READINGS: EASTER THURSDAY II

Invitatory Psalm & BACK


Psalm 44: Hebrew English     Then BACK

ὁ δὲ θεὸς καὶ τὸν κύριον ἤγειρεν - Ἁλληλουϊά. — καὶ ἡμᾶς ἐξεγερεῖ διὰ τῆς δυνάμεως αὐτοῦ - Ἁλληλουϊά.

Even Years: Acts 7:1-16

1 εἶπεν δὲ ὁ ἀρχιερεύς, εἰ ταῦτα οὕτως ἔχει;

2 ὁ δὲ ἔφη, ἄνδρες ἀδελφοὶ καὶ πατέρες, ἀκούσατε. ὁ θεὸς τῆς δόξης ὤφθη τῷ πατρὶ ἡμῶν Ἀβραὰμ ὄντι ἐν τῇ μεσοποταμίᾳ πρὶν ἢ κατοικῆσαι αὐτὸν ἐν χαρράν,

3 καὶ εἶπεν πρὸς αὐτόν, ἔξελθε ἐκ τῆς γῆς σου καὶ [ἐκ] τῆς συγγενείας σου, καὶ δεῦρο εἰς τὴν γῆν ἣν ἄν σοι δείξω.

4 τότε ἐξελθὼν ἐκ γῆς χαλδαίων κατῴκησεν ἐν χαρράν. κἀκεῖθεν μετὰ τὸ ἀποθανεῖν τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ μετῴκισεν αὐτὸν εἰς τὴν γῆν ταύτην εἰς ἣν ὑμεῖς νῦν κατοικεῖτε,

5 καὶ οὐκ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ κληρονομίαν ἐν αὐτῇ οὐδὲ βῆμα ποδός, καὶ ἐπηγγείλατο δοῦναι αὐτῷ εἰς κατάσχεσιν αὐτὴν καὶ τῷ σπέρματι αὐτοῦ μετ' αὐτόν, οὐκ ὄντος αὐτῷ τέκνου.

6 ἐλάλησεν δὲ οὕτως ὁ θεὸς ὅτι ἔσται τὸ σπέρμα αὐτοῦ πάροικον ἐν γῇ ἀλλοτρίᾳ, καὶ δουλώσουσιν αὐτὸ καὶ κακώσουσιν ἔτη τετρακόσια: 7 καὶ τὸ ἔθνος ᾧ ἐὰν δουλεύσουσιν κρινῶ ἐγώ, ὁ θεὸς εἶπεν, καὶ μετὰ ταῦτα ἐξελεύσονται καὶ λατρεύσουσίν μοι ἐν τῷ τόπῳ τούτῳ.

8 καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ διαθήκην περιτομῆς:

καὶ οὕτως ἐγέννησεν τὸν Ἰσαὰκ καὶ περιέτεμεν αὐτὸν τῇ ἡμέρᾳ τῇ ὀγδόῃ,

καὶ Ἰσαὰκ τὸν Ἰακώβ, καὶ ἰακὼβ τοὺς δώδεκα πατριάρχας.

9 καὶ οἱ πατριάρχαι ζηλώσαντες τὸν ἰωσὴφ ἀπέδοντο εἰς αἴγυπτον:

καὶ ἦν ὁ θεὸς μετ' αὐτοῦ, 10 καὶ ἐξείλατο αὐτὸν ἐκ πασῶν τῶν θλίψεων αὐτοῦ, καὶ ἔδωκεν αὐτῷ χάριν καὶ σοφίαν ἐναντίον φαραὼ βασιλέως αἰγύπτου, καὶ κατέστησεν αὐτὸν ἡγούμενον ἐπ' αἴγυπτον καὶ [ἐφ'] ὅλον τὸν οἶκον αὐτοῦ.

11 ἦλθεν δὲ λιμὸς ἐφ' ὅλην τὴν αἴγυπτον καὶ χανάαν καὶ θλῖψις μεγάλη, καὶ οὐχ ηὕρισκον χορτάσματα οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν.

12 ἀκούσας δὲ ἰακὼβ ὄντα σιτία εἰς αἴγυπτον ἐξαπέστειλεν τοὺς πατέρας ἡμῶν πρῶτον:

13 καὶ ἐν τῷ δευτέρῳ ἀνεγνωρίσθη ἰωσὴφ τοῖς ἀδελφοῖς αὐτοῦ, καὶ φανερὸν ἐγένετο τῷ φαραὼ τὸ γένος [τοῦ] ἰωσήφ.

14 ἀποστείλας δὲ ἰωσὴφ μετεκαλέσατο ἰακὼβ τὸν πατέρα αὐτοῦ καὶ πᾶσαν τὴν συγγένειαν ἐν ψυχαῖς ἑβδομήκοντα πέντε,

15 καὶ κατέβη ἰακὼβ εἰς αἴγυπτον. καὶ ἐτελεύτησεν αὐτὸς καὶ οἱ πατέρες ἡμῶν,

16 καὶ μετετέθησαν εἰς συχὲμ καὶ ἐτέθησαν ἐν τῷ μνήματι ᾧ ὠνήσατο Ἀβραὰμ τιμῆς ἀργυρίου παρὰ τῶν υἱῶν ἑμμὼρ ἐν συχέμ.

Odd Years: Revelation 3:1-22

καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἐκκλησίας γράψον:
τάδε λέγει ὁ ἔχων τὰ ἑπτὰ πνεύματα τοῦ θεοῦ καὶ τοὺς ἑπτὰ ἀστέρας:

οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι ὄνομα ἔχεις ὅτι ζῇς, καὶ νεκρὸς εἶ.
γίνου γρηγορῶν, καὶ στήρισον τὰ λοιπὰ ἃ ἔμελλον ἀποθανεῖν,
οὐ γὰρ εὕρηκά σου τὰ ἔργα πεπληρωμένα ἐνώπιον τοῦ θεοῦ μου:
μνημόνευε οὖν πῶς εἴληφας καὶ ἤκουσας, καὶ τήρει, καὶ μετανόησον.
ἐὰν οὖν μὴ γρηγορήσῃς, ἥξω ὡς κλέπτης, καὶ οὐ μὴ γνῷς ποίαν ὥραν ἥξω ἐπὶ σέ.
ἀλλὰ ἔχεις ὀλίγα ὀνόματα ἐν Σάρδεσιν ἃ οὐκ ἐμόλυναν τὰ ἱμάτια αὐτῶν,
καὶ περιπατήσουσιν μετ' ἐμοῦ ἐν λευκοῖς, ὅτι ἄξιοί εἰσιν.
ὁ νικῶν οὕτως περιβαλεῖται ἐν ἱματίοις λευκοῖς,
καὶ οὐ μὴ ἐξαλείψω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐκ τῆς βίβλου τῆς ζωῆς,
καὶ ὁμολογήσω τὸ ὄνομα αὐτοῦ ἐνώπιον τοῦ πατρός μου καὶ ἐνώπιον τῶν ἀγγέλων αὐτοῦ.
ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.


καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Φιλαδελφείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον:
τάδε λέγει ὁ ἅγιος, ὁ ἀληθινός, ὁ ἔχων τὴν κλεῖν Δαυίδ,
ὁ ἀνοίγων καὶ οὐδεὶς κλείσει, καὶ κλείων καὶ οὐδεὶς ἀνοίγει:
οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα—
ἰδοὺ δέδωκα ἐνώπιόν σου θύραν ἠνεῳγμένην, ἣν οὐδεὶς δύναται κλεῖσαι αὐτήν—
ὅτι μικρὰν ἔχεις δύναμιν,
καὶ ἐτήρησάς μου τὸν λόγον, καὶ οὐκ ἠρνήσω τὸ ὄνομά μου.
ἰδοὺ διδῶ ἐκ τῆς συναγωγῆς τοῦ σατανᾶ,
τῶν λεγόντων ἑαυτοὺς ἰουδαίους εἶναι, καὶ οὐκ εἰσὶν ἀλλὰ ψεύδονται:
ἰδοὺ ποιήσω αὐτοὺς ἵνα ἥξουσιν καὶ προσκυνήσουσιν ἐνώπιον τῶν ποδῶν σου,
καὶ γνῶσιν ὅτι ἐγὼ ἠγάπησά σε.
ὅτι ἐτήρησας τὸν λόγον τῆς ὑπομονῆς μου,
κἀγώ σε τηρήσω ἐκ τῆς ὥρας τοῦ πειρασμοῦ τῆς μελλούσης ἔρχεσθαι ἐπὶ τῆς οἰκουμένης ὅλης
πειράσαι τοὺς κατοικοῦντας ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς.
ἔρχομαι ταχύ: κράτει ὃ ἔχεις, ἵνα μηδεὶς λάβῃ τὸν στέφανόν σου.
ὁ νικῶν ποιήσω αὐτὸν στῦλον ἐν τῷ ναῷ τοῦ θεοῦ μου,
καὶ ἔξω οὐ μὴ ἐξέλθῃ ἔτι,
καὶ γράψω ἐπ' αὐτὸν τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ θεοῦ μου
καὶ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς πόλεως τοῦ θεοῦ μου, τῆς καινῆς Ἰερουσαλήμ,
ἡ καταβαίνουσα ἐκ τοῦ οὐρανοῦ ἀπὸ τοῦ θεοῦ μου,
καὶ τὸ ὄνομά μου τὸ καινόν.
ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.


καὶ τῷ ἀγγέλῳ τῆς ἐν Λαοδικείᾳ ἐκκλησίας γράψον:
τάδε λέγει ὁ ἀμήν, ὁ μάρτυς ὁ πιστὸς καὶ ἀληθινός,
ἡ ἀρχὴ τῆς κτίσεως τοῦ θεοῦ:
οἶδά σου τὰ ἔργα, ὅτι οὔτε ψυχρὸς εἶ οὔτε ζεστός.
ὄφελον ψυχρὸς ἦς ἢ ζεστός.
οὕτως, ὅτι χλιαρὸς εἶ καὶ οὔτε ζεστὸς οὔτε ψυχρός, μέλλω σε ἐμέσαι ἐκ τοῦ στόματός μου.
ὅτι λέγεις ὅτι πλούσιός εἰμι καὶ πεπλούτηκα καὶ οὐδὲν χρείαν ἔχω,
καὶ οὐκ οἶδας ὅτι σὺ εἶ ὁ ταλαίπωρος καὶ ἐλεεινὸς καὶ πτωχὸς καὶ τυφλὸς καὶ γυμνός,
συμβουλεύω σοι ἀγοράσαι παρ' ἐμοῦ
χρυσίον πεπυρωμένον ἐκ πυρὸς ἵνα πλουτήσῃς,
καὶ ἱμάτια λευκὰ
ἵνα περιβάλῃ καὶ μὴ φανερωθῇ ἡ αἰσχύνη τῆς γυμνότητός σου,
καὶ κολλούριον ἐγχρῖσαι τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου ἵνα βλέπῃς.
ἐγὼ ὅσους ἐὰν φιλῶ ἐλέγχω καὶ παιδεύω: ζήλευε οὖν καὶ μετανόησον.
ἰδοὺ ἕστηκα ἐπὶ τὴν θύραν καὶ κρούω:
ἐάν τις ἀκούσῃ τῆς φωνῆς μου καὶ ἀνοίξῃ τὴν θύραν,
καὶ εἰσελεύσομαι πρὸς αὐτὸν καὶ δειπνήσω μετ' αὐτοῦ καὶ αὐτὸς μετ' ἐμοῦ.
ὁ νικῶν δώσω αὐτῷ καθίσαι μετ' ἐμοῦ ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ μου,
ὡς κἀγὼ ἐνίκησα καὶ ἐκάθισα μετὰ τοῦ πατρός μου ἐν τῷ θρόνῳ αὐτοῦ.
ὁ ἔχων οὖς ἀκουσάτω τί τὸ πνεῦμα λέγει ταῖς ἐκκλησίαις.

Even Years: Epiphanius of Salamina (attributed), Homily 3 on the Resurrection (PG: 43, 466-470)
Αὕτη ἡμέρα, ἣν ἐποίησεν ὁ Κύριος· ἀγαλλιασώμεθα πνευματικῶς, καὶ εὐφρανθῶμεν θεοπρεπῶς ἐν αὐτῇ. Αὕτη ἡμῖν ἡ πασῶν τῶν ἑορτῶν ὑπερεόρτιος... αὕτη ἡ ἑορτὴ τοῦ παντὸς κόσμου, ἐγκαίνιον ὁμοῦ καὶ σωτήριον... ἐν ταύτῃ ἐπλήρωσε πάντα τὸν τύπον, σκιὰν καὶ προφητείαν. Τὸ Πάσχα ἡμῶν, τὸ Πάσχα τὸ ἀληθινὸν, ἐτύθη Χριστὸς, καὶ ἥτις ἐν Χριστῷ καινὴ κτίσις, ἥτις ἐν Χριστῷ καινὴ πίστις, καινοὶ νόμοι, καινὸς ὁ τοῦ Θεοῦ λαός· καινὸς, ἀλλ' οὐ παλαιὸς Ἰσραὴλ, καὶ καινὸν Πάσχα· καινὴ καὶ πνευματικὴ περιτομή· καινὴ καὶ ἀναίμακτος θυσία· καινὴ καὶ θεία διαθήκη. This is the day that the Lord has made: let us rejoice and be glad in it, with a spiritual gladness pleasing to God. This is our greatest feast, one that is celebrated by all the world, a feast of renewal and salvation. Today God has fulfilled all types, symbols, and prophecies. Christ our Passover, the true Passover, is sacrificed, and in Christ all is made new: there is a new creation, a new faith, new laws, a new people of God, a new Israel in place of the old, a new Passover, a new and spiritual circumcision, a new and unbloody sacrifice, a new divine covenant.
Ἐγκαινίζεσθε σήμερον, καὶ πνεῦμα εὐθὲς ἐγκαινίσατε ἐν ταῖς καρδίαις ὑμῶν, ὅπως δέξησθε τὰ τῆς ἑορτῆς τῆς νέας καὶ ἀληθινῆς μυστήρια, καὶ τρυφήσητε σήμερον τρυφὴν τὴν ὄντως οὐράνιον, καὶ ἀπέλθητε φωτισθέντες τὰ μὴ παλαιούμενα τοῦ νέου Πάσχα ἀντὶ παλαιοῦ μυστήρια ἀντίτυπα· ὅπως συνήσητε ὅσον τὸ μέσον, καὶ διάφορον τῶν Ἰουδαίων τὰ ἡμέτερα, καὶ τίς σύγκρισις τῶν τύπων πρὸς τὴν ἀλήθειαν. Ἀρξώμεθα τὰ τῆς Χριστοῦ Πάσχα ἀναστάσεως, καὶ θεωρίας, ἐκ τῶν ἐντεῦθεν. We too must be renewed today; we must renew a right spirit within our hearts and so prepare to enter into the mysteries of this new and perfect feast and to exult in this day's heavenly joy. We shall then depart as initiates of the mysteries of the new Passover, mysteries fulfilling those of the old dispensation and which will never be superseded. We shall see how great the difference is between the Jewish mysteries and ours and be able to compare the type with the reality. With these thoughts, let us begin our meditation upon Christ, our Passover, and upon his mission.
Ἀπεστέλλετό ποτε πρὸς σωτηρίαν λαοῦ ἀπὸ Θεοῦ ἐξ ὄρους ὑψηλοῦ ὁ νομοθέτης Μωϋσῆς πρὸς τὸν τοῦ νόμου τύπον· ἀπεστάλη καὶ ὁ Κύριος ὁ νομοθέτης, καὶ Θεὸς ἀπὸ Θεοῦ, καὶ ὄρος ἀπ' ὄρους οὐρανίων ὀρέων, εἰς σωτηρίαν τοῦ ἡμετέρου λαοῦ, τὸ τῆς ἀληθείας. Ἀλλὰ Μωϋσῆς ἐκ Φαραὼ καὶ Αἰγυπτίων ἐλυτρώσατο· Χριστὸς δὲ ἐκ διαβόλου, καὶ δαιμόνων ἐλυτρώσατο ἡμᾶς. Ἀλλὰ πεφόνευκε Μωϋσῆς χώσας ἐν τῇ ἄμμῳ τὸν ἀδικοῦντα τὸν Ἰουδαῖον· τεθανάτωκε καὶ Χριστὸς διάβολον, παραπέμψας αὐτὸν τῇ ἀβύσσῳ. Εἰρήνευσε Μωϋσῆς τοὺς δύο ἀδελφοὺς αὐτοῦ μαχομένους· εἰρήνευσε καὶ ὁ Χριστὸς τοὺς δύο λαοὺς αὐτοῦ, ἑνώσας τὰ οὐράνια τοῖς ἐπιγείοις. Ἐκεῖ ἡ θυγάτηρ Φαραὼ λούσασθαι ἀπερχομένη εὗρε λαβοῦσα τὸν Μωϋσῆν· ἡ δὲ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἐκκλησία καὶ θυγάτηρ βαπτίζεσθαι λαμβάνει Χριστὸν, οὐκ ἀπὸ θίβης τριμηνιαῖον, ὡς Μωϋσῆν, ἀλλ' ἐκ τοῦ τάφου τριήμερον ἀντὶ Μωϋσῆ. Of old, Moses, the lawgiver, was sent by God from a high mountain to save his people and to symbolize the Law. The Lord, the Lawgiver, was also sent, God by God, mountain from the highest mountain of heaven, to save our people and to be the Law. Moses delivered his people from Pharaoh and the Egyptians, but Christ has made peace between his two peoples and united heaven and earth.
Ἐκεῖ τυπικῶς καὶ νυκτερινῶς τὸ Πάσχα ὁ Ἰσραὴλ ἐποίησεν· ἐνταῦθα φωτεινῶς τε καὶ ἡμερινῶς τὸ Πάσχα ἑορτάζομεν. Ἐκεῖ πρὸς ἑσπέραν τῆς ἡμέρας· ἐνταῦθα πρὸς ἑσπέραν τῶν χρόνων τοῦ αἰῶνος. Ἐκεῖ αἱ τῶν φλιῶν θύραι τῷ αἵματι ἐχρίοντο· ἐνταῦθα αἱ τῶν πιστῶν καρδίαι τῷ τοῦ Χριστοῦ σφραγίζονται αἵματι. Ἐκεῖ νυκτερινὴ ἦν θυσία, καὶ νυκτὶ ἡ τῆς Ἐρυθρᾶς θαλάσσης διάβασις· ἐνταῦθα σωτηρία, καὶ φωτεινὴ ἡ τῆς Ἐρυθρᾶς τοῦ βαπτίσματος θάλασσα, καὶ πυριζούσης τὸ πῦρ τοῦ Πνεύματος· ἐν ᾧ καὶ Πνεῦμα Θεοῦ ἀληθῶς ἐπιφέρεται ὁμοῦ, καὶ ἐπιφαίνεται, καὶ ἐπὶ τοῦ αὐτοῦ ὕδατος, ἐν ᾧ συντρίβεται ἡ κεφαλὴ τοῦ δράκοντος, καὶ ἄρχοντος τῶν δρακόντων τῶν δαιμονικῶν τοῦ διαβόλου λαῶν. Ἐκεῖ τὸν Ἰσραὴλ νυκτερινῷ Μωϋσῆς βαπτίσματι· ἐκεῖ νεφέλη τὸν λαὸν σκέπει· τὸν δὲ Χριστοῦ λαὸν ἡ δύναμις τοῦ Ὑψίστου ἐπισκιάζει. Ἐκεῖ τοῦ λαοῦ σωθέντος ἡ Μωϋσέως Μαρία ἐχόρευσεν· ἐνταῦθα δὲ τοῦ λαοῦ τῶν ἐθνῶν σωζομένου ἡ τοῦ Χριστοῦ Ἐκκλησία σὺν πάσαις αὐτῆς ταῖς Ἐκκλησίαις ἑορτάζει. Israel kept the symbolic Passover by night: we celebrate the true Passover by the light of day. They kept it in the evening of the day: we keep it in the evening of the world. Then the doorposts and lintels were sprinkled with blood: now it is the hearts of the faithful that are sealed with the blood of Christ. Then the sacrifice was offered by night and the crossing of the Red Sea took place at night, but now we are saved by the Red Sea of Baptism that glows with the fire of the Spirit. In Baptism the Spirit of God truly descends and appears in the waters in which the head of the serpent, the prince of serpents and demons, is crushed. Moses gave Israel its baptism by night and a cloud overshadowed the people, but it is the power of the Most High that overshadows the people of Christ. There, when the people were saved, Mary, the sister of Moses, danced. Here, when the Gentile people were saved, the Church of Christ with all its local Churches is in festivity.
Ἐκεῖ τῆς κτίσεως πέτρᾳ προσφεύγει Μωϋσῆς· ἐνταῦθα τῆς πίστεως πέτρᾳ προσφεύγει ὁ λαός. Ἐκεῖ αἱ πλάκαι αἱ νομικαὶ συντρίβονται, τὴν τοῦ νόμου διάβασιν μηνύουσαι ὁμοῦ, καὶ παλαίωσιν· ἐνταῦθα δὲ οἱ θεῖοι νόμοι ἀδιάῤῥηκτοι σώζονται. Ἐκεῖ μόσχος ἐχωνεύετο εἰς τὴν τοῦ λαοῦ τιμωρίαν· ἐνταῦθα δὲ ὁ Ἀμνὸς τοῦ Θεοῦ θύεται εἰς τὴν τοῦ λαοῦ σωτηρίαν. Ἐκεῖ ῥάβδῳ πέτρα τύπτεται· ἐνταῦθα δὲ Χριστὸς ἡ πέτρα τὴν πλευρὰν νύττεται. Ἐκεῖ ὕδωρ ἐκ τῆς πέτρας ἐξέρχεται· ἐνταῦθα αἷμα καὶ ὕδωρ ἐκ ζωοποιοῦ πλευρᾶς πηγάζεται. Ἐκεῖνοι ὀρτυγομήτραν κρέα ἐξ οὐρανοῦ ἐδέξαντο· ἡμεῖς δὲ περιστερὰν τοῦ Πνεύματος ἐξ ὕψους δεχόμεθα. Ἐκεῖνοι μάννα πρόσκαιρον ἔφαγον, καὶ ἀπέθανον· ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἄρτον ἐσθίομεν εἰς ζωὴν αἰώνιον. Moses had recourse to a rock of this creation, but we turn to the rock of faith. Then, the tablets of the Law were broken in pieces as a sign that the Law would be abrogated: now, the Laws of God stand forever. Then, the making of a molten calf brought retribution on the people: now, the sacrifice of the Lamb of God is the salvation of the people. Then, water poured from the rock when it was struck by a rod: now, from the pierced and life-giving side of the rock which is Christ, both blood and water flow. The Jews of old were given quails from heaven: our gift from on high is the Dove, the Holy Spirit. They fed on perishable manna and died: the bread that we eat brings us everlasting life.

Odd Years: Gaudentius of Brescia, Treatise 2 (CSEL 68, 30-32)
Sacrificium caeleste a Christo institutum vere est hereditarium munus testamenti eius novi, quod nobis ea nocte, qua tradebatur crucifigendus, tamquam pignus suae praesentiae dereliquit.
Hoc illud est viaticum nostri itineris, quo in hac via vitae alimur ac nutrimur, donec ad ipsum pergamus de hoc saeculo recedentes; unde dicebat idem Dominus: Nisi manducaveritis meam carnem, et biberitis meum sanguinem, non habebitis vitam in vobis ipsis.
Voluit enim beneficia sua permanere apud nos, voluit animas, pretioso sanguine suo redemptas, semper sanctificari ad imaginem propriae passionis; et ideo discipulis fidelibus mandat, quos primos et Ecclesiae suae constituit sacerdotes, ut indesinenter ista vitae aeternae mysteria exercerent, quae necesse est a cunctis sacerdotibus per singulas totius orbis Ecclesias celebrari, usquequo iterum Christus de caelis adveniat, quo et ipsi sacerdotes, et omnes pariter fidelium populi, exemplar passionis Christi ante oculos habentes cotidie, et gerentes in manibus, ore etiam sumentes ac pectore, redemptionis nostrae indelebilem memoriam teneamus.
Deinde, quoniam panem de multis tritici granis in pollinem redactis per acquam confici et per ignem necesse est consummari, rationabiliter in eo figura accipitur corporis Christi, quem novimus ex multitudine totius homani generis unum esse corpus effectum et per ignem Sancti Spiritus consummatum.
Natus est enim de Spiritu Sancto et, quoniam sic eum decebat implere omnem iustitiam, aquas baptismi, ut consecraret, ingreditur et exinde plenus Sancto Spiritu, qui super eum in figura columbae descenderat, a Iordane regreditur, testante Evangelista: Iesus autem plenus Spiritu Sancto regresus est ab Iordane.
Similiter et sanguinis eius vinum ex pluribus acinis idest ubis vineae ab ipso plantatae collectum in torculari crucis exprimitur, et per capacia vasa fideli corde sumentium propria virtute fervescit.
Hoc sacrificium Paschae salutaris omnes, de potestate Aegypti et Pharaonis diaboli exeuntes, tota nobiscum religiosi cordis aviditate percipite, ut ab ipso Domino nostro Iesu Christo, quem sacramentis suis inesse credimus, viscerum nostrorum sanctificentur interna; cuius virtus inaestimabilis permanet in omnia saecula.

Prayer