And now, we who before were deemed unfit to dwell upon the earth are raised up to heaven; we who were unworthy of earthly dignity now ascend to a heavenly kingdom, and enter into heaven, and take our place upon a royal throne; and this nature of ours, because of which the Cherubim guarded theContinue reading “St. John Chrysostom on the Ascension”
Author Archives: Stefan Gramenz
Ascension – John Donne
Salute the last, and everlasting day,Joy at the uprising of this Sun, and Son,Ye whose true tears, or tribulationHave purely wash’d, or burnt your drossy clay.Behold, the Highest, parting hence away,Lightens the dark clouds, which He treads upon;Nor doth he by ascending show alone,But first He, and He first enters the way.O strong Ram, whichContinue reading “Ascension – John Donne”
A sacrifice, yet a high priest; a supplicant, yet God.
He prayed; but who was it who heard the prayer of the supplicant? He was a sacrifice, yet a high priest; a supplicant, yet God. He dedicated His blood to God and cleansed the whole world. A cross raised Him aloft, yet it was sin that was fixed by the nails. St. Gregory Nazianzen, Personal Poems,Continue reading “A sacrifice, yet a high priest; a supplicant, yet God.”
Leontius of Byzantium on the Trinity
These three persons differ from one another in nothing except their “properties.”…The Son and the Spirit differ only in that the Son is generated from the Father, and the Spirit proceeds from Him. How the one is generated and the other proceeds we are not concerned to know. Leontius of Byzantium, De Sectis I
He speaks to God, His Father, in a human voice…
Jesus takes our human nature—yours and mine—to the heart of God and he speaks to God his father in a human voice. In heaven the language they speak is human (not just angelic). Our words (human words) are heard at the very centre of the burning heart of reality. The Rt. Rev. Rowan Williams, sermon forContinue reading “He speaks to God, His Father, in a human voice…”
St. John Chrysostom on Babel
God gave a common language to everyone. This was part of His loving-kindness toward the human race. They did not use the gift rightly, however, and lapsed into utter foolishness. Therefore He took away what He had given. For when they had one common speech they were foolish enough to want to build a towerContinue reading “St. John Chrysostom on Babel”
St. Gregory Nazianzen on Pentecost
The old confusion of tongues was praiseworthy when people who had a common language—even as some now venture to have—were building their tower in wickedness and impiety. By confusing their language, their unity of purpose was destroyed, as was the project they were undertaking. Thus the present miracle is all that much more praiseworthy. TheContinue reading “St. Gregory Nazianzen on Pentecost”
St. Basil on the Authority of Scripture
Let the divinely inspired Scripture decide between us. On whichever side are found doctrines in harmony with the word of God—that is the side for which the vote of truth will be cast in favor. St. Basil of Caesarea, Letter 189.3
A Poem of the Venerable Bede
Christus est stella matutina, AlleluiaQui nocte saeculi transacta, AlleluiaLucem vitae sanctis promittit, Alleluia;Et pandit aeternam, Alleluia Christ is the morning star, Alleluia.who when the night of this world is past, Alleluiabrings to his saints the promise of the light of life, Alleluia;and opens everlasting day. Alleluia The Venerable Bede, Exposition of the Apocalypse
A Blazing Hearth and a Cool Fountain
How can you be both a blazing hearth and a cool fountain,A burning, yet a sweetness that cleanses us?How can you make humankind a god, darkness lightAnd draw new life from the pit of death?How does night become day? Can you overcome gloom?Take the flame to our hearts and change the depths of our being?HowContinue reading “A Blazing Hearth and a Cool Fountain”
Locus Communis 