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 tower to heaven. Had they not been immediately chastised, they would have even tried laying hold of the heights of heaven itself….If they do not pay the penalty now and are not restrained from the very root of their sins, they will never stop being wicked….Don’t you see that depriving them of the unity of one language was an act of mercy? He inflicted the different languages on them in order that they would not fall into greater wickedness. Hold onto this argument then with me, and let it become fixed in your minds that God is good and loving not only when He confers benefits, but even when He chastises.

St. John Chrysostom, Concerning the Power of Demons, I.4

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. The one Spirit is poured out on many people bringing them back into harmony.

St. Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 41.15

A Poem of the Venerable Bede

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

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 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

Service to God adds nothing to Him

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

Only what human nature is able to receive

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

Trinitie Sunday

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

St. Ignatius of Antioch on the Eucharist

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