The
Transfiguration: Homily by S. John Chrysostom
Hom. 56 on Matt.
THE
Lord had said much about dangers, much about his Passion, about the death and
slaying of his disciples, and had laid many hard and grievous things upon them;
and all these things concerned this present life and were nigh at hand; but the
good things were to be expected and awaited: as, for example, that they should
save their life if they had lost it; that he would come in the glory of his
Father, and render the rewards. Now, in order to reassure them by sight, and to
show them what that glory would be when he would come (at least, as much as
they could comprehend in this present life) he showed it and unveiled it to
them, to prevent any of them, especially Peter, from grieving over their own
deaths, or that of the Lord.
AND
see what he did when he discoursed on heaven and hell. For when he said,
whosoever will save his life shall lose it, and whosoever will lose his life
for my sake shall find it, and when he said, He will reward every man according
to his works, he indicated heaven and hell.
ALTHOUGH
he discoursed on both, he allowed heaven to be seen by the eyes, but not hell;
for although it would have been needful for men• who were unlearned and dull;
these men were proved and instructed, and it was enough for them to be
strengthened by better things. And this is much more becoming to him. But he
did not leave out the other altogether, for sometimes he laid all the atrocity
of hell as it were before their eyes, as in the parable of Lazarus, and in the
account of the man who demanded back the hundred pence.
CONSIDER
Matthew's wisdom in not concealing the names of those who had the first places.
And John very often does the same, as when he truly and diligently describes
Peter's excellency. For neither envy nor vainglory had any place in this company
of the Apostles. Why did he take only these? Because they excelled the others.
Why did he do it, not straightway, but after six days? Lest it should upset
others among his disciples and followers; therefore, he made no mention
beforehand of those whom he was going to take with him.
Deus,
qui fídei sacraménta in Unigéniti tui gloriósa Transfiguratióne patrum
testimónio roborásti, et adoptiónem filiórum perféctam, voce delápsa in nube
lúcida, mirabíliter præsignásti: concéde propítius; ut ipsíus Regis glóriæ nos
coherédes effícias, et ejúsdem glóriæ tríbuas esse consórtes.
O
God, who in the glorious Transfiguration of Thine only-begotten Son didst
confirm the mysteries of the faith by the witness of the fathers, and in the
voice which came down from the shining cloud, didst wondrously foreshow the
perfect adoption of sons: vouchsafe in Thy loving kindness, to make us coheirs
with this King of glory, and to grant that we may be made partakers of that
same glory
Deus,
qui fídei sacraménta in Unigéniti tui gloriósa Transfiguratióne patrum
testimónio roborásti et adoptiónem filiórum perféctam mirabíliter præsignásti,
concéde nobis fámulis tuis, ut, ipsíus dilécti Fílii tui vocem audiéntes,
eiúsdem coherédes éffici mereámur.
Ad Officium lectionis:
saec. XIII
Cæléstis
formam glóriæ,
quam
spes quærit Ecclésiæ,
in
monte Christus índicat,
qui
supra solem émicat.
Res
memoránda sæculis:
tribus
coram discípulis,
cum
Elía, cum Móyse
grata
promit elóquia.
Assístunt
testes grátiæ,
legis
vatúmque véterum;
de
nube testimónium
sonat
Patris ad Fílium.
Glorificáta
fácie
Christus
declárat hódie
quis
honor sit credéntium
Deo
pie fruéntium.
Visiónis
mystérium
corda
levat fidélium,
unde
sollémni gáudio
clamat
nostra devótio:
Pater,
cum Unigénito
et
Spíritu Paráclito
unus,
nobis hanc glóriam
largíre
per præséntiam. Amen.
Christ, who shines brighter than the sun, on the
mountain reveals the beauty of heavenly glory, which the hope of the Church seeks.
An event to be recalled through the ages: in the presence of three of his
disciples Jesus, with Elijah and Moses, speaks pleasing words. Witnesses of
grace stand near the prophets of the old law, as from a cloud the testimony of
the Father concerning the Son is told. Christ, his face shining with glory,
reveals the honor of the those who believe and enjoy the holy God. The mystery
of this vision lifts up the hearts of the faithful, wherefore our devotion
cries out with solemn joy. O Father, with the Only-begotten and the Spirit
Comforter, grant us this glory now. Amen.
Ad Laudes matutinas: saec.
XII-XIII
Dulcis
Iesu memória,
dans
vera cordi gáudia,
sed
super mel et ómnia
eius
dulcis præséntia.
Nil
cánitur suávius,
audítur
nil iucúndius,
nil
cogitátur dúlcius
quam
Iesus Dei Fílius.
Iesu,
dulcédo córdium,
fons
veri, lumen méntium,
excédis
omne gáudium
et
omne desidérium.
Quando
cor nostrum vísitas,
tunc
lucet ei véritas,
mundi
viléscit vánitas
et
intus fervet cáritas.
Da
nobis largus véniam,
amóris
tui cópiam;
da
nobis per præséntiam
tuam
vidére glóriam.
Laudes
tibi nos pángimus,
diléctus
es qui Fílius,
quem
Patris atque Spíritus
splendor
revélat ínclitus. Amen.
Sweet memory of Jesus, giving true joys to the
heart but sweeter even than honey and all things is his presence. Nothing
better is sung, nothing happier is heard, nothing sweeter thought than Jesus
the Son of God. Jesus the sweetness of
hearts, source of truth, light of minds, you surpass all joy and every desire.
When you visit our hearts, then truth shines, the vanity of the world loses its
appeal, and charity burns within us.
Grant to us the increase of pardon, the abundance of love; grant us to
see your glorious presence. We sing our praises to you the beloved Son, Whom
the shining splendor of the Father and the Spirit reveals. Amen.
Ad Vesperas: saec. IX
O
nata lux de lúmine,
Iesu,
redémptor sæculi,
dignáre
clemens súpplicum
laudes
precésque súmere.
Præ
sole vultu flámmeus,
ut
nix amíctu cándidus,
in
monte dignis téstibus
apparuísti
cónditor.
Vates
alúmnis ábditos
novis
vetústos cónferens,
utrísque
te divínitus
Deum
dedísti crédere.
Te
vox patérna cælitus
suum
vocávit Fílium,
quem
nos fidéli péctore
regem
fatémur cælitum.
Qui
carne quondam cóntegi
dignátus
es pro pérditis,
nos
membra confer éffici
tui
beáti córporis.
Laudes
tibi nos pángimus,
diléctus
es qui Fílius,
quem
Patris atque Spíritus
splendor
revélat ínclitus. Amen.
O Light begotten of light, Jesus, the Redeemer of
the world, mercifully receive our humble praises and prayers. Flaming more than
the face of the sun, whiter than the fall of snow, the Creator, you appeared
with worthy witnesses on the mountain. Bringing the ancient prophets, hidden
from the new disciples, you divinely caused them to believe that you were God.
The heavenly voice of the Father called you his Son, whom we confess with
faithful hearts to be the King of heaven. You who deigned to be clothed with
our flesh for the sake of the lost, did make us members of your blessed body. We
sing praises to you, who are the beloved Son, whom the shining splendor of the
Father and the Spirit reveals. Amen
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