Further, bread and wine Nyss., Orat.,
Catech., ch. 37.
are employed: for God knoweth man’s infirmity: for in
general man turns away discontentedly from what is not well-worn by
custom: and so with His usual indulgence He performs His
supernatural works through familiar objects: and just as, in the
case of baptism, since it is man’s custom to wash himself with
water and anoint himself with oil, He connected the grace of the Spirit
with the oil and the water and made it the water of regeneration, in
like manner since it is man’s custom to eat and to drink water
and wine Clem.,
Constit., bk. viii.; Justin Martyr., Apol. i.;
Iren., v. 2., He connected
His divinity with these and made them His body and blood in order that
we may rise to what is supernatural through what is familiar and
natural.