[ELS]

In this photo provided the Vatican newspaper L'Osservatore Romano, gondolier Vittorio Orio, wearing red scarf, is greeted by Pope Benedict XVI during the pontiff's weekly general audience in St.Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. After a 17-day journey, gondolier Vittorio Orio parked his gondola in St. Peter's Square, and with traditional straw hat in hand walked up the steps of St. Peter's Basilica on Wednesday to meet with Pope Benedict XVI and invite him to Venice for a ride down the Grand Canal. (AP Photo/L'Osservatore Romano, ho)

A group of Nigerian pilgrims reacts during Pope Benedict XVI's weekly general audience in St.Peter's Square at the Vatican, Wednesday, Sept. 19, 2007. (AP Photo/Pier Paolo Cito)

Pope Benedict XVI waves to the faithful during a general audience at Saint Peter's square in the Vatican September 19, 2007. REUTERS/Alessandro Bianchi (VATICAN)

[ELS]

Recent catecheses on the Early Church Fathers:
On St. Clement of Rome -The Church Has a Sacramental, Not Political Structure (March 7, 2007)
Truly a Doctor of Unity (St. Ignatius of Antioch) (March 14, 2007)
St. Justin Martyr: He Considered Christianity the "True Philosophy" (March 21, 2007)
St. Irenaeus of Lyons: The First Great Theologian of the Church (March 28, 2007)
St. Clement of Alexandria: One of the Great Promoters of Dialogue Between Faith and Reason (April 18, 2007)
On Origen of Alexandria: He Was a True Teacher (April 25, 2007)
Origen: The Privileged Path to Knowing God Is Love (May 2, 2007)
Tertullian: Accomplished a Great Step in the Development of the Trinitarian Dogma (May 30, 2007)
St. Cyprian: His Book on the 'Our Father' Has Helped Me to Pray Better (June 6, 2007)
On Eusebius of Caesarea (June 13, 2007)
On St. Athanasius (June 20, 2007)
On St. Cyril of Jerusalem (June 27, 2007)
On St. Basil (July 4, 2007)
St. Basil (August 1, 2007)
St. Gregory of Nazianzen (August 8, 2007)
St. Gregory Nazianzen's Teachings (August 22, 2007)
St. Gregory of Nyssa - A Pillar of Orthodoxy (August 29, 2007)
Gregory of Nyssa on Perfection (September 5, 2007)

[eleni121]

I also greet the Catholic and Greek Orthodox pilgrims from the United States. May God bless all of you!

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As a Greek Orthodox Christian myself I wish I could have been there...May God Bless you too your excellency!

[Oratam]

Saint Patrick's Cathedral in New York has large statues of the early fathers and doctors of the Church in the transepts. Here's St. John Chrysostom:

[AlguyA]

We just recieved an e-mail from my son who is in Rome studying this semester. He attended the papal audience today and was in the front row. He said His Holiness passed within four feet of him while giving his blessing and that the Pope said the blessing extended to his family back home.

So we're all trying to be a little holier in our family right now. -)

[Salvation]

Wonderful thread. Thank you!

[Kolokotronis]

The wonderful pope referred here to +John Chrysostomos’ Homily XX on Ephesians. It has always been one of my favorites. Here is a quote I use at wedding toasts and in advice to young husbands concerning wives:

” And again, never call her simply by her name, but with terms of endearment, with honor, with much love. Honor her, and she will not need honor from others; she will not want the glory that comes from others, if she enjoys that which comes from thee. Prefer her before all, on every account, both for her beauty and her discernment, and praise her. Thou wilt thus persuade her to give heed to none that are without, but to scorn all the world except thyself. Teach her the fear of God, and all good things will flow from this as from a fountain, and the house will be full of ten thousand blessings.”