Chrysostom: “For ‘there came forth water and blood.’ Not without purpose or by chance did those fountains spring forth. Rather, it is because the church consists of these two together. And those who have been initiated know this, being regenerated indeed by water and nourished by the blood and the flesh. And so, the mysteries take their beginning. In this way, when you approach that awesome cup, you may so approach as though you were drinking from His very side.” (ACCOS, IVb:328)

Chrysostom: “If you desire further proof of the power of this blood, remember where it came from, how it ran down from the cross, flowing from the Master’s side. The gospel records that when Christ was dead, but still hung on the cross, a soldier came and pierced his side with a lance and immediately there poured out water and blood. Now the water was a symbol of baptism and the blood, of the holy Eucharist. The soldier pierced the Lord’s side, he breached the wall of the sacred temple, and I have found the treasure and made it my own. So also with the lamb: the Jews sacrificed the victim and I have been saved by it.

‘There flowed from his side water and blood’. Beloved, do not pass over this mystery without thought; it has yet another hidden meaning, which I will explain to you. I said that water and blood symbolized baptism and the holy eucharist. From these two sacraments the Church is born: from baptism, “the cleansing water that gives rebirth and renewal through the Holy Spirit”, and from the holy eucharist. Since the symbols of baptism and the Eucharist flowed from his side, it was from his side that Christ fashioned the Church, as he had fashioned Eve from the side of Adam Moses gives a hint of this when he tells the story of the first man and makes him exclaim: “Bone from my bones and flesh from my flesh!” As God then took a rib from Adam’s side to fashion a woman, so Christ has given us blood and water from his side to fashion the Church. God took the rib when Adam was in a deep sleep, and in the same way Christ gave us the blood and the water after his own death.” (Saint John Chrysostom’s Catechesis 3:13 19 SC 50, 174-177)

Hippolytus: “The Lord’s body furnished both sacred blood and holy water to the world.” (ACCOS, IVb:327)

Augustine: “From [Jesus’ side] have flowed forth the sacraments of the Church, without which there is no entrance to the life which is the true life.” (NPNF1 7:434)

Gerhard: “You have a type of how the Lord Christ was to have His side opened up by the spear in Adam, who had his side opened by God, and from the rib which was taken from him was crafted a woman. Thus, as Christ fell into death’s sleep on the cross, from His opened side flowed blood and water – the two Holy Sacraments – from which the Church, Christ’s bride was built up.” (Explanation 30)