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We continue our Patristic Rosary Project today with the:2nd Luminous Mystery: The Wedding at CanaThe late great John Paul II wrote in his letter Rosarium Virginis Mariae wrote: 24. The Rosary is at the service of this ideal; it offers the “secret” which leads easily to a profound and inward knowledge of Christ. We might call it Mary’s way. It is the way of the example of the Virgin of Nazareth, a woman of faith, of silence, of attentive listening. It is also the way of a Marian devotion inspired by knowledge of the inseparable bond between Christ and his...

We continue our Patristic Rosary Project today with the:1st Luminous Mystery: Baptism of Jesus by JohnThe one God had sent to prepare the way and whom Christ Himself would describe as the greatest man born of woman, was a focus of much contemplation by the Fathers and we can only touch the surface of their comments.  Chromatius (+c.406), Bishop of Aquileia, wrote of the Baptist and his significance for us: Hence John prepared these ways of mercy and truth, faith and justice.  Concerning them, Jeremiah also declared, "Stand by the roads, and look, and ask for the ancient paths, where...

We continue our Patristic Rosary Project today with the:5th Joyful Mystery: The Finding in the TemplePious Jews would go to Jerusalem for the Passover so that they could bring a lamb to the Temple to be sacrificed at the right moment on the right day. Jesus Himself would be nailed to a Cross and die during the slaughter of the lambs in the Temple while the priests lined the stairs to the altar and sang Psalms. In the quiet of the ancient world, when Jerusalem was still on that holy day, Jesus could probabaly hear the crying of the lambs...

We continue our Patristic Rosary Project today with the:4th Joyful Mystery: The PresentationWe are made in God’s image and likeness and Christ came into the world to reveal man for fully to him (GS 22). We are radically in unity with Christ and, through Him, with each other. In this light, read the words of 3rd century Alexandria writer Origen (+254): So, when He died, we died with Him, and when He rose, we rose with Him. Likewise, we were also circumcised along with Him. After His circumcision, we were cleansed by a solemn purification. Hence we have no need...

We continue our Patristic Rosary Project today with the:3rd Joyful Mystery: The NativityChrist came into the world in "the fullness of time" (Gal 4:4). His First Coming was foreseen from all eternity and His Nativity was prepared from the beginning of the history of our salvation. The manner of His birth is significant. St. Leo I, "the Great" (+461; whose Christmas sermons deserve entries apart!) wrote in a letter: His God in that "all things were made through Him and nothing was made without Him." (John 1:3) He is human in that He was "made from woman, made under the...

We continue our Patristic Rosary Project today with:2nd Joyful Mystery: The VisitationCommenting on Luke 1:39-45, the when Mary journeys to visit her cousin Elizabeth, St. Augustine of Hippo (+430) speaks of the infant John, to be known as the Baptist, leaping in the womb at the sound of Mary’s voice: We see instances of leaping no only in children but even in animals, although certainly not for any faith or religion of rational recognition of someone coming.  But this case stands out as utterly uncommon and new, because it tool place in the womb, and at the coming of her...

Because October is dedicated in a special way to the Most Holy Rosary of the Blessed Virgin Mary, during the month I, as a dedicated patristiblogger, will work my way through the Mysteries of the Rosary offering some comments from the Fathers of the Church.  Let’s jump right in! 1st Joyful Mystery: The Annuniciation Commenting on Luke 1:26-38, the announcment of Jesus’ birth, St. Ambrose of Milan (+397) makes a connection between Mary and the Church.  : And, therefore, the Evangelist, who had undertaken to prove the incorrupt mystery of the incarnation, thought it fruitless to pursue evidence of Mary’s...

Unless you spent yesterday in a cave, you know that Pope Benedict XVI promulgated Sacramentum Caritatis, his apostolic exhortation on the Eucharist. It’s a thoroughgoing treatment of its subject, examining the sacrament in light of theology, spirituality, history, and morals. It’s very practical, too, touching on points of refinement in celebrating the Eucharist, receiving the Eucharist, and observing the fasts and feasts. Like everything Benedict does, it’s steeped in the doctrine of the Fathers. He invokes Ignatius, Polycarp, Irenaeus, Cyprian, Jerome, Augustine, and Chrysostom, as well as the martyrs of Abitina. Consider a small sample: 13. Against this backdrop we...

Seattle Catholic is not affiliated with the Archdiocese of Seattle A Journal of Catholic News and Views 27 Oct 2003 Is the New Mass Really a Return to Patristic Sources? by Fr. Romano Thommasi When a man such as His Excellency Bishop Piero Marini finds himself in a unique position of authority, every action and every word that he speaks is normally seen as symbolic or indicative of an ideology held by the same man. In drafting a response to the interview granted by His Excellency Bishop Piero Marini to John L. Allen Jr. of the National Catholic Reporter,...