Category Archives: Cross

The Price of Satisfaction: Bernard of Clairvaux’s View of Redemption

Posted on August 19, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“You lived, O man, in darkness and the shadow of death through ignorance of the truth; you were a prisoner and your sins were your shackles.  He [Jesus] came down to you in your prison, not to torture you but … Continue reading →

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The Ladder to Heaven

Posted on June 16, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“Truly, the cross of Christ is a ladder reaching into heaven from earth, because through the faith of the cross, through imitation of the Passion, man returns from exile to the homeland, from death to life, from earth to heaven, … Continue reading →

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The Shame of Peter Abelard

Posted on May 20, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“You know the depths of shame to which my unbridled lust had consigned our bodies, until no reverence for decency or for God even during the days of Our Lord’s Passion, or of the greater sacraments could keep me from … Continue reading →

Posted in Cross, Heloise, Love, memory, Peter Abelard | Leave a comment

The Honorable Cross

Posted on April 18, 2019 by Matthew Phillips

“Every action of Christ and all His working of miracles were truly great and divine and wonderful, but of all things the most wonderful is His honorable cross.  For by nothing else except the cross of our Lord Jesus Christ … Continue reading →

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A Medieval Palm Sunday Sermon

Posted on March 25, 2018 by Matthew Phillips

“[Christ] having entered the battle, had nails affixed to his feet as shin guards, He held a reed in [his] hand for a lance, [his] hands were affixed with nails for a sword.  He had the cross for a shield, … Continue reading →

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The Sweetness of the Cross

Posted on March 27, 2016 by Matthew Phillips

    “Now, what sweetness was your heart able to imbibe when, with your inner eye, you saw the Lord carrying his cross? Who can appreciate that humility, that meekness, that patient endurance?  Indeed, he was led like a sheep to … Continue reading →

Posted in Aelred of Rievaulx, Christ, Cross | Tagged | Leave a comment

Exaltation of the Cross

Posted on September 14, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“God, who deigned to redeem the human race through the precious blood of Thy only-begotten Son, Our Lord Jesus Christ, graciously grant that whoever approaches to adore the life-giving cross, may be freed from the bonds of their sins.” [My … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Cross, Honorius Augustodunensis, medieval | Leave a comment

A Medieval Good Friday

Posted on April 4, 2015 by Matthew Phillips

“Faithful cross, true sign of triumph, Be for all the noblest tree; None in foliage, None in blossom, None in fruit thine equal be; Symbol of the world’s redemption, For the weight that hung on thee!” 4th verse in Sing, … Continue reading →

Posted in Christ, Cross, gospel, medieval, Peter Lombard, preaching | Leave a comment