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Divine Office | The anointing with the Holy Spirit

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading by St. Cyril of Jersusalem (315 - 386 A.D.). Cyril was born of Christian parents and succeeded Maximus as bishop of Jerusalem in 348. He was active in the Arian controversy and was exiled more than once as a result. His pastoral zeal is especially shown in his Catecheses, in which he expounded orthodox doctrine, holy Scripture and the traditions of the faith. They are still read today, and several of the Second Readings of the Office of Readings are taken from them. He is held in high esteem by both the Catholics and the Orthodox, and he was declared a Doctor of the Church by the Pope in 1883. For a reflection on, "The anointing with the Holy Spirit," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Divine Office | Baptism is a symbol of Christ’s passion

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading by St. Cyril of Jersusalem (315-386 A.D.). Cyril was born of Christian parents and succeeded Maximus as bishop of Jerusalem in 348. He was active in the Arian controversy and was exiled more than once as a result. His pastoral zeal is especially shown in his Catecheses, in which he expounded orthodox doctrine, holy Scripture and the traditions of the faith. They are still read today, and several of the Second Readings of the Office of Readings are taken from them. He is held in high esteem by both the Catholics and the Orthodox, and he was declared a Doctor of the Church by the Pope in 1883. For a reflection, "Baptism is a symbol of Christ's passion," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Divine Office | The Easter praise of Christ

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from a homily by St. Melito of Sardis (d. 180 A.D.). He was the bishop of Sardis near Smyrna in western Anatolia, and a great authority in early Christianity. His work, "On the Passover," sets the Last Supper and the Passion in the context of the Jewish Passover and thus relates Christianity to its roots in Judaism. For a reflection, "The Easter praise of Christ," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Divine Office | The Lord’s descent into the underworld (from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday)

"Something strange is happening – there is a great silence on earth today, a great silence and stillness. The whole earth keeps silence because the King is asleep. The earth trembled and is still because God has fallen asleep in the flesh and he has raised up all who have slept ever since the world began. God has died in the flesh and hell trembles with fear." So begins today's Office of Readings from an ancient homily for Holy Saturday. For a reflection, "The Lord's descent into the underworld," please click on the image. Peace be with you!