St. John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church

St. John Damascene, Priest and Doctor: c. 675-749 A.D.

Feast day, December 4

Birth, family background, and early life

St. John of Damascus, or St. John Damascene, was born of a wealthy Christian family at Damascus, Syria, in 675 A.D. His father, also named John, had the position of chief of the revenue department for the caliphate, and also chief representative of the Christian community. A brilliant monk called Cosmas, who had been captured in a raid on Sicily, educated the young St. John Damascene - teaching him all the sciences, but most especially theology. When John grew to manhood, he succeeded his father as chief of the revenue department, and as representative of the Christian community. In 719 A.D., a new caliph changed the system, and John soon lost his position. He then entered the Monastery of St. Sabas near Jerusalem to settle down and live the life of a monk. He occupied his time for more than thirty years, when not praying, by writing books and composing hymns.

Champion in defense of the veneration of icons

In 726 A.D., an edict was issued by Emperor Leo the Isaurian which prohibited the veneration of images. John however defended the practice, and became a leading champion of the Catholic position - arousing the enmity of the Byzantine Emperors. Emperor Leo then ordered the right hand of St. John to be cut off, but this saintly monk still lived to see his right hand miraculously restored through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. John wrote three spiritual defenses of the veneration of icons - one in 728 A.D., and two more in 730 A.D. He also made the now classic definition and distinction between "adoration", which is given only to God, and "veneration", which is given to creatures. He added also that in the treasuring of icons, Christians venerate not the images in themselves but in who the images represent.

A prolific author and outstanding writer

St. John Damascene turned out to be a prolific author, writing one hundred fifty works on theology, religious education, philosophy, and biographies. Among his outstanding writings are: Fount of Wisdom, which dealt on philosophy, heresies, and the orthodox faith; De Fide Orthodoxa, a comprehensive presentation of the teachings of the Greek Fathers on the main Christian doctrines; and Sacra Parallela. This last work is a compilation of scriptural and patristic texts on Christian moral and ascetical works. St. John also wrote poetry, of which some are used in the Greek liturgy. The elegance of St. John's use of Greek earned him the title Chrysorrhoas (gold-pouring).

Last years in the monastery

St. John Damascene remained in the monastery for most of his life. At one point, the patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop John V, called both John and his adopted brother Cosmas, out of the monastery, first consecrating Cosmas as bishop of Majuma, and then ordaining John a priest. St. John however returned to the monastery where he eventually died on December 5, 749 A.D., at about the age of 74 years. The last of the Greek Fathers of the Church, St. John Damascene was made Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1890 A.D. The Church now celebrates his feast every December 4.

References of this article

• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• The Doctors of the Church vol 1, by John F. Fink
• A Year With the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.

1st Sunday of Advent (B)

(Edited) Sunday reflections: (From) years 2014 (A), 2015 (B), and 2016 (C)

November 30, 2014
Liturgical readings
Isaiah 63:16b-17, 19b; 64:2-7
Psalm 80
1 Corinthians 1:3-9
Mark 13:33-37

"Do not let him come suddenly and catch you asleep."

The Old Testament prophets of Israel, up to the last prophet before Christ (namely, John the Baptist), all shared a common theme in their preaching: that the people Israel may repent and return to their Lord. Christ repeats this same theme in His preaching, and is evident in the gospel of Mark (Mark 1:15). But Christ adds another essential theme that is not emphasized in the OT prophets' preaching: this is the theme that God's kingdom is already in His peoples' midst. In addition to the OT prophets who prophesy a future kingdom of God, Christ preaches this Kingdom as already imminent - in the here and now of Israel. It is His very presence among His people that makes that Kingdom already a here and now reality: a reality that has arrived but still to come into its fullness.

The four Sundays of Advent (Nov 30, Dec 7, Dec 14, and Dec 21) will remind all of the importance of vigilance and sobriety. If the baptized do not heed the message of Advent, they will be distracted by a lot of external and temporal concerns. As the classics of the faith counsels, let there not be a "misguided love of the world" to endanger the soul (St. Bernard of Clairvaux). Advent reminds everyone to be watchful. It reminds of the coming of Christ not only this Christmas, but also of His Second Coming. The sobering truth of Christ's Second Coming can remind all to be more diligent in their spiritual lives: to take stock of how one is and in his relationship with God. One practice of the Church during Advent is to go to confession - a preparation for Christmas.

Advent helps prepare to receive the Light of the World. May this excerpt from St. Cyril of Jerusalem's writings help see the Person of Jesus as the Light - how His presence in all the faithful can encourage and console all when the world appears to be in the darkness of conflicts and calamities:

"The first coming was marked by patience, the second will bring the crown of a divine kingdom ... there is a hidden coming, like that of rain on fleece, and a coming before all eyes, still in the future...at the first coming He was wrapped in swaddling clothes, at His second, He will be clothed in light as a garment...

Scripture quote:
"You, Lord are our Father, our redeemer you are named forever." (Isaiah 63)

On the Liturgical Season of Advent

The Liturgical Season of Advent

The liturgical season of Advent begins the liturgical year in the calendar of the Catholic church. It prepares Catholics for the feast and commemoration of the birth of the Christ-Child at Christmas.

The season of Advent is a short liturgical season. It comprises four Sundays before the feast of Christmas on December 25. The four Sundays of the Advent season are movable feast-dates unlike other feasts in the Church. The Immaculate Conception is always celebrated on December 8, and Christmas Day is always celebrated on December 25.

The significance of Advent

Advent is a time of serious preparation: a time of preparation for the coming of Christ. Though the themes of the readings speak mostly on the first coming of Christ on Christmas Day, it also includes themes from the second coming of Christ. It is in this liturgical atmosphere of waiting and anticipation that Christians are called to prepare themselves for Christ's coming: not only for the commemoration of the Christmas season, but also for His second coming when He comes to save us completely from our sinful situation.

Reconciliation as a preparation

Much of the preparation done during this Advent season has to do also with the sacrament of reconciliation. As the Church lights the four Advent candles on the Advent wreath to signify the waiting for Christ's coming, and the joy of receiving Him on Christmas, Catholics are called everywhere to return to God and prepare. One of the readings of the Advent season is John the Baptist calling people to turn from their sinful ways and to repent. It is thus a fitting opportunity for all Catholics to go to the sacrament of reconciliation and reconcile themselves back to God.

The Advent wreath and the four Advent candles

Seasoned Catholics in many parts of the world know that it is Advent because of the presence of the Advent wreath. The four Advent candles represent the four Sundays of Advent: the first two are violet, the third is pink or rose, and the last is violet. Violet or purple, like the liturgical color used also for the Lenten season, signifies preparation, penance and reconciliation. The third candle is colored rose or pink, to signify the tradition of the third Sunday of Advent, classically called Gaudete Sunday. This Sunday emphasizes the theme of joy and expectation, since the coming of the Christ-child is near. There is a more joyful and expectant liturgical spirit involved in the theme of the readings during Gaudete Sunday.

The Advent readings

The Advent readings revolve around the 3-year liturgical cycle of readings: cycle A, B and C. In year A or cycle A, the first readings of the Mass are taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah. The second readings are taken from the letter to the Romans and from the letter of James. Then the gospel readings are taken from the gospel of Matthew.

For year B or cycle B, the first readings of the Mass are taken from the book of the prophet Isaiah and the second book of Samuel. The second readings are varied, as they are taken from 1 Corinthians, 2 Peter, 1 Thessalonians, and Romans. The gospel readings are also varied as they are taken from: Mark, John and Luke.

For year C or cycle C, the first readings are taken from the book of the prophets: Jeremiah, Baruch, Zephaniah, and Micah. The second readings are taken from Philemon, Hebrews, and 1 Thessalonians. As for the gospel readings, the whole four Sundays of Advent, cycle C, are taken from the gospel of Luke.