Mercy and Glory

Laetemur in miserationibus Redemptoris nostri. Abraham ante Christi adventum apud inferos fuit. Post Christi passionem latro in paradiso. Morte Christi mors mortua est, flammea romphea custos paradisi sanguine Christi exstincta. Et beatus Petrus homo terrenus portas aperit, quas aethereus Cherubim clausit: Et de rete piscatorum manus repente ad claves transtulit regni coelorum. In Cherubim multitudo scientiae; sed in Christo multitudo miserationis. Olim in Judaea notus tantummodo Deus, sed nunc omnibus gentibus vox una est Christus, qui nos de servis fecit amicos, et de profugis convertit in filios. Naturam mortalitatis nostrae assumpsit in gloriam divinitatis suae. In hoc laetetur genus humanum, sciens fragilitatis nostrae naturam super angelicos exaltatem choros. Alcuinus, ex Epistola CVII, Ad Carolum Magnum Source: Migne PL 100.323a-b

Let us rejoice in the mercy of our Redeemer. Before the advent of Christ Abraham was in hell. After the passion of Christ he was with the thief in paradise. The death of Christ dealt death to death, the flames guarding paradise were extinguished by His blood. And blessed Peter, a man of earth, opened the gates closed by a heavenly Cherubim, for in place of the net of fishermen his hand suddenly received the keys of the kingdom of heaven. 1 In the Cherubim is an abundance of knowledge, in Christ an abundance of mercy. Once God was known only in Judea, 2 now to all the peoples Christ is one voice, He who has made servants friends. 3 Our natural mortality he took up into His glorious Divinity. In this let the human race rejoice, knowing the fragility of our nature is exalted above the choirs of angels. Alcuin of York, from Letter 107, To Charlemagne. 1 Gen 3.24, Mt 16.18-19 2 Ps 75.1 3 Jn 15.15