From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

18 March =E2=80=93 St Cyril of Jerusalem
=C2 (c 313-386 aged 75)

=C2 Bishop, Confessor and Father & Doctor of the Church, Theologian,
Writer, Preacher, Catechist.

Little is known of his life before he became a bishop.=C2 According to
Butler, Cyril was born at or near the city of Jerusalem, and was
apparently well-read in both the Church fathers and the pagan
philosophers. Cyril was ordained a deacon by Bishop St. Macarius of
Jerusalem in about 335 and a priest some eight years later by Bishop
St. Maximus. About the end of 350 he succeeded St. Maximus in the See
of Jerusalem.=C2 It is not until his exile, historically recorded, that
the event of his life are made clear. During a great depression, Cyril
was accused of selling church property to feed the poor and thus
exiled. Theologians and historians agree that his exile had less to do
with service to the poor,and more to do with differences in doctrine,
failure to conform to the Arian teachings,and continued preaching of
the Nicene doctrine. The Nicene Creed, which we still recite today, is
believed to have had its origins in the teachings of Saint Cyril =E2=80=93 =
as
per his writings:

=E2=80=9CI believe in one God, the Father Almighty, Creator of Heaven and
earth and of all things visible and invisible. And in one Lord Jesus
Christ, the only-begotten Son of God, begotten by the Father true God
before all ages, God of God, Life of Life, Light of Light, by Whom all
things were made. Who for us men and for our salvation came down, and
was incarnate by the Holy Ghost and the Virgin Mary, and was made man.
He was crucified and buried. He rose again on the third day according
to the Scriptures, and sat at the right hand of the Father. And He
cometh in glory to judge the living and the dead, whose kingdom shall
have no end. And in one Holy Ghost, the Paraclete, Who spake by the
prophets; and in one baptism of repentance for the remission of sins,
and in one holy Catholic Church, and in the resurrection of the body,
and in life everlasting.=E2=80=9D

Saint Cyril is known for his catechetical writings, including
twenty-three homilies he delivered to those preparing for baptism
during Lent and then mystagogical reflections for the week after
Easter. In these writings, Cyril clearly outlines the liturgy of the
Mass used at that time, including elements we continue celebrating
today. Saint Cyril states a fairly strong doctrine of the Eucharist
both in symbolic and realistic terms, addressing transubstantiation of
elements and proclaiming the bread and wine received to be the actual
body and blood of Christ. He affirms the true authority of the one
Catholic Church, and provides instructions to the newly welcomed
regarding how to receive the Holy Eucharist.

Saint Cyril of Jerusalem lived in a time of great strife and conflict
within the Church, a time of heresy, faction and political influence
which questioned the Divinity of Jesus Christ (known as Arianism).
Saint Cyril, a man of peaceful and conciliatory temperament, opposed
this movement, aligning himself with those true to Christ and teaching
Nicene doctrine. For this, he suffered exile multiple times, due to
the power and political connections of the Arians at that time.=C2 He
finally returned to find Jerusalem torn with heresy, schism and
strife, and wracked with crime. Even Saint Gregory of Nyssa, who was
sent to help, left in despair.

They both went to the Council of Constantinople, where the amended
form of the Nicene Creed was promulgated in 381. Cyril accepted the
word consubstantial=E2=80=93that is, Christ is of the same substance or nat= ure
as the Father. Some said it was an act of repentance but the bishops
of the Council praised him as a champion of orthodoxy against the
Arians.

Following the eventual acceptance of the Nicene Doctrine, Cyril served
the Church with jurisdiction over all of Jerusalem for the last five
years of his life. Ten years after Cyril's death, the abbess, Lady
Etheria, made a pilgrimage to the Holy Land and wrote that she found a
peaceful Christian community. This was the result of the efforts of
Bishop Cyril, who suffered to heal the wounds that Arianism had
inflicted on the Church.

https://anastpaul.com/2017/03/18/


Saint Quotes:
Our actions have a tongue of their own; they have an eloquence of
their own, even when the tongue is silent. For deeds prove the lover
more than words.
--Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

Since Christ Himself has said, "This is My Body" who shall dare to
doubt that It is His Body?
--Saint Cyril of Jerusalem


<><><><>
Thought for the Day =E2=80=93 18 March
In times of great turmoil and controversy, it is difficult sometimes
to know what is true and what is right and sometimes we have to grope
our way along. We have to follow the truth and give it our full
loyalty, at whatever cost. Sometimes that will mean that we are a
majority of one. That is what truth demands of us! Those who imagine
that the lives of saints are simple and placid, untouched by the
vulgar breath of controversy, are rudely shocked by history. Yet, it
should be no surprise that saints, indeed all Christians, will
experience the same difficulties as their Master. The definition of
truth is an endless, complex pursuit, and good men and women have
suffered the pain of both controversy and error. Intellectual,
emotional and political roadblocks may slow up people like Cyril for a
time. But their lives taken as a whole are monuments to honesty and
courage.
During this Lenten season, we reflect upon our beliefs and as Easter approaches, we renew our baptismal vows, using the words that Saint
Cyril used.
Is our faith strong enough to endure accusation and exile?
How can we commit ourselves more fully to our Lord,
our Church and our Creed?
St Cyril of Jerusalem Pray for us!

--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)