From the teachings of Saint Dorotheus, abbot
The man who thinks that he is quiet and peaceful has within him a passion that he does not see. A brother comes up, utters some unkind word and immediately…
From the Acts of the martyrdom of Saint Justin and his companion saints
The prefect Rusticus said: “If you do not do as you are commanded you will be tortured without mercy.” Justin said: “We hope to suffer torment for the sake of…
From the treatise Against Heresies by Saint Irenaeus, bishop
When the Lord told his disciples to go and teach all nations and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, he conferred…
From a sermon by a sixth century African author
The disciples spoke in the language of every nation. At Pentecost God chose this means to indicate the presence of the Holy Spirit: whoever had received the Spirit spoke in…
From the treatise On the Trinity by Saint Hilary, bishop
Our Lord commanded us to baptize in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. In baptism, then, we profess faith in the Creator,…
From a commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop
After Christ had completed his mission on earth, it still remained necessary for us to become sharers in the divine nature of the Word. We had to give up our…
From the dogmatic constitution on the Church of the Second Vatican Council
When the Son completed the work with which the Father had entrusted him on earth, the Holy Spirit was sent on the day of Pentecost to sanctify the Church unceasingly,…
From a sermon by Saint Augustine, bishop
The Apostle tells us to rejoice, but in the Lord, not in the world. Whoever wishes to be a friend of this world, says Scripture, will be reckoned an enemy of God. As a…
From a catechetical instruction by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop
The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of living water, welling up into eternal life. This is a new kind of water, a living, leaping…