When you see the Lord sacrificed and lying before you, and the High Priest standing over the sacrifice and praying, and all who partake being tinctured with that precious blood, can you think that you are still among men and still standing on earth? Are you not at once transported to heaven, and, having driven out of your soul every carnal thought, do you not with soul naked and mind pure look round upon heavenly things? Oh, the wonder of it! Oh, the loving-kindness of God to men! He who sits above with the Father is at that moment held in our hands, and gives himself to those who wish to clasp and embrace him!
- St. John Chrysostom, On Priesthood
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2 comments:
One of my favorite books. I especially like the part in which he compares the Eucharist to Elijah's sacrifice before the prophets of Ba'al. I'm less pleased by the discourse on the virtue of deceit.
And I'm not thrilled with his statements about women!
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