Fathers

dawn light spires Church Rises Gregory Great First Light day darkness brightness vision moral reflections on Job moralia

Church Rises Like the Dawn – Gregory the Great

Since dawn goes from darkness into light, the Church should be called “dawn” or “first light” says Gregory the Great...

01 June, 2021 / 0 Comments

Eucharist Sunday Justin Martyr last supper real presence bread wine body blood Jesus Christ

Sunday Eucharist in the Early Church – Justin Martyr

Justin here describes the way the Sunday Eucharist was celebrated in Rome about 150 AD about 50-60 years after the last New Testament books. It shows that the Eucharist was interpreted in a very realistic way in the early church....

31 May, 2021 / 0 Comments

law of love manifold I Corinthians 13 Gregory the Great Moralia in Job Moral Reflections

The Manifold Law of the Lord is summed up in Love – Gregory the Great

These words from Gregory the Great's Moral Reflections on Job extols how the law of the Lord is manifold in that it includes all the virtues which find their perfection in love. Here he especially comments on Paul's ode to love in I Corinthians 13. How...

27 May, 2021 / 0 Comments

Trinity: Three Persons, One Creative, Energizing Reality – Athanasius

Athanasius here describes the orthodox and Catholic teaching on God as Trinity, three persons in one divine nature, a wholly creative and energizing reality. The Father, Son and Holy Spirit are an inseparable unity, always acting together....

26 May, 2021 / 0 Comments

gregory great moral reflections on job moralia mystery of mercy

Mystery of Mercy – Gregory the Great

The mystery of mercy revealed in the sufferings of Christ and our obligation to make that extraordinary mercy known to everyone. Our response must be not only prayer, but evangelization. The connection between the Eucharist in which which receive the blood of Christ...

24 May, 2021 / 0 Comments

holy spirit irenaeus rainfall dew living water Pentecost good Samaritan innkeeper coins

Pentecost the Holy Spirit as the Dew of God – Irenaeus

This excerpt from 2nd century Church Father, Irenaeus, contains beautiful imagery of the Holy Spirit as the rainfall of God as well as a fascinating allegorical interpretation of parable of the Good Samaritan to illustrate the role of the various persons of the Holy Trinity-...

23 May, 2021 / 0 Comments

sky clouds sunset Job Life's trials gregory great pain suffering wounds affliction gifts

Job and Life’s Trials – Gregory the Great

Gregory the Great here discusses the role of affliction, pain, suffering and trials in our life with God which is the great problem of the book of Job.....

21 May, 2021 / 0 Comments

hilary of poitiers 7 gifts holy spirit inundated river living water flood charisms sacraments baptism confirmation initiation food eucharist

Inundated by the Gifts of the Spirit – Hilary

Hilary of Poitiers, describes how new Christians in 4th Century France typically felt innundated by the gifts of the Holy Spirit upon their baptism, Confirmation, & first Eucharist: a sense of joy and the release of the 7 gifts and charisms....

18 May, 2021 / 0 Comments

Hilary poitiers holy spirit of truth light gift understanding Pentecost light illuminates knowledge

Spirit of Truth, the Gift of Understanding – Hilary of Poitiers

Hilary of Potiers, 4th century champion of the Trinity, here explains the Holy Ghost as gift & Spirit of truth, "the light of our minds and the splendor that irradiates our understanding."...

18 May, 2021 / 0 Comments

cyril alexandria unity one body flesh of christ holy spirit father God eucharist

Unity in One Body, One Spirit – Cyril of Alexandria

Cyril of Alexandria on the unity of Christians. Receiving the same sacrament of the Lord's flesh, the Eucharist, and the same Holy Spirit, in baptism and confirmation/chrismation, bind us together in an intimate relationship with God the Father and each another, one body in Christ. [dropcaps...

18 May, 2021 / 0 Comments