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. The one Spirit is poured out on many people bringing them back into harmony.
St. Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 41.15
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
Christus est stella matutina, Alleluia
Qui nocte saeculi transacta, Alleluia
Lucem vitae sanctis promittit, Alleluia;
Et pandit aeternam, Alleluia
Christ is the morning star, Alleluia.
who when the night of this world is past, Alleluia
brings to his saints the promise of the light of life, Alleluia;
and opens everlasting day. Alleluia
The Venerable Bede, Exposition of the Apocalypse
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 light
And 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?
How are you simply one with us? How do you give us the Son of God?
How do you burn us with love and wound us without a sword?
How can you bear us and remain so slow to anger,
Yet from where you are watch our smallest gestures here?
How do you follow our actions from so high and so far?
Your servant waits for peace and courage in tears.
St. Symeon the New Theologian, Hymn 6
Nothing is impossible to the Almighty, nor is anything incapable of being restored by its creator.
Origen, On First Principles, III.6.v
Service to God adds nothing to Him, and He has no need of human obedience. On the contrary, He grants life, incorruptibility and eternal glory to those who follow and serve Him. He bestows benefits on those who serve Him just because they serve Him and on His followers just because they follow Him, but He does not receive any benefit from them because He is rich, perfect, and in need of nothing. God demands service from us not because He needs it but because He is good and merciful and wants to benefit those who continue in His service.
St. Irenaeus of Lyons, Against Heresies IV.14.i
When we speak of God, we do not say all that we might (for that is known to Him only) but only what human nature is able to receive and our weakness can bear. We do not explain what God is but candidly confess that our knowledge of Him is not exact. Where God is concerned, confessing our ignorance is the sign of greatest knowledge.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lectures, VI.2
Lord, who hast form’d me out of mud,
And hast redeem’d me through thy bloud
And sanctifi’d me to do good;
Purge all my sinnes done heretofore:
For I confesse my heavie score,
And I will strive to sinne no more.
Enrich my heart, mouth, hands in me,
With faith, with hope, with charitie;
That I may runne, rise, rest with thee.
George Herbert, Trinitie Sunday
I have no taste for the food that perishes nor for the pleasures of this life. I want the Bread of God which is the Flesh of Christ, who was the seed of David; and for drink I desire His Blood which is love that cannot be destroyed.
St. Ignatius of Antioch, Epistle to the Romans, par. 7
Tell me, if anyone gave you gold dust, would you not with all precaution keep it fast, being on your guard against losing any of it, and suffering loss? How much more cautiously then will you observe that not a crumb falls from you of what is more precious than gold and precious stones.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem, Mystagogical Catechesis V.21
Locus Communis