THE THIRTEENTH SUNDAY

Chrysostum

From the St Andrew Daily Missal (1940 edition), the commentary on the Mass for the Thirteenth Sunday After Pentecost:

"Vanity of vanities," says the sacred author, "and all is vanity.  There is no remembrance of former things: nor indeed of those things which hereafter are to come, shall there be any remembrance within them that be in the latter end.  I have seen all things that are done under the sun: and behold all is vanity and vexation of spirit.  The perverse are hard to be corrected, and the number of fools is infinite." (1st Nocturn)

"As soon," says St John Chrysostum, "as Solomon was able to perceive the divine Wisdom, he uttered this sublime exclamation, worthy of heaven itself: 'Vanity of vanities, and all is vanity.'  You, in your ages was not bound to seek wisdom so diligently as we, since the Old Law did not regard the enjoyment of superfluities as vanity, though none the less, men could see that they were worthless and deserving of contempt.  But we are called to more perfect virtues...."