19 July 2007

Patristic Quote for the Day

Wherefore with full assurance let us partake as of the Body and Blood of Christ: for in the figure of Bread is given to you His Body, and in the figure of Wine His Blood; that you by partaking of the Body and Blood of Christ, may be made of the same body and the same blood with Him. For thus we come to bear Christ in us, because His Body and Blood are distributed through our members; thus it is that, according to the blessed Peter, we become partakers of the divine nature 2 Peter 1:4 .- St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis 4

2 comments:

John Hogg said...

You'll notice, however, that his discoures on the Eucharist comes after his discourse on the Divine Chrism. St. Cyril would neither have permitted nor approved of giving the Holy Things to those who had not been annointed.

You'll also notice that all of the ancient and early councils, when dealing with the reception of schismatics and heretics into the Church, and which rite to receive them by, required at the least that they had gone through the outward form of baptism and chrismation, before they could be admitted to the table.

Grace and peace,
John

William Weedon said...

John,

Yes, of course they do. But recall St. Augustine's words about the proper way to read the fathers.

In Him who is our Peace, even Jesus our Lord!