Hilary of Poitiers. Triumph of the Catholic and Apostolic Church

In the midst of the intense spiritual struggles of the early Church Bishops against the "false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies" (2 Pet. 2:1), Saint Hilary, the Bishop of Poitiers (353 - 368 A.D. ) declares his trust in the triumph of the One, Holy, Catholic and Apostolic Church:

Hilary of Poitiers: "I trust that the Church, by the light of Her* doctrine, will so enlighten the world’s vain wisdom, that, even though it [the world] does not accept the mystery of the faith, it will recognise that in our conflict with false teachers** we, and not they, are the true representatives of that mystery. For great is the force of truth; not only is it its own sufficient witness, but the more it is assailed the more evident it becomes. The daily shocks which it [the Church] receives only increase its inherent stability. It is the peculiar property of the Church that when She is buffeted She is triumphant, when She is assaulted with argument She proves Herself in the right, when She is deserted by Her supporters she holds the field. It is Her wish that all men should remain at Her side and in Her bosom; if so, none would become unworthy to abide under the shelter of that august Mother, none would be cast out or suffered to depart from her calm retreat. But when false teachers desert Her or She expels them, the loss She endures, in that She cannot save them, is compensated by an increased assurance that She alone can offer bliss. This is a truth which the passionate zeal of rival heresies brings into the clearest prominence. The Church, ordained by the Lord (Matt. 16:18) and established by His Apostles (Eph. 2:20), is one for all; but the frantic folly of discordant sects has severed them from her. And it is obvious that these dissensions concerning the faith result from…twisting the words of Scripture into conformity with its opinion, instead of adjusting that opinion to the words of Scripture. And thus, amid the clash of mutually destructive errors, the Church stands revealed not only by Her own teaching, but by that of her rivals. They are ranged, all of them, against Her; and the very fact that she stands single and alone is her sufficient answer to their misbelief. The hosts of heresy assemble themselves against Her; each of them can defeat all the others, but not one can win a victory for itself. The only victory is the triumph which the Church celebrates over them all." (Saint Hilary, Doctor of the Church, On the Trinity; Book 7, para. 4) 

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*Her: The early Church Bishops and Christians often referred to the Bride of Christ, the Church, as "She" and "Her". Capitalized in honor of the mystical Body of Christ.

** False teachers: St. Hilary uses the word "heretics", but I've chosen to use "false teachers" in keeping with the Scriptural translation of 2 Pet. 2:1.

Cyril of Jerusalem. Glory in the Cross of our Lord and Savior, Jesus

The following is part of a lecture given by St. Cyril of Jerusalem to the catechumens during Lent of 347 A.D..  Presented here for the first Friday of the Lenten stations of the cross:

St. Cyril of Jerusalem: "Every deed of Christ is a cause of glorying to the Catholic Church, but Her greatest of all glorying is in the Cross; and knowing this, Paul says, But God forbid that I should glory, save in the Cross of Christ (Gal. 6:14). For it was indeed wondrous that one who was blind from his birth should receive sight in Siloam (John 9:1-7); but what is this compared with the blind of the whole world? It was a great thing, surpassing nature, for Lazarus to rise again on the fourth day (John 11:1-44); but the grace extended to him alone, and what was it compared with the dead in sins throughout the world? It was marvelous that five loaves should pour forth food for the five thousand (Matt. 14:14-21, Mark 6:34-44, Luke 9:11-17, John 6:5-13); but what is that to those who are famishing in ignorance throughout all the world? It was marvelous that she should have been loosed who had been bound by Satan eighteen years (Luke 13:10-16); yet what is this to all of us, who were bound fast in the chains of our sins? But the glory of the Cross led those who were blind through ignorance into light, loosed all who were held fast by sin and ransomed the whole world of mankind (Matt. 20:28, Mark 10:45, 1 Tim 2:6).

"Let us then not be ashamed of the Cross of our Saviour, but rather glory in it. For the word of the Cross is to Jews a stumbling-block, and to Gentiles foolishness (1 Cor. 1:23), but to us salvation, and to them that are perishing it is foolishness, but to us who are being saved it is the power of God (1 Cor. 1:18). For it was not a mere man who died for us, as I said before, but the Son of God, God made Man. Further, if the lamb under Moses drove the destroyer far away [Passover Lamb, Ex 12:21-23], did not much rather the Lamb of God, who taketh away the sin of the world (John 1:29), deliver us from our sins? The blood of a silly sheep gave salvation; shall not the Blood of the Only-begotten much rather save…."

"Jesus then really suffered for all men; for the Cross was no illusion, otherwise our redemption is an illusion also. His death was not a mere show, for then our salvation is also without reality [imaginary, mythical]. If His death was but a show, they were true who said, We remember that that deceiver said, while He was yet alive, After three days I rise again (Matt. 27:63). His Passion then was real: for He was really crucified and we are not ashamed of that; He was crucified and we do not deny it, no, I rather glory to speak of it.

"I confess the Cross because I know of the Resurrection; for if, after being crucified, He had remained as He was, I might not have confessed it. I might have concealed both it and my Master, but now that the Resurrection has followed the Cross, I am not ashamed to declare it." (St. Cyril, Bishop of Jerusalem, Excerpts from his Catechesis (Lecture 13) during lent of 347 A.D. when Cyril was still a Priest).

+ St. Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us. + 

Leo the Great. Jesus, Unconquered Master of Christian Warfare

"…the devil took Him to a very high mountain, and showed Him all the kingdoms of the world and their glory; and he said to Him, 'All these I will give you, if you will fall down and worship me.' Then Jesus said to him, 'Begone, Satain! For it is written, You shall worship the Lord your God and Him only shall you serve' (Matt. 4:8-10, Deut. 6:13)."

St. Leo the Great: "Dearly-beloved, as we approach the beginning of Lent, which is a time for the more careful serving of the Lord... let us prepare our souls for fighting with temptations, and understand that the more zealous we are for our salvation, the more determined must be the assaults of our opponents. But “stronger is He that is in us than He that is against us (1 Jn 4:4),” and we are powerful through Him in Whose strength we rely (Eph. 6:10): because it was for this that the Lord allowed Himself to be tempted by the tempter, that we might be taught by His example as well as fortified by His aid. For He conquered the adversary, as you have heard (Matt. 4:1-11), by quotations from the Scripture, not by actual strength, that by this very thing He might do greater honor to man, and inflict a greater punishment on the adversary by conquering the enemy of the human race not now as God but as Man. Therefore, He fought that we too might fight thereafter: He conquered that we too might likewise conquer. For there are no works of power, dearly-beloved, without the trials of temptations, there is no faith without proof, no contest without a foe, no victory without conflict. This life of ours is in the midst of snares, in the midst of battles; if we do not wish to be deceived, we must watch: if we want to overcome, we must fight. And therefore the most wise Solomon says, “My son, in approaching the service of God prepare thy soul for temptation (Sirach 2:1).” For he, being a man full of the wisdom of God, and knowing that the pursuit of religion involves laborious struggles, foreseeing too the danger of the fight, forewarned the intending combatant; for fear that if the tempter came upon him in his ignorance, he might find him unready and wound him unawares.

"So, dearly-beloved, let us, who instructed in Divine learning come wittingly to the present contest and strife, hear the Apostle when he says, “for our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against principalities and powers, against the rulers of this dark world, against spiritual wickedness in heavenly things (Eph. 6:12),” and let us not forget that these our enemies feel that all we strive to do for our salvation is done against them all, and that by the very fact of our seeking after some good thing we are challenging our foes. For this is an old-standing quarrel between us and them fostered by the devil’s ill-will, so that they are tortured by our being justified, because they have fallen from those good things to which we, God helping us, are advancing. If, therefore, we are raised, they are prostrated: if we are strengthened, they are weakened. Our cures are their blows, because they are wounded by the cure of our wounds. “Stand, therefore,” dearly-beloved, as the Apostle says, “having girded your mind in truth, and your feet shod in the preparation of the gospel of peace, in all things taking the shield of faith in which you may be able to extinguish all the fiery darts of the evil one, and put on the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God (Eph. 6:14-17).” See, dearly-beloved, with what mighty weapons, with what impregnable defenses we are armed by our Leader, who is famous for His many triumphs, the unconquered Master of the Christian warfare." (St. Leo the Great, Bishop of Rome 440-461 A.D., excerpt of Sermon 39, On Lent)

+ St. Leo the Great, pray for us +

John of Damascus. All Scripture is Inspired by God

"Jesus answered him, 'It is written, 'man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word that proceeds out of the mouth of GOD' (Matt. 4:4, Deut. 8:3)." 

St. John of Damascus: "It is one and the same God Whom both the Old and the New Testament proclaim, Who is praised and glorified in the Trinity: 'I am come,' says the Lord, 'not to destroy the law but to fulfil it' (Mat 5:17). For He Himself worked out our salvation for which all Scripture and all mystery exists. And again, 'Search the Scriptures for they are they that testify of Me' (John 5:39). And the Apostle says, God, Who at various times and in diverse manners spoke in time past to the fathers by the prophets, has in these last days spoken to us by His Son (Heb 1:1, 2). Through the Holy Spirit, therefore, both the law and the prophets, the evangelists and apostles and pastors and teachers, spoke.

"All Scripture, then, is given by inspiration of God and is also assuredly profitable (2 Tim 3:16). Therefore to search the Scriptures is a work most fair and most profitable for souls. For just as the tree planted by the channels of waters, so also the soul watered by the divine Scripture is enriched and gives fruit in its season (Ps 1:3), namely, orthodox belief, and is adorned with evergreen leafage, I mean, actions pleasing to God. For through the Holy Scriptures we are trained to action that is pleasing to God, and untroubled contemplation. For in these we find both exhortation to every virtue and dissuasion from every vice. If, therefore, we are lovers of learning, we shall also be learned in many things. For by care and toil and the grace of God the Giver, all things are accomplished. 'For every one who asks receives, and he who seeks finds, and to him who knocks it shall be opened' (Mat 7:8, Lk 11:10).

"Therefore let us knock at that very fair garden of the Scriptures, so fragrant and sweet and blooming, with its varied sounds of spiritual and divinely-inspired birds ringing all round our ears, laying hold of our hearts, comforting the mourner, pacifying the angry and filling him with joy everlasting: which sets our mind on the gold-gleaming, brilliant back of the divine dove [Holy Spirit], whose bright pinions (Ps 68:13, Lk 3:22) bear up to the only-begotten Son (Jn 15:26) and Heir of the Husbandman of that spiritual Vineyard (Matt 21:33-39) and bring us through Jesus to the Father of Lights (James 1:17). But let us not knock carelessly but rather zealously and constantly, lest knocking we grow weary. For thus it will be opened to us. If we read once or twice and do not understand what we read, let us not grow weary, but let us persist, let us talk much, let us inquire. For ask thy Father, he says, and He will show you: your elders and they will tell you (Deut. 32:7). For there is not in every man that knowledge (1 Cor 8:7). Let us draw of the fountain of the perennial garden and purest waters springing into life eternal (John 4:14). Here let us luxuriate, let us revel insatiate: for the Scriptures possess inexhaustible grace. But if we are able to pluck anything profitable from outside sources, there is nothing to forbid that. Let us become tried money-dealers, heaping up the true and pure gold and discarding the spurious (1 Thess. 5:21, 22). Let us keep the fairest sayings but let us throw to the dogs absurd gods and strange myths (1 Tim 1:3, 4)...."(St. John of Damascus (676-749 AD, Monk, Priest, Doctor of the Church) Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, Bk 4, Ch 17)

 +St. John of Damascus, Pray for us +

Cyril of Jerusalem. Jesus, the Beloved Son of God, is Baptized

"And when Jesus was baptized, he went up immediatey from the water, and behold, the heavens were opened, and he saw the Spirit of God descending as a dove, and coming upon him; and behold, a voice out of the heavens, saying, This is my beloved Son, in whom I am well pleased (Matt. 3:16, 17)". Also, Mark 1:10, 11; Luke 3:21, 22. 

St. Cyril of Jerusalem: "Jesus sanctified Baptism by being Himself baptized. If the Son of God was baptized, what godly man would despise Baptism? But Jesus was baptized not that He might receive remission of sins, for He was sinless; but being sinless, He was baptized, that He might give to those who are baptized a divine and excellent grace. For since the children are partakers of flesh and blood, He also Himself likewise partook of the same (Heb 2:14), that having been made partakers of His presence in the flesh we might be made partakers also of His Divine grace: thus Jesus was baptized, so that we again by our participation might receive both salvation and honour. According to Job, there was in the waters the dragon that draws up Jordan into his mouth (Job 40:23). Since, therefore, it was necessary to break the heads of the dragon in pieces (Ps 74:14), Jesus went down and bound the strong one in the waters, that we might receive power to tread upon serpents and scorpions (Luke 10:19). The beast was great and terrible. No fishing-vessel was able to carry one scale of his tail; destruction ran before him (Job 40:26, 41:13 LXX*), ravaging all that met him. The Life encountered him, that the mouth of Death might from then on be stopped, and all we who are saved might say, O death, where is thy sting? O grave, where is thy victory (1 Cor 15:55)? The sting of death is extracted by Baptism.

For you go down into the water bearing your sins, but the invocation of grace, having sealed your soul, will afterwards not allow you to be swallowed up by the terrible dragon. Having gone down dead in sins, you come up quickened in righteousness. For if you have been united with the likeness of the Saviour’s death (Rom 6:5), you shall also be deemed worthy of His Resurrection. For as Jesus took upon Himself the sins of the world and died, that by putting sin to death He might rise again in righteousness; so you also, by going down into the water, and being in a manner buried in the waters... are raised again and walking in newness of life (Rom. 6:4)." (St. Cyril (315-386 AD) Bishop of Jerusalem, Doctor of the Church. Part of his Catechesis during Lent in 347 AD when Cyril was still a Priest.)

+ St. Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us +

*LXX:. Job 40:26: And all the ships come together would not be able to bear the mere skin of his tail; neither shall they carry his head in fishing-vessels. 41:13: And power is lodged in his neck, before him destruction runs. (Septuagint [LXX] the Greek Translation of the Old Testament, the Early Church Scriptures)

Gregory Nazianzen. Jesus, God Incarnate

“For it was the good pleasure of the Father that in Him [Jesus] should all the fulness dwell—for in Him dwells all the fulness of the Godhead bodily… (Col 1:19, 2:9).”

St. Gregory Nazianzen: “Jesus was baptized as Man, but He remitted sins as God (Matt. 3:13; 9:6) — not because He needed purifying rites Himself, but that He might sanctify the element of water. He was tempted as Man, but He conquered as God (Matt. 4:1-11); yea, He bids us be of good cheer, for He has overcome the world (John 16:33). He hungered, but He fed thousands; yea, He is the Bread that gives life, and That is of heaven (John 6:32-58). He thirsted, but He cried, “If any man thirst, let him come unto Me and drink (John 7:37-39).” Yea, He promised that fountains should flow from those who believe. He was wearied, but He is the Rest of those who are weary and heavy laden (Matt. 11:28-30). He was heavy with sleep, but He walked lightly over the sea. He rebuked the winds, He saved Peter as he began to sink (Matt. 14:25-31). He is called a Samaritan and a demoniac, but He saves the one who came down from Jerusalem and fell among thieves (Luke 10:30-37); the demons acknowledge Him, and He drives out demons and sinks in the sea a legion of foul spirits (Luke 8:28–33), and sees the prince of the demons falling like lightning (Luke 10:18). He is stoned, but is not taken. He prays, but He hears prayer. He weeps, but He causes tears to cease. He asks where Lazarus was laid, for He was Man; but He raises Lazarus, for He was God (John 11:34, 43). He is sold very cheaply for thirty pieces of silver, but He redeems the world and that at a great price, for the Price was His own blood (1 Pet. 1:19). As a sheep He is led to the slaughter (Isa. 53:7), but He is the Shepherd of Israel, and now of the whole world also (John 10:11-16). As a Lamb He is silent, yet He is the Word and is proclaimed by the Voice of one crying in the wilderness (John 1:23). He is bruised and wounded, but He heals every disease and every infirmity (Matt. 4:23, 9:35). He is lifted up and nailed to the Tree, but by the Tree of Life He restores us; yea, He saves even the robber crucified with Him (Luke 23:43); yea, He wrapped the visible world in darkness (Matt. 27:45). He is given vinegar to drink mingled with gall (Matt. 27:34) – He who turned the water into wine (John 2:1–11), Who is the destroyer of the bitter taste, Who is Sweetness and altogether desire. He lays down His life, but He has power to take it again (John 10:17, 18); and the veil is rent, for the mysterious doors of Heaven are opened; the rocks are split, the dead arise (Matt. 27:51, 52). He dies, but He gives life, and by His death destroys death. He is buried, but He rises again; He goes down into Hell, but He brings up the souls; He ascends to Heaven, and shall come again…”For the Son of man shall come in the glory of his Father with his angels; and then He shall render unto every man according to his deeds (Matt. 16:27).” (St. Gregory of Nazianzus, (330-390); Bishop of Constantinople from 381 to 390. Oration 29, para. 20 -  some Scripture references added as unobtrusively as possible for those who want to read these truths about the Lord Jesus Christ directly from the written word of God)

John Chrysostom. The Scriptures For Your Pilot

“Then Jesus opened their minds to understand the Scriptures.” (Lk 24:25)

St. John Chrysostom:  “Delectable indeed are the meadow, and the garden, but far more delectable the study of the divine writings. For there indeed are flowers which fade, but here are thoughts which abide in full bloom; there is the gentle breeze, but here the breath of the Spirit: there is the hedge of thorns, but here is the guarding providence of God; there is the song of cicadae*, but here the melody of the prophets: there is the pleasure which comes from sight, but here the profit which comes from study. The garden is confined to one place, but the Scriptures are in all parts of the world; the garden is subject to the necessities of the seasons, but the Scriptures are rich in foliage, and laden with fruit alike in winter and in summer. Let us then give diligent heed to the study of the Scriptures: for if you do this the Scripture will expel your despondency, and engender pleasure, extirpate vice, and make virtue take root, and in the tumult of life it will save you from suffering like those who are tossed by troubled waves. The sea rages but you will sail on with calm weather; for you have the study of the Scriptures for your pilot; for this is the cable which the trials of life do not break asunder.”  (St. John Chrysostom, (347-407). Homily II, On Eutropius)

 

*ci·ca·dae (sĭ-kā-də) A large insect whose species are easily distinguishable by song… Most North American cicadas produce rhythmical ticks, buzzes, or whines, though the “song” of some species is musical.