Saint Athanasius: Defender of the Faith

by Michael Treharne Davies

"The whole world groaned and was amazed to find itself Arian." So cried Saint Jerome. Athanasius was in exile (again), a compromised Pope occupied the Chair of Peter, hardly a bishop had the courage to confront Constantius. Twelve different creeds were competing for the allegiance of Christians; the Nicean Creed was forbidden. The true Faith was being upheld by laymen, inspired by Athanasius, who held fast to what their bishops had taught them even though those same bishops had abandoned it by now. Are there modern-day parallels in the Church and Her Churchmen? Michael Davies’ book provides a fascinating insight into one of the most troubled periods in the history of the Church and the life of one of Her greatest saints. Documents the facts on the "Fall of Pope Liberius," who confirmed the excommunication of Saint Athanasius, and signed an ambiguous formula of doubtful orthodoxy. Mr. Davies reminds us that the Faith is not served by explaining away historical facts, but in understanding them in the light of Catholic teaching. The fact that the Church survives every crisis with the integrity of Her doctrinal teaching intact is a dramatic testimony to Her divine origin and the necessity of Athanasian perseverance.

Genres: Biography, Catholic

96 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1995

About the author

Michael Treharne Davies (1936-2004) was a convert from Anglicanism to the Catholic Church in the 1950s, and was a Catholic writer who authored various works following the Second Vatican Council, in addition to unifying Una Voce America, a conservative group. He went on to compose such works as The Liturgical Revolution, The Order of Melchisedech, Partisans of Error, For Altar and Throne,, and The Wisdom of Adrian Fortescue. Upon Davies' death in 2004, Pope Benedict XVI called him a man of deep faith who was ready to embrace suffering

Reviews

[Gabriel S.F · Rating 5 out of 5]

Atanásio, qual ímpar e santo Espírito
Guiou a ti em segurança, como te opusesses aos encantos
E fatídica influência de Ário sobre Alexandria?
Com fervor confundiste a todos
Os falsos profetas na antiga cidade.
Silenciosamente observado por templos de ídolos faraônicos.
Impelido por anjos e seu pequeno rebanho,
Combates-te pelo verdadeiro Credo: JESUS é DEUS.
Aquele herege, Ário, procurou tua morte
Por tal declaração, fundamental e ortodoxa,
Rechaçaste os decretos blasfemos, transgrediste
O imperador e fugiste ao deserto de Nitria.
Os obeliscos pagãos e as esfinges escarneciam
O teu clamor de protesto: “se o mundo é Contra mim, então eu sou contra o mundo.”
[…]

- Louis Hemmings.

[Jimmy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic (but brief) booklet about a great saint and his times, with connections to the current crisis in the Church today. As Mr. Davies wrote, "Christians who remain true to their traditional faith may have to worship outside the official churches . . ."