Hildi
2005-05-02 16:27:11 UTC
May 2nd - St. Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor of the Church
(296-375)
Saint Athanasius was born in Alexandria, Egypt, towards the end of the third
century, and from his youth was pious, learned, and deeply versed in the sacred
writings. He left the paternal home to be raised by the bishop of Alexandria
like a new Samuel in the Lord's temple, as befitted one whom God had chosen to
be the champion and defender of His Church against the Arian heresy, which
denied the Divinity of Christ.
While still a deacon, he was chosen by Saint Alexander, his bishop, to go with
him to the Council of Nicea, A.D. 325. There he attracted the attention of all
the prelates by the learning and ability with which he defended the Faith. Five
months later, as Saint Alexander was dying, he recommended Athanasius for his
successor as Patriarch of Alexandria, and in that office for forty-six years the
new Patriarch bore the whole brunt of the Arian assault, often virtually alone
and undefended.
When the invincible Athanasius refused to restore Arius to Catholic communion,
he was exiled to Treves in France, and the Emperor ordered the Catholic
Patriarch of Constantinople to receive the heresiarch. The end of that man of
error is very instructive. He took an oath that he had always believed as the
Church believes, though he taught that there was a time when the Word of God WAS
NOT. Thereupon the Catholic Patriarch of Constantinople, with Saint James of
Nisibe, who was in Constantinople at that time, Saint Athanasius in France and
the Catholics everywhere, had recourse to fasting and prayer, that God would
avert from the Church the frightful sacrilege. The day came for the solemn
entrance of Arius into the great church of Saint Sophia. The heresiarch and his
party set out, elated, in triumph. But before he reached the church, death smote
him in an exemplary, swift and terrible way, and the dreaded sacrilege was
averted.
Saint Athanasius stood unmoved against four Roman emperors, was banished five
times, was the butt of every insult, calumny and wrong the Arians could devise,
and lived in constant peril of death. Though strong as diamond in defense of the
Faith, he was meek and humble, pleasant and winning in conversation, beloved by
his flock, unwearied in labors, prayer and mortifications, eloquent in speech,
and unsurpassed in zeal for souls. From his places of exile he wrote many great
works for the instruction and strengthening of his flock, writings rich in
thought and learning, clear, keen and stately in expression. He is honored as
one of the greatest of the Doctors of the Church.
His admirers told the story of his response to a search party pursuing him
downstream, as he retreated by boat. Knowing of their approach, he ordered the
captain to change direction and return. When he crossed the search party on the
river, they hailed him and asked whether he had seen the bishop of Alexandria
pass by. He replied, "Continue; he is not far from here." Restored to his see by
the emperor Valens for fear of a popular uprising, the stormy life of the Saint
closed in peace on May 2nd of the year 373.
See longer version found at:
http://users.erols.com/saintpat/ss/ss-index.htm
Reflection. The Catholic Faith, says Saint Augustine, is far more precious than
all the riches and treasures of earth; more glorious and greater than all its
honors, all its possessions. This it is which saves sinners, gives light to the
blind, restores penitents, perfects the just, and is the crown of martyrs.
Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's
Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers:
New York, 1894); Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, by Abbé L. Jaud
(Mame: Tours, 1950).
Bible Quote:
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever you loose
on earth shall be loosed also in heaven. St. Matthew 18:18
<><><><>
Martyrology
At Florence, St. Antoninus, bishop and confessor, of the Order of Preachers,
famed for holiness and learning. His feast is celebrated May 10.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Saturninus, Neopolus, Germanus, and Celestine. They
suffered many tortures and then were cast into prison, where they died in the
Lord.
On the same day, St. Vindemialis, bishop and martyr. Together with the holy
Bishops Eugene and Longinus, he strove against the Arians by his teaching and
miracles. After he had undergone many tortures, he was beheaded by command of
King Hunneric.
At Seville in Spain, St. Felix, deacon and martyr.
At Attalia in Pamphylia, the holy martyrs Exuperius, his wife Zoë, and their
sons Cyriacus and Theodulus. At the time of the Emperor Hadrian, they were
slaves of a man named Paganus. Because of their fearless profession of the
Christian faith, their master commanded them to be flogged and severely tortured
in other ways. Then they were thrown into a raging furnace, thus surrendering
their souls to God. +
<><><><>
A prayer to implore God's assistance before any action:
Actiones nostras, quaesumus Domine, aspirando praeveni et adiuvando
prosequere: ut cuncta nosta oratio et operatio a te semper incipiat et per
ta coepta finiatur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
<<>>
Go before us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, in all our doings with Thy gracious
inspiration, and further us with Thy continual help, that every prayer and
work of ours may begin from Thee, and by Thee be duly ended. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.
(296-375)
Saint Athanasius was born in Alexandria, Egypt, towards the end of the third
century, and from his youth was pious, learned, and deeply versed in the sacred
writings. He left the paternal home to be raised by the bishop of Alexandria
like a new Samuel in the Lord's temple, as befitted one whom God had chosen to
be the champion and defender of His Church against the Arian heresy, which
denied the Divinity of Christ.
While still a deacon, he was chosen by Saint Alexander, his bishop, to go with
him to the Council of Nicea, A.D. 325. There he attracted the attention of all
the prelates by the learning and ability with which he defended the Faith. Five
months later, as Saint Alexander was dying, he recommended Athanasius for his
successor as Patriarch of Alexandria, and in that office for forty-six years the
new Patriarch bore the whole brunt of the Arian assault, often virtually alone
and undefended.
When the invincible Athanasius refused to restore Arius to Catholic communion,
he was exiled to Treves in France, and the Emperor ordered the Catholic
Patriarch of Constantinople to receive the heresiarch. The end of that man of
error is very instructive. He took an oath that he had always believed as the
Church believes, though he taught that there was a time when the Word of God WAS
NOT. Thereupon the Catholic Patriarch of Constantinople, with Saint James of
Nisibe, who was in Constantinople at that time, Saint Athanasius in France and
the Catholics everywhere, had recourse to fasting and prayer, that God would
avert from the Church the frightful sacrilege. The day came for the solemn
entrance of Arius into the great church of Saint Sophia. The heresiarch and his
party set out, elated, in triumph. But before he reached the church, death smote
him in an exemplary, swift and terrible way, and the dreaded sacrilege was
averted.
Saint Athanasius stood unmoved against four Roman emperors, was banished five
times, was the butt of every insult, calumny and wrong the Arians could devise,
and lived in constant peril of death. Though strong as diamond in defense of the
Faith, he was meek and humble, pleasant and winning in conversation, beloved by
his flock, unwearied in labors, prayer and mortifications, eloquent in speech,
and unsurpassed in zeal for souls. From his places of exile he wrote many great
works for the instruction and strengthening of his flock, writings rich in
thought and learning, clear, keen and stately in expression. He is honored as
one of the greatest of the Doctors of the Church.
His admirers told the story of his response to a search party pursuing him
downstream, as he retreated by boat. Knowing of their approach, he ordered the
captain to change direction and return. When he crossed the search party on the
river, they hailed him and asked whether he had seen the bishop of Alexandria
pass by. He replied, "Continue; he is not far from here." Restored to his see by
the emperor Valens for fear of a popular uprising, the stormy life of the Saint
closed in peace on May 2nd of the year 373.
See longer version found at:
http://users.erols.com/saintpat/ss/ss-index.htm
Reflection. The Catholic Faith, says Saint Augustine, is far more precious than
all the riches and treasures of earth; more glorious and greater than all its
honors, all its possessions. This it is which saves sinners, gives light to the
blind, restores penitents, perfects the just, and is the crown of martyrs.
Sources: Little Pictorial Lives of the Saints, a compilation based on Butler's
Lives of the Saints and other sources by John Gilmary Shea (Benziger Brothers:
New York, 1894); Vie des Saints pour tous les jours de l'année, by Abbé L. Jaud
(Mame: Tours, 1950).
Bible Quote:
Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven; and whatever you loose
on earth shall be loosed also in heaven. St. Matthew 18:18
<><><><>
Martyrology
At Florence, St. Antoninus, bishop and confessor, of the Order of Preachers,
famed for holiness and learning. His feast is celebrated May 10.
At Rome, the holy martyrs Saturninus, Neopolus, Germanus, and Celestine. They
suffered many tortures and then were cast into prison, where they died in the
Lord.
On the same day, St. Vindemialis, bishop and martyr. Together with the holy
Bishops Eugene and Longinus, he strove against the Arians by his teaching and
miracles. After he had undergone many tortures, he was beheaded by command of
King Hunneric.
At Seville in Spain, St. Felix, deacon and martyr.
At Attalia in Pamphylia, the holy martyrs Exuperius, his wife Zoë, and their
sons Cyriacus and Theodulus. At the time of the Emperor Hadrian, they were
slaves of a man named Paganus. Because of their fearless profession of the
Christian faith, their master commanded them to be flogged and severely tortured
in other ways. Then they were thrown into a raging furnace, thus surrendering
their souls to God. +
<><><><>
A prayer to implore God's assistance before any action:
Actiones nostras, quaesumus Domine, aspirando praeveni et adiuvando
prosequere: ut cuncta nosta oratio et operatio a te semper incipiat et per
ta coepta finiatur. Per Christum Dominum nostrum. Amen.
<<>>
Go before us, O Lord, we beseech Thee, in all our doings with Thy gracious
inspiration, and further us with Thy continual help, that every prayer and
work of ours may begin from Thee, and by Thee be duly ended. Through
Christ our Lord. Amen.