Bring joy to the face of your soul...

  "Since Christ Himself said in reference to the bread: 

"This is My Body," who will dare remain hesitant? 

And since with equal clarity He asserted: 

"This is My Blood," who will dare entertain any doubt 

and say that this is not His Blood?" - St Cyril of Jerusalem

"Do not, then, regard the Eucharistic 

elements as ordinary bread and wine:  

they are in fact that Body and Blood of the Lord, 

as He Himself has declared.  

Whatever your senses may tell you, 

be strong in faith.

You have been taught and you are firmly convinced 

that what looks and tastes like bread and wine is not 

bread and wine but the Body and Blood of Christ.  

You know also how David referred to this long ago, 

when he sang:  Bread gives strength to man's heart 

and makes his face shine with the oil of gladness.  

Strengthen your heart, then, by receiving 

this bread as spiritual bread, and bring joy 

to the face of your soul. May purity of conscience 

remove the veil from the face of your soul so that by contemplating the glory of the Lord, as in a mirror, 

you may transformed from glory to glory 

in Christ Jesus our Lord.  

To Him be glory for ever and ever.  Amen."

   An except from 

The Bread of Heaven and the Cup of Salvation, 

   St Cyril of Jerusalem, Early Church Father

St Cyril of Jerusalem
313-386

Bishop of Jerusalem

Scripture scholar, Catechist par excellence
Doctor of the Church, Early Church Father

Feast Day - March 18

St Cyril admonished catechumens surrounded by heresy:

 "Make your fold with the sheep;

flee from the wolves:

depart not from the Church."

Click here: St. Cyril of Jerusalem - YouTube (2 mins)

St Cyril of Jerusalem, pray for us!

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Novena to St Joseph - Day #9

Tomorrow is the Feast!

Pray - Fast - Give