Paternal Presentations

For those who have been attending the course, I'm gradually uploading copies of my slide shows on various fathers. They'll be somewhat unintelligible for those who missed those particular classes, but perhaps not altogether so.

• Ambrose
• Basil
• Gregory the Great
• John Chrysostom
• Introduction
  

Fourth Sunday of Easter

The brief Gospel passage from St. John 10:27-30 provides the Fathers with ample reflection on the mystery of the Trinity and the heresies devised to confuse the faithful about it.

A PDF version of today's Catena may be found here.

Third Sunday of Easter

John 21:1-19 is so vividly full of Christ's tenderness and love toward Peter that we can expect the Fathers to resonate with an uncommon depth. Here is St. Augustine:

Let us love therefore, not ourselves, but Him, and in feeding His sheep, seek not our own, but the things which are His. For whoever loves himself, not God, loves not himself. Man, who cannot live of himself, must die by loving himself; and he cannot love himself, who loves himself to his own destruction. Whereas when He by Whom we live is loved, we love ourselves the more.

And with typical (though unfortunately much overlooked) fervor for the rule of St. Peter, St. John Chrysostom says:

That which most of all attracts the Divine love is care and love for our neighbor. Our Lord passing by the rest, addresses this command to Peter: he being the chief of the Apostles, the mouth of the disciples, and head of the college. Our Lord remembers no more his sin in denying Him, or brings that as a charge against him, but commits to him at once the superintendence over his brethren. If you love Me, have rule over your brethren, show forth that love which you have evidenced throughout, and that life which you said you would lay down for Me, lay down for the sheep.

PDF files:
Booklet (for double-sided printing)
Letter sized (for single-sided printing)

The Holy Father and Our Holy Fathers

Vatican City, Apr 17, 2007 / 10:58 am (CNA).- On the occasion of Pope Benedict XVI's 80th birthday, the director of the Holy See's Press Office, Father Federico Lombardi, said this week there are two issues of profound concern to Pope Benedict XVI: the continual reference to the fathers of the Church and the constant explication and living of the Sacred Liturgy.

"Two particular aspects call come to mind. First of all, the richness and the nature of the references to the Fathers of the Church. There hasn't been a break in the two thousand years since the Scriptures until today. One can see the continuity in the reflections and in the deepening of the faith throughout time from Jesus to today. The Fathers were somewhat eclipsed in the common culture of the believer, and now they have become more familiar," Father Lombardi said.

Second Sunday of Easter

Reflections from the Fathers this week emphasize the wonder-filled events of the resurrected Christ visiting his Apostles.

• Full page Catena PDF
• Booklet Catena PDF (for two-sided printers)

And He Answered Him Nothing

Luke 23:9

Then Herod questioned with him in many words; but He answered him nothing.Gregory the Great Now Herod wished to make proof of Christ's fame, desiring to witness His miracles; for it follows, And when Herod saw Jesus, he was glad, &c. Theophylactus Not as though he was about to gain any benefit from the sight, but, seized with curiosity, he thought he should see that extraordinary man, of whose wisdom and wonderful works he had heard so much. He also wished to hear from His mouth what He could say. Accordingly he asks Him questions, making a sport of Him, and ridiculing Him. But Jesus, who performed all things prudently, and who, as David testifies, orders His words with discretion, thought it right in such a case to be silent. For a word uttered to one whom it profits nothing becomes the cause of his condemnation. Therefore it follows, But he answered him nothing. Ambrose He was silent and did nothing, for Herod's unbelief deserved not to see Him, and the Lord shunned display. And perhaps Herod is also meant to represent all the ungodly, who, if they have not believed the Law and the Prophets, cannot see Christ's wonderful works in the Gospel. Gregory the Great From these words we ought to derive a lesson, that whenever our hearers wish as if by praising us to gain knowledge from us, but not to change their own wicked course, we must be altogether silent, lest if from love of ostentation we speak God's word, both they who were guilty cease not to be so, and we who were not become so. And there are many things which betray the motive of a hearer, but one in particular, when they always praise what they hear, yet never follow what they praise. Gregory the Great The Redeemer therefore though questioned held His peace, and though expected to work miracles disdained to do so. And keeping Himself secretly within Himself, He left standing empty handed at the door those who wanted only an outward show, preferring to be openly regarded as insignificant by the proud, than be praised by the hollow voices of unbelievers. Hence it follows, And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him.