"But behold again a Virgin, a tree, and a death"

"The Cross is the Father’s will, the glory of the Only-begotten, the Spirit’s exultation, the beauty [(κόσμος)] of the angels, the guardian of the Church. Paul glories in the Cross; it is the rampart of the saints, it is the light of the whole world."

     St. John Chrysostom, Homily De coemetrio et de cruce 2, trans. for the Office of Readings, Saturday Memorial of the Blessed Virgin Mary, by Universalis.  Greek from PG 49, cols. 396-397.