On the Allegorical Interpretation of Scripture:

“What they saw through a mirror, and through an image, we discern in truth. He Who spoke to the Israelite people through Isaiah, Jeremiah, and the other prophets, now speaks to us through the Son. See what sits between the Old Testament and the New. In that, He spoke through a cloud; to us, He speaks through a clear sky. There God was seen in the bush; here, God is born of a virgin. There, He was fire, consuming the people’s sins; here, He is man, remitting the people’s sins; rather, God, forgiving His servants.” –Sermon VII: On the Day of the Holy Epiphany.  Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Tomus LVII (Paris: J.-P. Migne, 1862)

On Baptismal Regeneration:

“For no one can remit sins, except God alone. Either the Lord Jesus was born today, or today He was baptized: for a diverse opinion is borne in the world, and, through the variety of traditions, our thought is that this stands fluid, that, today He was either born of the Virgin, or reborn in baptism, Whose nativity profits both our flesh and spirit. Either is my mystery; either is my utility. God’s Son had no need that He be born, that He be baptized, for He did not commit sin which is remitted Him in baptism; but His humility is our sublimity.” –Sermon VII: On the Day of the Holy Epiphany.  Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Tomus LVII (Paris: J.-P. Migne, 1862)

On the Sign of the Cross:

“His cross is our victory; His gibbet is our triumph. Rejoicing, let us lift this sign upon our shoulders, let us bear the banners of victories, let us bear the immortal labarum [1] on our foreheads. When the devil will look upon this sign on our posts, he will tremble; and they who do not fear the golden Capitols, [2] fear the Cross; they who condemn regal scepters, and the purples of Caesars, and the feasts, are terrified by Christ’s filth and fasts.” –Sermon VII: On the Day of the Holy Epiphany.  Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Tomus LVII (Paris: J.-P. Migne, 1862)

“Therefore, in Ezekiel the prophet, when all to whom the angel was sent were slain, and began to be killed by the saints, in a like manner, those were saved on whom the letter Tau, that is, the picture of the Cross, was signed (cf. Ez 9). Let us exult, therefore, beloved brethren, and let us raise holy hands to the similitude of the Cross, to heaven. So when armed demons see us, they are oppressed… both trophies and victories of triumphs are adorned with the Cross, which, not only on our foreheads, but in our souls, we ought also to have, so that, when we are thus armed, we will tread upon asp and basilisk in Christ Jesus (cf. Ps 91:13), Whose is the glory, unto the ages of ages. Amen.” –Sermon VII: On the Day of the Holy Epiphany.  Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Tomus LVII (Paris: J.-P. Migne, 1862)

On Spiritual Purification:

“He is, therefore, the new sun Who penetrates the closed, unlocks the depths, tears open hearts. He is the new sun Who, by His spirit, vivifies the dead, repairs the corrupt, arises those already dead; or Who, by His heat, purges the sordid, dries up the moist, boils away faults. He, I say, is He Who, in all our acts, looks at all our deeds, and He not so much condemns crimes as emends them. He, plainly, is the just and wise sun which, not without discretion, like this world’s sun, circles the good and evil, but that shines with the holy judgment of truth, slays sinners.” –Sermon IV: On the Nativity of the Lord II.  Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Tomus LVII (Paris: J.-P. Migne, 1862)

On Immaculate Mary, Mother of God:

“Therefore, He is Son of divinity; of divinity, I say, incorrupt, integral, complete. I plainly understand a mystery; for, therefore, the nativity is fruitful through the immaculate Mary, since, before, He was constituted complete through divinity: Whose first nativity stood glorious, His second will not be reproachful. That is, as, in some way, the virgin divinity gave Him forth, so also the virgin Mary generated Him. It is even written that He has a father among men; as we read in the Gospel, the Pharisees saying: Is this not the son of Joseph the carpenter, and His mother Mary? (Mt 13:55) In this, also, look to the mystery. Christ’s father is said to be a carpenter. And, clearly, God the Father is a carpenter, Who built the whole world’s works; He is clearly a craftsman, but He Who ordered Noah to build an ark during the flood. [5] A carpenter, I say, is He Who ordained Moses’ tabernacle, instituted the ark of the testament, erected the temple of Solomon; I would call Him a carpenter, Who smooths rigid minds, pares down proud thoughts, raises humble deeds. Indeed, this carpenter uses curved iron tools around trees, as we read in the Gospel, John saying: ‘Now the axe is placed at the root of the trees. Every tree not bearing good fruit will be cut down, and thrown into the fire’ (Mt 3:10; Lk 3:9); as tool of the heavenly carpenter builds trees for the future, but the fire of flames consumes the unfruitful, plucked out by the root.” –Sermon IV: On the Nativity of the Lord II.  Patrologiae Cursus Completus, Series Latina, ed. J.-P. Migne, Tomus LVII (Paris: J.-P. Migne, 1862)