Léctio Epístolæ secúndæ beáti Pauli apóstoli ad Corínthios (12,1-10)
Fratres: Gloriári opórtet; non éxpedit quidem, véniam autem ad visiónes et revelatiónes Dómini. Scio hóminem in Christo ante annos quattuórdecim – sive in córpore néscio, sive extra corpus néscio, Deus scit – raptum eiúsmodi usque ad tértium cælum. Et scio huiúsmodi hóminem – sive in córpore sive extra corpus néscio, Deus scit – quóniam raptus est in paradísum et audívit arcána verba, quæ non licet hómini loqui. Pro eiúsmodi gloriábor; pro me autem nihil gloriábor nisi in infirmitátibus meis. Nam, et si volúero gloriári, non ero insípiens, veritátem enim dicam; parco autem, ne quis in me exístimet supra id, quod videt me aut audit ex me, et ex magnitúdine revelatiónum. Propter quod, ne extóllar, datus est mihi stímulus carni, ángelus Sátanæ, ut me colaphízet, ne extóllar. Propter quod ter Dóminum rogávi, ut discéderet a me; et dixit mihi: “Súfficit tibi grátia mea, nam virtus in infirmitáte perfícitur.” Libentíssime ígitur pótius gloriábor in infirmitátibus meis, ut inhábitet in me virtus Christi. Propter quod pláceo mihi in infirmitátibus, in contuméliis, in necessitátibus, in persecutiónibus et in angústiis, pro Christo; cum enim infírmor, tunc potens sum.
Brethren: If I must glory (it is not expedient indeed) but I will come to the visions & revelations of our Lord. I know a man in Christ above fourteen years ago (whether in the body, I know not, or out of the body, I know not: God doth know) such a one rapt even to the third Heaven. And I know such a man (whether in the body, or out of the body, I know not; God doth know) that he was rapt into Paradise; & heard secret words, which it is not lawful for a man to speak. For such an one I will glory: but for myself I will glory nothing, saving in my infirmities. For and if I will glory, I shall not be foolish: for I shall say truth. But I spare, lest any man should esteem me above that which he seeth in me, or heareth any thing of me. And lest the greatness of the revelations might extol me, there was given me a prick of my flesh, an angel of Satan, to buffet me. For the which thing thrice I besought our Lord, that it might depart from me. And he said to me: My grace sufficeth thee, for power is perfited in infirmity. Gladly therefore will I glory in mine infirmity, that the power of Christ may dwell in me. For the which cause I please myself in infirmities, in contumelies, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ. For when I am weak, then am I mighty.
