Fathers

Homilies on Leviticus, Homilia I · §3

Hand upon the head of the victim

He shall lay his hand on the head of the offering, and it shall be acceptable. The laid-on hand means communion: what we offer becomes ours in figure. Christ is the head; we the members. To lay the hand is to consent and to confess the sins that pass onto the victim. Blood is dashed at the altar, for without shedding of blood there is no forgiveness. Our high priest, Christ, offered himself once.

Latin

Imponet manum suam super caput hostiae, et acceptabilis erit. Manus imposita communionem significat: quae offeruntur, nostra fiunt. Christus caput; nos membra. Imponere manum — consentire et confiteri peccata quae in hostiam transeunt. Sanguis adspersus ad altare: sine sanguinis effusione non fit remissio. Pontifex noster Christus semel obtulit seipsum.

About this text

Origen’s Homilia I on Leviticus (Rufinus’s Latin). Complete on this page: §§1–5.

English follows Baehrens, Origenes Werke VI (GCS 29, 1920), Rufinus’s Latin of Homilia I. Barkley FOTC 83 was not used as wording. This page is Homilia I §§1–5 (closeout).

Witnesses

  • Copy-text Baehrens, Origenes Werke VI = GCS 29 (1920) (Latin · Homilia I §§1–5)

English is newly prepared for study from the stated edition. Open Latin on each section (or the Latin source witness link) for the source text. This is not a complete critical edition.