Today, March 18, the Catholic Church celebrates the liturgical memory of St Cyril of Jerusalem, Bishop and Doctor of the Church.
Newsroom (18/03/2022 1:00 PM, Gaudium Press) St Cyril was born in 315 AD into a Christian family. He was taught the Holy Scriptures from his childhood and was ordained a priest in 345. He was consecrated Bishop of Jerusalem three years later, remaining in office for about thirty-five years, sixteen of which were spent in exile on three different occasions.
The three exiles of St Cyril of Jerusalem
The cause of his first exile was an accusation of heresy by Bishop Acacius. The second by order of Emperor Constantius, who believed that Cyril was a sympathizer of heretics. The Holy Bishops Athanasius and Hilary, both Fathers of the Church, defended St Cyril.
However, the longest period of exile was the third. Emperor Valiant, a heretic, sent back into exile all the amnestied Bishops. So for eleven years, St. Cyril wandered through various cities of Asia until the death of the sovereign.
St Cyril of Jerusalem: Doctor of the Church
Pope Leo XIII granted St. Cyril the title Doctor of the Church, thanks to the 24 catecheses he wrote for the catechumens of his diocese. Of the first 19, thirteen are dedicated to the general exposition of doctrine and five, called mystagogical, concern the commentary on the rites of the sacraments of initiation.
Phrases of St Cyril of Jerusalem
01 – “Just as victory testifies to the valour of the soldier in battle, in the same way the holiness of the one who suffers troubles and temptations with unbreakable patience is manifested.”
02 – “Just as two pieces of wax melted together become one, so likewise he who takes communion is so united to Christ that he lives in Christ and Christ lives in him.”
03 – “The victorious cross enlightened those who were blinded by ignorance, freed those who were bound by sin, brought redemption to all mankind.”
04 – “But learning the Faith and professing it, keep in mind and preserve that only which is now transmitted to you by the [Catholic] Church and which has been structured strongly in the Scriptures.”
05 – “To the catechumen Jesus says: ‘You have fallen into the net of the Church (Mt 13:47). Let yourself, therefore, be caught alive; do not flee, for it is Jesus who holds you on his hook, to give you not death but the resurrection after death. You must die and rise again ( Rom 6:11, 14). You die to sin, and you live for righteousness from this day forward.
Prayer to St Cyril of Jerusalem
O God, who by your doctrine marked the life of St Cyril of Jerusalem, grant that, through his intercession, we may be faithful to the same doctrine and proclaim it in our actions. Through our Lord Jesus Christ your Son, in the unity of the Holy Spirit. Amen. (EPC)
Compiled by Gustavo Kralj
