He who feeds all was hungry; he thirsted by whom every drink was created, who spiritually is bread for the hungry and a fountain for the thirsty. He was wearied by his earthly journey who made himself our road to heaven. He through whom a mute man spoke and a deaf man heard became mute and deaf before his accusers. He was bound fast who frees from the bonds of infirmity. He was scourged who drove the lashes of all pain from the bodies of people. He was crucified who put an end to our torture. He died who raised the dead. But he has risen never to die again so that no one would learn from him so to despise death as though never destined to conquer it.  (De catechizandis rudibus, 22, 40; “Harmless: “such language...could be easily memorized–an urgent need if one had an illiterate audience.”)

Rev. Joseph A. Komonchak, professor emeritus of the School of Theology and Religious Studies at the Catholic University of America, is a retired priest of the Archdiocese of New York.

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