Who is Saint Cyril of Jerusalem?
Cyril was born around 313 AD when Emperor Constantine legalized Christianity in the Roman Empire, and was a boy when Queen Helena came to Jerusalem and erected the Church of the Holy Sepulchre over the site of Golgotha & the empty tomb. This church became Cyril’s cathedral when he became bishop in about 349. St. Cyril was banished from Jerusalem a total of three times for his bold faith in Christ’s full divinity during a time when many emperors favored the Arian heresy.
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem is one of the most important sources for how the church celebrated the liturgy & sacraments after the legalization of Christianity. In his lectures, known as the Jerusalem Catechesis, Saint Cyril instructs new Christians in the days before & after their initiation into the Church at the Easter Vigil. In these catechetical instructions, we find strong insistence on the value and efficacy of the sacrament of baptism as well as heavy emphasis on the real presence of Christ’s body and blood in the sacrament of the Eucharist.
St. Cyril of Jerusalem is considered to be one of the Early Church Fathers and is also among the number of the Doctors of the Catholic Church.
__________
Here is a Meditation of the Day from him "Why the Death of the Son Is Wonderful in Our Eyes"
Do not wonder that the whole world was redeemed, for it was no mere man, but the only begotten Son of God who died for it. The sin of one man, Adam, availed to bring death to the world; if by one man’s offense death reigned for the world, why should not life reign all the more from the justice of the one (Rom 5:18)? If the first man, fashioned out of the earth, brought universal death, shall not he who fashioned him, being the Life, bring everlasting life?
Therefore let us not be ashamed of the cross of our Savior, but rather glory in it: for the doctrine of the cross is to the Jews a stumbling-block & to the Gentiles foolishness but to us salvation; foolishness to those who perish but to those who are saved, that is, to us, it is the power of God (1 Cor 1:23, 18). For as I said before, it was not a mere man who died for us, but the Son of God, God made man.
... See MoreSee Less