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Early Church Fathers

The Early Church Fathers (a.k.a "Fathers of the Church")

by Marcellino D'Ambrosio, Ph.D., Catholic Author and Speaker

 

Many speak of the "Early Church Fathers."  But who precisely are these "Fathers of the Church" and why do they Matter?  Here and in our overview article on the Early Church Fathers, we begin to provide some answers to these important questions.

 

St. Athanasius, Early Church Fathers, Fathers of the Church EWTNAll Christian Churches look to the Bible for nourishment, truth, and guidance.  But who identified these particular writings as inspired Scriptures?  Who  provides the interpretive rules so that we can understand these writings?  And who gives us access to apostolic teaching that may not have been explicitly recorded in the Bible?

 

The answer to all these questions is the same -- the Early Church Fathers. This group of writers, who lived from the 2nd through 8th centuries, are an extremely important resource for all Christians -- Catholic, Protestant, and Orthodox.  Why? Because these "Fathers of the Church" lived in an age relatively close to the apostles, before disputes arose between Eastern and Western Christians, before the turmoil of the 16th century Reformation.

 

To read an overview explaining how various writers qualify for the title "Early Church Father" and the nature of their authority, click here.

 

For short readings by many of the most prominent Early Church Fathers, check out the readings below marked as "excerpts."  We are posting NEW readings from the Fathers of the Church almost daily, so come back and visit often!!  The brief, bite-sized "excerpts" make a great suplement to your daily prayer time ("the Fathers' greatest hits!").  For early Church writings not yet on our site, visit  New Advent. or the EWTN Library.   

 

Many of the Early Church Fathers had such a great impact on the Catholic Tradition that they are known as "Doctors of the Church".  To see a list of all 33 Doctors of the Church and read brief biographies, click here.

 

Now available: Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio's TV series on the Early Church Fathers, which has been broadcast weekly on EWTN for the last 4 years!!

  

The Early Church Fathers, Catholic Church, Fathers of the Church, Marcellino D'AmbrosioThe Early Church Fathers

 

A society characterized by the violence, loss of respect for life, exotic religious cults, homosexuality, sexual promiscuity, and even pedophilia. No, we're not talking about modren times -

 

The Early Church Fathers succeeded in bringing a Pagan society to Christ. If we pay attention to what they taught, we will succeed in doing the same for our own de-Christianized society!

 

Album 1: The Apostolic Fathers and Irenaeus

Album 2: The Apologists, Ambrose, and Augustine

Early Church Fathers 2 VHS Set—$49.95

Early Church Fathers 2 DVD Set—$49.95

Early Church Fathers 2 CD Set—$18.00  

Early Church Fathers 2 Audio Set—$18.00

 

The Fathers of the Church - Who They Are and Why They Matter

Fathers of the Early Church, Early Church FathersIf you are not familiar with the Fathers of the Early Church, Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio, in this single, upbeat talk, full of examples and stories about some of the Church's most intriguing personalities. Marcellino D'Ambrosio explains who people are talking about when they refer to the "Fathers of the Church" or "Early Church Fathers.  Though the ranks of the fathers include a tremendous variety of cultures, locales, and personalities, there is surprising consensus that emerges from them on a variety of the most important questions of our day.  In this talk, Marcellino makes clear just how much these figures have to teach us today. 

 

Retail - $9.00 CD        Audio Tape - $9.00

 
 
Title Author Excerpt Download
Advice to Pastors--St. Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes
AETERNA DEI SAPIENTIA-Pope John XXIII on St Leo the Great Pope John XXIII No
Agnes Virgin & Martyr-St. Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes Download
Ancient Homily on Mary's Assumption -- St. John Damascene St. John Damascene Yes Download
Anointing with the Holy Spirit -- Cyril of Jerusalem on Confirmation St. Cyril of Jerusalem Yes Download
Archangels Michael, Gabriel, and Raphael--St. Gregory the Great St. Gregory the Great Yes
Ascension of Christ - St. Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes Download
Augustine, the Trinity, and the Filioque-Yves Congar Yves Congar, O.P. Yes Download
Baptism as Illumination in the Early Church -- St. Justin Martyr St. Justin, Martyr Yes Download
Baptism is a Symbol of Christ's Passion - St. Cyril of Jerusalem St. Cyril of Jerusalem Yes Download
Baptism Makes us Temples of God--Caesarius of Arles St. Caesarius of Arles Yes
Baptism Means Crossing the Jordan - Origen Origen Yes Download
Baptism of the Lord - St. Gregory Nazianzen St. Gregory of Nazianzen Yes
Baptismal Priesthood, Ministerial Priesthood--Leo the Great St. Leo the Great Yes
Beatitudes--Blessed are the Peacemakers (Leo the Great) St. Leo the Great Yes
Beatitudes--Hunger for Righteousness (Leo the Great) St. Leo the Great Yes
Between Resurrection and Ascension-St Leo the Great St. Leo the Great Yes
Birth and Death-St Gregory of Nyssa St. Gregory of Nyssa Yes
Birth of John the Baptist - St Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes
Birth of Mary Mother of God--St. Andrew of Crete St. Andrew of Crete Yes
Blessed are the Pure of Heart-Gregory of Nyssa St. Gregory of Nyssa Yes
Blood and Water From His Side - St. John Chrysostom St. John Chrysostom Yes Download
Boast only of the Lord-St Basil St. Basil the Great Yes Download
Body of Christ Gives Life-St. Cyril of Alexandria St. Cyril of Alexandria Yes
Born Again in Water and Spirit-St. Basil St. Basil the Great Yes
Born Again in Water and the Spirit-Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes
Born of the Virgin, Emmanuel--St. Irenaeus St. Irenaeus of Lyons Yes Download
Bread and Forgiveness -- St. Cyprian on the Lord's Prayer St. Cyprian Yes
Bride of Christ - St. Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes
Brilliant Light of God's Wisdom-Ephrem St. Ephrem the Syrian Yes
Building God's House-Cyril of Alexandria St. Cyril of Alexandria Yes
Call of St. Anthony -- Athanasius St. Athanasius Yes Download
Call of St. Matthias--St John Chrysostom St. John Chrysostom Yes
Celebrating the Paschal Feast-Athanasius St. Athanasius Yes Download
Charity-St Maximus the Confessor St. Maximus the Confessor Yes
Chrism and White Garments-St Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes
Christ Anointed Priest and King -- Faustinus Luciferanus Faustinus Luciferanus Yes
Christ is Risen-Maximus of Turin St. Maximus of Turin Yes
Christ Lives in His Church-St. Leo the Great St. Leo the Great Yes
Christ Teaches Us to Pray-Cyprian St. Cyprian Yes Download
Christ the High Priest-Fulgentius of Ruspe St. Fulgentius of Ruspe Yes
Christ's Baptism: Fire Immersed in Water -- St. Proclus St. Proclus Yes
Christ's Body, a Temple--Origen Origen Yes
Christ's Resurrection, Our Sure Hope-St Cyril St. Cyril of Alexandria Yes
Christ, Model of Brotherly Love - St. Aelred, Abbot St. Aelred of Rievaulx, Abbot Yes Download
Christian as another Christ-St Gregory of Nyssa St. Gregory of Nyssa Yes
Christian Leadership Entails Rigorous Accountability--Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes
Christian Marriage -- Tertullian Tertullian Yes Download
Christian Remember Your Dignity--St. Leo St. Leo the Great Yes Download
Christmas is the Birthday of Peace--St. Leo St. Leo the Great Yes
Church as Shepherd of Straying Sheep St . Augustine of Hippo Yes
Circumcision of the Heart - Aphraates Aphraates - Bishop Yes Download
City of the Lord is the Church -- St. Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes
Coheirs with Christ-Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes
Contest of Faith-St. Cyprian St. Cyprian Yes
Conversion of the Angles-St Gregory the Great St. Gregory the Great Yes
Cosmic Tree-Pseudo Chrysostom Anonymous Yes Download
Creator of Time is Born in Time--St. Leo the Great St. Leo the Great Yes
Death and Dying-St. Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes
Delightful Book of the Psalms-Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes
Didache-The Teaching of the Twelve Apostles Anonymous No
Discipline of Trials--St. Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes
Diverse Ways of the Spirit-4th century homily Anonymous Yes
Divine Word holds the Universe Together--St. Athanasius St. Athanasius Yes
Divinity of Jesus Christ Invented by Constantine? Evidence from the Early Church Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio Yes Download
Doctors of the Church Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio No
Don't Adorn the Church but Ignore the Poor-John Chrysostom St. John Chrysostom Yes
Doubting Thomas Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio No Download
Doubting Thomas - St. Gregory the Great St. Gregory the Great Yes Download
Dying With Christ through Baptism-St Basil St. Basil the Great Yes Download
Early Church Fathers Overview: Snapshot of the Fathers of the Church Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio No Download
Easter Alleluia-St Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes Download
Easter Octave, Baptism as New Creation in Christ - Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes Download
Easter Paschal Homily-John Chrysostom St. John Chrysostom Yes Download
Easter Praise of Christ -- Melito of Sardis St. Melito of Sardis Yes Download
Eat your Bread with Joy-Gregory of Agrigentum St. Gregory of Agrigentum Yes
Epiphany -- Magi, Cana, and the Jordan (St. Peter Chrysologus) St. Peter Chrysologus Yes Download
Epiphany -- Star Invites all Nations to Find Christ (Leo the Great) St. Leo the Great Yes Download
Eucharist and the Incarnation -- St. Hilary St. Hilary of Poitiers Yes Download
Eucharist as Pledge of Resurrection-St. Irenaeus St. Irenaeus of Lyons Yes
Eucharist True Body of Christ, Heavenly Manna -- St. Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes
Eucharist, Our Sustenance -- St. Gaudentius St. Gaudentius Yes Download
Eucharist-The Didache Anonymous Yes
Examination of Conscience -- St. Gregory of Nyssa St. Gregory of Nyssa Yes
Faith and Good Works-St. Clement St. Clement of Rome Yes
Fasting and Almsgiving--St. Leo the Great St. Leo the Great Yes Download
Fathers of the Church - Getting Started Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio No
Fathers of the Church - Relevance of the Early Church Fathers Dr. Marcellino D'Ambrosio No
Fear of the Lord-St. Hilary St. Hilary of Poitiers Yes Download
Feast of St Stephen, Protomartyr-Fulgentius of Ruspe St. Fulgentius of Ruspe Yes
Feast of the Annunciation: God Becomes Man-St Leo St. Leo the Great Yes
Feast of the Presentation of the Lord - St Sophronius St. Sophronius Yes Download
First Apology of St. Justin Martyr St. Justin, Martyr No Download
First Epistle to the Corinthians--St. Clement St. Clement of Rome No
First Martyrs of Rome-St Clement St. Clement of Rome Yes
Friends and Servants of God -- St. Irenaeus St. Irenaeus of Lyons Yes
Gift of Salvation Anonymous Yes
Glorified Through the Cross--St. Anastasius Saint Anastasius Yes Download
Glory of the Holy Spirit-Gregory of Nyssa St. Gregory of Nyssa Yes
God Became Man to Redeem Us-St. Athanasius St. Athanasius Yes
God is Our Refuge-St. Ambrose St. Ambrose of Milan Yes Download
God Took Our Nature From Mary - St. Athanasius St. Athanasius Yes Download
God's Light our supreme delight-Gregory of Agrigentum St. Gregory of Agrigentum Yes
God's Secret Plan--Diognetus Anonymous Yes
God's Word is Inexhaustible St. Ephrem the Syrian Yes
Good Friday, the True Day of Atonement--Origen Origen Yes Download
Grace and Law--Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes
Grace before works --St. Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes Download
Hallowed Be Thy Name-Cyprian St. Cyprian Yes
Harvest is Great-Gregory the Great St. Gregory the Great Yes
Heaven's Green Pastures--Gregory the Great St. Gregory the Great Yes Download
His Death is our Hope - St. Augustine St . Augustine of Hippo Yes Download
Hold fast to These Virtues-Letter of Barnabas