St. Cyril on "One Holy Catholic Church"
Here's an appropriate message for all the catechumens out there whose baptism is now only eleven days away.
St. Cyril: Catechetical Lecture on the Church
"I believe ... in one Holy Catholic Church ... "
Now then, let me finish what still remains to be said for the Article [of the Creed], "In one Holy Catholic Church," on which we will speak only briefly, though one could say many things.
It is called Catholic 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, regarding things both visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly; and because it brings into subjection under godliness the whole race of mankind, rulers and those ruled, educated and uneducated; and because it universally gives treatment for and heals the all kinds of sins, whether committed in soul or in body, and possesses in itself every form of virtue which has a name, both in works and words, and in every kind of spiritual gifts.
And it is rightly named Church because it calls forth and assembles together all men; just as the Lord says in Leviticus, And make an assembly for all the congregation at the door of the tabernacle of witness. Take note that the word assemble is used for the first time in the Scriptures here, at the moment when the Lord puts Aaron into the High-priesthood. And in Deuteronomy also the Lord says to Moses, Assemble the people unto Me, and let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me. And he again mentions the name of the Church, when he says concerning the Tables, And on them were written all the words which the Lord spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the Assembly; as if he had said more plainly, in the day in which ye were called and gathered together by God.
The Psalmist also says, I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, in the great Congregation; I will praise Thee among much people.
Long ago the Psalmist sang, Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, ye that are from the fountains of Israel. But after the Jews were cast away from His grace because of the plots which they made against the Saviour, He built a second Holy Church out of the Gentiles, the Church of Christians, concerning which he said to Peter, And upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And David prophesying of both of these Churches, said plainly about the first Church, which was rejected, l have hated the Congregation of evil doers; but of the second Church which is built up, he says in the same Psalm, Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house; and immediately afterwards, In the Congregations will I bless thee, O Lord.
For now that the one Church in Judaea is cast off, the Churches of Christ are increased over all the world; and of them it is said in the Psalms, Sing unto the Lord a new song, His praise in the Congregation of Saints. This agrees with what the prophet also said to the Jews, I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord Almighty; and immediately afterwards, For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, My name is glorified among the Gentiles.
Concerning this Holy Catholic Church Paul writes to Timothy, That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
But since the word Church is applied to different things (it is also used to describe the crowds 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 reason the Faith has securely delivered to you now the Article, "And in one Holy Catholic Church;" that you may avoid the wretched meetings of heretics, and forever remain with the Holy Church Catholic in which you were regenerated.
And if you are ever traveling in cities, do not ask 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 should you ask merely where is the Church, but ask where is the Catholic Church? For this is the specific 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.
For when the first Church was rejected, in the second Church - which is the Catholic Church - God has set up, as Paul says, first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of headings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues, and every sort of virtue - I mean wisdom and understanding, temperance and justice, mercy and loving-kindness, and patience unconquerable in persecutions. She, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, in former days amid persecutions and tribulations crowned the holy martyrs with the varied and blooming chaplets of patience, and now in times of peace by God's grace receives her due honours from kings and those who are in high places, and from every sort and kindred of men.
And while the kings of particular nations have limits set to their authority, the Holy Church Catholic alone extends her power without limit over the whole world; for God, as it is written, has made her border peace. But I should need many more hours for my lecture, if I wished to speak of all the things which relate to her.
In this Holy Catholic Church, receiving instruction and behaving ourselves virtuously, we shall attain the kingdom of heaven, and inherit eternal life; for this reason we endure all toils, that we may be made partakers thereof from the Lord.
St. Cyril: Catechetical Lecture on the Church
"I believe ... in one Holy Catholic Church ... "
Now then, let me finish what still remains to be said for the Article [of the Creed], "In one Holy Catholic Church," on which we will speak only briefly, though one could say many things.
It is called Catholic 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, regarding things both visible and invisible, heavenly and earthly; and because it brings into subjection under godliness the whole race of mankind, rulers and those ruled, educated and uneducated; and because it universally gives treatment for and heals the all kinds of sins, whether committed in soul or in body, and possesses in itself every form of virtue which has a name, both in works and words, and in every kind of spiritual gifts.
And it is rightly named Church because it calls forth and assembles together all men; just as the Lord says in Leviticus, And make an assembly for all the congregation at the door of the tabernacle of witness. Take note that the word assemble is used for the first time in the Scriptures here, at the moment when the Lord puts Aaron into the High-priesthood. And in Deuteronomy also the Lord says to Moses, Assemble the people unto Me, and let them hear My words, that they may learn to fear Me. And he again mentions the name of the Church, when he says concerning the Tables, And on them were written all the words which the Lord spake with you in the mount out of the midst of the fire in the day of the Assembly; as if he had said more plainly, in the day in which ye were called and gathered together by God.
The Psalmist also says, I will give thanks unto Thee, O Lord, in the great Congregation; I will praise Thee among much people.
Long ago the Psalmist sang, Bless ye God in the congregations, even the Lord, ye that are from the fountains of Israel. But after the Jews were cast away from His grace because of the plots which they made against the Saviour, He built a second Holy Church out of the Gentiles, the Church of Christians, concerning which he said to Peter, And upon this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.
And David prophesying of both of these Churches, said plainly about the first Church, which was rejected, l have hated the Congregation of evil doers; but of the second Church which is built up, he says in the same Psalm, Lord, I have loved the beauty of Thy house; and immediately afterwards, In the Congregations will I bless thee, O Lord.
For now that the one Church in Judaea is cast off, the Churches of Christ are increased over all the world; and of them it is said in the Psalms, Sing unto the Lord a new song, His praise in the Congregation of Saints. This agrees with what the prophet also said to the Jews, I have no pleasure in you, saith the Lord Almighty; and immediately afterwards, For from the rising of the sun even unto the going down of the same, My name is glorified among the Gentiles.
Concerning this Holy Catholic Church Paul writes to Timothy, That thou mayest know how thou oughtest to behave thyself in the House of God, which is the Church of the Living God, the pillar and ground of the truth.
But since the word Church is applied to different things (it is also used to describe the crowds 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 reason the Faith has securely delivered to you now the Article, "And in one Holy Catholic Church;" that you may avoid the wretched meetings of heretics, and forever remain with the Holy Church Catholic in which you were regenerated.
And if you are ever traveling in cities, do not ask 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 should you ask merely where is the Church, but ask where is the Catholic Church? For this is the specific 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.
For when the first Church was rejected, in the second Church - which is the Catholic Church - God has set up, as Paul says, first Apostles, secondly Prophets, thirdly teachers, then miracles, then gifts of headings, helps, governments, divers kinds of tongues, and every sort of virtue - I mean wisdom and understanding, temperance and justice, mercy and loving-kindness, and patience unconquerable in persecutions. She, by the armour of righteousness on the right hand and on the left, by honour and dishonour, in former days amid persecutions and tribulations crowned the holy martyrs with the varied and blooming chaplets of patience, and now in times of peace by God's grace receives her due honours from kings and those who are in high places, and from every sort and kindred of men.
And while the kings of particular nations have limits set to their authority, the Holy Church Catholic alone extends her power without limit over the whole world; for God, as it is written, has made her border peace. But I should need many more hours for my lecture, if I wished to speak of all the things which relate to her.
In this Holy Catholic Church, receiving instruction and behaving ourselves virtuously, we shall attain the kingdom of heaven, and inherit eternal life; for this reason we endure all toils, that we may be made partakers thereof from the Lord.
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