21 Then let those who are in Judea, flee to the mountains; and those who are in the midst thereof, depart out: and those who are in the countries, not enter into it.
tunc qui in Judaea sunt, fugiant ad montes, et qui in medio ejus, discedant : et qui in regionibus, non intrent in eam,

 22 For these are the days of vengeance, that all things may be fulfilled, that are written.
quia dies ultionis hi sunt, ut impleantur omnia quae scripta sunt.

 23 But woe to them that are with child, and give suck in those days; for there shall be great distress in the land, and wrath upon this people.
Vae autem praegnantibus et nutrientibus in illis diebus! erit enim pressura magna super terram, et ira populo huic.

 24 And they shall fall by the edge of the sword; and shall be led away captives into all nations; and Jerusalem shall be trodden down by the Gentiles; till the times of the nations be fulfilled.
Et cadent in ore gladii, et captivi ducentur in omnes gentes, et Jerusalem calcabitur a gentibus, donec impleantur tempora nationum.

 25 And there shall be signs in the sun, and in the moon, and in the stars; and upon the earth distress of nations, by reason of the confusion of the roaring of the sea and of the waves;
Et erunt signa in sole, et luna, et stellis, et in terris pressura gentium prae confusione sonitus maris, et fluctuum :

 26 Men withering away for fear, and expectation of what shall come upon the whole world. For the powers of heaven shall be moved;
arescentibus hominibus prae timore, et exspectatione, quae supervenient universo orbi : nam virtutes caelorum movebuntur :

 27 And then they shall see the Son of man coming in a cloud, with great power and majesty.
et tunc videbunt Filium hominis venientem in nube cum potestate magna et majestate.

 28 But when these things begin to come to pass, look up, and lift up your heads, because your redemption is at hand.
His autem fieri incipientibus, respicite, et levate capita vestra : quoniam appropinquat redemptio vestra.

 29 And he spoke to them in a similitude. See the fig tree, and all the trees:
Et dixit illis similitudinem : Videte ficulneam, et omnes arbores :

 30 When they now shoot forth their fruit, you know that summer is nigh;
cum producunt jam ex se fructum, scitis quoniam prope est aestas.

 31 So you also, when you shall see these things come to pass, know that the kingdom of God is at hand.
Ita et vos cum videritis haec fieri, scitote quoniam prope est regnum Dei.

 32 Amen, I say to you, this generation shall not pass away, till all things be fulfilled.
Amen dico vobis, quia non praeteribit generatio haec, donec omnia fiant.

 33 Heaven and earth shall pass away, but my words shall not pass away.
Caelum et terra transibunt : verba autem mea non transibunt.

27 And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck.
Factum est autem, cum haec diceret : extollens vocem quaedam mulier de turba dixit illi : Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quae suxisti.

 28 But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.
At ille dixit : Quinimmo beati, qui audiunt verbum Dei et custodiunt illud.

 15 When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.

 16 Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains:  17 And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:  18 And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat.  19 And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days.  20 But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath.

 21 For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.  22 And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened.  23 Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.  24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.  25 Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.

 26 If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not.  27 For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be.  28 Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.  29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved:  30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.

[28] "Wheresoever": The coming of Christ shall be sudden, and manifest to all the world, like lightning: and wheresoever he shall come, thither shall all mankind be gathered to him, as eagles are gathered about a dead body.

[29] "The stars": Or flaming meteors resembling stars.

[30] "The sign": The cross of Christ.

 31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.  32 And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.  33 So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors.  34 Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  35 Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.

[35] "Shall pass": Because they shall be changed at the end of the world into a new heaven and new earth.

 15 When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.

 16 Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains:  17 And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:  18 And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat.  19 And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days.  20 But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath.

 21 For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.  22 And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened.  23 Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.  24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.  25 Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.

 26 If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not.  27 For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be.  28 Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.  29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved:  30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.

[28] "Wheresoever": The coming of Christ shall be sudden, and manifest to all the world, like lightning: and wheresoever he shall come, thither shall all mankind be gathered to him, as eagles are gathered about a dead body.

[29] "The stars": Or flaming meteors resembling stars.

[30] "The sign": The cross of Christ.

 31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.  32 And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.  33 So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors.  34 Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  35 Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.

[35] "Shall pass": Because they shall be changed at the end of the world into a new heaven and new earth.

27 Then Peter answering, said to him: Behold we have left all things, and have followed thee: what therefore shall we have?
Tunc respondens Petrus, dixit ei : Ecce nos reliquimus omnia, et secuti sumus te : quid ergo erit nobis?

 28 And Jesus said to them: Amen, I say to you, that you, who have followed me, in the regeneration, when the Son of man shall sit on the seat of his majesty, you also shall sit on twelve seats judging the twelve tribes of Israel.
Jesus autem dixit illis : Amen dico vobis, quod vos, qui secuti estis me, in regeneratione cum sederit Filius hominis in sede majestatis suae, sedebitis et vos super sedes duodecim, judicantes duodecim tribus Israel.

 29 And every one that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands for my name's sake, shall receive an hundredfold, and shall possess life everlasting.
Et omnis qui reliquerit domum, vel fratres, aut sorores, aut patrem, aut matrem, aut uxorem, aut filios, aut agros propter nomen meum, centuplum accipiet, et vitam aeternam possidebit.

St Sylvestor, an Italian nobleman, founded the Congregation of the Sylvestrines, affiliated to the Benedictine Order. He died at the age of ninety A.D. 1267.

1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
Tunc simile erit regnum caelorum decem virginibus : quae accipientes lampades suas exierunt obviam sponso et sponsae.

 2 And five of them were foolish, and five wise.
Quinque autem ex eis erant fatuae, et quinque prudentes :

 3 But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them:
sed quinque fatuae, acceptis lampadibus, non sumpserunt oleum secum :

 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.
prudentes vero acceperunt oleum in vasis suis cum lampadibus.

 5 And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.
Moram autem faciente sponso, dormitaverunt omnes et dormierunt.

 6 And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.
Media autem nocte clamor factus est : Ecce sponsus venit, exite obviam ei.

 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
Tunc surrexerunt omnes virgines illae, et ornaverunt lampades suas.

 8 And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
Fatuae autem sapientibus dixerunt : Date nobis de oleo vestro, quia lampades nostrae extinguuntur.

 9 The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Responderunt prudentes, dicentes : Ne forte non sufficiat nobis, et vobis, ite potius ad vendentes, et emite vobis.

 10 Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
Dum autem irent emere, venit sponsus : et quae paratae erant, intraverunt cum eo ad nuptias, et clausa est janua.

 11 But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.
Novissime vero veniunt et reliquae virgines, dicentes : Domine, domine, aperi nobis.

 12 But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.
At ille respondens, ait : Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.

 13 Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.
Vigilate itaque, quia nescitis diem, neque horam.

St Catharine, an illustrious virgin of Alexandria in Egypt, was famous for her learning. The Emperor Maximian assembled learned men to bring her to the worship of idols, but they were converted to Christianity. Maximian then ordered her to be beheaded afer many cruel torments A.D. 305.

13 You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt lose its savour, wherewith shall it be salted? It is good for nothing any more but to be cast out, and to be trodden on by men.
Vos estis sal terrae. Quod si sal evanuerit, in quo salietur? ad nihilum valet ultra, nisi ut mittatur foras, et conculcetur ab hominibus.

 14 You are the light of the world. A city seated on a mountain cannot be hid.
Vos estis lux mundi. Non potest civitas abscondi supra montem posita,

 15 Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may shine to all that are in the house.
neque accedunt lucernam, et ponunt eam sub modio, sed super candelabrum, ut luceat omnibus qui in domo sunt.

 16 So let your light shine before men, that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.
Sic luceat lux vestra coram hominibus : ut videant opera vestra bona, et glorificent Patrem vestrum, qui in caelis est.

 17 Do not think that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets. I am not come to destroy, but to fulfill.
Nolite putare quoniam veni solvere legem, aut prophetas : non veni solvere, sed adimplere.

 18 For amen I say unto you, till heaven and earth pass, one jot, or one tittle shall not pass of the law, till all be fulfilled.
Amen quippe dico vobis, donec transeat caelum et terra, jota unum aut unus apex non praeteribit a lege, donec omnia fiant.

 19 He therefore that shall break one of these least commandments, and shall so teach men, shall be called the least in the kingdom of heaven. But he that shall do and teach, he shall be called great in the kingdom of heaven.
Qui ergo solverit unum de mandatis istis minimis, et docuerit sic homines, minimus vocabitur in regno caelorum : qui autem fecerit et docuerit, hic magnus vocabitur in regno caelorum.

St John of the Cross was the fellow worker of St Teresa in the reform of the Order of Mt Carmel. A poet, he wrote invaluable treatises on mystical theology. He died A.D. 1591.

13 But he that shall persevere to the end, he shall be saved.  14 And this gospel of the kingdom, shall be preached in the whole world, for a testimony to all nations, and then shall the consummation come.  15 When therefore you shall see the abomination of desolation, which was spoken of by Daniel the prophet, standing in the holy place: he that readeth let him understand.

 16 Then they that are in Judea, let them flee to the mountains:  17 And he that is on the housetop, let him not come down to take any thing out of his house:  18 And he that is in the field, let him not go back to take his coat.  19 And woe to them that are with child, and that give suck in those days.  20 But pray that your flight be not in the winter, or on the sabbath.

 21 For there shall be then great tribulation, such as hath not been from the beginning of the world until now, neither shall be.  22 And unless those days had been shortened, no flesh should be saved: but for the sake of the elect those days shall be shortened.  23 Then if any man shall say to you: Lo here is Christ, or there, do not believe him.  24 For there shall arise false Christs and false prophets, and shall shew great signs and wonders, insomuch as to deceive (if possible) even the elect.  25 Behold I have told it to you, beforehand.

 26 If therefore they shall say to you: Behold he is in the desert, go ye not out: Behold he is in the closets, believe it not.  27 For as lightning cometh out of the east, and appeareth even into the west: so shall the coming of the Son of man be.  28 Wheresoever the body shall be, there shall the eagles also be gathered together.  29 And immediately after the tribulation of those days, the sun shall be darkened and the moon shall not give her light, and the stars shall fall from heaven, and the powers of heaven shall be moved:  30 And then shall appear the sign of the Son of man in heaven: and then shall all tribes of the earth mourn: and they shall see the Son of man coming in the clouds of heaven with much power and majesty.

[28] "Wheresoever": The coming of Christ shall be sudden, and manifest to all the world, like lightning: and wheresoever he shall come, thither shall all mankind be gathered to him, as eagles are gathered about a dead body.

[29] "The stars": Or flaming meteors resembling stars.

[30] "The sign": The cross of Christ.

 31 And he shall send his angels with a trumpet, and a great voice: and they shall gather together his elect from the four winds, from the farthest parts of the heavens to the utmost bounds of them.  32 And from the fig tree learn a parable: When the branch thereof is now tender, and the leaves come forth, you know that summer is nigh.  33 So you also, when you shall see all these things, know ye that it is nigh, even at the doors.  34 Amen I say to you, that this generation shall not pass, till all these things be done.  35 Heaven and earth shall pass, but my words shall not pass.

[35] "Shall pass": Because they shall be changed at the end of the world into a new heaven and new earth.

Jesus foretells the destruction of the world, and his second Advent, when all nations shall see the eternal Judge coming with power and majesty in the clouds of heaven.

 1 Then shall the kingdom of heaven be like to ten virgins, who taking their lamps went out to meet the bridegroom and the bride.
Tunc simile erit regnum caelorum decem virginibus : quae accipientes lampades suas exierunt obviam sponso et sponsae.

 2 And five of them were foolish, and five wise.
Quinque autem ex eis erant fatuae, et quinque prudentes :

 3 But the five foolish, having taken their lamps, did not take oil with them:
sed quinque fatuae, acceptis lampadibus, non sumpserunt oleum secum :

 4 But the wise took oil in their vessels with the lamps.
prudentes vero acceperunt oleum in vasis suis cum lampadibus.

 5 And the bridegroom tarrying, they all slumbered and slept.
Moram autem faciente sponso, dormitaverunt omnes et dormierunt.

 6 And at midnight there was a cry made: Behold the bridegroom cometh, go ye forth to meet him.
Media autem nocte clamor factus est : Ecce sponsus venit, exite obviam ei.

 7 Then all those virgins arose and trimmed their lamps.
Tunc surrexerunt omnes virgines illae, et ornaverunt lampades suas.

 8 And the foolish said to the wise: Give us of your oil, for our lamps are gone out.
Fatuae autem sapientibus dixerunt : Date nobis de oleo vestro, quia lampades nostrae extinguuntur.

 9 The wise answered, saying: Lest perhaps there be not enough for us and for you, go ye rather to them that sell, and buy for yourselves.
Responderunt prudentes, dicentes : Ne forte non sufficiat nobis, et vobis, ite potius ad vendentes, et emite vobis.

 10 Now whilst they went to buy, the bridegroom came: and they that were ready, went in with him to the marriage, and the door was shut.
Dum autem irent emere, venit sponsus : et quae paratae erant, intraverunt cum eo ad nuptias, et clausa est janua.

 11 But at last come also the other virgins, saying: Lord, Lord, open to us.
Novissime vero veniunt et reliquae virgines, dicentes : Domine, domine, aperi nobis.

 12 But he answering said: Amen I say to you, I know you not.
At ille respondens, ait : Amen dico vobis, nescio vos.

 13 Watch ye therefore, because you know not the day nor the hour.
Vigilate itaque, quia nescitis diem, neque horam.

St Cecilia (or Cecily) of an illustrious Roman family, converted her husband, Valerianus, and her brother-in-law Tibertius, preserved her virginity, and was beheaded during the pontificate of St Urban I A.D. 230.

27 And it came to pass, as he spoke these things, a certain woman from the crowd, lifting up her voice, said to him: Blessed is the womb that bore thee, and the paps that gave thee suck.
Factum est autem, cum haec diceret : extollens vocem quaedam mulier de turba dixit illi : Beatus venter qui te portavit, et ubera quae suxisti.

 28 But he said: Yea rather, blessed are they who hear the word of God, and keep it.
At ille dixit : Quinimmo beati, qui audiunt verbum Dei et custodiunt illud.

Truly Mary became the Lady above all creation in her role as the Mother of the Creator. She was born in Joachim's house near the Probatica, and was presented in the temple. Thereupon "planted in the house of God" and nurtured by His Spirit, like a fruitful olive tree she flowered forth in all virtues.