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CATECHESIS III
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CATECHESIS III On Baptism "Do you not know that all we who have been baptized into Christ Jesus have been baptized into his death? For we were buried with him by means of Baptism into death, [in order that, just as Christ has arisen from the dead through the glory of the Father, so we also may walk in newness of life] ."1 (I) "Rejoice, 0 ye heavens, and let the earth be glad,"2 in honor of those who are to be sprinkled with hyssop, and cleansed by the spiritual hyssop and by the power of Him who, in His Passion, was offered drink on a stalk of hyssop. Let the heavenly powers rejoice, and let the souls who are to be united with their spiritual Spouse prepare themselves. For there is "the voice of one crying in the desert: Make ready the way of the Lord."3 For this is no slight matter, no ordinary or common fleshly union, but the election according to faith by the Spirit who "searches all things."4 For worldly marriages and contracts are not always made with judgment, and the bridegroom is quickly swayed wherever there is wealth or beauty. But here there is concern not for beauty of body, but for the blameless conscience of soul; not. for the accursed Mammon, but for the wealth of the soul in piety. (2) Yield then, 0 children of justice, to the urging of John, 1 Rom. 6.3, 4. 2 Cf. Ps. 95.11; Isa. 49.13. 3 Cf. Isa. 40.3. 4 1 Cor. 2.10. 108 CATECHESIS III 109 when he says: "Make ready the way of the Lord."5 Remove all hindrances and stumbling blocks, that you may hold a straight course unto eternal life. Make ready the vessels of the soul, purifying them by sincere faith, for the receiving of the Holy Spirit. Begin to wash your garments through repentance that, when you are called to the bridal chamber, you may be found clean. For the Bridegroom invites all without distinction, for His grace is bountifully bestowed, and the cry of His loud-voiced heralds draws all together; but He Himself thereafter separates those who have come in.6 God forbid that any of those enrolled should now hear those words: "Friend, how didst thou come in here without a wedding garment?"7 Rather, may you all hear: "Well done, good and faithful servant; because thou hast been faithful over a few things, I will place thee over many: enter into the joy of thy master."8 Up to now you have stood outside the gate, but may all of you be able to say: "The king hath brought me into his storerooms";9 "Let my soul be joyful in the Lord: for he has clothed me with a garment of salvation and a robe of gladness; like a bridegroom he has adorned me with a diadem; like a bride, bedecked me with jewels."lO Thus may the souls of all of you be found "not having spot, or wrinkle, or any such thing."ll I do not mean before you have received the grace (for how could that be true of you who are called for the remission of sins?) but that, the grace given, your conscience, being found blameless, may be suitable for grace. (3) This is a truly serious matter, my brethren, and you must approach it with great care. Each of you is to stand before God, in the presence of myriads of the angelic host. The Holy Spirit is about to imprint a seal upon your souls. 5 John 1.23. 6 Cf. Matt. 22.9, 10. 7 Matt. 22.12. 8 Matt. 25.23. 9 Cf. Cant. 1.3. 10 Isa. 61.10 (Sept.). 11 Eph.5.27. [35.173.181.0] Project MUSE (2024-03-29 09:55 GMT) llD ST. CYRIL OF JERUSALEM You are to be enlisted in the service of the Great King. Therefore prepare and equip yourselves, not by putting on shining white garments, but piety of soul with a good conscience . Regard not the laver as fresh water, but look to the spiritual grace given with the water. For just as the offerings on the pagan altars, though morally neutral in themselves, become defiled by the invocation of the idols, so contrariwise the plain water, after the invocation of Holy Spirit, and Christ, and Father, acquires a power of sanctification. (4) For since man's nature is...