Saint Romuald, Abbot

1If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed), but I will come to visions and revelations of the Lord. 2I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not; God knoweth), such a one caught up to the third heaven. 3And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not: God knoweth), 4That he was caught up into paradise, and heard secret words, which it is not granted to man to utter. 5For such an one I will glory; but for myself I will glory nothing, but in my infirmities. 6For though I should have a mind to glory, I shall not be foolish; for I will say the truth. But I forbear, lest any man should think of me above that which he seeth in me, or any thing he heareth from me. 7And lest the greatness of the revelations should exalt me, there was given me a sting of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. 8For which thing thrice I besought the Lord, that it might depart from me. 9And he said to me: My grace is sufficient for thee; for power is made perfect in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10For which cause I please myself in my infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses, for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I powerful.

8The angel of the Lord shall encamp round about them that fear him: and shall deliver them.

9O taste, and see that the Lord is sweet: blessed is the man that hopeth in him.

10Fear the Lord, all ye his saints: for there is no want to them that fear him.

11The rich have wanted, and have suffered hunger: but they that seek the Lord shall not be deprived of any good.

12Come, children, hearken to me: I will teach you the fear of the Lord.

13Who is the man that desireth life: who loveth to see good days?

24No man can serve two masters. For either he will hate the one, and love the other: or he will sustain the one, and despise the other. You cannot serve God and mammon. 25Therefore I say to you, be not solicitous for your life, what you shall eat, nor for your body, what you shall put on. Is not the life more than the meat: and the body more than the raiment? 26Behold the birds of the air, for they neither sow, nor do they reap, nor gather into barns: and your heavenly Father feedeth them. Are not you of much more value than they? 27And which of you by taking thought, can add to his stature by one cubit? 28And for raiment why are you solicitous? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow: they labour not, neither do they spin. 29But I say to you, that not even Solomon in all his glory was arrayed as one of these. 30And if the grass of the field, which is today, and tomorrow is cast into the oven, God doth so clothe: how much more you, O ye of little faith? 31Be not solicitous therefore, saying, What shall we eat: or what shall we drink, or wherewith shall we be clothed? 32For after all these things do the heathens seek. For your Father knoweth that you have need of all these things. 33Seek ye therefore first the kingdom of God, and his justice, and all these things shall be added unto you. 34Be not therefore solicitous for tomorrow; for the morrow will be solicitous for itself. Sufficient for the day is the evil thereof.