Post on 26-Dec-2015
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IntroductionIntroduction
Who are the Church FathersWho are the Church Fathers Liturgical CalendarLiturgical Calendar
Lent, when did it start? Why?Lent, when did it start? Why? Pope St. Gregory the Great (d. 604)Pope St. Gregory the Great (d. 604)
On the beginning of LentOn the beginning of Lent
St. Augustine (d. 430)St. Augustine (d. 430) Prayer, Fasting, AlmsgivingPrayer, Fasting, Almsgiving
Who Are the Church Who Are the Church Fathers?Fathers?
St. Vincent of St. Vincent of Lerins (d.450, Lerins (d.450, Feast 24 May) Feast 24 May) first suggest first suggest criteria for criteria for ‘Church Father’‘Church Father’
St. Vincent St. Vincent considered one of considered one of the Fathers the Fathers
AntiquityAntiquity Orthodox Orthodox
DoctrineDoctrine Ecclesial Ecclesial
ApprovalApproval Holiness of Holiness of
LifeLife3
AntiquityAntiquity Period Begins: Pope St. Clement Period Begins: Pope St. Clement
of Rome (d.98, Feast 23 of Rome (d.98, Feast 23 November)November)
Period Ends: more problematicPeriod Ends: more problematic Pope St. Gregory Great, d. 603, Pope St. Gregory Great, d. 603,
Feast 9 NovemberFeast 9 November St. Maximus the Confessor, d.662, St. Maximus the Confessor, d.662,
Feast 13 AugustFeast 13 August St. John of Damascus, d. 787, St. John of Damascus, d. 787,
Feast 4 DecemberFeast 4 December All men of Roman Empire and late All men of Roman Empire and late
antiquityantiquity All Church Fathers are venerated All Church Fathers are venerated
through the centuries by Orthodox through the centuries by Orthodox and Catholic Churchesand Catholic Churches
Often divided into two periodsOften divided into two periods Time of MartyrdomTime of Martyrdom After the Conversion of After the Conversion of
Constantine, 312Constantine, 312
www.roman-empire.net/www.roman-empire.net/
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OrthodoxyOrthodoxy What they taught was in What they taught was in
keeping with Church doctrinekeeping with Church doctrine Most Church Fathers were Most Church Fathers were
bishopsbishops Primary concern leading people Primary concern leading people
of Godof God Defending the faith against Defending the faith against
heresiesheresies The Fathers may have been The Fathers may have been
the first to succinctly express the first to succinctly express doctrine doctrine Pope St. Leo Great (d. 461, Pope St. Leo Great (d. 461,
Feast November 9) Feast November 9) Christology: Jesus Christ one Christology: Jesus Christ one
person, two naturesperson, two natures
Pope St. Gregory Pope St. Gregory and St. Augustineand St. Augustine Bowes MuseumBowes Museum
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Ecclesial ApprovalEcclesial Approval
Fathers are recognized by the Fathers are recognized by the MagisteriumMagisterium
Subsequent theologians relied on Subsequent theologians relied on Church FathersChurch Fathers St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274, Feast St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274, Feast
January 28)January 28) Look in CCC for many, many references Look in CCC for many, many references
to Church Fathersto Church Fathers
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Holiness of LifeHoliness of Life Church Fathers have a Church Fathers have a
reputation for leading holy reputation for leading holy lives and leading others in lives and leading others in holinessholiness
In the first three centuries, In the first three centuries, this often meant this often meant witnessing in blood as witnessing in blood as martyrsmartyrs
In later encouraging In later encouraging growth in spirituality; growth in spirituality; growth of monasticismgrowth of monasticism St. Patrick (d. 461, Feast St. Patrick (d. 461, Feast
March 17)March 17) St. Benedict of Nursia (d. St. Benedict of Nursia (d.
547, Feast July 11)547, Feast July 11) St. Scholastica (d. 547, Feast St. Scholastica (d. 547, Feast
February 10)February 10)
Abbey of Monte Abbey of Monte CassinoCassino
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The Church Fathers: The Church Fathers: Why Are They So Why Are They So
Important?Important? Shaped our Christian Understanding Shaped our Christian Understanding
in Doctrinein Doctrine Shaped our Christian PracticeShaped our Christian Practice
LiturgyLiturgy Prayerful life (monastics, clerical, lay)Prayerful life (monastics, clerical, lay) PilgrimagesPilgrimages Christian Seasons and CalendarChristian Seasons and Calendar
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Liturgical Calendar: Liturgical Calendar: EasterEaster
Key for early Church was what day of Key for early Church was what day of week and when to celebrate Easterweek and when to celebrate Easter
Key for Easter was Good FridayKey for Easter was Good Friday Some wanted to follow Jewish calendar for Some wanted to follow Jewish calendar for
Passover, 14 of Jewish month of Nisan; Passover, 14 of Jewish month of Nisan; known as Quartrodeciansknown as Quartrodecians
Based on Julian calendar this could by 25 Based on Julian calendar this could by 25 March or 6 AprilMarch or 6 April
Eventually, at Council of Nicaea (325) Eventually, at Council of Nicaea (325) all agree Easter to be celebrated on all agree Easter to be celebrated on SundaySunday But computation of which Sunday not clearBut computation of which Sunday not clear Note: This is the same Council from which Note: This is the same Council from which
we get the basis of the Nicene Creedwe get the basis of the Nicene Creed
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Liturgical Calendar: Liturgical Calendar: ChristmasChristmas
Popular modern theory that Popular modern theory that Christmas was a Christian Christmas was a Christian replacement for Roman winter replacement for Roman winter solstice Sol Invictus (Dec 22)solstice Sol Invictus (Dec 22) But Christmas celebrated (2But Christmas celebrated (2ndnd C) C)
before Sol Invictus celebrated (3before Sol Invictus celebrated (3rdrd C) C) Christmas celebrated on Dec 25Christmas celebrated on Dec 25
Far more likely celebration of Far more likely celebration of Christmas based on Good Friday Christmas based on Good Friday A traditional date for Good Friday A traditional date for Good Friday
was taken as 25 Marchwas taken as 25 March Early Christians seem to have Early Christians seem to have
honored this also as the date for honored this also as the date for Incarnation; Incarnation;
Thus Jesus birth is nine months Thus Jesus birth is nine months later, Dec. 25later, Dec. 25
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Liturgical Calendar: LentLiturgical Calendar: Lent The word ‘Lent’ is from old German word meaning SpringThe word ‘Lent’ is from old German word meaning Spring
In Latin, In Latin, quadragesimaquadragesima, meaning 40 days, meaning 40 days ‘‘Easter’ is taken from old German Eastre, goddess of SpringEaster’ is taken from old German Eastre, goddess of Spring
During time of martyrdom, was a time of During time of martyrdom, was a time of preparation for catechumenspreparation for catechumens
Later, during Council of Nicaea (325), Lent Later, during Council of Nicaea (325), Lent specifiedspecified Greek, Greek, tessarakostetessarakoste, also meaning 40 days , also meaning 40 days BeginsBegins 40 days before Good Friday 40 days before Good Friday But not clear if for all or only catechumensBut not clear if for all or only catechumens
Lent officially said to begin for all on Ash Wednesday by Lent officially said to begin for all on Ash Wednesday by Pope St. Gregory Great (d. 604)Pope St. Gregory Great (d. 604) Sundays not part of fasting associated with LentSundays not part of fasting associated with Lent Sundays are a ‘little Easter’Sundays are a ‘little Easter’
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Pope St. Gregory the Pope St. Gregory the GreatGreat
Born into a wealthy Roman family Born into a wealthy Roman family in 540in 540
Deeply influenced by St. Benedict Deeply influenced by St. Benedict of Nursia to follow a monastic lifeof Nursia to follow a monastic life
Ordained a priest (reluctantly) by Ordained a priest (reluctantly) by Pope Pelagius Pope Pelagius
Wanted to be a missionary to Wanted to be a missionary to England, but when Pelagius dies, England, but when Pelagius dies, he (again reluctantly) elected he (again reluctantly) elected PopePope
Died in 604Died in 604
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Important Liturgical Important Liturgical Contributions of Contributions of
Pope St. Gregory the GreatPope St. Gregory the Great Standardized and promulgated Latin Standardized and promulgated Latin
liturgyliturgy Standardized sacramentary used throughout Standardized sacramentary used throughout
the Middle Agesthe Middle Ages Set Ash Wednesday for beginning of LentSet Ash Wednesday for beginning of Lent Encouraged singing of hymns and songsEncouraged singing of hymns and songs ‘‘Gregorian’ chant named in honor of himGregorian’ chant named in honor of him
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Reading from “On the Reading from “On the First Sunday of Lent”First Sunday of Lent”
Gregory discusses significance of 40Gregory discusses significance of 40 Fasting as offering a ‘tithe’ of our Fasting as offering a ‘tithe’ of our
yearly days to Godyearly days to God Fasting without charity, almsgiving, Fasting without charity, almsgiving,
is wastedis wasted Of whatsoever you deprive yourselves, give it
to your poor neighbour, to relieve him ; and these goods, of which you deprive yourselves by mortifying your appetite, will rejoice your neighbour who is in need.
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THE GLORY OF THESE FORTY DAYS by Maurice F. Bell, 1906, Pope St. Gregory the
Great
1. The glory of these forty daysWe celebrate with songs of praise;For Christ, by Whom all things were made,Himself has fasted and has prayed.
2. Alone and fasting Moses sawThe loving God Who gave the law;And to Elijah, fasting, cameThe steeds and chariots of flame.
3. So Daniel trained his mystic sight,Delivered from the lions’ might;And John, the Bridegroom’s friend, becameThe herald of Messiah’s Name.
4. Then grant us, Lord, like them to beFull oft in fast and prayer with Thee;Our spirits strengthen with Thy grace,And give us joy to see Thy face.
5. O Father, Son, and Spirit blest,To thee be every prayer addressed,Who art in threefold Name adored,From age to age, the only Lord.
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