In today's Office of Readings we encounter a reading from a letter by St. Maximus the Confessor, abbot (ca. 580 - 662 A.D.). Maximus began as a civil servant and rose to high office. Later he took monastic vows and became abbot at the monastery of Philippicus in Chrysopolis, a city across the Bosporus from Constantinople (later known as Scutari, the modern Turkish city of Üsküdar). When the Persians conquered Anatolia, Maximus was forced to flee to a monastery near Carthage. It was there that he came under the tutelage of Saint Sophronius, and began studying in detail the Christological writings of Gregory of Nazianzus and Dionysius. He applied rigorous Aristotelian logic to these writings to make their doctrine clearer, and harder to misunderstand. The passages from St. Maximus which adorn the Office of Readings are chosen to reflect for us the glory of the light of the events of our redemption. Credit: Adapted from Universalis; https://www.universalis.com. For a reflection, "The mercy of God to the penitent," please click on the image. Peace be with you!