🗓️ Feb 04St. Andrew Corsini, Bishop and Confessor

Born in Florence in the year 1301, Saint Andrew Corsini had his vocation prefigured by a maternal dream, in which he was seen as a wolf that transformed into a lamb upon entering a Carmelite church, a prophecy that was fulfilled after a dissolute youth marked by vices that afflicted his noble parents; touched by his mother's tears and the revelation of the dream, he converted at the age of 17, entering the Order of Carmel, where he exchanged the ferocity of the world for the meekness of Christ, completing his studies in Paris and returning to Italy to work prodigies of healing and prophecy. Elected Bishop of Fiesole, he tried to flee the episcopal dignity by hiding in a Carthusian monastery, but was discovered by the voice of a child, a sign he interpreted as the divine will, then assuming the office with extreme pastoral zeal, becoming known as the "father of the poor" and an excellent peacemaker who, at the command of Pope Urban V, reconciled the nobility and the common people of Bologna, exercising his ministry until his death in 1373, announced previously in a vision on Christmas night, being venerated today as the patron saint of Florence and a model of conversion and apostolic service.

📜 Introit (Ecclus. 45:30; Ps. 131:1)

Státuit ei Dóminus testaméntum pacis, et príncipem fecit eum: ut sit illi sacerdótii dígnitas in aetérnum. Ps. Meménto, Dómine, David: et omnis mansuetúdinis ejus.

The Lord made to him a covenant of peace, and made him a prince: that the dignity of priesthood should be to him for ever. Ps. O Lord, remember David: and all his meekness.

✉️ Epistle (Ecclus. 44:16-27; 45:3-20)

Ecce sacérdos magnus, qui in diébus suis plácuit Deo, et invéntus est justus: et in témpore iracúndiae factus est reconciliátio. Non est invéntus símilis illi, qui conservávit legem Excélsi. Ideo jurejurándo fecit illum Dóminus créscere in plebem suam. Benedictiónem ómnium géntium dedit illi, et testaméntum suum confirmávit super caput ejus. Agnóvit eum in benedictiónibus suis: conservávit illi misericórdiam suam: et invénit grátiam coram óculis Dómini. Magnificávit eum in conspéctu regum: et dedit illi corónam glóriae. Státuit illi testaméntum aetérnum, et dedit illi sacerdótium magnum: et beatificávit illum in glória. Fungi sacerdótio, et habére laudem in nómine ipsíus, et offérre illi incénsum dignum in odorem suavitátis.

Behold the great priest, who in his days pleased God, and was found just: and in the time of wrath he was made a reconciliation. There was not found the like to him, who kept the law of the most High. Therefore by an oath the Lord made him to increase among his people. He gave him the blessing of all nations, and confirmed his covenant upon his head. He acknowledged him in his blessings: he preserved for him his mercy: and he found grace before the eyes of the Lord. He magnified him in the sight of kings: and gave him a crown of glory. He made an everlasting covenant with him, and gave him a great priesthood: and made him blessed in glory. To perform the office of the priesthood, and to have praise in his name, and to offer to him a worthy incense for an odour of sweetness.

📖 Gospel (Mt 25:14-23)

In illo témpore: Dixit Jesus discípulis suis parábolam hanc: Homo péregre proficíscens vocávit servos suos, et trádidit illis bona sua. Et uni dedit quinque talénta, álii autem duo, álii vero unum, unicuíque secúndum própriam virtútem, et proféctus est statim. Ábiit autem, qui quinque talénta accéperat, et operátus est in eis, et lucrátus est ália quinque. Simíliter et, qui duo accéperat, lucrátus est ália duo. Qui autem unum accéperat, ábiens fodit in terram, et abscóndit pecúniam dómini sui. Post multum vero témporis venit dóminus servórum illórum, et pósuit ratiónem cum eis. Et accédens qui quinque talénta accéperat, óbtulit ália quinque talénta, dicens: Dómine, quinque talénta tradidísti mihi, ecce, ália quinque superlucrátus sum. Ait illi dóminus ejus: Euge, serve bone et fidélis, quia super pauca fuísti fidélis, super multa te constítuam: intra in gáudium dómini tui. Accéssit autem et qui duo talénta accéperat, et ait: Dómine, duo talénta tradidísti mihi, ecce, ália duo lucrátus sum. Ait illi dóminus ejus: Euge, serve bone et fidélis, quia super pauca fuísti fidélis, super multa te constítuam: intra in gáudium dómini tui.

At that time, Jesus spoke this parable to His disciples: A man going into a far country, called his servants, and delivered to them his goods. And to one he gave five talents, and to another two, and to another one, to every one according to his proper ability: and immediately he took his journey. And he that had received the five talents, went his way, and traded with the same, and gained other five. And in like manner he that had received the two, gained other two. But he that had received the one, going his way digged into the earth, and hid his lord's money. But after a long time the lord of those servants came, and reckoned with them. And he that had received the five talents coming, brought other five talents, saying: Lord, thou didst deliver to me five talents, behold I have gained other five over and above. His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant, because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord. And he also that had received the two talents came and said: Lord, thou deliveredst two talents to me: behold I have gained other two. His lord said to him: Well done, good and faithful servant: because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many things: enter thou into the joy of thy lord.

💡 The Trading of Talents and the Metamorphosis of Grace

Today's liturgy presents to us, through the figure of Saint Andrew Corsini and the parable of the talents, the essential dynamic of the Christian life: the transformation of nature by grace and the active responsibility of charity. The "wolf" that becomes a "lamb" in the life of Saint Andrew is not the annihilation of temperament, but its rectification and supernatural elevation; the energy once dissipated in vice is converted, by the commerce of grace, into apostolic zeal, fulfilling what the Gospel says about the one who "traded" with the talents. The talents are not merely natural gifts, but, as tradition teaches, represent the grace and the Word of God entrusted to the faithful. The wicked servant is condemned not for doing evil, but for a sterile omission, moved by fear and not by love, burying the divine gift in the "earth" of worldliness or spiritual sloth. Saint Andrew, on the contrary, embodies the "Good and Faithful Servant" and the "Great Priest" of the Epistle who becomes "reconciliation" in the time of wrath. He administered the treasure of social and ecclesial peace, pacifying warring cities, understanding that the bishop, as administrator of the mysteries of God, cannot retain holiness for himself, but must make it bear fruit in the body of the Church. The promised glory - "enter into the joy of thy lord" - is the reward not only of the preservation of the faith, but of its industrious fruition in charity, for "love cannot be idle; if it exists, it works great things; if it refuses to act, it is not love" (Saint Gregory the Great, Homily on the Gospels).