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Handout #59 |
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Different motives among baptismal candidates in the middle of the fourth century |
| Cyril (315-387
A.D.), Bishop of Jerusalem, had an episcopacy troubled by the Arian
crisis. He was exiled three times. His most famous work is the series of
twenty-four catechetical lectures which he gave in the basilica of the
Holy Sepulchre. The extract which follows is drawn from the catechesis
welcoming those who were candidates for baptism at the beginning of Lent.
Cyril is not deceived by the variety of motivations among the candidates.
We, the ministers of Christ, have admitted every one, and occupying, as it were, the place of doorkeepers, we left the door open: and possibly you entered with your soul bemired with sins and a will defiled. But you did enter, for you were allowed: your name was inscribed. Did you see the good behavior of our congregation? Did you see the order and the discipline? Did you note the reading of the scriptures, the presence of the clergy, the course of our instruction? Lower your eyes in this place and be taught by what you see. Go out opportunely now and enter most opportunely tomorrow. If you have a heart filled with avarice, comeback in another dress. Takeoff the garment that you had and do not cover it with another. Put off debauchery and uncleanness and put on the shining garment of purity. As for me, this is the advice I give you before Jesus the bridegroom of your souls sees your fashions. You have time, for you have forty days for repentance; you have a full opportunity to put off, and to wash, and to put on and enter. But if you persist in an evil purpose, the speaker is blameless, but you must not hope to receive grace: for the water will receive you but not the spirit. If anyone feels wounded, let him take the salve; if anyone has fallen, let him arise. Possibly, too, you have come on another pretext. It is possible that a man is wishing to pay court to a woman and came on that account. The remark applies in like manner to women also in their turn. Perhaps a slave wishes to please his master, and a friend his friend. I accept this bait for the hook and welcome you, though you came with an ill purpose, yet as one to be stayed by a good hope. Perhaps you did not know where you were coming or in what kind of net you were taken. You have come within the church's nets. Be taken alive, do not flee, for Jesus is angling for you, not in order to kill, but by killing to make alive; for you must die and rise again. For you have heard the apostle say, 'Dead indeed to sin but alive to righteousness. Die to your sins, and live to righteousness; live from this very day. Cyril of Jerusalem (313-387),Catechetical Lectures, Prologue, 4,5- |
