Gospel 12-7-23. Matt 5:13-19. St Ambrose. Bishop and Doctor of the Church.

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You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.
Vos estis sal terrae. Quod si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur? ad nihilum valet ultra, nisi ut mittatur foras, et conculcetur ab hominibus.
⁠ 14 ⁠You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.
Vos estis lux mundi. Non potest civitas abscondi supra montem posita,
⁠ 15 ⁠Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.
neque accedunt lucernam, et ponunt eam sub modio, sed super candelabrum, ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt.
⁠ 16 ⁠So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus : ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in caelis est.
⁠ 17 ⁠Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Nolite putare quoniam veni solvere legem, aut prophetas : non veni solvere, sed adimplere.
⁠ 18 ⁠For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.
Amen quippe dico vobis, donec transeat caelum et terra, jota unum aut unus apex non praeteribit a lege, donec omnia fiant.
⁠ 19 ⁠He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Qui ergo solverit unum de mandatis istis minimis, et docuerit sic homines, minimus vocabitur in regno caelorum : qui autem fecerit et docuerit, hic magnus vocabitur in regno caelorum.


Ambrose was Roman governor of northern Italy and still a catachumen when a popular assembly chose him to be bishop of Milan in 374. He fearlessly resisted the encroachment of civil authorities and defended the Faith against contemporary heretics backed by successive Emperors. He was a great preacher. He is also responsible for the "Ambrosian Rite" still used in Milan. The most illustrious of his converts is St Augustine. According to ancient tradition when St Augustine was baptised, he and St Ambrose composed together the Te Deum, now the solemn hymn of thanksgiving of the universal church.