+ Athanasius was born in 295 at Alexandria, Egypt. He
studied the classics and theology there. He then became a deacon, student, and
secretary of the bishop of Alexander of Alexandria. He attended the Council of
Nicea in 325 where he fought for the defeat of Arianism and acceptance of the
full divinity of Jesus. Here the doctrine of homo-ousianism which says that Christ
is the same substance as the Father was promulgated. Arianism taught that
Christ was different from, and a creation of, the Father; a creature, and not
part of, God.
Athanasius became Bishop of
Alexandria in 328 (at the age of 33) and served for 46 years. When the dispute
over Arianism spilled over from theology to politics, Athanasius got exiled
five times, spending more than a third of his episcopate in exile. Biographer
of St. Anthony the Abbot, Confessor of the faith and Doctor of the Church, he
fought for the acceptance of the Nicene Creed – which is an optional Profession
of Faith available for every Sunday celebration in the Catholic Church to this
day.
Athanasius died on May 2, 373 at
Alexandria of natural causes – his relics are at St. Croce, Venice, Italy. In
1568 he was proclaimed one of the four great Doctors of the Church in the East
alongside Basil the Great, Gregory Nazianzen and John Chrysostom.
The readings today fit the feast
well: St. John tells us in the first
reading that the one with faith will be able to understand what is happening in
the world, and will be able to conquer it: faith in the Son of God, as fully
divine, of one substance with the Father
is like an impregnable shield against all adversaries; the gospel passage
reminds all committed disciples that persecution awaits them, but that this
same faith and trust in the name of Jesus will be their rock and refuge: the
work of evangelization and confessing the faith must be done – and with the
Lord’s own Spirit and strength it shall be accomplished. Thank you God for
these precious gifts!
As was said long ago, and
which applies today: The mouth of the
just murmurs wisdom!
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