Vigils Reading – St Leo the Great

THE WORKS OF

GOD’S SERVANTS

By St Leo the Great

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It is a great and very precious thing, beloved, in the Lord’s sight, when

Christ’s whole people engage together in the same duties, and all ranks and

degrees of either sex co-operate with the same intent: when one purpose

animates all alike of declining from evil and doing good; when God is glorified in

the works of God’s servants, and the Author of all godliness is blessed in

unstinted giving of thanks.

The hungry are nourished, the naked are clothed, the sick are visited, and

people seek not their own but “that which is another’s”, so long as in relieving

the misery of others each one makes the most of one’s own means; and it is easy

to find “a cheerful giver,” where one’s performances are only limited by the

extent of one’s power.

By this grace of God, “which works all in all,” the benefits and the deserts

of the faithful are both enjoyed in common. For they, whose income is not like,

can yet think alike, and when one rejoices over another’s bounty, his feelings put

him on the same level with him whose powers of spending are on a different

level.

In such a community there is no disorder nor diversity, for all the

members of the whole body agree in one strong purpose of godliness, and one

who glories in the wealth of others is not put to shame by personal poverty. For

the excellence of each portion is the glory of the whole body, and when we are all

led by God’s Spirit, not only are the things we do ourselves our own but those of

others also over the doing of which we rejoice…

But because we possess this greatness of heart, and yet it is truly a pious

thing for each one not to forsake the care of one’s own, we, without prejudice to

the more perfect sort, lay down for you this general rule and exhort you to

perform God’s bidding according to the measure of your ability.

For cheerfulness becomes one who is benevolent, who should so manage

liberality that while the poor rejoice over the help supplied, home needs may not

suffer. “And he who ministers seed to the sower shall provide bread to be eaten

and multiply your seed and increase the fruits of your righteousness.”