Léctio Epístolæ primæ beáti loannis apóstoli (4,11-18)
Caríssimi, si sic Deus diléxit nos, et nos debémus altérutrum dilígere. Deum nemo vidit umquam; si diligámus ínvicem, Deus in nobis manet, et cáritas eíus in nobis consummáta est. In hoc cognóscimus quóniam in ipso manémus, et ipse in nobis, quóniam de Spíritu suo dedit nobis. Et nos vídimus et testificámur quóniam Pater misit Fílium salvatórem mundi. Quisque conféssus fúerit: “Iésus est Fílius Dei”, Deus in ipso manet, et ipse in Deo. Et nos, qui credídimus, nóvimus caritátem, quam habet Deus in nobis. Deus cáritas est; et, qui manet in caritáte, in Deo manet, et Deus in eo manet. In hoc consummáta est cáritas nobíscum, ut fidúciam habeámus in die iudícii; quia sicut ille est, et nos sumus in hoc mundo. Timor non est in caritáte, sed perfécta cáritas foras mittit timórem, quóniam timor pœnam habet; qui autem timet, non est consummátus in caritáte.
My dearest, if God hath so loved us, we also ought to love one another. God no man hath seen at any time. If we love one another, God abideth in us, and his charity in us is perfited. In this we know that we abide in him, and he in us: because he of his Spirit hath given to us. And we have seen, and do testify, that the Father hath sent his Son the Saviour of the world. Whosoever shall confess that Jesus is the Son of God, God abideth in him, and he in God. And we have known and have believed the charity, which God hath in us. God is charity: and he that abideth in charity, abideth in God, and God in him. In this is charity perfited with us, that we may have confidence in the day of judgement: because as he is, we also are in the world. Fear is not in charity: but perfect charity casteth out fear, because fear hath painfulness. And he that feareth, is not perfect in charity.
