Bishop Eric Menees
A very blessed Thursday in Easter Week to you all!
I was blessed to hear Fr. Carlos Raines preach an
outstanding homily at the Great Vigil of Easter. In it he quoted the Easter
Sermon of St. John Chrysostom, a Church Father from the end of the fourth
century. In this sermon he rightly states that, with Christ’s resurrection,
death has lost its sting for all who put their faith in the risen Lord. Here is
what St. John Chrysostom had to say…
“Enjoy ye all the feast of faith: Receive ye all the riches
of loving-kindness. Let no one bewail his poverty, for the universal kingdom
has been revealed. Let no one weep for his iniquities, for pardon has shown
forth from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Savior’s death has set us
free. He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it. By descending into
Hell, He made Hell captive. He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh. And
Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry: Hell, said he, was embittered, when it
encountered Thee in the lower regions. It was embittered, for it was abolished.
It was embittered, for it was mocked. It was embittered, for it was slain. It
was embittered, for it was overthrown. It was embittered, for it was fettered
in chains. It took a body, and met God face to face. It took earth, and
encountered Heaven. It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.
O Death, where is your sting? O Hell, where is your victory?
Christ is risen, and you are overthrown. Christ is risen, and the demons are
fallen. Christ is risen, and the angels rejoice. Christ is risen, and life
reigns. Christ is risen, and not one dead remains in the grave. For Christ,
being risen from the dead, is become the first fruits of those who have fallen
asleep. To Him be glory and dominion unto ages of ages. Amen.”
I pray you all a blessed week! Alleluia! Christ is risen!
Thirty-nine
Articles of Religion
XXV. Of Sacraments
Sacraments ordained of Christ be not only badges or tokens
of Christian men's profession, but rather they be certain sure witnesses, and
effectual signs of grace, and God's good will towards us, by the which he doth
work invisibly in us, and doth not only quicken, but also strengthen and
confirm our Faith in him.
There are two Sacraments ordained of Christ our Lord in the
Gospel, that is to say, Baptism, and the Supper of the Lord.
Those five commonly called Sacraments, that is to say,
Confirmation, Penance, Orders, Matrimony, and Extreme Unction, are not to be
counted for Sacraments of the Gospel, being such as have grown partly of the
corrupt following of the Apostles, partly are states of life allowed in the
Scriptures, but yet have not like nature of Sacraments with Baptism, and the
Lord's Supper, for that they have not any visible sign or ceremony ordained of
God.
The Sacraments were not ordained of Christ to be gazed upon,
or to be carried about, but that we should duly use them. And in such only as
worthily receive the same, they have a wholesome effect or operation: but they
that receive them unworthily, purchase to themselves damnation, as Saint Paul
saith.
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