st. john of damascus (676-749 - Cristo Raul

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THE FONS SCIENTI^E."
teristic of the writer, and of his time, that
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the section
on Faith is much shorter than that on the Cross,
which follows. The cross, he says, is the sign that
distinguishes the Christian, as the seal of circum
cision did the Jew. It is that which raises up them
that are fallen, strengthens them that stand, the staff
of the weak .... the salvation of
soul and body."
Hence we should worship the manger, the grotto, the
sepulchre, the very wood which bore Christ s suffer
ing body. Even images of it, in whatever material,
deserve the same. Not that we pay this honour to
the material object (God forbid !)
but to the emblem,
as a type of Christ." For if the very dwelling, the
bed, the clothing, of those whom we love is dear to
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us, how much more so should be the things belong
ing to God our Saviour?" (c. Ixxxiv.) In our devo
tions we worship towards the East, for we turn to
the rising of our sun of righteousness," and we look
with longing eyes to our native home, the Eden
planted in the East, from which we are exiled for a
time for our sins (c. Ixxxv.).
The chapter on the sacraments is
among the most
important in the work. After reciting the goodness
of God in creating man, and man s disobedience
which cut him off from union with his Maker, the
author briefly refers to the scheme for our redemption,
formation, and the descent of the Holy Spirit. It may be
observed that by the phrase extreme unction is properly meant
last unction, i.e., last of the various ones which a believer may
receive during the course of his life and
; not, as may some
times be thought, an anointing only resorted to when a person
is in extremis.