June 27, 13th Sunday in Ordinary Time
Center icon: In orthodox iconography, Cyril is often paired with Athanasius (left), his great predecessor as Bishop of Alexandria.
ST. CYRIL OF ALEXANDRIA (Egypt, 376-444), Bishop, Theologian, Doctor of the Church
Benedict XVI devoted his catechesis on October 3, 2007, to Cyril of Alexandria
www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/audiences/2007/documents/hf_ben-xvi_aud_20071003...
who was made a Doctor of the Church by Leo XIII and who has been called 'Pillar of Faith' and 'Seal of the Fathers' because of his staunch doctrinal orthodoxy. He grew up under an uncle, Theophilus, who was bishop of Alexandria and who took him to Constantinople where eventually, he took part in a Synod that deposed John Chrysostom as Bishop of Constantinople, in the context of an ongoing rivalry between Constantinople and Alexandria (along with Rome, Jerusalem and Antioch, they made up the premier Sees of the early Church). When Theophilus died, Cyril was elected to succeed him and served as Bishop of Alexandria for 32 years. He was responsible for closing down the churches of Novatian heretics, and for expelling anti-Christian Jews from Alexandria and confiscating their properties. His biggest conflict was with Nestorius, elected Bishop of Constantinople in 418 who affirmed that Jesus was only a vessel in whom God dwelt and therefore refused to call Mary Theotokos (or God-bearer). Cyril spearheaded a theological campaign against this heresy to affirm the traditional teaching that human and divine nature united uniquely in Jesus. Significantly, Benedict XVI chooses this quotation from a letter that Cyril wrote to Nestorius: "It is essential to explain the teaching and interpretation of the faith to the people in the most irreproachable way, and to remember that those who cause scandal even to only one of the little ones who believe in Christ will be subjected to an unbearable punishment". Benedict goes on to say that "the faith of the people is an extension of tradition and a guarantee of sound doctrine". Cyril and his supporters held the Council of Ephesus in 431 which affirmed traditional Church teaching on Christ and the Theotokos, condemned Nestorius, and exiled him. Cyril was a prolific writer who was widely read in his day. His theology was very Christ-centered and much of it carried on the ideas of his great predecessor Athanasius (285-373), not surprisingly known as the Doctor of Orthodoxy, whose great fight was against the Arian heresy.
Readings for today's Mass:
www.usccb.org/nab/readings/062710.shtml
OR today.
Right photo: Blessed Stephano Nehme, Maronite monk, Lebanon (1889-1938)
Benedict XVI's audience with the Circolo San Pietro:
'The Apostolic See for the poor of Rome and the world'
Two other Vatican stories on Page 1: The Vatican will name a non-resident representative to Vietnam; and Cardinal Bertone criticizes the manner of the Belgian police raids in teh Archdiocese of Mechelen-Brussels last Thursday. Page 1 international news: The International Monetary Fund warns the G20 nations that unless they take the right fiscal measures, they face an unemployment number of 30 million; Obama chooses to defy a court order striking down his 6-month moratorium on deep-sea drilling which can cause a monthly loss of $350 million in revenues and lead tens of thousands of Americans in the Gulf states to be unpaid during the moratorium; and half of Niger's population at risk due to drought and famine. Inside, there is a story on Stephano Nehme, the Maronite monk beatified in ceremonies today held in Kfifane, Lebanon.
THE POPE'S DAY
Sunday Angelus - The Pope returned to the mission of priests in his mini-homily on today's Gospel,
pays homage to the new Blessed, Stephano Nehme of Lebanon, and expressed his thanks for worldwide
contributions to Peter's Pence. He reminded Italian pilgrims to use the coming summer vacation not only
for physical and intellectual refreshment, but also by more intimate contact with God.
The Vatican released the text of a letter written by the Holy Father to Mons. Andre Leonard, Archbishop of
Mechelen-Brussels, regarding the Belgian police raids on the Archdiocese last Thursday. (See post above).
[Modificato da TERESA BENEDETTA 28/06/2010 02:03]