SAINT OF THE DAY -- March 18 - St. Cyril of Jerusalem
March 18
St. Cyril of Jerusalem
Bishop
of Jerusalem and Doctor of the Church
(315?-386)
"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
Problems in the Church today are minor compared with the reverberations
of the Arian heresy that denied the divinity of Christ. Cyril was to be
caught up in the controversy, accused (later) of Arianism by St.
Jerome, and ultimately vindicated both by the men of his own time and
by being declared a Doctor of the Church in 1822.
Raised in Jerusalem, well-educated, especially in the Scriptures, he
was ordained a priest by the bishop of Jerusalem and given the task of
catechizing during Lent those preparing for Baptism and during the
Easter season the newly baptized. His
Catecheses remain valuable as examples of the ritual and theology of the Church in the mid-fourth century.
There
are conflicting reports about the circumstances of his becoming bishop
of Jerusalem. It is certain that he was validly consecrated by bishops
of the province. Since one of them was an Arian, Acacius, it may have
been expected that his “cooperation” would follow. Conflict soon rose
between Cyril and Acacius, bishop of the rival nearby see of Caesarea.
Cyril was summoned to a council, accused of insubordination and of
selling Church property to relieve the poor. Probably, however, a
theological difference was also involved. He was condemned, driven from
Jerusalem, and later vindicated, not without some association and help
of Semi-Arians. Half his episcopate was spent in exile (his first
experience was repeated twice). He finally returned to find Jerusalem
torn with heresy, schism and strife, and wracked with crime. Even St.
Gregory of Nyssa, sent to help, left in despair.
They both went
to the (second ecumenical) Council of Constantinople, where the amended
form of the Nicene Creed was promulgated. Cyril accepted the word consubstantial
(that is, of Christ and 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. Though not friendly with the greatest
defender of orthodoxy against the Arians, Cyril may be counted among
those whom Athanasius called “brothers, who mean what we mean, and
differ only about the word [consubstantial].”
Comment:
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.
Quote:“It is not only
among us, who are marked with the name of Christ, that the dignity of
faith is great; all the business of the world, even of those outside
the Church, is accomplished by faith. By faith, marriage laws join in
union persons who were strangers to one another. By faith, agriculture
is sustained; for a man does not endure the toil involved unless he
believes he will reap a harvest. By faith, seafaring men, entrusting
themselves to a tiny wooden craft, exchange the solid element of the
land for the unstable motion of the waves. Not only among us does this
hold true but also, as I have said, among those outside the fold. For
though they do not accept the Scriptures but advance certain doctrines
of their own, yet even these they receive on faith” (Catechesis V).
Prayer:
Father,
through Cyril of Jerusalem
You led Your Church to a deeper understanding
of the mysteries of salvation.
Let his prayers help us to know Your Son better
and to have eternal life in all its fullness.
We ask this through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son,
who lives and reigns with You and the Holy Spirit,
one God, for ever and ever. Amen.
Source: American Catholic Organization
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If you are a victim of domestic or sexual violence, please know that my husband and I pray for you every single night.
If you need immediate assistance, dial 911.
The National Domestic Violence Hotline:
1-800-799-SAFE OR (1-800-799-7233)
SIGNS OF AN ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP
Do you:
feel afraid of your partner much of the time?
avoid certain topics fear of angering your partner?
feel that you can’t do anything right for your partner?
believe that you deserve to be hurt or mistreated?
wonder if you’re the one who is crazy?
feel emotionally numb or helpless?
Does your partner:
- humiliate, criticize, or yell at you?
- treat you so badly that you’re embarrassed for your friends or family to see?
- ignore or put down your opinions or accomplishments?
- blame you for his own abusive behavior?
- see you as property or a sex object, rather than as a person?
Does your partner:
have a bad and unpredictable temper?
hurt you, or threaten to hurt or kill you?
threaten to take your children away or harm them?
threaten to commit suicide if you leave?
force you to have sex?
destroy your belongings?
Does your partner:
- act excessively jealous and possessive?
- control where you go or what you do?
- keep you from seeing your friends or family?
- limit your access to money, the phone, or the car?
- constantly check up on you?