Truly it is worthy and just, right and profitable to salvation that we should give Thee thanks always, here and everywhere, o Lord, holy Father, almighty and eternal God, through Christ, our Lord. Who on this day of great solemnity was transfigured upon the high mountain, appearing to the disciples whom He had taken up (with Him), shining with the bright splendor of the sun, that He might draw our weak human minds, caught up in slumber, to contemplate, desire and obtain with all their efforts that true enjoyment of the everlasting light. For indeed the disciples, even though they were bound in the human body, beheld such great splendor and light that Peter already desired to be there, and build three tabernacles in that place; and from such wonderful brightness, they were drawn with intense desires to long all the more for the glory on high, which eye hath not seen, nor hath entered into the heart of man. Therefore with worthy praises let us celebrate, devoutly contemplating our Redeemer on high, as He shone forth with such great splendor of light upon the top of the mountain, that we may be delivered from the prison of the present life, and be transferred forever to Thee, the true light and unfailing brightness, and lifting up our eyes, see none other but Jesus the only Redeemer. Whom together with Thee, almighty Father, and the Holy Spirit, the Angels praise, the Archangels venerate, the Thrones, Dominations, Virtues, Principalities and Powers adore; whom the Cherubim and Seraphim with shared rejoicing praise. And we pray that Thou may command our voices to be brought in among them, saying with humble confession: Holy, Holy, Holy… (The extremely long and rhetorically effusive Ambrosian preface for the feast of the Transfiguration.)
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| The Transfiguration, by Perugino, in the Collegio del Cambio in Perugia, 1497-1500 |
