Letters of Ignatius 20

1Hidden from the ruler of this world were Mary’s virginity, her giving birth, and also the Lord’s death—three mysteries to be proclaimed aloud—which were accomplished in the silence of God. How, then, were they revealed to the ages?

2A star shone forth in the heaven above all the stars. Its light was beyond description, and its strangeness caused amazement. All the other constellations, together with the sun and moon, formed a chorus around the star, but the star itself far outshone them all. There was bewilderment about where this strange appearance, so unlike the others, had come from.

3From that time on, every sorcery and every spell was dissolved. Ignorance of wickedness vanished, and the ancient kingdom was torn down when God appeared in human likeness unto the newness of everlasting life. What had been brought to completion in the counsels of God began to take effect. From then on, everything was thrown into turmoil because the abolition of death had begun.