The Gospel of the Extraordinary Form of the Roman Rite for today, the Third Sunday after the Epiphany, included the moving account of the Lord healing a man suffering from leprosy:
Sequéntia sancti Evangélii secúndum Matthæum (Ch. 8)
In illo témpore: Cum descendísset Jesus de monte, secútæ sunt eum turbæ multæ: et ecce leprósus véniens, adorábat eum, dicens: Dómine, si vis, potes me mundáre. Et exténdens Jesus manum, tétigit eum, dicens: Volo. Mundáre. Et conféstim mundáta est lepra ejus.
At that time, when Jesus was come down from the mountain, great multitudes followed Him; and behold a leper came and adored Him, saying: Lord, if Thou wilt, Thou canst make me clean. And Jesus stretching forth His hand, touched him, saying: I will it. Be thou made clean. And forthwith his leprosy was cleansed.
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The Lord's words "I will it. Be thou made clean" should inspire all members of the Order of St Lazarus to continue the work of our forebears in serving those who still suffer from leprosy. As the Grand Master said in his inaugural address:
"Our fundamental raison d’être is to help the poor, the sick, the needy and all those who are unable to help themselves. This will be our priority and everything will be done to refocus the entire Order for this objective."
