Saint Cyril of Jerusalem on the Church as an Assembly of the People of God

"The Church is called Catholic or universal because it has spread throughout the entire world, from one end of the earth to the other. Again, it is called Catholic because it teaches fully and unfailingly all the doctrines which ought to be brought to men’s knowledge, whether concerned with visible or invisible things, with the realities of heaven or the things of earth. Another reason for the name Catholic is that the Church brings under religious obedience all classes of men, rulers and subjects, learned and unlettered. Finally, it deserves the title Catholic because it heals and cures unrestrictedly every type of sin that can be committed in soul or in body, and because it possesses within itself every kind of virtue that can be named, whether exercised in actions or in words or in some kind of spiritual charism."

Today's Office of Readings includes an excerpt from a catechetical instruction by Saint Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop. In this portion of his instruction, St. Cyril writes about the Church as the assembly of the people of God.

To access the complete reading, please visit:

Catholic Radio Dramas: The Church as the Assembly

Background information:

The Crossroads Initiative: St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Biography and Writings