The Son And The Sun

Habentes ergo tantae spei fiduciam, dilectissimi, in fide qua fundati estis stabiles permanete, ne idem ille temptator, cuius iam a vobis dominationem christus exclusit, aliquibus vos iterum seducat insidiis, et haec ipsa praesentis diei gaudia fallaciae suae arte corrumpat, inludens simplicioribus animis de quorumdam persuasione pestifera, quibus hic dies sollemnitatis nostrae, non tam de nativitate Christi, quam de novi, ut dicunt, solis ortu videatur honorabilis. Quorum corda vastis tenebris obvoluta, et ab omni incremento verae lucis aliena sunt. Trahuntur enim adhuc stultissimis gentilitatis erroribus, et quia supra id quod carnali intuentur aspectu, nequeunt aciem mentis erigere, ministra mundi luminaria divino honore venerantur. Absit ab animis christianis impia superstitio prodigiosum que mendacium. Ultra omnem modum distant a sempiterno temporalia, ab incorporeo corporea, a dominatore subiecta, quae etsi mirandam habent pulchritudinem, adorandam tamen non habent deitatem. Illa ergo virtus, illa sapientia, illa est colenda maiestas, quae universitatem mundi creavit ex nihilo, et in quas voluit formas atque mensuras terrenam caelestem que substantiam omnipotenti ratione produxit. Sol, luna et sidera sint commoda utentibus, sint speciosa cernentibus, sed ita ut de illis gratiae referantur auctori, et adoretur Deus, qui condidit, non creatura, quae servit. Laudate igitur Deum, dilectissimi, in omnibus operibus eius atque iudiciis. Sit in vobis indubitata credulitas virgineae integritatis et partus. Reformationis humanae sacrum divinum que mysterium sancto atque sincero honorate famulatu. Amplectimini Christum in nostra carne nascentem, ut eumdem Deum gloriae videre mereamini in sua maiestate regnantem, qui cum Patre et cum Spiritu Sancto manet in unitate deitatis in saecula saeculorum. Sanctus Leo Magnus, Sermo XXII, In Nativitate Domini Source: Migne PL 54.198b-199a

Having therefore so confident a hope, dearly beloved, remain firm in the faith in which you have been established, lest that same tempter whose domination over you Christ has already cast out, seduce you again with any of his wiles and corrupt even the joys of the present day by his deceitful art, misleading simpler souls with the pestilential idea of some to whom this day of our solemnity seems to derive its honour, not so much from the nativity of Christ, but, as they say, from the rising of the new sun. Such hearts are wrapped in great darkness and are estranged from any increase in the perception of the true light. For they are still drawn away by the most foolish errors of paganism, and because they cannot lift the acuity of the mind above that which they see with carnal sight, they venerate with divine honours the luminaries that minister to the world. May wicked superstitions and egregious lies be far from Christian souls. Temporal things are separated from the Eternal by all measure, and likewise corporeal things from the incorporeal, and things governed from Him who governs, which even if they may possess an admirable beauty, yet have no divinity to be adored. That power, then, that wisdom, that majesty, is to be adored which created everything out of nothing and by His almighty reason made into what forms and dimensions He willed the substance of the earth and sky. The sun and the moon and the stars may be useful to us, they may be most fair to look on, but only if we give thanks to their Maker for them and worship God who made them, not the created thing which serves. Thus praise God, dearly beloved, in all His works and judgments. May there be in you an undoubting belief in the Virgin's integrity and the birth. Honour the sacred and Divine mystery of man's restoration with holy and sincere service. Embrace Christ born in our flesh, that you may merit to see the same God of glory reigning in His majesty, who with the Father and the Holy Spirit remains in the unity of the Godhead for ever and ever. Amen. Pope Leo the Great, from Sermon 22, On The Nativity Of The Lord