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To: Zero Sum; kosta50; Kolokotronis; Forest Keeper
The history of the Church is full of stories of martyrs who, when given the choice between renouncing their faith and facing a horrible death (like the kind we keep reading about in the OT), chose to stand firm and face that death, while continuing to sing hymns to God's glory. Reflecting on such great faith truly and utterly humbles me. Their suffering was Christ's suffering, and His unending life is their unending life, by the great mystery of His grace

Dear Zero,I thank you for writing this!

This is what Faith in Jesus Christ and the Church is. We must be willing to suffer and welcome persecution even until death.

...And this my friend, is a message that the culture of death and this "self fulfillment" world that we live in wants to keep silent.

Here is a few more writings from Blessed Saint John Chrysostom on Eucharist

"When the word says, 'This is My Body,' be convinced of it and believe it, and look at it with the eyes of the mind. For Christ did not give us something tangible, but even in His tangible things all is intellectual. So too with Baptism: the gift is bestowed through what is a tangible thing, water; but what is accomplished is intellectually perceived: the birth and the renewal. If you were incorporeal He would have given you those incorporeal gifts naked; but since the soul is intertwined with the body, He hands over to you in tangible things that which is perceived intellectually. How many now say, 'I wish I could see His shape, His appearance, His garments, His sandals.' Only look! You see Him! You touch Him! You eat Him!"

-"Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew" [82,4] 370 A.D.

"I wish to add something that is plainly awe-inspiring, but do not be astonished or upset. This Sacrifice, no matter who offers it, be it Peter or Paul, is always the same as that which Christ gave His disciples and which priests now offer: The offering of today is in no way inferior to that which Christ offered, because it is not men who sanctify the offering of today; it is the same Christ who sanctified His own. For just as the words which God spoke are the very same as those which the priest now speaks, so too the oblation is the very same."

Source: St. John Chrysostom, "Homilies on the Second Epistle to Timothy," 2,4, c. 397 A.D.

"It is not the power of man which makes what is put before us the Body and Blood of Christ, but the power of Christ Himself who was crucified for us. The priest standing there in the place of Christ says these words but their power and grace are from God. 'This is My Body,' he says, and these words transform what lies before him."

Source: St. John Chrysostom, "Homilies on the Treachery of Judas" 1,6; d. 407 A.D.:

"'The cup of blessing which we bless, is it not communion of the Blood of Christ?' Very trustworthily and awesomely does he say it. For what he is saying is this: 'What is in the cup is that which flowed from His side, and we partake of it.' He called it a cup of blessing because when we hold it in our hands that is how we praise Him in song, wondering and astonished at His indescribable Gift, blessing Him because of His having poured out this very Gift so that we might not remain in error, and not only for His having poured out It out, but also for His sharing It with all of us."

-"Homilies on the First Letter to the Corinthians" [24,1] ca. 392 A.D.

I wish you a Blessed Day!

13,078 posted on 01/25/2008 5:23:26 AM PST by stfassisi ("Above all gifts that Christ gives his beloved is that of overcoming self"St Francis Assisi)
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To: stfassisi
You're very welcome, and thank you for posting those additional words from +John Chrysostom. I take to heart +Benedict's exhortation to "Never grow tired of praying for Christian unity". Christian unity is something for which "Catholics, Orthodox, Anglicans and Protestants" must never cease to pray fervently. In God's time, it will be done.

Peace to you.

13,082 posted on 01/27/2008 12:39:30 AM PST by Zero Sum (Liberalism: The damage ends up being a thousand times the benefit! (apologies to Rabbi Benny Lau))
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