A Deo et Rege

As a part of my Lenten discipline, I’ve been reading the documents of the Second Vatican Council. Sometimes I have to force myself to read certain books, but not this one. I’ve been entranced with the writings of these Council Fathers. I think it’s important to encounter Vatican II on its own terms and not from those who seek to operate according to its "spirit." I wish every Protestant biblical and theological school would make the texts of Vatican II required reading. Although it certainly wouldn’t make everyone go out and join an RCIA class, I think it would go a long way in ending anti-Catholic prejudice and ignorance displayed by some Protestants. It’s amazing to actually read what the Church teaches as opposed to how her dogma is presented by her enemies.

St. (Pope) Leo the Great from Sermon 39, Section V ( On Lent: I)

Abstinence not only from food but from other evil desires, especially from wrath, is required in Lent. Relying, therefore, dearly-beloved, on these arms, let us enter actively and fearlessly on the contest set before us: so that in this fasting struggle we may not rest satisfied with only this end, that we should think abstinence from food alone desirable. For it is not enough that the substance of our flesh should be reduced, if the strength of the soul be not also developed. When the outer man is somewhat subdued, let the inner man be somewhat refreshed; and when bodily excess is denied to our flesh, let our mind be invigorated by spiritual delights. Let every Christian scrutinise himself, and earth severely into his inmost heart: let him see that no discord cling there, no wrong desire be harboured. Let chasteness drive incontinence far away; let the light of truth dispel the shades of deception; let the swellings of pride subside; let wrath yield to reason; let the darts of ill-treatment be shattered, and the chidings of the tongue be bridled; let thoughts of revenge fall through, and injuries be given over to oblivion. In fine, let "every plant which the heavenly Father hath not planted be removed by the roots." For then only are the seeds of virtue well nourished in us, when every foreign germ is uprooted from the field of wheat. If any one, therefore, has been fired by the desire for vengeance against another, so that he has given him up to prison or bound him with chains, let him make haste 154 to forgive not only the innocent, but also one who seems worthy of punishment, that he may with confidence make use of the clause in the Lord’s prayer and say, "Forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors." Which petition the LORD marks with peculiar emphasis, as if the efficacy of the whole rested on this condition, by saying, "For if ye forgive men their sins, your Father which is in heaven also will forgive you: but if ye forgive not men, neither will your Father forgive you your Sins."

Read the whole thing at New Advent.

Image used above and information on St. Leo at Doctors of the Catholic Church: St. Leo the Great.

St. (Pope) Leo the Great from Sermon 12, Section IV ( On The Fast of the Tenth Month) [this period is similar to our Advent]

But there are three things which most belong to religious actions,
namely prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, in the exercising of which
while every time is accepted, yet that ought to be more zealously
observed, which we have received as hallowed by tradition from the
apostles: even as this tenth month brings round again to us the
opportunity when according to the ancient practice we may give more
diligent heed to those three things of which I have spoken. For by
prayer we seek to propitiate God, by fasting we extinguish the lusts of
the flesh, by alms we redeem our sins: and at the same time God’s image
is throughout renewed in us, if we are always ready to praise Him,
unfailingly intent on our purification and unceasingly active in
cherishing our neighhour. This threefold round of duty, dearly beloved,
brings all other virtues into action: it attains to God’s image and
likenessand unites us inseparably with the Holy Spirit. Because in
prayer faith remains stedfast, in fastings life remains innocent, in
almsgiving the mind remains kind. On Wednesday and Friday therefore let
us fast: and on Saturday let us keep vigil with the most blessed
Apostle Peter, who will deign to aid our supplications and fast and
alms with his own prayers through our Lord Jesus Christ, who with the
Father and the Holy Ghost lives and reigns for ever and ever. Amen.

Read the whole thing at New Advent.

Image used above and information on St. Leo at Doctors of the Catholic Church: St. Leo the Great.

From the Martyrdom of St. Polycarp (AD 69-155) Chapter 9.

Now, as Polycarp was entering into the stadium, there came to him a voice
from heaven, saying, "Be strong, and show thyself a man, O Polycarp !" No one
saw who it was that spoke to him; but those of our brethren who were present
heard the voice. And as he was brought forward, the tumult became great when
they heard that Polycarp was taken. And when he came near, the proconsul asked
him whether he was Polycarp. On his confessing that he was, [the proconsul]
sought to persuade him to deny [Christ], saying, "Have respect to thy old
age," and other similar things, according to their custom, [such as]," Swear
by the fortune of Caesar; repent, and say, Away with the Atheists." But
Polycarp, gazing with a stern countenance on all the multitude of the wicked
heathen then in the stadium, and waving his hand towards them, while with
groans he looked up to heaven, said, "Away with the Atheists." Then, the
proconsul urging him, and saying, "Swear, and I will set thee at liberty,
reproach Christ;" Polycarp declared, "Eighty and six years have I served Him,
and He never did me any injury: how then can I blaspheme my King and my
Saviour?"

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent

Clement of Alexandria, from The Stromata (Book 7, Chapter 12)

So is he [i.e. the one who possesses true knowledge] always pure for prayer. He also prays in the society of
angels, as being already of angelic rank, and he is never out of
their holy keeping; and though he pray alone, he has the choir of
the saints standing with him.

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent.

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) from the City of God (Book I, Chapter 10)

They lost all they had [in the sack of Rome]. Their faith?
Their godliness? The possessions of the hidden man of the heart,
which in the sight of God are of great price? Did they lose
these? For these are the wealth of Christians, to whom the wealthy
apostle said, "Godliness with contentment is great gain. For we
brought nothing into this world, find it is certain we can carry
nothing out. And having food and raiment, let us be therewith
content. But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a
snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
destruction and perdition. For the love of money is the root of all
evil; which, while some coveted after, they have erred from the
faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows."

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent.

St. Ignatius of Antioch (AD 50-?, d. from AD 98-AD 117) from his Letter to the Trallians (Chapters 2 and 3).  Since Ignatius wrote this letter near his death, he provides an extremely early witness to the threefold character of the Church hierarchy, including the concept that apart from this order there is no Church. He also adds that one should respect the bishop as one would respect Jesus.

CHAPTER II.–BE SUBJECT TO THE BISHOP, ETC.

For, since ye are subject to the bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye appear to
me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ, who
died for us, in order, by believing in His death, ye may escape from death. It
is therefore necessary that, as ye indeed do, so without the bishop ye should
do nothing, but should also
be subject to the presbytery, as to the apostle of Jesus Christ, who is our
hope, in whom, if we live, we shall [at last] be found. It is fitting also
that the deacons, as being [the ministers] of the mysteries of Jesus Christ,
should in every respect be pleasing to all. For they are not ministers of
meat and drink, but servants of the Church of God. They are bound, therefore,
to avoid all grounds of accusation [against them], as they would do fire.

CHAPTER III.–HONOUR THE DEACONS, ETC.

In like manner, let all reverence the deacons as an appointment of
Jesus Christ, and the bishop as Jesus Christ, who is the Son of the Father,
and the presbyters as the sanhedrin of God, and assembly of the apostles.
Apart from these, there is no Church. Concerning all this, I am persuaded
that ye are of the same opinion. For I have received the manifestations of
your love, and still have it with me, in your bishop, whose very appearance is
highly instructive, and his meekness of itself a power; whom I imagine even
the ungodly must reverence, seeing they are also pleased that I do not
spare myself. But shall I, when permitted to write on this point, reach such a
height of self-esteem, that though being a condemned man, I should issue
commands to you as if I were an apostle?

Read the whole letter at NewAdvent.

Image from St. Charles Borromeo Church

St. Athanasius from The Incarnation of the Word (Chapter 27, sections 2-4)

For of old, before the divine sojourn of the Saviour took
place, even to the saints death was terrible, and all wept for the dead as
though they perished. But now that the Saviour has raised His body, death is
no longer terrible; for all who believe in Christ tread him under as nought,
and choose rather to die than to deny their faith in Christ. For they verily
know that when they die they are not destroyed, but actually [begin to] live,
and become incorruptible through the Resurrection. And that devil that once
maliciously exulted in death, now that its pains were loosed, remained the
only one truly dead. And a proof of this is, that before men believe Christ,
they see in death an object of terror, and play the coward before him. But
when they are gone over to Christ’s faith and teaching, their contempt for
death is so great that they even eagerly rush upon it, and become witnesses
for the Resurrection the Saviour has accomplished against it. For while still
tender in years they make haste to die, and not men only, but women also,
exercise themselves by bodily discipline against it. So weak has he become,
that even women who were formerly deceived by him, now mock at him as dead and
paralyzed. For as when a tyrant has been defeated by a real king, and bound
hand and foot, then all that pass by laugh him to scorn, buffeting and
reviling him, no longer fearing his fury and barbarity, because of the king
who has conquered him; so also, death having been conquered and exposed by the
Saviour on the Cross, and bound hand and foot, all they who are in Christ, as
they pass by, trample on him, and witnessing to Christ scoff at death, jesting
at him, and saying what has been written against him of old: "O death,
where is thy victory? O grave, where is thy sting."

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent

St. Augustine of Hippo (AD 354-430) from The City of God (preface).

I have undertaken its [i.e. the glorious city of God] defence against those who prefer their own gods to the Founder of this city — a city surpassingly glorious, whether we view it as it still lives by faith in this fleeting course of time, and sojourns as a stranger in the midst of the ungodly, or as it shall dwell in the fixed stability of its eternal seat, which it now with patience waits for, expecting until "righteousness shall return unto judgment," and it obtain, by virtue of its excellence, final victory and perfect peace.

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent.

St. Justin Martyr from the First Apology (Chapters 65-67). Note how his descriptions of early worship correspond to Catholic and Orthodox (and even some Protestant) worship today.  Reading St. Justin, especially this passage, started me on the path to Catholicism.

CHAPTER LXV — ADMINISTRATION OF THE SACRAMENTS.

But we, after we have thus washed him who has been convinced and has assented to our teaching, bring him to the place where those who are called brethren are assembled, in order that we may offer hearty prayers in common for ourselves and for the baptized [illuminated] person, and for all others in every place, that we may be counted worthy, now that we have learned the truth, by our works also to be found good citizens and keepers of the commandments, so that we may be saved with an everlasting salvation. Having ended the prayers, we salute one another with a kiss. There is then brought to the president of the brethren bread and a cup of wine mixed with water; and he taking them, gives praise and glory to the Father of the universe, through the name of the Son and of the Holy Ghost, and offers thanks at considerable length for our being counted worthy to receive these things at His hands. And when he has concluded the prayers and thanksgivings, all the people present express their assent by saying Amen. This word Amen answers in the Hebrew language to genoito [so be it]. And when the president has given thanks, and all the people have expressed their assent, those who are called by us deacons give to each of those present to partake of the bread and wine mixed with water over which the thanksgiving was pronounced, and to those who are absent they carry away a portion.

CHAPTER LXVI — OF THE EUCHARIST.

And this food is called among us Eukaristia [the Eucharist], of which no one is allowed to partake but the man who believes that the things which we teach are true, and who has been washed with the washing that is for the remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has enjoined. For not as common bread and common drink do we receive these; but in like manner as Jesus Christ our Saviour, having been made flesh by the Word of God, had both flesh and blood for our salvation, so likewise have we been taught that the food which is blessed by the prayer of His word, and from which our blood and flesh by transmutation are nourished, is the flesh and blood of that Jesus who was made flesh. For the apostles, in the memoirs composed by them, which are called Gospels, have thus delivered unto us what was enjoined upon them; that Jesus took bread, and when He had given thanks, said, "This do ye in remembrance of Me, this is My body;" and that, after the same manner, having taken the cup and given thanks, He said, "This is My blood;" and gave it to them alone. Which the wicked devils have imitated in the mysteries of Mithras, commanding the same thing to be done. For, that bread and a cup of water are placed with certain incantations in the mystic rites of one who is being initiated, you either know or can learn.

CHAPTER LXVII — WEEKLY WORSHIP OF THE CHRISTIANS.

And we afterwards continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday, all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and a participation of that over which thanks have been given, and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn (Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent

Icon is of St. Justin Martyr from St. Hilaron Monastery

Tertullian from The Prescription Against Heretics (Chapter 37)

Since this is the case, in order that the truth may be adjudged to belong to us, "as many as walk according to the rule," which the church has handed down from the apostles, the apostles from Christ, and Christ from God, the reason of our position is clear, when it determines that heretics ought not to be allowed to challenge an appeal to the Scriptures, since we, without the Scriptures, prove that they have nothing to do with the Scriptures. For as they are heretics, they cannot be true Christians, because it is not from Christ that they get that which they pursue of their own mere choice, and from the pursuit incur and admit the name of heretics. Thus, not being Christians, they have acquired no right to the Christian Scriptures; and it may be very fairly said to them, "Who are you? When and whence did you come? As you are none of mine, what have you to do with that which is mine? Indeed, Marcion, by what right do you hew my wood? By whose permission, Valentinus, are you diverting the streams of my fountain? By what power, Apelles, are you removing my landmarks? This is my property. Why are you, the rest, sowing and feeding here at your own pleasure? This (I say) is my property. I have long possessed it; I possessed it before you. I hold sure title-deeds from the original owners themselves, to whom the estate belonged. I am the heir of the apostles. Just as they carefully prepared their will and testament, and committed it to a trust, and adjured (the trustees to be faithful to their charge), even so do I hold it. As for you, they have, it is certain, always held you as disinherited, and rejected you as strangers–as enemies. But on what ground are heretics strangers and enemies to the apostles, if it be not from the difference of their teaching, which each individual of his own mere will has either advanced or received in opposition to the apostles?"

Read the whole thing at NewAdvent.

Newman observed that to be "deep in history is to cease to be Protestant" and that would certainly be my personal experience.  Reading the Fathers challenged my evangelical Protestant assumptions and led me to start to engage Church history.  Before that, I had held a similar position to that of Sally, Charlie Brown’s sister, who, upon being told to write an essay on "church history," penned: "our pastor was born in 1930."  I had no idea of anything or anyone outside of my local church, not even my denomination.

This discovery of the riches of the past led me to Anglicanism and ultimately to the Catholic Church where I am today.  I am consistently amazed at how few Christians know anything about the history of their Faith.  If this were civics and if the lacking knowledge were about our nation’s history, most would be rightly appalled.  Yet, for many Christians, ignorance of Church history, is not only accepted, but encouraged as a way to be a better Christian.  After all, why bother consulting our spiritual forebears when all that matters is the individual and God at the present?

The writings of the Church tugged at my conscience and challenged what I had always accepted to be the norm.  Why all this information?  I’m going to start posting excerpts from the Church Fathers and other Christian writers through the ages on this blog, in the hopes that the challenges, joys, and riches I found in them will be of benefit to others.