1 Introduction Dr. Ann T. Orlando 19 March 2014

2 Introduction Who are the Church Fathers Who are the Church Fathers Liturgical Calendar Liturgical 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 Lent On the beginning of Lent St. Augustine (d. 430) St. Augustine (d. 430) Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving Prayer, Fasting, Almsgiving

Who Are the Church Fathers? St. Vincent of Lerins (d.450, Feast 24 May) first suggest criteria for ‘Church Father’ St. Vincent of Lerins (d.450, Feast 24 May) first suggest criteria for ‘Church Father’ St. Vincent considered one of the Fathers St. Vincent considered one of the Fathers Antiquity Orthodox Doctrine Ecclesial Approval Holiness of Life 3

Antiquity Period Begins: Pope St. Clement of Rome (d.98, Feast 23 November) Period Begins: Pope St. Clement of Rome (d.98, Feast 23 November) Period Ends: more problematic Period Ends: more problematic Pope St. Gregory Great, d. 603, Feast 9 November Pope St. Gregory Great, d. 603, Feast 9 November St. Maximus the Confessor, d.662, Feast 13 August St. Maximus the Confessor, d.662, Feast 13 August St. John of Damascus, d. 787, Feast 4 December St. John of Damascus, d. 787, Feast 4 December All men of Roman Empire and late antiquity All men of Roman Empire and late antiquity All Church Fathers are venerated through the centuries by Orthodox and Catholic Churches All Church Fathers are venerated through the centuries by Orthodox and Catholic Churches Often divided into two periods Often divided into two periods Time of Martyrdom Time of Martyrdom After the Conversion of Constantine, 312 After the Conversion of Constantine,

Orthodoxy What they taught was in keeping with Church doctrine What they taught was in keeping with Church doctrine Most Church Fathers were bishops Most Church Fathers were bishops Primary concern leading people of God Primary concern leading people of God Defending the faith against heresies Defending the faith against heresies The Fathers may have been the first to succinctly express doctrine The Fathers may have been the first to succinctly express doctrine Pope St. Leo Great (d. 461, Feast November 9) Pope St. Leo Great (d. 461, Feast November 9) Christology: Jesus Christ one person, two natures Christology: Jesus Christ one person, two natures Pope St. Gregory and St. Augustine Bowes Museum 5

Ecclesial Approval Fathers are recognized by the Magisterium Fathers are recognized by the Magisterium Subsequent theologians relied on Church Fathers Subsequent theologians relied on Church Fathers St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274, Feast January 28) St. Thomas Aquinas (d. 1274, Feast January 28) Look in CCC for many, many references to Church Fathers Look in CCC for many, many references to Church Fathers 6

Holiness of Life Church Fathers have a reputation for leading holy lives and leading others in holiness Church Fathers have a reputation for leading holy lives and leading others in holiness In the first three centuries, this often meant witnessing in blood as martyrs In the first three centuries, this often meant witnessing in blood as martyrs In later encouraging growth in spirituality; growth of monasticism In later encouraging growth in spirituality; growth of monasticism St. Patrick (d. 461, Feast March 17) St. Patrick (d. 461, Feast March 17) St. Benedict of Nursia (d. 547, Feast July 11) St. Benedict of Nursia (d. 547, Feast July 11) St. Scholastica (d. 547, Feast February 10) St. Scholastica (d. 547, Feast February 10) Abbey of Monte Cassino 7

The Church Fathers: Why Are They So Important? Shaped our Christian Understanding in Doctrine Shaped our Christian Understanding in Doctrine Shaped our Christian Practice Shaped our Christian Practice Liturgy Liturgy Prayerful life (monastics, clerical, lay) Prayerful life (monastics, clerical, lay) Pilgrimages Pilgrimages Christian Seasons and Calendar Christian Seasons and Calendar 8

Liturgical Calendar: Easter Key for early Church was what day of week and when to celebrate Easter Key for early Church was what day of week and when to celebrate Easter Key for Easter was Good Friday Key for Easter was Good Friday Some wanted to follow Jewish calendar for Passover, 14 of Jewish month of Nisan; known as Quartrodecians Some wanted to follow Jewish calendar for Passover, 14 of Jewish month of Nisan; known as Quartrodecians Based on Julian calendar this could by 25 March or 6 April Based on Julian calendar this could by 25 March or 6 April Eventually, at Council of Nicaea (325) all agree Easter to be celebrated on Sunday Eventually, at Council of Nicaea (325) all agree Easter to be celebrated on Sunday But computation of which Sunday not clear But computation of which Sunday not clear Note: This is the same Council from which we get the basis of the Nicene Creed Note: This is the same Council from which we get the basis of the Nicene Creed 9

Liturgical Calendar: Christmas Popular modern theory that Christmas was a Christian replacement for Roman winter solstice Sol Invictus (Dec 22) Popular modern theory that Christmas was a Christian replacement for Roman winter solstice Sol Invictus (Dec 22) But Christmas celebrated (2 nd C) before Sol Invictus celebrated (3 rd C) But Christmas celebrated (2 nd C) before Sol Invictus celebrated (3 rd C) Christmas celebrated on Dec 25 Christmas celebrated on Dec 25 Far more likely celebration of Christmas based on Good Friday Far more likely celebration of Christmas based on Good Friday A traditional date for Good Friday was taken as 25 March A traditional date for Good Friday was taken as 25 March Early Christians seem to have honored this also as the date for Incarnation; Early Christians seem to have honored this also as the date for Incarnation; Thus Jesus birth is nine months later, Dec. 25 Thus Jesus birth is nine months later, Dec

Liturgical Calendar: Lent The word ‘Lent’ is from old German word meaning Spring The word ‘Lent’ is from old German word meaning Spring In Latin, quadragesima, meaning 40 days In Latin, quadragesima, meaning 40 days ‘Easter’ is taken from old German Eastre, goddess of Spring ‘Easter’ is taken from old German Eastre, goddess of Spring During time of martyrdom, was a time of preparation for catechumens During time of martyrdom, was a time of preparation for catechumens Later, during Council of Nicaea (325), Lent specified Later, during Council of Nicaea (325), Lent specified Greek, tessarakoste, also meaning 40 days Greek, tessarakoste, also meaning 40 days Begins 40 days before Good Friday Begins 40 days before Good Friday But not clear if for all or only catechumens But not clear if for all or only catechumens Lent officially said to begin for all on Ash Wednesday by Pope St. Gregory Great (d. 604) Lent officially said to begin for all on Ash Wednesday by Pope St. Gregory Great (d. 604) Sundays not part of fasting associated with Lent Sundays not part of fasting associated with Lent Sundays are a ‘little Easter’ Sundays are a ‘little Easter’ 11

Pope St. Gregory the Great Born into a wealthy Roman family in 540 Born into a wealthy Roman family in 540 Deeply influenced by St. Benedict of Nursia to follow a monastic life Deeply influenced by St. Benedict of Nursia to follow a monastic life Ordained a priest (reluctantly) by Pope Pelagius Ordained a priest (reluctantly) by Pope Pelagius Wanted to be a missionary to England, but when Pelagius dies, he (again reluctantly) elected Pope Wanted to be a missionary to England, but when Pelagius dies, he (again reluctantly) elected Pope Died in 604 Died in

Important Liturgical Contributions of Pope St. Gregory the Great Standardized and promulgated Latin liturgy Standardized and promulgated Latin liturgy Standardized sacramentary used throughout the Middle Ages Standardized sacramentary used throughout the Middle Ages Set Ash Wednesday for beginning of Lent Set Ash Wednesday for beginning of Lent Encouraged singing of hymns and songs Encouraged singing of hymns and songs ‘Gregorian’ chant named in honor of him ‘Gregorian’ chant named in honor of him 13

Reading from “On the First Sunday of Lent” Gregory discusses significance of 40 Gregory discusses significance of 40 Fasting as offering a ‘tithe’ of our yearly days to God Fasting as offering a ‘tithe’ of our yearly days to God Fasting without charity, almsgiving, is wasted Fasting without charity, almsgiving, is 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. 14

THE GLORY OF THESE FORTY DAYS by Maurice F. Bell, 1906, Pope St. Gregory the Great 1. The glory of these forty days We celebrate with songs of praise; For Christ, by Whom all things were made, Himself has fasted and has prayed. 2. Alone and fasting Moses saw The loving God Who gave the law; And to Elijah, fasting, came The steeds and chariots of flame. 3. So Daniel trained his mystic sight, Delivered from the lions’ might; And John, the Bridegroom’s friend, became The herald of Messiah’s Name. 4. Then grant us, Lord, like them to be Full 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. 15