St. Athanasius, the great champion of the Faith was born at Alexandria, Egypt, around 296, of Christian parents. Educated under the eye of Alexander, later Bishop of his native city, he made great progress in learning and virtue. In 315 Athanasius went to the desert to spend some time in retreat with (St) Anthony (of the Desert). In 319 Athanasius became a deacon, and began at that point to take an active part against the rising heresy of Arius, an ambitious priest of the Alexandrian Church who denied the Divinity of Christ. This was to be the life struggle of St. Athanasius.
In 325 he assisted his Bishop at the Council of Nicea, where his influence began to be felt. Five months later Alexander died. On his deathbed he recommended St. Athanasius as his successor. And so it came to be that Athanasius was unanimously elected Patriarch in 326. His refusal to tolerate the Arian heresy was the cause of many trials and persecutions. He spent seventeen of forty-six years of his episcopate in exile. After a life of virtue and suffering, this intrepid champion of the Catholic Faith, the greatest man of his time, died in peace on May 2, 373. St. Athanasius was a Bishop and one of the very first Doctors of the Church.
Our first reading today no doubt was read often by St. Athanasius and understood: he who is begotten of God (Baptized) conquers the world: if he follows the commandments of God love, if he believes that Jesus is the Son of God. Athanasius did these things. He fiercely defended the fact that Jesus was truly the Divine Son of God, as well as being the human Son of Man (Adam).
The gospel passage certainly applies to Athanasius: you will be hated by all because of my name, but hold out til the end and you will be saved. He held out and he was saved.
In our world today there is so very much that is not of God – and it is up to us for our own sakes to not let this spirit of the world infect us like a virus; it is up to us to become inoculated against certain spiritual death, with the soothing balm of the grace of the Holy Spirit – who will be our ally and our strength in defending the Church – not only for the good of the Church – but for the good of the whole world. We, the Church, with Christ are the one true Light of the World – if this light ever dims significantly, the world will be left to a darkness that it has not known for a very long time!
With the fire of God's spirit may our light shine for us, for those we will meet today and for everyone, everywhere.
Blessed are they who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
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