília et nocíva: quæ mergunt hómines in intéritum et perditiónem. Radix enim ómnium malórum est cupíditas: quam quidam appeténtes, erravérunt a fide, et inseruérunt se dolóribus multis. Tu autem, o homo Dei, hæc fuge: sectáre vero justítiam, pietátem, fidem, caritátem, patiéntiam, mansuetúdinem. Certa bonum certámen fídei, apprehénde vitam ætérnam.
Beloved:Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into the world, and certainly we can take nothing out; but having food and sufficient clothing, with these let us be content. But those who seek to become rich fall into temptation and a snare and into many useless and harmful desires, which plunge men into destruction and damnation. For covetousness is the root of all evils, and some in their eagerness to get rich have strayed from the faith and have involved themselves in many troubles. But you, O man of God, flee these things; but pursue justice, godliness, faith, charity, patience, mildness. Fight the good fight of the faith, lay hold on the life eternal.