Saturday, May 2, 2015

After the great and wonderful prayers...

No one can lay a foundation other than the one that is there, namely, Jesus Christ, alleluia. – I Cor 3:11 (Today’s Communion Antiphon)

corpus.jpg (520×328)

The great Athanasius in his sermon to the newly baptized:
"You shall see the Levites bringing loaves and a cup of wine, and placing them on the table. So long as the prayers of supplication and entreaties have not been made, there is only bread and wine. But after the great and wonderful prayers have been completed, then the bread is become the Body, and the wine the Blood, of our Lord Jesus Christ.
'And again:' Let us approach the celebration of the mysteries. This bread and this wine, so long as the prayers and supplications have not taken place, remain simply what they are. But after the great prayers and holy supplications have been sent forth, the Word comes down into the bread and wine - and thus His Body is confected."
-"Sermon to the Newly Baptized" ante 373 A.D.

St Athanasius
Bishop and Doctor of the Church
Alexandria ~ c. 297-373
 "The Father of Orthodoxy"
Battled against Arianism*  
(*heresy that denies divinity of Christ)
Feast Day - May 2

St+Athanasius+the+Great.jpg (400×310)

"You will not see anyone who is really striving after his advancement
who is not given to spiritual reading.  And as to him who neglects it,
the fact will soon be observed by his progress." ~ St Athanasius


St Athanasius, pray for us!
Orthodoxy, a classic by G. K. Chesterton, builds on the many themes of the Father and Doctor of Orthodoxy, St Athanasius. Go here to obtain a free ebook. (There are other excellent free, full version online books here, too.)  Hat tip: Catholic Fire

No comments:

Post a Comment