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IntroductionIntroduction

Dr. Ann T. OrlandoDr. Ann T. Orlando

19 March 201419 March 2014

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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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