RESPONSORY
From a Lenten sermon by St. Thomas of Villanova (+1555)
Approach humbly the fountain of life, the fountain of salvation, the fountain of water welling up to eternal life. Approach devoutly; fill the jar of your soul with the water of grace. All who thirst, come to the waters. It is the sixth hour; Jesus was crucified in the sixth hour. Come to the waters, for the fountains of the great deep were broken open. And what else is the deep put the Word of God? The fountains were broken open with nails and spear; the fountains were broken open with whips and blows; the fountains were broken open with thorns and torments. Come, you who thirst, come to the waters; come and milk without cost. Buy for nothing.
But how can one buy this without price? This cannot be considered a purchase, for nothing is bought without price. What is received without price is received freely, is given freely: but then is it a purchase? Buy from God and give to God that which God suffered. Offer from his own resources that you might buy things that are his. Offer his sorrows and receive his consolations; offer his death and receive his life; offer his pains and receive his glory.
Oh happy purchase, without fraud and with the greatest profit! The seller’s goods are bought with the seller himself paying the price. With your payment then, Lord, we buy your goods for ourselves. But why do I say your goods? I perceive something greater; I perceive and rejoice and grow faint in wonder. O good Jesus! O merciful Jesus! By your blood we buy you for ourselves; by your blood you have purchased us for the Father. O infinite generosity of God, who gave himself up to death that he might give himself unto life? Your blood, good Jesus, is the cost. It is your payment and ours: by it you have purchased us for the Father; by it we purchase you for ourselves.
We buy, then, but without cost, since we buy you with your own payment. Twice you give yourself, when you offer yourself as the price, and when you offer yourself as what is purchased. Whoever possessed you without that price? Who without a large sum of money would dare to set a price for such an inheritance? Oh Lord, you were put up for sale publicly, auctioned off, as it were, but you are to be bought only by those who love you.
Nor may someone who offers much purchase you, but only he who offers all, though it be little. O soul, offer what you have, but offer it all, and you will receive all. If you have much, offer much, and you will receive all; if you have little, offer little, and you will receive little. All who thirst, come to the waters. Come and buy. Lord, increase the price as much as you want; the water of life which you are is of infinite value. Appraise it as you will, for we can give nothing from ourselves in payments. The water of salvation must be purchased for us by your own payment. If you ask much, then grant much; if you ask little, then grant little.
Musical Selection (with lyrics)