Gems From Saint
Cyril
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem (315-386), one of the Fathers of
the Church and Bishop of Jerusalem, was a most prolific writer, and defender of
the Catholic Church, and of the Council of Nicaea of 325. He is quoted by
Catholics and non-Catholics alike. In his many writings, he mentioned the
Catholic Church by name, many times.
Here are some of his "Gems".
"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 f should glory, save in the Cross of Christ."
Catechetical lecture # 13, 1
"Faith therefore in the Resurrection of the dead, is a great
commandment and doctrine of the Holy Catholic
Church; great and most necessary, though gainsaid by many, yet surely
warranted by the truth. Greeks contradict it, Samaritans disbelieve it, heretics
mutilate it; the contradiction is manifold, but the truth is uniform."
Catechetical lecture # 18, 1
"The Faith which we rehearse contains in order the following, "AND IN ONE
BAPTISM OF REPENTANCE FOR THE REMISSION OF SINS; AND IN ONE HOLY CATHOLIC
CHURCH; AND IN THE RESURRECTION OF THE FLESH; AND IN ETERNAL LIFE." Now of
Baptism and repentance I have spoken in the earliest Lectures; and my present
remarks concerning the resurrection of the dead have been made with reference to
the Article "In the resurrection of the flesh." Now then let me finish what
still remains to be said for the Article, "In one Holy Catholic Church,"
on which, though one might say many things, we will speak but
briefly."
Catechetical lecture # 18, 22
"It is called Catholic then
because it extends over all the world, from one end of the earth to the other;
and because it teaches universally and completely one and all the doctrines
which ought to come to men's knowledge, concerning things both visible and
invisible, heavenly and earthly; and because it brings into subjection to
godliness the whole race of mankind, governors and governed, learned and
unlearned; and because it universally treats and heals the whole class of sins,
which are committed by soul or body, and possesses in itself every form of
virtue which is named, both in deeds and words, and in every kind of spiritual
gifts."
Catechetical lecture # 18, 23
"But since the word Ecclesia is applied to different things (as also it is
written of the multitude in the theatre of the Ephesians, And when he had thus
spoken, he dismissed the Assembly), and since one might properly and truly say
that there is a Church of evil doers, I mean the meetings of the heretics, the
Marcionists and Manichees, and the rest, for this cause the Faith has securely
delivered to thee now the Article, "And in one Holy Catholic Church;"
that thou mayest avoid their wretched meetings, and ever abide with the Holy
Catholic Church in which thou wast regenerated. And if ever thou art
sojourning in cities, inquire not simply where the Lord's House is (for the
other sects of the profane also attempt to call their own dens houses of the
Lord), nor merely where the Church is, but where is the Catholic Church.
For this is the peculiar name of this Holy Church, the mother of us all, which
is the spouse of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Only-begotten Son of God (for it is
written, As Christ also loved the Church and gave Himself for it, and all the
rest,) and is a figure and copy of Jerusalem which is above, which is free, and
the mother of us all; which before was barren, but now has many
children."
Catechetical lecture # 18, 26
Cardinal John Newman, a convert from
Anglicanism said it best in regards to historical documents: "To be deep in
history is to cease to be Protestant."
Compiled September 4, 2001
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