The Living Water
From a catechetical instruction by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop (c. 315-386)
The living water of the Holy Spirit
Narrated by Frank Dugan, Huntington Beach, California
The water that I shall give him will become in him a fountain of living water, welling up into eternal life. This is a new kind of water, a living, leaping water, welling up for those who are worthy. But why did Christ call the grace of the Spirit water? Because all things are dependent on water; plants and animals have their origin in water. Water comes down from heaven as rain, and although it is always the same in itself, it produces many different effects, one in the palm tree, another in the vine, and so on throughout the whole of creation. It does not come down, now as one thing, now as another, but while remaining essentially the same, it adapts itself to the needs of every creature that receives it.
In the same way the Holy Spirit, whose nature is always the same, simple and indivisible, apportions grace to each man as he wills. Like a dry tree which puts forth shoots when watered, the soul bears the fruit of holiness when repentance has made it worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit. Although the Spirit never changes, the effects of his action, by the will of God and in the name of Christ, are both many and marvelous.
The Spirit makes one man a teacher of divine truth, inspires another to prophesy, gives another the power of casting out devils, enables another to interpret holy Scripture. The Spirit strengthens one man’s self-control, shows another how to help the poor, teaches another to fast and lead a life of asceticism, makes another oblivious to the needs of the body, trains another for martyrdom. His action is different in different people, but the Spirit himself is always the same. In each person, Scripture says, the Spirit reveals his presence in a particular way for the common good.
The Spirit comes gently and makes himself known by his fragrance. He is not felt as a burden, for he is light, very light. Rays of light and knowledge stream before him as he approaches. The Spirit comes with the tenderness of a true friend and protector to save, to heal, to teach, to counsel, to strengthen, to console. The Spirit comes to enlighten the mind first of the one who receives him, and then, through him, the minds of others as well.
As light strikes the eyes of a man who comes out of darkness into the sunshine and enables him to see clearly things he could not discern before, so light floods the soul of the man counted worthy of receiving the Holy Spirit and enables him to see things beyond the range of human vision, things hitherto undreamed of.
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), a period torn with 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. “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.