The mystery of man’s reconciliation with God – Saint Leo the Great, pope
[Jesus] took the nature of a servant without stain of sin, enlarging our humanity without diminishing his divinity. He eamptied himself; though invisible he made himself visible, though Creator and…
A new creation in Christ – Saint Augustine, bishop
I speak to you who have just been reborn in baptism, my little children in Christ, you who are the new offspring of the Church, gift of the Father, proof…
The bread of heaven and the cup of salvation – From the Jerusalem Catecheses
[Christ’s] body is given to us under the symbol of bread, and his blood is given to us under the symbol of wine, in order to make us by receiving…
The anointing with the Holy Spirit – From the Jerusalem Catecheses
When we were baptized into Christ and clothed ourselves in him, we were transformed into the likeness of the Son of God. Having destined us to be his adopted sons,…
Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s passion – From the Jerusalem Catecheses
You were led down to the font of holy baptism just as Christ was taken down from the cross and placed in the tomb which is before your eyes. Each…
Christ the source of resurrection and life – From an Easter homily by an ancient author
The Easter festival brings the grace of holiness from heaven to men. Through the repeated celebration of the sacred mysteries they receive the spiritual nourishment of the sacraments. Fostered at…
It was necessary that Christ should suffer and so enter into his glory – Saint Anastasius of Antioch, bishop
It was necessary for Christ to suffer: his passion was absolutely unavoidable. He said so himself when he called his companions dull and slow to believe because they failed to…
The Easter praise of Christ (II) – Saint Melito of Sardis, bishop
The Lord, though he was God, became man. He suffered for the sake of those who suffer, he was bound for those in bonds, condemned for the guilty, buried for…
The Easter praise of Christ (I) – Saint Melito of Sardis, bishop
We should understand, beloved, that the paschal mystery is at once old and new, transitory and eternal, corruptible and incorruptible, mortal and immortal. In terms of the Law it is…