Prepare for the Holy Spirit
From the catechetical instruction by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop (c. 315-386)
Prepare for the Holy Spirit
Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California
Let the heavens sing for joy and the earth exult! For these people who are about to be sprinkled with hyssop will be cleansed spiritually. His power will purify them, for during his passion the hyssop touched his lips. Let the heavenly angels rejoice! Let those who are to be wedded to a spiritual spouse prepare themselves. A voice cries in the wilderness: Prepare the way of the Lord. And so, children of justice, follow John’s exhortation: Make straight the way of the Lord. Remove all obstacles and stumbling blocks so that you will be able to go straight along the road to eternal life. Through a sincere faith prepare yourselves so that you may be free to receive the Holy Spirit. Through your penance begin to wash you garments; then, summoned to the spouse’s bedchamber, you will be found spotless.
Heralds proclaim the bridegroom’s invitation. All mankind is called to the wedding feast, for he is a generous lover. Once the crowd has assembled, the bridegroom decides who will enter the wedding feast. This is a figure for baptism.
Give you name at his gate and enter. I hope that none of you will later hear the words: Friend, how did you enter without a wedding garment? Rather may all of you hear the words: Well done, my good and faithful servant. You have been faithful in small things, I shall put you in charge of many things. Enter into the joy of your Lord.
Up to this point in the history of salvation you have stood outside the gate.
Now I hope you will all hear the words: The king has brought me into his chambers. My soul rejoices in my God. He has clothed me in the garment of salvation and in the cloak of joy. He has made me a bridegroom by placing a crown on my heard. He has made me a bride by adorning me with jewels and golden ornaments.
I do not say these things so that your souls will be found without stain or wrinkle or any other defect. Indeed, before you have received this grace, how could this happen to you who are called to receive forgiveness of sin? Rather, I ask that once you have received his grace you do nothing to deserve damnation. Even more, I ask you to hasten toward the fulfillment of his grace.
My brothers, this is a truly great occasion. Approach it with caution. You are standing in front of God and in the presence of the host of angels. The Holy Spirit is about to impress his seal on each of your souls. You are about to be pressed into the service of a great king.
And so prepare yourselves to receive the sacrament. The gleaming white garments you are about to put on are not the preparation I am speaking of, but rather the devotion of a clean conscience.
Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings
Saint Cyril (c. 315-386) was born in Jerusalem around 315 probably of Christian parents. He was raised and educated in Jerusalem and was ordained a priest by St. Maximus. He taught catechumens for several years and about 349 became bishop of Jerusalem. The early Church experienced troubled times in the years between the Council of Nicea (325) and the Council of Constantinople (381) and was torn by factionalism and the heresy of Arianism. In 378, the Council of Antioch sent St. Gregory of Nyssa to Palestine to investigate charges against Cyril over terms used in the Nicene Creed. Gregory reported that the faith of the Church in Jerusalem and Cyril himself was orthodox. Cyril and Gregory attended the General Council of Constantinople in 381, and Cyril completely accepted the amended Nicene Creed. Cyril was a scriptural scholar, a successful preacher, and his “Catecheses” delivered during Lent in 347 gives a clear picture of the instruction given those preparing for baptism and of the Palestinian liturgy of the fourth century. It was Saint Cyril who addressed those with any doubts about the Eucharistic Presence with this silver bullet: “Since Christ Himself has said, “This is My Body” who shall dare to doubt that it is His Body?” Cyril died in 386 and was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1882 by Pope Leo XIII.