The Ancient Witnesses

222 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

darkness descended even as literal darkness fell for the space of three hours during the crucifixion.” 116 In Chrysologus’s teaching, every word of the Scriptures held a deeper meaning. “In coming to the tomb,” he continued, “Mary came to the womb. She came to the womb of the resurrection and to the birthing of life, in order that Christ who came from a womb of flesh, would now come forth from the tomb of faith; and that the sealed-up tomb would give back, for all eternity, him whom the sealed-up womb of the virgin had brought forth . 117 “Tomb-womb,” said Preacher, “I like that!” I wrote down many of Chrysologus’s amazing insights in my journal. Christ’s tomb had become a “womb” by bringing forth the giver of eternal life. And He who was born of a virgin’s (sealed-off) womb, had now been born a second time from a tomb of faith! “Two Marys came to the tomb,” Chrysologus continued. “Two Marys?” asked Cesar. “ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary ,” said Mentor, quoting Matthew 28. 118 “The women beat the men!” declared Preacher.

116 Matt. 27:45.

117 Peter Chrysologus, Sermon 73, Fathers of the Church 110, 16-17. Corpus Christianorum Series Latina vol. 24a , 460.

118 Matt. 28:1.