+ Today we celebrate the feast of the “Doctor of Homilies” – St.
Peter Chrysologus: (born 380,
d. 450). He was archbishop of Ravenna in Italy, the capital of the Western
Empire. “Chrysologus” in his name refers to the fact that he was
“Golden-worded.” This title no doubt was given him, in addition to the fact
that he deserved it, because the Western Church needed a suitable counterpart
to the Eastern Church’s St. John Chrysostom (“Golden-tongued”), although Peter
was not as eloquent as Augustine or Chrysostom himself.
His first sermon as bishop was
preached before the empress, who became a generous patroness. A large number of
his sermons survive. Their chief characteristic was that they were brief and to
the point. They are suggestive of careful preparation, warmth and zeal; and
they give us a good picture of what life was like in Ravenna at the time. Most
are homilies on the Gospels and other parts of the Bible or exhortation to
conversion and penance; he gave beautiful explanations of the Incarnation, the
Creed, the place of Mary and John the Baptist in the great plan of salvation. Unlike many of his contemporary bishops, his
message was positive, trying to build up the faithful in love rather than to
frighten them into submission. He died in 450 at Imola, Italy and was declared
a Doctor of the Church in 1729 by Pope Benedict XIII.
It is up to us to honor Peter
Chrysologus today, and to integrate his preaching and teaching into our own
lives, and to use our own tongues in as polished and convincing way as he did,
to maintain membership in God’s Church among those already present in it, and to
attract others to it! The wonderful “plan of salvation” is intended for all
people everywhere, and we pray that at least “many” of them will respond and
join “fully and forcefully!”
With our lips we will declare the
ordinances of your mouth, Lord!
No comments:
Post a Comment