Democracy of the Dead

I sit here among my books in the middle gloaming between the feasts of two great churchmen, Cyril of Alexandria and Irenaeus of Lyon.

I sit quietly, humbly wondering how we could be so privileged to belong in the very same Church which graced the world with these men and their lofty thoughts. Indeed, very little of what I read today in theology even approaches what they did. Were they closer to the fount of Wisdom? Yet, we have the same sacraments, the same God, the same Spirit.

I understand once again the wisdom of G.K. Chesterton, who wrote in chapter 4 of his book Orthodoxy

"Tradition means giving a vote to most obscure of all classes, our ancestors. It is the democracy of the dead. Tradition refuses to submit to the small and arrogant oligarchy of those who merely happen to be walking about."

In honor of the Bishop Martyr of Lyon, from Irenaeus I have chosen a most poetic creedal statement and a humble prayer to the Virgin. In this last age of the world I find very little that can compare with this exalted Christology and humble Marian devotion.

With regard to Christ,

the law and the prophets and the evangelists have proclaimed

that He was born of a virgin,

that He suffered upon a beam of wood,

and that He appeared from the dead;

that He also ascended to the heavens,

and was glorified by the Father,

and is the Eternal King;

that He is the perfect Intelligence,

the Word of God, who was begotten before the light;

that He was the Founder of the universe,

along with it (light), and the Maker of man;

that He is All in all:

Patriarch among the patriarchs

Law in the laws;

Chief Priest among priests;

Ruler among kings;

the Prophet among prophets;

the Angel among angels;

the Man among men;

Son in the Father;

God in God;

King to all eternity.

For it is He who sailed [in the ark] along with Noah

and who guided Abraham;

who was bound along with Isaac,

and was a Wanderer with Jacob;

the Shepherd of those who are saved,

and the Bridegroom of the Church;

the Chief also of the cherubim,

the Prince of the angelic powers; God of God;

Son of the Father; Jesus Christ;

King for ever and ever. Amen.

Take Me As Your Servant!

O very tender Virgin and Mother of the Savior of all Times,

take me as your servant starting

from this very day and for ever more.

From now on, in all circumstances,

be my merciful advocate;

come unceasingly to my rescue.

Indeed, after God,

I do not want to prefer anybody else to you any more

and, of my own free will,

I devote myself to you as your servant for eternity.

Theotokos and St Cyril, Pray for us

I got this information from the website for St Cyril of Alexandria Catholic Church down Houston, Texas way. Not only is the information interesting, the painting sounds quite cool also.

Way to go, parish! Happy patronal feast day!

The patron saint of St. Cyril of Alexandria parish lived from 376 to 441 A.D. in the city of Alexandria in Egypt. He became the patriarch of that city in the year 412. He was declared a doctor of the church in the year 1882 by Pope Leo XIII. St. Cyril is best known for his eloquent defense of the title, "Theotokos" (God-Bearer) for the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Council of Ephesus, held in the Basilica of St. Mary, formally defined that "Theotokos" was an appropriate title for Mary.

In the year 1964, Mr. Gregory Walsh, then a member of the parish, was commissioned by Fr. E.T. Quinters to do a painting of St. Cyril. The painting (See photo in gallery called St. Cyril) captures our patron saint in one of his more representative actions. It depicts him expounding reasons why the title, "Theotokos" is a theologically sound one for the Virgin.

(I attempted to download the picture of St Cyril from the website without success.... it only showed up as a little box with a red x inside.... I'll keep trying. In the meantime I substituted a really cool icon of Cyril)

In the words of the artist: "He is depicted acting impulsively, for that was his nature. The light of the Holy Spirit descends upon him, and illuminates the Basilica. The patriarch of Alexandria has swirled around and dramatically points heavenward as he implores the assembled bishops to accept the dogma. His notes fall to the floor, and his Gospel Codex perches perilously close to the edge of the altar."

The patron and intercessor of St. Cyril of Alexandria parish gives to the people of this community a rich heritage and a model of vigorous faith. His great devotion to the Eucharist and to Mary, Mother of God, is an inspiration to the parish named after him. The painting hangs in the Narthex of the church, just outside the Sacristy ."

Here is a prayer to the Theotokos from Cyril:

Hail Mary, Mother of God,

Crowned Treasure of all the Universe,

Star without Decline,

Crown of Virginity,

Sceptre of the True Faith,

Indestructible Temple,

Dwelling of the Incommensurable,

Mother and Virgin.

We salute you because you are called Blessed in the Holy Gospel

and you come in the name of the Lord.

We salute you, Mother of God,

because you contained in your virginal womb

what Heaven could not contain.

Through you, in whom Heaven rejoices,

the Holy Trinity is glorified and worshipped in every land.

Amen.