St Athanasius the Great LETTERS, Part I, Complete

Translated by Cardinal Newman.

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Page 87

4. By these things Israel of old, having first, as in a figure, striven for the victory, came to the feast, for these things were then foreshadowed and typified. But we, my beloved, the shadow having received its fulfilment, and the types being accomplished, should no longer consider the feast typical, neither should we go up to Jerusalem which is here below, to sacrifice the Passover, according to the unseasonable observance of the Jews, lest, while the season passes away, we should be regarded as acting unseasonably [4041] ; but, in accordance with the injunction of the Apostles, let us go beyond the types, and sing the new song of praise. For perceiving this, and being assembled together with the Truth [4042] , they drew near, and said unto our Saviour, 'Where wilt Thou that we should make ready for Thee the Passover [4043] ?' For no longer were these things to be done which belonged to Jerusalem which is beneath; neither there alone was the feast to be celebrated, but wherever God willed it to be. Now He willed it to be in every place, so that 'in every place incense and a sacrifice might be offered to Him [4044] .' For although, as in the historical account, in no other place might the feast of the Passover be kept save only in Jerusalem, yet when the things pertaining to that time were fulfilled, and those which belonged to shadows had passed away, and the preaching of the Gospel was about to extend everywhere; when indeed the disciples were spreading the feast in all places, they asked the Saviour, 'Where wilt Thou that we shall make ready?' The Saviour also, since He was changing the typical for the spiritual, promised them that they should no longer eat the flesh of a lamb, but His own, saying, 'Take, eat and drink; this is My body, and My blood [4045] .' When we are thus nourished by these things, we also, my beloved, shall truly keep the feast of the Passover.

[4041] Cf. Letter i. (beginning)

[4042] sun te alethei& 139;. I understand this as referring to Christ. Vid. John xiv. 6.

[4043] Matt. xxvi. 17.

[4044] Mal. i. 11.

[4045] Matt. xxvi. 26-28

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