'I renounce thee, Satan, thou wicked and most cruel tyrannt!' meaning, 'I fear thy might no longer; for Christ hath overthrown it, having partaken with me of flesh and blood, that through these He might by death destroy death, that I might not forever be subject to bondage. I renounce thee, thou crafty and most subtle serpent. I renounce thee, plotter as thou art, who under the guise of friendship didst work all disobedience, and bring about the apostasy of our first parents. I renounce thee, Satan, the artificer and abettor of all wickedness. - St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 1:4
What a foreign concept "Satan" really is in our postmodern world. Certainly we don't want to give that evil foe too much time or discussion, but it is not good to ignore his work either. Luther is also fond of this kind of rebuking. I have also found it especially comforting in times of temptation and trial to just flat out say, "Get away from me Satan, I am baptized!"
ReplyDeleteJim,
ReplyDeleteMy favorite modern one is:
Satan, hear this proclamation!
I am baptized into Christ!!!
Drop your ugly accusation,
I am not so soon enticed.
Now that to the font I've travelled
All your might has come unravelled
And against your tyranny
God, my Lord, unites with me!
That's great! Who wrote that?
ReplyDeleteHS 98 #844, vs. 3
ReplyDeleteOne of my all-time favorite hymns in the Supplement.