St. Cyril of Jerusalem: Catechist, Doctor of the Church

St. Cyril of Jerusalem (about 315–387) was bishop of Jerusalem in the fourth century, three times driven into exile during the Arian controversies, and the author of the Catechetical Lectures, a complete course of instruction he gave to people preparing for Baptism at Easter in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre. His lectures, taken down by listeners, are one of the most precious witnesses to the faith, Creed and sacraments of the early Church, including a famous description of how Christians received Holy Communion. Pope Leo XIII declared him a Doctor of the Church in 1882. His feast day is March 18. Below are his story, his words, and prayers to St. Cyril for catechists and for those preparing for the sacraments.

A short prayer to St. Cyril of Jerusalem, written for this page:

St. Cyril, you taught the faith with clarity and love to those coming to Baptism.
Pray for catechists and for all who are preparing for the sacraments,
and help me to receive Our Lord with the reverence you taught. Amen.

Who was St. Cyril of Jerusalem?

Cyril was probably born in or near Jerusalem around 315, grew up in a Christian family and was well educated in the Scriptures. As a priest he was given the task of instructing the catechumens, and around 350 he delivered the lectures that made him famous: an introduction, eighteen lectures on the Creed and the Christian life during Lent, and five “mystagogical” lectures after Easter explaining to the newly baptized the sacraments they had just received, Baptism, Chrismation and the Eucharist. (Some scholars think the mystagogical lectures may have been revised or given by his successor, John, but they have always been read under Cyril’s name.)

He became bishop of Jerusalem around 350. In the struggles over the divinity of Christ that divided the Church after the Council of Nicaea, he was caught between parties and was exiled three times, spending about sixteen years of his episcopate away from his see. He took part in the Council of Constantinople in 381, which completed the Nicene Creed we still pray today, and he died in Jerusalem around 387.

How to receive Holy Communion

In his fifth mystagogical lecture (Catechetical Lecture 23), Cyril taught the newly baptized how to receive the Body and Blood of Christ:

In approaching therefore, come not with thy wrists extended, or thy fingers spread; but make thy left hand a throne for the right, as for that which is to receive a King. And having hollowed thy palm, receive the Body of Christ, saying over it, Amen. So then after having carefully hallowed thine eyes by the touch of the Holy Body, partake of it; giving heed lest thou lose any portion thereof; for whatever thou losest, is evidently a loss to thee as it were from one of thine own members. For tell me, if any one gave thee grains of gold, wouldest thou not hold them with all carefulness, being on thy guard against losing any of them, and suffering loss? Wilt thou not then much more carefully keep watch, that not a crumb fall from thee of what is more precious than gold and precious stones?

Then after thou hast partaken of the Body of Christ, draw near also to the Cup of His Blood; not stretching forth thine hands, but bending, and saying with an air of worship and reverence, Amen, hallow thyself by partaking also of the Blood of Christ. And while the moisture is still upon thy lips, touch it with thine hands, and hallow thine eyes and brow and the other organs of sense. Then wait for the prayer, and give thanks unto God, who hath accounted thee worthy of so great mysteries.

St. Paul’s account of the Last Supper (1 Corinthians 11:23–26, Douay-Rheims):

For I have received of the Lord that which also I delivered unto you, that the Lord Jesus, the same night in which he was betrayed, took bread.
And giving thanks, broke, and said: Take ye, and eat: this is my body, which shall be delivered for you: this do for the commemoration of me.
In like manner also the chalice, after he had supped, saying: This chalice is the new testament in my blood: this do ye, as often as you shall drink, for the commemoration of me.
For as often as you shall eat this bread, and drink the chalice, you shall shew the death of the Lord, until he come.

See also the prayer before Communion and the First Communion page.

What is St. Cyril of Jerusalem the patron saint of?

Catechists and catechumens, in popular devotion
Those preparing for Baptism, Confirmation and First Communion

Prayers to St. Cyril of Jerusalem

Written for this page.

For catechumens

St. Cyril, pray for everyone preparing to be baptized and received into the Church this year.
Open their minds to the truth, their hearts to Christ, and their lives to the Holy Spirit. Amen.

For catechists

St. Cyril, teacher of the faith, pray for catechists and religion teachers.
Give them knowledge, patience and joy, and make their words bear fruit. Amen.

Feast day

The optional memorial of St. Cyril of Jerusalem, bishop and Doctor of the Church, is March 18, the eve of St. Joseph’s Day.

Frequently asked questions

What are the Catechetical Lectures?

A series of instructions St. Cyril gave around 350 to people preparing for Baptism in Jerusalem and to the newly baptized after Easter.

What did St. Cyril say about receiving Communion?

He taught the faithful to “make thy left hand a throne for the right,” to receive the Body of Christ with reverence and to take great care that not a crumb should fall.

When is the feast of St. Cyril of Jerusalem?

March 18.

More saints

Texts and sources

Cyril of Jerusalem, Catechetical Lecture 23 (Mystagogical Catechesis 5), 21–22, trans. E. H. Gifford, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series II, vol. 7 (1894), public domain (Wikisource).
1 Corinthians 11:23–26 (Douay-Rheims).