Feast of SAINT CYRIL

The feast of St. Cyril of Constantinople is no longer included either in the current Carmelite calendar or in the 2004 Roman Martyrology. Although formerly honored within the Carmelite order with the title of doctor, he has never been among the the Doctors of the universal Church, which currently number thirty-three. Sadly, his work on the procession of the Holy Spirit is not extant.

PRAYER.

O GOD! 
who, when the Blessed Doctor, Cyril, 
was offering the Holy Sacrifice upon Mount Carmel, 
didst reveal to him, by the apparition of an angel, 
the events of a future age; 
grant that, following his example, 
we may despise the things of earth, 
and seek ever those which are eternal.
Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Your Son
Who lives and reigns with You
in the unity of the Holy Spirit
one God, forever and ever.  Amen.

LESSON IV.

Cyril, the Carmelite, was born in Constantinople, of noble parents. Like John the Baptist and Samuel, he dedicated himself to God from his infancy; and having later entered the ranks of the clergy, he was raised to the priesthood. In his new state he gave himself up to the pursuit of all branches of learning, so that every one looked upon him as a wonder. His style was rich in teaching, keen in arguing, and earnest in preaching. Hearing that the Sultan of Iconium wished to have books upon the christian religion, he set out for Iconium, taking with him the sacred writings; and he pressed the Sultan with forces so overwhelming, that in a short time he made him a catechumen. When the latter had been fully instructed, Cyril, on the Feast of Easter, brought him forth to a new life in the sacred waters of baptism.

LESSON V.

A dispute arose between the Patriarch of Constantinople and Saint Cyril, about the procession of the Holy Ghost. The Patriarch asserted that the Holy Ghost proceeded from the Father alone, while Cyril was steadfast in maintaining that He proceeded from the Father and the Son. Cyril, therefore, wishing to keep himself free from the errors of the Greeks, and warned by the Blessed Virgin in his sleep, bestowed all that he had upon the poor, and setting sail for Syria, he reached Mount Carmel. He there took the habit of the Mother of God, and became so pleasing to God by his fasts, prayers, and works of charity, that he was deemed worthy of divine revelations.

LESSON VI.

Once while Saint Cyril was offering the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, upon the Feast of the Blessed Hilarion, an angel, under the form of a virgin, brought to him two silver tablets inscribed with Greek characters, saying to him, “The Almighty God hath sent these tablets to thee, His favored servant and faithful herald, that thou mayest transfer this writing to parchment, and that, after thou hast melted the silver tablets, thou mayest make of them a chalice and a censer with which to offer sacrifice to God.” The writing contained eleven heads in which a grievous persecution was foretold to the Church. In carrying out these behests the holy man fully comprehended their mysteries. The Blessed Cyril, after having heaped up good works, and having admirably ruled his Order in the Holy Land for twenty-seven years, passed hence to God, to reign with Him forever in the land of the living. He flourished under the Emperors Philip and Otho, and in the year of our Lord about twelve hundred.

Taken from the book “Saints of Carmel” (BOSTON: JOHN CASHMAN & CO., 1896).