At Easter, we celebrate the very heart of the Gospel: that our Savior has overcome sin and death that we may be redeemed. Easter is a time for untrammeled exuberance – a time to bask in the joyous triumph of Christ our King, because He lives – and by Him, we too may truly live. As we celebrate the Resurrection, we invite you to delight in the joy of Easter with these 10 saint quotes from the faithful across the ages.
On Rejoicing in Easter
“Earth her joy confesses, clothing her for spring;
All fresh gifts returned with her returning King.
Blooms in every meadow, leaves on every bow,
Speak His sorrow ended, hail His triumph now:
‘Welcome, happy morning!’ age to age shall say.” – St. Venantius Fortunatus
“Tis the spring of souls today: Christ hath burst His prison;
And from three days’ sleep in death as a Sun hath risen.
All the winter of our sins, long and dark, is flying
From His light, to whom we give laud and praise undying.
Now the queen of seasons, bright with the day of splendor,
With the royal feast of feasts comes its joy to render!” – St. John of Damascus
“Now let the heavens be joyful; let earth her song begin;
Let the round world keep triumph, and all that is therein!
Let all things seen and unseen their notes of gladness blend,
For Christ the Lord hath risen, our Joy that hath no end!”
– St. John of Damascus
On the Redemption of the Cross
“Glory be to You, who laid your Cross as a bridge over death that souls might pass over it from the dwelling of the dead to dwelling of life.” – St. Ephrem of Syrian
“Once as the tree of torture known – now the bright gate to Jesus’ throne.” – St. Peter Damian
On the Mystery of the Incarnation
“O loving wisdom of our God! When all was sin and shame,
A second Adam to the fight and to the rescue came.
O wisest love! That flesh and blood, which did in Adam fail
Should strive afresh against the foe, should strive and should prevail.
And that a higher gift than grace should flesh and blood refine:
God’s presence and His very self essence all-divine.” – St. John Henry Cardinal Newman
“May He make us children of God, He who for our sakes wished to become a Child of man.”
– St. Augustine Hippo
On the Resurrection
“Christ’s resurrection is the strength, the secret of Christianity. It is not a question of mythology or of mere symbolism, but of a concrete event. It is confirmed by sure and convincing proofs. The acceptance of this truth, although the fruit of the Holy Spirit’s grace, rests at the same time on a solid historical base. On the threshold of the third millennium, the new effort of evangelization can begin only from a renewed experience of this Mystery, accepted in faith and witnessed to in life.”
– St. John Paul II
“The bodies of the saints will therefore rise again free from every defect from every deformity, and from every corruption, encumbrance, or hindrance. In this way their freedom of action will be as complete as their happiness.” – St. Augustine of Hippo
“On this night of Resurrection everything begins anew; creation regains its authentic meaning in the plan of salvation. It is like a new beginning of history and of the cosmos, because Christ is risen, ‘the first fruits of those who have fallen asleep’ (1 Cor 15:20). Christ, the ‘last Adam,’ has become ‘a life-giving spirit’ (1 Cor 15:45).” – St. John Paul II
Sources:
A Dictionary of Quotes from the Saints, Dr. Paul Thigpen
Easter Vigil Homily of the Holy Father John Paul II, the Vatican.
“What the Saints Say About Easter,” National Catholic Register.