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                                                                                               ESA/Hubble Image

Ever since I was young, I've returned to St. Ireneaus of Lyons many, many times, finding in his writings a source of clarity and light. There is so much in this wonderful passage, for instance: “God has no need of anything that is ours; we do have a need—to offer something to God.” (Adversus haereses IV, 18.6, Tr. Maurice Wiles & Mark Santer)  And there is a real echo of Ireneaus in Novalis (and George MacDonald), consciously perhaps—or not.  Song five of Hymmen an die Nacht is a magnificent lyrical expression of Ireneaus’ organic eschatology, including this:

Die Mutter eilte bald dir nach – in himmlischem Triumph. – Sie war die erste in der neuen Heimat bei dir. Lange Zeiten entflossen seitdem, und in immer höherm Glanze regte deine neue Schöpfung sich – und Tausende zogen aus Schmerzen und Qualen, voll Glauben und Sehnsucht und Treue dir nach – wallen mit dir und der himmlischen Jungfrau im Reiche der Liebe – dienen im Tempel des himmlischen Todes und sind in Ewigkeit dein.

     Back in the day, the friends I had who were involved with the diocesan youth department used to love that most famous quote of Irenaeus, “The glory of God is a human being fully alive.”  Irenaeus, who was a part of Christianity in its youth, is filled with the virtues of the young: freshness, mental agility, confidence, joy, and enthusiasm.