Saint Peter Claver, Priest

25Now, concerning virgins, I have no commandment from the Lord. But I give counsel, as one who has obtained the mercy of the Lord, so as to be faithful. 26Therefore, I consider this to be good, because of the present necessity: that it is good for a man to be such as I am. 27Are you bound to a wife? Do not seek to be freed. Are you free of a wife? Do not seek a wife. 28But if you take a wife, you have not sinned. And if a virgin has married, she has not sinned. Even so, such as these will have the tribulation of the flesh. But I would spare you from this. 29And so, this is what I say, brothers: The time is short. What remains of it is such that: those who have wives should be as if they had none; 30and those who weep, as though they were not weeping; and those who rejoice, as if they were not rejoicing; and those who buy, as if they possessed nothing; 31and those who use the things of this world, as if they were not using them. For the figure of this world is passing away.

11Listen, daughter, and see, and incline your ear. And forget your people and your father’s house.

12And the king will desire your beauty. For he is the Lord your God, and they will adore him.

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14All the glory of the daughter of its king is inside, in golden fringes,

15clothed all around with diversities. After her, virgins will be led to the king. Her neighbors will be brought to you.

16They will be brought with gladness and exultation. They will be led into the temple of the king.

17For your fathers, sons have been born to you. You will establish them as leaders over all the earth.

20And lifting up his eyes to his disciples, he said: “Blessed are you poor, for yours is the kingdom of God. 21Blessed are you who are hungry now, for you shall be satisfied. Blessed are you who are weeping now, for you shall laugh. 22Blessed shall you be when men will have hated you, and when they will have separated you and reproached you, and thrown out your name as if evil, because of the Son of man. 23Be glad in that day and exult. For behold, your reward is great in heaven. For these same things their fathers did to the prophets. 24Yet truly, woe to you who are wealthy, for you have your consolation. 25Woe to you who are satisfied, for you will be hungry. Woe to you who laugh now, for you will mourn and weep. 26Woe to you when men will have blessed you. For these same things their fathers did to the false prophets.