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Divine Office | A voice of one crying in the wilderness

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a commentary on Isaiah by Eusebius of Caesarea (c. 260-340 A.D.) Eusebius became bishop of Caeserea Maritima (an ancient city, later abandoned, on what is now the Israeli coast between Jaffa and Tel Aviv). It is reasonable to suppose that he was born in the city, which was at the time an important centre of Christian learning. Eusebius was a prolific author and controversialist. Large parts of his work no longer survive. Doctrinally, he was not always found to be orthodox, at a time when the details of orthodoxy were still being worked out. His enduring contribution is his Ecclesiastical History, which is long, thorough and scholarly and an indispensable source for the history of the early Church. The Second Readings in the Office of Readings also include, in Advent, an extract from a commentary of his on the book of the prophet Isaiah. For a reflection, "A voice of one crying in the wilderness," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Divine Office | What we do not see, we hope for

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from a treatise on the value of patience by St Cyprian (210-258 A.D.). Cyprian was born in Carthage (North Africa) and spent most of his life in the practice of the law. He was converted to Christianity, and was made bishop of Carthage in 249. He steered the church through troubled times, including the persecution of the emperor Decius, when he went into hiding so as to be able to continue looking after the church. In 258 the persecution of the emperor Valerian began. Cyprian was first exiled and then, on the 14th of September, executed, after a trial notable for the calm and courtesy shown by both sides. Cyprian’s many letters and treatises shed much light on a formative period in the Church’s history, and are valuable both for their doctrine and for the picture they paint of a group of people in constant peril of their lives but still determined to keep the faith. For a reflection, "What we do not see, we hope for," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Divine Office | Desire for the vision of God

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from the Proslogion by St Anselm, bishop (1033-1109). Anselm was born in Aosta, in northern Italy, and became a monk of Bec in Normandy, where he taught theology and devoted himself to the spiritual life. After some years as abbot, he succeeded his master Lanfranc as archbishop of Canterbury. His bitter disputes with the kings of England over the independence of the Church resulted in his twice being exiled. He died at Canterbury on 21 April 1109. He is remembered for his theological learning and writings, and for organising and reforming church life in England. For a reflection, "Desire for the vision of God," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Divine Office | Keep watch: He is to come again

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a commentary on the Diatessaron by Saint Ephraem, deacon (306-373 A.D.). Saint Ephraem was a poet and a theologian. He lived all his life in Mesopotamia, first founding a school and then, when the Persians invaded his native town of Nisibis, moving to Edessa. He preached there, and laid the foundations of its great school of theology. He is famous not only for the beauty of expression of his homilies but also for his hymns, which have spread far beyond his native Syriac church and are in use in East and West alike. For a reflection, "Keep watch: He is to come again," please click on the image. Peace be with you!

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Divine Office | The word of the Lord will come to us

In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from a sermon by St. Bernard of Clairvaux (1090 - 1153).

Bernard was born near Dijon, in France, in 1090, of a noble family. In 1112 he joined the new monastery at Cîteaux. This had been founded fourteen years before, in a bid to reject the laxity and riches of much of the Benedictine Order of the time (as exemplified by the great monasteries such as Cluny) and to return to a primitive poverty and austerity of life.

Bernard was a man of great holiness and wisdom, and although he was often in very poor health, he was active in many of the great public debates of the time. He strongly opposed the luxurious lives of some of the clergy, and fought against the persecution of the Jews. He was also a prolific writer, and the Liturgy of the Hours uses extracts from many of his sermons.

For a reflection, "The word of the Lord will come to us," please click on the image.

Peace be with you!