1. I have long been
wishing, O true-born and dearly beloved children of the Church, to
discourse to you concerning these spiritual and heavenly Mysteries; but
since I well knew that seeing is far more persuasive than hearing, I
waited for the present season; that finding you more open to the
influence of my words from your present experience, I might lead you by
the hand into the brighter and more fragrant meadow of the Paradise
before us; especially as ye have been made fit to receive the more
sacred Mysteries, after having been found worthy of divine and
life-giving Baptism This Lecture was
delivered on the Monday after Easter in the Holy Sepulchre: see
Cat. xviii. 33.. Since
therefore it remains to set before you a table of the more perfect
instructions, let us now teach you these things exactly, that ye may
know the effect τὴν ἔμφασιν
τὴν.…γεγενημένην
, is found in all the mss.
“Nevertheless it would seem that we ought to read
τῶν.…γεγενημένων,
which Grodecq either read or substituted” (Ben. Ed.). With
the proposed reading the meaning would be—“the significance
of the things done to you,” which agrees better with the meaning
of ἔμφασις. wrought upon you on
that evening of your baptism.