Patristic quotes on the Church.

HamletOrHecuba · 10-06-2012 8:54am #1

"But after the eighty [sects] there is the one foundation of truth which is as well the doctrine and saving teaching and Holy Bride of Christ, the Church, WHICH IS FROM ETERNITY, but through Christ's incarnation has, in the sequence of time, appeared in the midst of the aforesaid sects." (Epiphanius of Salamis, Panarion, Preface I, Haer. 1.156, Chapter 1, paragraph 3.)

St Epiphanius of Salamis.

"Wherefore, brethren, if we do the will of God our Father, we shall be of the first Church, which is spiritual, which was created before the sun and the moon; but if we do not the will of the Lord, we shall be of the scripture that saith, My house was made a den of robbers. So therefore let us choose rather to be of the Church of life, that we may be saved." (2 Clement 14:1)

"And I do not suppose ye are ignorant that the living Church is the body of Christ: for the scripture saith, God made man, male and female. The male is Christ and the female is the Church. And the Books and the Apostles plainly declare that the Church existeth not now for the first time, but hath been from the beginning: for she was spiritual, as our Jesus also was spiritual, but was manifested in the last days that He might save us." (2 Clement 14:2).

St Clement Pope of Rome.

'The pledge of the kingdom of heaven is the comfort that springs from sorrow. According to the apostle, "Faith is the assurance of things hoped for," and the comfort that comes to the souls that mourn from the enlightenment of the Spirit is a visitation from God. On them He bestows the reward of a humble mind, which is called "the seed" (Lk. 8:5) and "the talent" (Mt 25:14ff.), for when it grows and multiplies in the souls of those who struggle it bears fruit for God "thirtyfold and sixtyfold and a hundredfold" (Mk. 4:20), the holy fruit of the gifts of the Spirit. Where there is unfeigned humiliation there is also the depth of humility, and where there is humility there is also the enlightenment of the Spirit. Where there is the enlightenment of the Spirit, there is the outpouring of the light of God, there is God in the wisdom and knowledge of His mysteries. Where these mysteries are to be found, there is the kingdom of heaven and the experience of the kingdom and the hidden treasures of the knowledge of God (cf. Col. 2:3), which include the manifestation of poverty of spirit. Where poverty of spirit is perceived, there is also the sorrow that is full of joy. There are the ever-flowing tears that purify the soul that loves these things and cause it to be completely filled with light. (The Discourses, II.8l, pp. 52-53.)

St Symeon the New Theologian.

martinedwards · 11-06-2012 6:20pm

Desolate loving in yor eyes
You used to made my life so sweet
Step out like a god found child
I saw your eyes across the street
Who would be the fool to take you
Be more than just kind
Step into a life of maybe
Love is hard to find
In the church of the poison mind
In the church of the poison mind
In the church of the poison mind

GEORGE O'DOWD, JON MOSS, MICHAEL CRAIG, ROY HAY,

The church's one foundation is Jesus Christ her Lord;

Samuel J. Stone

Patristic quotes on the Church.

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