Day 1, the unexpected holiday guests
Yeah, so, it really wasn’t what I had in mind, but as Christmas approached, suddenly, without telegraphing their intentions, not even an email or a courtesy phone call, the Church Fathers showed up at my doorstep demanding a little hospitality. Those fellas are always showing up at the most inconvenient times. I mean it’s Christmas, you know! But like Jacob wrestling with the angel (in this case I am the reluctant angel; anyone could guess I would play the angel), the spokesman for the Church Fathers informed me that the entire lot of them required a blessing. They said they wouldn’t leave until I gave them the oxygen of publicity on social media. I always knew it was only a matter of time until some of those old guys wanted to be friended on Facebook. Also, some of them said that they would really like some figgy pudding if it wasn’t too much trouble. So as soon as I do a little Facebook magic, and find out what figgy pudding is, they’ll be on their way.
Look, gentlemen, I think the best I can do is to pass around a little microphone for all of you to say whatever you’d like to say about Christmas, and then you all have to promise to scaddattle out of here. Tertullian looked at the others and said, “I’m good with that, but what is a microphone?” “Is it anything like figgy pudding?” asked Chrysostom. This was going to be a long holiday.
But Origin shrugged and declared that he was not particularly afraid of new things, or even questionable speculation, so hand me that there micro-phobe.
— #1.
When Plato says that it is difficult to see the maker and Father of the universe, we Christians agree with him. And yet he can be seen, for it is written: “Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God.” Moreover, he who is the image of the invisible God has said: “He who sees me, has seen the Father.” — Origin, c. 185-253
“Speaking of things difficult to see, this stuff is nasty, is there any sweetener for the coffee?” inquired St. Augustine.
“Ssshhh!….” chided Lucian of Antioch; and then whispered to the Syrian fathers, “Just ‘cause he’s a ‘doctor of the Church’ he thinks he can ask for anything.”
At which point, Irenaeus, having taken a break from scolding heretics and glad to be among the brethren, stood and spoke a word of truth and consensus:
— #2.
God the Father uncreated, who is uncontained, invisible, one God, creator of the universe; this is the first article of our faith . . . And the Word of God, the Son of God, our lord Jesus Christ . . . who, in the fullness of time, in order to gather all things to himself, he became a human being amongst human beings, capable of being seen and touched, to destroy death, bring life, and restore fellowship between God and humanity. And the Holy Spirit . . . who, in the fullness of time, was poured out in a new way on our human nature in order to renew humanity throughout the entire world in the sight of God.
— Irenaeus, d. 180, Demonstration of the Apostolic Preaching.
They all Amened, and bumped fists, saying, “Now that is a wise and true statement summarizing our faith. God Triune has restored for us a relationship with himself by virtue of Christ our Lord who came in the fullness of time.”
“Brother, can we stay until tomorrow?” one of them asked. Yes, I acquiesced, you men can stay until tomorrow. Especially you, Athanasius, something tells me you’ll have plenty to say about the nature of Christ and Christmas.
“All this reminds me of that little Christmas song that Prudentius has written!” mused Ambrose of Milan.
“It’s not THAT little,” complained Gregory of Nazianzus under his breathe.
Clearing his throat, Ambrose insisted, “Come, brother Prudentius, let’s hear it again.”
“Admittedly,” said Gregory backing down, “It is beautiful.”
— #3. OF THE FATHER’S LOVE BEGOTTEN
— part 1 —
1
of the Father’s love begotten
before worlds from chaos rose
he is Alpha, from that fountain
all that is and has been flows
of all things he is Omega
his word marks the mystic close
— evermore and evermore!
2
by his word was all created
he commanded, it was done
earth and sky and boundless ocean
universe of three and one
all that sees the moon’s soft radiance
all that breathes beneath the sun
— evermore and evermore!
3
he assumed this mortal body
frail and feeble, doomed to die
that the race from dust created
might not perish utterly
which the dreadful law had sentenced
in the depths of hell to lie
— evermore and evermore!
4
oh how blest that wondrous birthday
when the maid the curse retrieved
brought to birth mankind’s salvation
by the Holy Ghost conceived
and the babe, the world’s Redeemer
seen and in the world believed
— evermore and evermore!
5
sing, you heights of heaven, adore him
angels and archangels sing
powers, dominions, bow before him
and extol our God and King
let no tongue on earth be silent
every voice in concert ring
— evermore and evermore!
— part 2 —
6
this is he whom seer and sybil
sang in ages long gone by
this is he of old revealèd
in the page of prophecy
look, he comes the promised Savior
let the world his praises cry!
— evermore and evermore!
7
let no art portray us righteous
as though we deserved his grace
Christ came only for the wicked
to this false and painted place
shrouded in a canvas lowly
born the Savior of our race
— evermore and evermore!
8
now let old and young uniting
men and boys in chorus sing
matrons, virgins, little maidens
with glad voices answering
let their songs echo the angels
and the heart its music bring
— evermore and evermore!
9
winter storm and summer sunshine
let each stream and sounding shore
sea and forest, dale and mountain
day and night their LORD adore
let creation join to laud him
through the ages evermore
— evermore and evermore!
10
sing, you heights of heaven, adore him
angels and archangels sing
powers, dominions, bow before him
and extol our God and King
let no tongue on earth be silent
every voice in concert ring
— evermore and evermore!
________________________
aurelius clemens prudentius, 348-413
trans. john mason neale, 1854,
unconscionably altered, k.dale davis, 2016, stanza7 added, 8.7.8.7.8.7.7. meter
Lutterworth Society 