In the spirit of Sancti Andreæ Corsini, Episcopi et Confessoris
Feria IV infra Hebdomadam Septuagesimæ – III Classis
The sacred liturgy of Septuagesima, with its violet vestments and somber tones, begins to turn our gaze inward, toward the deep preparation for the Paschal mystery. On this Feria IV, the Church, in her wisdom, offers us readings that meditate upon the faithful stewardship of divine gifts, the noble heritage of the patriarchs, and the glorious fruit borne by those who, like Saint Andrew Corsini, give all for Christ.
The Just Man Who Walked with God
Sirach 44:16–27; 45:3–20
The passage from Ecclesiasticus (Sirach), that inspired mirror of the Old Covenant, praises the fathers of old, especially Enoch, Abraham, and Moses. The text speaks of Enoch, who pleased God and was translated into paradise, and then unfolds a genealogy of virtue and fidelity, culminating in Moses, the man of God, through whom the Lord gave His law and established the priesthood.
St. Ambrose, commenting on Enoch, sees in him a type of the contemplative soul:
“He was not found because God had taken him. What does this mean but that he was raised to divine things and removed from earthly vanity?” (De Paradiso, ch. 2)
St. John Chrysostom, reflecting on Abraham, draws attention to the obedience that marked the patriarch’s every act:
“He obeyed God’s voice without hesitation, not knowing whither he went, but trusting wholly in the promises of God.” (Homilies on Genesis, Hom. 33)
And then we come to Moses, that friend of God, who prefigures the High Priesthood of Christ. Sirach praises Moses as one “honoured in the sight of all flesh,” chosen to intercede for the people, given the commandments, and made the mediator of the covenant.
St. Gregory Nazianzen extols the meekness of Moses, writing:
“He was not only the lawgiver, but also the pattern of virtue: his humility exceeded that of all men. The Lord spoke with him face to face, as with a friend.” (Orationes, 2)
Yet all these patriarchs are praised not for power or status, but for their fidelity. They received gifts from God, and returned them with interest — not material, but spiritual.
The Parable of the Talents
Matthew 25:14–23
In the Gospel, the Lord gives us the parable of the talents — a fitting echo to the praise of the fathers. To each servant is entrusted a sum according to his ability. The first two servants double what they have received, and are welcomed with that joyous phrase: Well done, good and faithful servant… Enter into the joy of thy Lord.
St. Augustine offers a poignant reflection here:
“The talents are not riches of the world, but spiritual graces — doctrine, wisdom, charity, piety. To use them rightly is to grow in them. The servant who buries his talent is the one who refuses to serve God with the gifts he has been given.” (Sermon 112)
St. Gregory the Great, in his Moralia, writes:
“There are some who, though they do no evil, yet neglect to do good. These are like the servant who hid his talent. Sloth in the spiritual life is itself a great evil.”
The readings together form a harmony: the Old Testament praises those who lived by faith and walked with God, who were fruitful stewards of divine election; the New Testament warns us that we too are stewards — and will be judged accordingly.
The Mirror of the Saints: Saint Andrew Corsini
Today we commemorate Saint Andrew Corsini, Bishop and Confessor, a true image of the faithful servant. Born into nobility, he forsook the vanities of the world and embraced the rigors of Carmelite poverty. As bishop of Fiesole, he was a father to the poor, a reconciler of enemies, a mirror of apostolic zeal. He did not bury his talent in the earth of comfort or ease, but multiplied it in the fields of prayer, penance, and pastoral charity.
The Roman Breviary calls him:
Vir pacis et misericordiæ, pauperum pater et firmamentum Ecclesiæ,
“a man of peace and mercy, a father to the poor, and a pillar of the Church.”
In him we see the harmony of contemplation and action — like Enoch, he walked with God; like Moses, he bore the burdens of the people; like the faithful servant, he returned the Lord’s gifts with interest.
Final Thoughts for Septuagesima
This week of Septuagesima begins our ascent toward the holy mountain of Lent. These readings, placed before us by Mother Church, call us to examine our own fidelity. Have we buried what God has entrusted to us — whether time, grace, knowledge, or charity? Or are we striving to multiply it, offering back to God the fruits of virtue?
Let us take courage from the saints and patriarchs, and beg the intercession of Saint Andrew Corsini. May we, by God’s grace, be numbered among those of whom it is said:
Bene, serve bone et fidelis… intra in gaudium Domini tui.
Prayer
O God, who didst raise up the blessed Bishop Andrew to be a model of evangelical perfection and a peacemaker among Thy people: grant, by his merits and intercession, that we may walk in the way of Thy commandments, and so come to the joy of eternal life. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.