Thursday, May 11 : Saint Cyril of Jerusalem

For the name of the Father, with the very utterance of the title, suggests the thought of the Son: as in like manner one who names the Son thinks straightway of the Father also. For if a Father, He is certainly the Father of a Son; and if a Son, certainly the Son of a Father. God then is in an improper sense the Father of many, but by nature and in truth of One only, the Only-begotten Son, our Lord Jesus Christ; not having attained in course of time to being a Father, but being ever the Father of the Only-begotten. Perfect Father, He begot a perfect Son, and delivered all things to Him who is begotten: (for all things, He says, are delivered unto Me of My Father (Matthew 11:27) and is honoured by the Only-begotten: for, I honour My Father (John 8:49), says the Son; and again, Even as I have kept My Father’s commandments, and abide in His love. (John 15:10) Therefore we also say like the Apostle, Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of mercies, and God of all consolation (2 Corinthians 1:3) and, We bow our knees unto the Father from whom all fatherhood in heaven and on earth is named (Ephesians 3:14-15) glorifying Him with the Only-begotten: for he that denies the Father, denies the Son also : and again, He that confesses the Son, has the Father also ; knowing that Jesus Christ is Lord to the glory of God the Father (Philippians 2:11 ). For however high the privilege we have received of saying in our prayers, Our Father, which art in heaven, yet the gift is of loving-kindness. For we call Him Father, not as having been by nature begotten of Our Father which is in heaven; but having been transferred from servitude to sonship by the grace of the Father, through the Son and Holy Spirit, we are permitted so to speak by ineffable loving-kindness.

Roman Catholic Ordinary Calendar – rosary,team