Benedictus
Blessed be the Lord, the God of Israel; he has come to his people and set them free. He has raised up for us a might savior, born of the house of his servant David. Through his holy prophets he promised of old that he would save us from our enemies. from the hands of all who hate us. He promised to show mercy to our fathers and tor remember his holy covenant. This was the oath he swore to our father Abraham to set us free from the hands of our enemies, free to worship him without fear, holy and righteous in his sight all the days of our life. You, my child, shall be called the prophet of the Most High; for you will go before the Lord to prepare his way, to give his people knowledge of salvation by the forgiveness of their sins. In the tender compassion of our God the dawn from on high shall break upon us, to shine on those who dwell in darkness and the shadow of death, and to guide our feet into the way of peace. Luke 1:68-79
Luminous Light
Jesus spoke to them again, saying, “I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness, but will have the light of life.” John 8:12
“The light of Christ is eternally glowing with luminous radiance and can never be extinguished by the darkness of sin.” – St. Maximus of Turin, bishop (380-465 A.D.)
“The Lord is our light, the sun of justice and righteousness, who has shown on his Catholic Church spread throughout the world.” – John the Serene, bishop (454-558 A.D.)
“Sunlight is a symbol. What we see with our eyes foretells the coming of the Sun of Justice.” – St. Gregory of Agrigentum, bishop (unknown – 262 A.D.)
“Darkness yields before the coming of light, and grace exchanges legalism for freedom.” – St. Andrew of Crete, bishop (650-712 A.D.)
“When we consider that Christ is the true light, having nothing in common with deceit, we learn that our own life also must shine with the rays of that true light.” – St. Gregory of Nyssa, bishop (335-394 A.D.)
“God delivers us from the darkness of ignorance and sin, and hence he is greeted as a lamp in Scripture” – St. Maximus the Confessor, abbot (580-662 A.D.)
“The lamp set upon the lamp stand is Jesus Christ, the true light from the Father, the light that enlightens every man who comes into the world.” – St. Maximus the Confessor, abbot (580-662 A.D.)
“See with your bodily eyes the light that shines on earth, but embrace with your whole soul and all your affections the true light which enlightens every man who comes into this world.” – St. Leo the Great, pope (400-461 A.D.)
“As those who see light are in the light sharing its brilliance, so those who see God are in God sharing his glory, and that glory gives them life. To see God is to share in life.” – St. Irenaeus, bishop (140-203 A.D.)
“Those who are in the light do not illuminate the light but are themselves illuminated and enlightened by the light.” – St. Irenaeus, bishop (140-203 A.D.)
“Now if a lamp has been lighted for you in your house, would you not add oil to keep it from going out?” – St. Augustine, bishop (354-430 A.D.)
“If we fail to live in the light, we shall, to our condemnation and that of others, be veiling over and obscuring by our infidelity the light men so desperately need.” – St. Chromatius, bishop (unknown – 407 A.D.)
“You are invited to look always to the east: it is there that the sun of righteousness rises for you, it is there that the light is always being born for you.” – Origen, priest (185-251 A.D.)
“The light in which you dwell, Lord, is beyond my understanding.” – St. Anselm, bishop (1033-1109 A.D.)
“Let me see the pure light; when I am there, I shall be truly a man at last.” – St. Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (35-98 A.D.)
