And the Lord appeared unto him in the plains of Mamre: and he sat in the tent door in the heat of the day;

And he lift up his eyes and looked, and, lo, three men stood by him: and when he saw them, he ran to meet them from the tent door, and bowed himself toward the ground

Nor can it be thought that Almighty God Himself is meant. For it is impious to suggest that the Divine changes and puts on the shape and form of a man. And so it remains for us to own that it is the Word of God who in the preceding passage is regarded as divine : whence the place is even today honoured by those who live in the neighbourhood as a sacred place in honour of those who appeared to Abraham, and the terebinth can still be seen there. represented in the picture, sit one on each side, and he in the midst surpasses them in honour. ‘This would be our Lord and Saviour, Whom though men knew Him not they worshipped, confirming the Holy Scriptures. - Eusebius, Proof of the Gospels, Book V, Chapter 9

#patristics #iconology #christology

The ministers of God's grace preached on repentance with the help of the Holy Spirit. And the Lord of all things Himself spoke of repentance, with an oath:

For as I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner but his repentance.

He added this kindly assurance:

Repent, O house of Israel, of your wickedness. Say to the sons of my people: "If your sins reach from the earth to Heaven, and if they be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth, and you return to Me with all your heart and say, Father, I will listen to you as a holy people." - Clement of Rome, Epistle to the Corinthians, VIII

#Patristics #Penance #Soteriology

By the word of His majesty He has set up all things, and by a word He can overturn them. 'Who shall say to Him, "What hast Thou done?" or who shall stand against the force of His power?'

When He wishes, and as He wishes, He will do all things, and none of the things decreed by Him shall fail. All things are before Him, and nothing is hid from His planning. - St Clement of Rome, Ibid.

#Patristics #Providence #Predestination

“Why shouldst thou fear to be stripped of that which thou hast resigned already to Christ?… Thou hast no life to lose, because thou hast given it already to Christ, nor can man take away that without God’s leave.”

— Fr. William Gurnall

Sweetest Saviour, I come to thee upon thy invitation, and thy commandment; I could not come to thee but by thee; O let me never go from thee any more, but enter into my heart; feed me with thy word; sustain me with thy Spirit; refresh me with thy comforts, and let me in this divine mystery receive thee, my dearest Saviour: and be thou my wisdom and my righteousness, my sanctification and redemption.

Let me receive this holy nutriment, as the earnest of an eternal inheritance, as a defensative against all spiritual danger, for the eviction of all the powers of the enemy: as an incentive of holy love, and a strengthening of my faith for the increasing of a holy hope, and the consummation of a heavenly love; that thou being one with me, and I with thee, I may, by thee, be gracious in the eyes of thy heavenly Father, and may receive my portion among the inheritance of sons, O eternal and most gracious Saviour and Redeemer Jesus. Amen, Amen. - Jeremy Taylor, Devotions to be used upon the Morning of Communion

This wouldn't happen if she followed Lenten fast

brethren, if the Lord endured suffering for our souls although He is the Lord of the whole world, to Whom God said at the foundation of the world:

Let us make man in our image and likeness,

how then did He allow Himself to suffer at the hands of men?

Here is the reason. The Prophets, with His grace, prophesied concerning Him, and He, to destroy death and manifest the Resurrection from the dead, allowed Himself to suffer because He must necessarily be manifested in the flesh. It was also to fulfill the promise made to the fathers, and prepare for Himself the new people; also to show, while still on earth, that, having effected the Resurrection, He Himself will be the judge. - Epistle of Barnabas 5.5

#Patristics #Christology #Soteriology

Grant, we beseech thee, Almighty God, that we, who for our evil deeds do worthily deserve to be punished, by the comfort of thy grace may mercifully be relieved; through our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ. Amen.

Who was the guilty?
Who brought this upon thee?
Alas, my treason,
Jesus, hath undone thee.
'Twas I, Lord Jesus,
I it was denied thee:
I crucified thee.

-Johann Crueger, 1640

See, O Lord, my tribulations and the afflictions of my soul,
for I am burdened by my many sins. Return, grant pardon and lead me back to You,
for You said, “Return to Me and I will return to you.”
Have mercy on me for I am languishing;
Help me for I am so wretched,
Shine on me for I am so dark
Guide me for I have gone astray;
I am filled with sins and uncountable transgressions,
I am floundering and tossed about in torrents of iniquity.
But I take refuge in You,
Reach out Your hand to me as You did to Peter.
I call upon You to justify me as You did that tax-collector;
Pardon my transgressions as You did those of the thief.
Open to me the gate to the Way of Life,
and bring me into the royal bridal-chamber.

St Ephrem the Syrian

#Patristics #Soteriology #Penance