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The Fathers of the Church
The lives and teachings of the Church Fathers, including Augustine of Hippo, Ignatius of Antioch, Clement Justin, Irenaeus, Basil, Jerome and John Of Chrysostom. A total of 25 Fathers are included.
200 pages, Paperback
Published October 3, 2007
2 people are currently reading
14 people want to read
About the author
Pope Benedict XVI
943 books935 followersOriginally
Joseph Ratzinger
, a noted conservative theologian before his election in 2005, Benedict XVI strove against the influence of secularism during his papacy to defend traditional Catholic teachings but since medieval times first resigned in 2013.
After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.
Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.
Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.
Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.
Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.
(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)
After Joseph Ratzinger served a long career as an academic and a professor at the University of Regensburg, Pope Paul VI appointed him as archbishop of Munich and Freising and cardinal in 1977. In 1981, he settled in Rome as prefect of the congregation for the doctrine of the faith, one most important office of the Roman curia. He also served as dean of the college of cardinals.
Benedict XVI reigned 265th in virtue of his office of bishop of Rome, the sovereign of the state of Vatican City and the head of the Church. A conclave named him on 19 April 2005; he celebrated his inaugural Mass on 24 April 2005 and took possession of his Lateran cathedral basilica of Saint John on 7 May 2005.
Benedict XVI succeeded Saint John Paul II, predecessor and his prolific writings on doctrine and values. Benedict XVI advocated a return to fundamental Christian values to counter the increase of many developed countries. Relativism denied objective truth and moral truths in particular; he viewed this central problem of the 21st century. With the importance of the Church, he understood redemptive love of God. He reaffirmed the "importance of prayer in the face of the activism" "of many Christians engaged in charitable work." Benedict also revived a number and elevated the Tridentine Mass to a more prominent position.
Benedict founded and patronized of the Ratzinger foundation, a charitable organization, which from the sale of books and essays makes money to fund scholarships and bursaries for students across the world.
Due to advanced age on 11 February 2013, Benedict announced in a speech in Latin and cited a "lack of strength of mind and body" before the cardinals. He effectively left on 28 February 2013.As emeritus, Benedict retained the style of His Holiness, and the title and continued to dress in the color of white. He moved into the newly renovated monastery of Mater Ecclesiae for his retirement. Pope Francis succeeded him on 13 March 2013.
(more info on Ratzinger Foundation: https://www.ewtn.com/library/Theology...)
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Displaying 1 of 1 review
July 23, 2024
Over the last few years, I have read a number of books by and about Pope Benedict XVI. Of the popes in my lifetime, I find his writings of immense spiritual benefit. I would state that I underappreciated him until his resignation. And since then, I have read much. And with each piece I read I appreciate his wisdom, faith, and stand against modernism. This was an excellent read. There are two editions of this work, and they are nearly identical. In North America this book is published under the title Church Fathers: From Clement of Rome to Augustine by Ignatius. I had tracked down this volume and was reading it when I picked up the eBook from Ignatius. I ended up reading about half the book in each edition.
The descriptions on the back of the two volumes are very different. The description of the edition of the book is:
“Following his series of Catechesis on the Apostles and major figures of the primitive Church, Benedict XVI turns all his knowledge and insight to the preachers, poets, homilists and theologians of the next five centuries. The Lives and contributions to Catholic life and thought of great figures such as St Augustine of Hippo, Origen and St John Chrysostom are described and explored in accessible language and with a great love and enthusiasm. This book will encourage readers to get to know and appreciate the founding figures of Christianity and their ever-fresh and challenging teachings.”
It should be noted the chapter breakdowns are significantly different between the two editions. They cover the same information. The Ignatius version includes the date and location of the audience the text is taken from and has a separate chapter for ever audience. The CTS edition has a chapter for each Church father with four of them having subsections. A few of the CTS chapters also combine more than one address into a single chapter. The chapters in this edition are:
Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome
Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Saint Justin, Philosopher and Martyr
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons
Clement of Alexandria
Origen of Alexandria:
Life and Work
The Thought
Tertullian
Saint Cyprian
Eusebius of Caesarea
Saint Athanasius of Alexandria
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
Saint Basil
Saint Gregory Nazianzen
Saint Gregory of Nyssa
Saint John Chrysostom
The years in Antioch
Bishop of Constantinople
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
Saint Hilary of Poitiers
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
Saint Ambrose of Milan
Saint Maximus of Turin
Saint Jerome
His life
Scripture and eductation
Aphraates, “the Sage”
Saint Ephrem
Saint Chromatius of Aquileia
Saint Paulinus of Nola
Saint Augustine of Hippo
His life
Augustine’s final works
Faith and Reason
His works
Inner experience
It should also be noted there is no introduction of conclusion to the volume. And the CTS edition does not contain the footnotes found in the Ignatius edition. Making the CTS a great reading edition and Ignatius excellent for study.
I have read much about the church fathers and by the church fathers over the years. Both in school and personal reading, much of it by Mike Aquilina. This is an absolutely fantastic volume. You can read it from beginning to end, or jump around and pick and choose the Fathers in a random order.
This is a wonderful volume to read, no matter which edition you pick up. I enjoyed both the editions I have worked through. There is a continuation of this volume with the title of Church Fathers and Teachers: From Saint Leo the Great to Peter Lombard in the Ignatius press edition and it is published as two beautiful hard covers from the Catholic Truth Society called Spiritual Masters Fathers and Writers of the First Millennium and Spiritual Masters Medieval Fathers and Writers.
A great resource that any Catholic would benefit from reading, it would be great for any Christian. An excellent volume.
Read reviews of other books by from the Catholic Truth Society on my blog Book Reviews and More.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
The descriptions on the back of the two volumes are very different. The description of the edition of the book is:
“Following his series of Catechesis on the Apostles and major figures of the primitive Church, Benedict XVI turns all his knowledge and insight to the preachers, poets, homilists and theologians of the next five centuries. The Lives and contributions to Catholic life and thought of great figures such as St Augustine of Hippo, Origen and St John Chrysostom are described and explored in accessible language and with a great love and enthusiasm. This book will encourage readers to get to know and appreciate the founding figures of Christianity and their ever-fresh and challenging teachings.”
It should be noted the chapter breakdowns are significantly different between the two editions. They cover the same information. The Ignatius version includes the date and location of the audience the text is taken from and has a separate chapter for ever audience. The CTS edition has a chapter for each Church father with four of them having subsections. A few of the CTS chapters also combine more than one address into a single chapter. The chapters in this edition are:
Saint Clement, Bishop of Rome
Saint Ignatius of Antioch
Saint Justin, Philosopher and Martyr
Saint Irenaeus of Lyons
Clement of Alexandria
Origen of Alexandria:
Life and Work
The Thought
Tertullian
Saint Cyprian
Eusebius of Caesarea
Saint Athanasius of Alexandria
Saint Cyril of Jerusalem
Saint Basil
Saint Gregory Nazianzen
Saint Gregory of Nyssa
Saint John Chrysostom
The years in Antioch
Bishop of Constantinople
Saint Cyril of Alexandria
Saint Hilary of Poitiers
Saint Eusebius of Vercelli
Saint Ambrose of Milan
Saint Maximus of Turin
Saint Jerome
His life
Scripture and eductation
Aphraates, “the Sage”
Saint Ephrem
Saint Chromatius of Aquileia
Saint Paulinus of Nola
Saint Augustine of Hippo
His life
Augustine’s final works
Faith and Reason
His works
Inner experience
It should also be noted there is no introduction of conclusion to the volume. And the CTS edition does not contain the footnotes found in the Ignatius edition. Making the CTS a great reading edition and Ignatius excellent for study.
I have read much about the church fathers and by the church fathers over the years. Both in school and personal reading, much of it by Mike Aquilina. This is an absolutely fantastic volume. You can read it from beginning to end, or jump around and pick and choose the Fathers in a random order.
This is a wonderful volume to read, no matter which edition you pick up. I enjoyed both the editions I have worked through. There is a continuation of this volume with the title of Church Fathers and Teachers: From Saint Leo the Great to Peter Lombard in the Ignatius press edition and it is published as two beautiful hard covers from the Catholic Truth Society called Spiritual Masters Fathers and Writers of the First Millennium and Spiritual Masters Medieval Fathers and Writers.
A great resource that any Catholic would benefit from reading, it would be great for any Christian. An excellent volume.
Read reviews of other books by from the Catholic Truth Society on my blog Book Reviews and More.
This book is part of a series of reviews: 2024 Catholic Reading Plan!
Displaying 1 of 1 review