High Quality
Open the downloaded document, and select print from the file menu (PDF reader required).
St. Philip the Apostle Byzantine (Ruthenian) Catholic Church
3866 65
th
streetSacramento, CA 95820
Mobile: (916) 539-1534
Glory to Jesus Christ! Glory for ever!Slava Isusu Christu! Slava i vo viki!
From the Fathers…
St Cyril of Jerusalem
And why did he (Jesus) call the grace of the Spirit water? Because by water allthings subsists; because water brings forth grass and living things; because thewater of the rain showers comes down from heaven; because it comes down in oneform but works in many forms. For one fountain waters the whole of paradise, andone and the same rain comes down on all the world, yet it becomes white in thelily, and red in the rose, and purple in violets and hyacinths, and different andvaried in each. So it is one in the palm tree, and another in the vine, and all in allthings; and yet it is one in nature, not diverse from itself. For the rain does notchange itself and come down first as one thing, then as another, but adapting itself to the constitution of each thing that receives it, it becomes to each what issuitable. And so the Holy Spirit also, being one, and of one nature and indivisible,distributes to each his grace, as he wills. And as the dry tree, after being nourishedwith water, puts forth shoots, so also the soul in sin, when it has been throughrepentance made worthy of the Holy Spirit, brings forth clusters of righteousness.And though he is one in nature, yet many are the virtues he inculcates by the willof God and in the name of Christ. For he employs the tongue of one person for wisdom; the soul of another he enlightens by prophesy; to another he gives power to drive away devils; while another is given the ability to interpret the divineScriptures. He strengthens one person’s self-control while another learns how togive to the poor. He teaches one to fast and be disciplined and another to despisethe things of the body, and still another he trains for martyrdom – diverse indifferent people, yet not diverse from himself.
Add a Comment