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A Year with the Church Fathers
Times change, but human nature does not. Neither do the daily struggles that all Christians experience in their walk with the Lord. Today as two thousand years ago we fight anger, pride, lust, spiritual sloth. Now as then we strive to be more diligent in prayer, more faithful to the commandments, more patient and charitable toward others. And in our time, no less than in the earliest centuries of Christianity, we need wise guidance to direct us on the road to holiness.
In A Year with the Church Fathers , popular Patristics expert Mike Aquilina gathers the wisest, most practical teachings and exhortations from the Fathers of the Church, and presents them in a format perfect for daily meditation and inspiration. The Fathers were the immediate inheritors of the riches of the Apostolic Age, and their intimacy with the revelation of Jesus Christ is beautifully evident throughout their theological and pastoral a profound patrimony that is ours to read and cherish and profit from.
Learn to humbly accept correction from St. Clement of Rome. Let Tertullian teach you how to clear your mind before prayer. Read St. Gregory the Great and deepen your love for the Eucharist. Do you suffer from pain or illness? St. John Chrysostom's counsels will refresh you. Do you have trouble curbing your appetite for food and other fleshly things? St. John Cassian will teach you the true way to moderation and self-control.
A Year with the Church Fathers is different from a study guide, and more than a collection of pious passages. It is a year-long retreat that in just a few minutes every day will lead you on a cycle of contemplation, prayer, resolution, and spiritual growth that is guaranteed to bring you closer to God and His truth. From the Church Fathers we should expect nothing less.
Beautiful gift edition, with two- tone ultra soft cover, ribbon marker, and designed interior pages.
In A Year with the Church Fathers , popular Patristics expert Mike Aquilina gathers the wisest, most practical teachings and exhortations from the Fathers of the Church, and presents them in a format perfect for daily meditation and inspiration. The Fathers were the immediate inheritors of the riches of the Apostolic Age, and their intimacy with the revelation of Jesus Christ is beautifully evident throughout their theological and pastoral a profound patrimony that is ours to read and cherish and profit from.
Learn to humbly accept correction from St. Clement of Rome. Let Tertullian teach you how to clear your mind before prayer. Read St. Gregory the Great and deepen your love for the Eucharist. Do you suffer from pain or illness? St. John Chrysostom's counsels will refresh you. Do you have trouble curbing your appetite for food and other fleshly things? St. John Cassian will teach you the true way to moderation and self-control.
A Year with the Church Fathers is different from a study guide, and more than a collection of pious passages. It is a year-long retreat that in just a few minutes every day will lead you on a cycle of contemplation, prayer, resolution, and spiritual growth that is guaranteed to bring you closer to God and His truth. From the Church Fathers we should expect nothing less.
Beautiful gift edition, with two- tone ultra soft cover, ribbon marker, and designed interior pages.
365 pages, Leather Bound
First published January 1, 2010
108 people are currently reading
233 people want to read
About the author
Mike Aquilina
126 books112 followersMike Aquilina is author or editor of more than thirty books, including The Fathers of the Church, The Mass of the Early Christians, and A Year with the Church Fathers. He has co-hosted eight series that air on the Eternal Word Television Network (EWTN). He has co-authored books with Cardinal Donald Wuerl of Washington, D.C., and theologian Scott Hahn. He is past editor of New Covenant magazine and The Pittsburgh Catholic newspaper. He appears weekly on Sirius Radio's "Sonrise Morning Show." Mike and his wife, Terri, have six children, who are the subject of his book Love in the Little Things.
In 2011 Mike was a featured presenter of the U.S. Bishops' Diocesan Educational/Catechetical Leadership Institute. He also wrote the USCCB's theological reflection for Catechetical Sunday in 2011.
His reviews, essays and journalism have appeared in many journals, including First Things, Touchstone, Crisis, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, and Catholic Heritage. He contributed work on early Christianity to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought.
Mike is a also poet whose works have appeared in U.S. literary journals and have been translated into Polish and Spanish. He shared songwriting credits with Grammy Award-winner Dion DiMucci on the forthcoming album "Tank Full of Blues."
In 2011 Mike was a featured presenter of the U.S. Bishops' Diocesan Educational/Catechetical Leadership Institute. He also wrote the USCCB's theological reflection for Catechetical Sunday in 2011.
His reviews, essays and journalism have appeared in many journals, including First Things, Touchstone, Crisis, Our Sunday Visitor, National Catholic Register, and Catholic Heritage. He contributed work on early Christianity to the Encyclopedia of Catholic Social Thought.
Mike is a also poet whose works have appeared in U.S. literary journals and have been translated into Polish and Spanish. He shared songwriting credits with Grammy Award-winner Dion DiMucci on the forthcoming album "Tank Full of Blues."
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
January 12, 2020
Just buy this book. I went through it last year and it is chuck full of Patristic writings. An excellent collection.
open-book
March 3, 2014It was worth the entire price of the book to have discovered this gem on Day 24, entitled, “Don't Make Excuses” from St. Augustine's City of God:
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Picked this up on February 7, 2012 and decided to use this as my daily meditation starter. Yum!
‘But it is a worse and more damnable pride which casts about for the shelter of an excuse even in manifest sins, as these our first parents did, of whom the woman said, “The serpent beguiled me, and I did eat,” and the man said, “The woman whom You gave to be with me, she gave me of the tree, and I did eat.” (Genesis 3:12-13)
Here there is no word of begging pardon, no word of entreaty for healing. For though they do not, like Cain, deny that they have perpetrated the deed, yet their pride seeks to refer its wickedness to another—the woman's pride to the serpent, the man's to the woman.
But where there is a plain trangression of a divine commandment, this is rather to accuse than to excuse oneself. For the fact that the woman sinned on the serpent's persuasion, and the man at the woman's offer, did not make the transgression less, as if there were any one whom we ought rather to believe or yield to than God.’
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Picked this up on February 7, 2012 and decided to use this as my daily meditation starter. Yum!
January 31, 2011
Just wanted to share with anyone considering this book that we have a few resources available here:
Book Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/user/StBenedic...
Look Inside (Preview):
https://www.tanbooks.com/previews/SB0...
Order:
https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/Ye...
Book Trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/user/StBenedic...
Look Inside (Preview):
https://www.tanbooks.com/previews/SB0...
Order:
https://www.tanbooks.com/index.php/Ye...
November 2, 2020
This book sets a great template for devotional books. It's set up for reading in one year. Each of the 365 devotions is limited to one page in the book, so the volume is not bulky and each devotion is easily done in under ten minutes. Each page has a title, a quick explanation of the text by Aquilina, an excerpt from one of the Church Fathers, a question or two for meditating about the important theme of the excerpt, and a short prayer.
The Church Fathers are the theologians (mostly bishops, but not all bishops) who lived during the first four hundred years of the Christianity. Saint Augustine is generally considered the last of the Church Fathers; he died in AD 430. Even though they all lived over 1500 years ago, their insights on human nature, human relationships, God's love, and God's mercy, are universal truths. Those insights are applicable to us today. Their wisdom touches the human heart. That's why their writings have survived so long.
I started out reading this one page each morning but did not maintain my discipline. Now that I've finished, it took me three and a half years but was well worth it. I will hunt around for more books like this.
Highly recommended.
The Church Fathers are the theologians (mostly bishops, but not all bishops) who lived during the first four hundred years of the Christianity. Saint Augustine is generally considered the last of the Church Fathers; he died in AD 430. Even though they all lived over 1500 years ago, their insights on human nature, human relationships, God's love, and God's mercy, are universal truths. Those insights are applicable to us today. Their wisdom touches the human heart. That's why their writings have survived so long.
I started out reading this one page each morning but did not maintain my discipline. Now that I've finished, it took me three and a half years but was well worth it. I will hunt around for more books like this.
Highly recommended.
May 29, 2012
Daily reading.
I always know that anything Mike Aquilina writes is going to have solid worth behind it. When it is a book that has anything to do with the Church Fathers then I know it will be solid gold. Aquilina's passion for the wisdom of the Fathers always is passed on to readers in such a way that they appreciate the Fathers for themselves, which is no easy feat when one considers how long ago they wrote.
In A Year with the Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living, Aquilina has surpassed himself. This is not simply a collection of interesting or informative excerpts from the Church Fathers' archives. It is a well-planned, daily retreat that is designed to progress through a year with the ancient Fathers as spiritual guides. The 365 meditations are intended to move the reader, with prayer and contemplation, to a deeper life with Jesus Christ.
Each day's title and brief summary from Aquilina put the reader in the subject. The selected Father's brief commentary then expounds on a topic. Lest one should worry that the language will be difficult, Aquilina made sure it is contemporary and accessible while retaining the full meaning intended by each author. This is followed by a question or two which help readers relate fully to what was just read. A brief but specific prayer end the session.
Tan Books has done this book proud. This book is a beautiful thing that reflects the value of the words within it to our souls. The cover may not be actual leather but it certainly feels like it. Pages are gilt-edged. A sturdy ribbon marker matches the cover. Moreover, the book design is elegant and decorative in an understated but classic way. A Year with the Fathers is not only useful but a book that could become an heirloom in your family. Readers will know that I do not give this praise lightly.
This book arrived at exactly the right time for Tom and me. We were resolved to return to a neglected habit of reading aloud to each other a brief spiritual piece each day. In the few days that we have been using this devotional resource, we have been mightily impressed by how easy it is to understand and by how there is always a point or two that speaks to one of us for further thought. Mike Aquilina has given the Church another treasure in this resource which I cannot recommend highly enough.
NOTE
It is taking a long time to read because my husband and I take turns reading a page at a time to each other over lunch during the work week ... and sometimes we are too busy to do that.
I always know that anything Mike Aquilina writes is going to have solid worth behind it. When it is a book that has anything to do with the Church Fathers then I know it will be solid gold. Aquilina's passion for the wisdom of the Fathers always is passed on to readers in such a way that they appreciate the Fathers for themselves, which is no easy feat when one considers how long ago they wrote.
In A Year with the Church Fathers: Patristic Wisdom for Daily Living, Aquilina has surpassed himself. This is not simply a collection of interesting or informative excerpts from the Church Fathers' archives. It is a well-planned, daily retreat that is designed to progress through a year with the ancient Fathers as spiritual guides. The 365 meditations are intended to move the reader, with prayer and contemplation, to a deeper life with Jesus Christ.
Each day's title and brief summary from Aquilina put the reader in the subject. The selected Father's brief commentary then expounds on a topic. Lest one should worry that the language will be difficult, Aquilina made sure it is contemporary and accessible while retaining the full meaning intended by each author. This is followed by a question or two which help readers relate fully to what was just read. A brief but specific prayer end the session.
Tan Books has done this book proud. This book is a beautiful thing that reflects the value of the words within it to our souls. The cover may not be actual leather but it certainly feels like it. Pages are gilt-edged. A sturdy ribbon marker matches the cover. Moreover, the book design is elegant and decorative in an understated but classic way. A Year with the Fathers is not only useful but a book that could become an heirloom in your family. Readers will know that I do not give this praise lightly.
This book arrived at exactly the right time for Tom and me. We were resolved to return to a neglected habit of reading aloud to each other a brief spiritual piece each day. In the few days that we have been using this devotional resource, we have been mightily impressed by how easy it is to understand and by how there is always a point or two that speaks to one of us for further thought. Mike Aquilina has given the Church another treasure in this resource which I cannot recommend highly enough.
NOTE
It is taking a long time to read because my husband and I take turns reading a page at a time to each other over lunch during the work week ... and sometimes we are too busy to do that.
December 31, 2024
My favorite 1 year devotional I’ve ever done.
August 6, 2013
This book is very good read, for those who would like to embody the ideas of the Early Church. The Book is organized perfectly. However, in my case I was not always able to read this book consecutively so this book took more than a year to complete. Nonetheless, this book is a gem and I recommend it for anyone, especially those new to The Faith or who are not aware of the fuller expression of what being "a Christian" really means.
August 11, 2013
Does an excellent job of what was intended. Cler nd concise. Includes scriptural and church father reference for the CATHOLIC RELIGION. however the book is written for everyone.
March 25, 2020
See God everywhere. If you approach with a pure heart, the world around you will show you his face.
Contemplate what he has done with his Saints in every generation.
We see him in the way he undertook the dispensation of his incarnation for our Salvation and extended the marvels of his sacraments to all nations.
Remember that the object of my temptation was created good by God and for a special purpose.
Let creation bring you the clear remembrance of the creator.
The world is a work of art displayed for all people to admire and to make known who created it.
We should contemplate the constant resurrection of the natural world and learn from its example. The seed, out of its disintegration come many seeds bearing fruit.
Scatter the darkness in my soul and enlighten the eyes of my understanding, so that I may make use of your creation as you intended.
By understanding history and science and other things the world teaches, we exercise our minds for understanding the higher truths of scripture.
Don’t envy those who have anything great in human terms. Do everything in preparation for eternal life.
In secular writings we see the truth in shadows and mirrors.
We must believe that the greatest battle of all is ahead of us and to prepare for it we must do and suffer everything.
Many who used to be skeptics and scoffers have later believed even enough to become martyrs for Christ himself.
Grant that I may have faith that is not ashamed.
Christian philosophers investigate their faith thoroughly. Instead of making you feel accused, the creator gives you a new subject for gratitude.
God loves us so much that he turns our disaster into good. Man went out naked like a survivor from a shipwreck. God received him and immediately clothed him. God made the gain greater than the loss and brought our nature to the Royal throne. Do I really trust God to take away my sin and bring an even greater good from it?
Trees tossed about by contrary winds grow stronger.
Do I see evil in the world as an opportunity to exercise Christian virtue?
If I’m puffed up with pride when I’m victorious, the victory is deadly.
God’s enemies are not enemies because they can hurt him, but only because they oppose him.
It's human nature to try to make excuses for our sins. We're only making them worse by showing our ungodly pride. It grieves them more to have a bad house than a bad life - as if it were man's greatest good to have everything good but himself.
A Christian can turn evil to good use by dying well.
The prohibition makes us want to do the prohibited act if we do not love righteousness. And unless divine grace helps us we cannot love or delight in true righteousness.
Death is embraced for truth’s sake and makes martyrs. Death is evil because it is the wages of sin. The righteous make good use not only of good things, but also of evil things.
The son of God took on the humility of our flesh to conquer the devil so that we could imitate his righteousness in humility. The glory of the Lord's passion is most wonderful for its mystery of humility.
The omnipotence of the son of God could have rescued humanity from the dominion of the devil simply by exercising his will. But it was the weakness, not the power, that had to be reinforced so that when the creature was united with the creator there would be nothing missing of the divine to the flesh he assumed. In what ways might I need to be weaker so that the Lord's power can be made perfect? Give me the spirit of humility so that I may have a share in your glory.
In spite of our sin, God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son. By his birth and suffering for us in the flesh, we might know how much God valued us. Because his spirit has scattered love into our hearts, we can overcome every difficult and come into eternal rest. Lord, enlighten my understanding.
When we hear or read the gospel stories, we need to see both natures (humanity and divinity) at work because we need to understand that both natures are vital for our Salvation. Believe both faithfully and worship both humbly.
The magi would have missed seeing him if they had not been far from their own country (out of familiar, out of comfort zone?). And had they not searched for him they would not have seen him.
All the ends of the earth shall see the Salvation of our God.
What gifts does my faith bring to Christ? I bring Him only gifts that He gave me first.
Christ taught us how to love by loving us. The son of the Lord of all took for our sake the form of a servant, and he to whom all things were subject subjected himself that he might release us from the subjection of sin.
By his great love he gave a blessing to the poor in spirit. He promised the peacemakers they should be called his brothers and sons of God. He promised the humble that they should inherit the land of life. He promised the mourners that by their supplications they would be comforted. He promised the hungry fullness in his Kingdom. To those who weep, that they should rejoice in his promise. He promised the merciful that they should be shown mercy. To those who are pure in heart that they would see God. To those who are persecuted on account of righteousness that they should go into the Kingdom of heaven. To those who are persecuted on account of his name he promised a blessing and rest in his Kingdom. All because of his great love.
Lord, make me worthy to be your servant and give me strength to serve you in your children.
Face every situation the way Christ would face it. By returning good for evil I may learn to bear ill treatment as Jesus did
So that our patience may be strengthened, and our fears driven away, use prayer to conquer fear and trembling and learn to suffer patiently.
Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you with all my heart that I may fight for the truth to the end with my body and my soul and that if faith is put to the test I may be found ready.
How can the weakness of Christ give me strength to endure even what I fear most?
Father, make my heart clean to welcome the Lord Jesus so that he might be glad to come in and accept my heart's hospitality.
Glory be to you who laid your cross as a bridge over death that souls might pass over on it from the dwelling of the dead to the dwelling of life.
Love for him bears fruit.
God's mercy for us is more amazing because Christ died for the unrighteous and wicked. By dying he was subject to the laws of hell, but by rising again he broke them and destroyed the continuity of death, making it temporal instead of eternal.
Be renewed by daily progress and growth in piety. May he reveal the treasure of his helpful graces.
God will clean up your soul and make it a fit dwelling for himself. Lord, cleanse me from my secret sins. Send me your spirit and fit me for your service.
The time you lend to God is not lost. He will return it to you with large interest. Father, let your son reign in my heart so that I may no longer be a slave to the attacks of earthly desires. Secure my foundation with a deep humility.
The atonement of Christ changes everything. We were miserable outcast but now we're children of God.
By the spirit of God, you may gain by grace what you did not have by nature.
P50
Give us this day Our Daily Bread, we pray these words even if we have plenty of bread in the pantry. We need something more than ordinary bread so that we might live in such a way that we are not separated from the holy altar.
Temptation is always there, but like Saint Peter, we can get over it and come through it the other side.
For you oh God have tested us, you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net. You laid affliction on our loins and you let men ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water yet you have brought us forth to his spacious place. Psalm 66:10-12. See how boldly they speak of having passed through,
Guide the desires of my heart. May your loving forgiveness keep me from the punishments my sinned deserve.
Earnest prayer is light to the understanding and the soul.
A quiet heart will help us overcome our passions and our temptations. We must break our bad habits and start new good habits. Work to have a quiet mind. Lord, help me see that this world is only temporary and that the joy of heaven is my true future. Help me remember that this life is short and that life to come lasts forever.
Don't despair even in dry spells God has your benefit in mind. Three reasons for mental dryness: carelessness on our part, assaults of the devil, the permission and allowance of the Lord.
Observe with humility the weakness of our own heart. We are generally more careless about keeping whatever we think can be easily replaced.
Seal everything you do with the sign of the cross and teach your children to do the same. Seal all you're doing, my child, with the sign of the living cross. Do not neglect this sign for there is no guardian like it. St Ephraim of Syrian d. 373
Let nature be your book and creation your tablets. Learn the laws from them and meditate on things unwritten. The earth and the fruit of the tree cry that there is a season for everything. The bird, in its daily gleaning, reproves the covetous one and his greed.
God does not need the material offerings humans can give him since he himself is the one who provides everything. He created everything out of unformed matter out of his goodness toward humanity. If humans show themselves worthy of this design by their works then they are deemed worthy of reining in company with him. Being freed from decay and suffering, those who choose what is pleasing to him are, because of their choice, deemed worthy of eternal life and fellowship with him. St Justin Martyr d 165
God spoke all other things into being but formed human beings with his own hands. Study the attributes of the father then learn to be like him.
Use the things of this world properly but don't let them capture all your attention. Recognize the dignity of your nature. You were made in the image of God. Whatever is beautiful and wonderful, attribute that to the praise and glory of the creator. Look to him and be radiant so your faces shall never be ashamed. Psalm 34:5
If you are God's temple and God's spirit dwells in you then what everyone of the faithful has in his own heart is greater than what he marvels at in heaven. Use every kind of creature and everything this world is equipped with reasonably and moderately. The things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal. Guide me, O Lord, to eternal life by helping me use the gifts you have given me wisely.
The gifts of language and thought are what distinguish us from the animals. What a terrible thing it is when we use these gifts to be like animals instead of like God.
It is a most praiseworthy thing when, by true knowledge and by true conduct, a man becomes the image of God. We have received the gift of speech so that we may not be like speechless animals in our conduct, but in our actions resemble God. Lord, you made each human being a world within the world and the glory of all glories of creation. Guide me to live according to the purpose for which you created me
Father, cleanse my heart of every kind of pollution. Drive all unholy thoughts away from me and sanctify my soul and mind.
If you wish to heed the word of life, cut yourself off from evil things. The hearing of the word does no good to someone busy with sins.
The virtue of a man is carefulness in holding true virtue and righteous living. Not even the devil himself can take these things away from you if you take the necessary care to guard them.
I pray only that I may find grace before you and that you may open when I knock.
Live to God and set aside your old nature. We can reject wickedness.
The very denial of free will proves it exists. The will is the power of free choice. By denying free will he proves that there is free will.
Give me strength to embrace your will and follow your call.
You were given a tongue so that you could praise the creator. Lord, let my work here on earth contribute to building your eternal Kingdom.
It's important to decide what your calling is and stick to that. How grave a matter it is to deprive another. All of us help one another as parts of one body. Father, faith in your word is the way of wisdom. Open my ears to hear your call.
Turn to the Lord and ask of him without doubting; then you will know the multitude of his tender mercies.
As the good will have no end of their joys, so the wicked will never have any release of their torments.
Mary Magdalene. So deep rooted and impregnable was her faith that she didn’t esteem Christ less highly because of his death on the cross. Even when he was dead she called him Lord, as she had always done, thus showing a truly God-loving spirit.
Knowing more about our faith will keep us safely on the right path so that we may achieve much to make our course unswervingly firm and sure by means of faith.
Deliver me all temptations to hate my neighbor.
Wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin. Wisdom 14. Make me fit for a life dedicated to your service
The love of truth is a consuming passion for those who have tasted it. Jesus commands us to declare truth openly, not to be ashamed, not to blush, and not seek to please the adversaries of truth. Whoever wishes to please men cannot be a servant of Christ.
Truth inflames every soul that has tasted it rightly and seeks after it. Nothing was able to diminish their love in the pursuit of truth. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Temporal setback can be turned to good use. Lord, send your truth to me so that I might live a life that bears fruit 100-fold.
Instead of hating their enemies, love them. Abstaining from speaking ill is evidence of considerable forbearance. They show the benefit by their deeds which come from being persuaded of its truth.
Is the truth of my faith obvious from the way I live it? Help me build up your eternal Kingdom God by the work I do on earth.
You can't always help it when evil thoughts enter your mind, but you always have the power to accept or reject the thoughts. Rejecting or admitting them lies in our power. It is in our power to improve the character of our thoughts and to let either holy and spiritual thoughts or earthly ones grow up in our hearts. For this purpose, frequent reading and continual meditation on the scriptures is employed.
Give me the grace to maintain the reform your mercy has made in me.
Thoughts of sin are seeds of sin. If you let in thoughts of sins the sins themselves will follow. The devil suggests evil, but he cannot conquer by force those who do not consent. Rip evil out by the root before it blooms or, because you were careless at the beginning, you may need an axe and fire later.
The love of God himself which sanctifies is for lasting happiness
Virtue is si
Contemplate what he has done with his Saints in every generation.
We see him in the way he undertook the dispensation of his incarnation for our Salvation and extended the marvels of his sacraments to all nations.
Remember that the object of my temptation was created good by God and for a special purpose.
Let creation bring you the clear remembrance of the creator.
The world is a work of art displayed for all people to admire and to make known who created it.
We should contemplate the constant resurrection of the natural world and learn from its example. The seed, out of its disintegration come many seeds bearing fruit.
Scatter the darkness in my soul and enlighten the eyes of my understanding, so that I may make use of your creation as you intended.
By understanding history and science and other things the world teaches, we exercise our minds for understanding the higher truths of scripture.
Don’t envy those who have anything great in human terms. Do everything in preparation for eternal life.
In secular writings we see the truth in shadows and mirrors.
We must believe that the greatest battle of all is ahead of us and to prepare for it we must do and suffer everything.
Many who used to be skeptics and scoffers have later believed even enough to become martyrs for Christ himself.
Grant that I may have faith that is not ashamed.
Christian philosophers investigate their faith thoroughly. Instead of making you feel accused, the creator gives you a new subject for gratitude.
God loves us so much that he turns our disaster into good. Man went out naked like a survivor from a shipwreck. God received him and immediately clothed him. God made the gain greater than the loss and brought our nature to the Royal throne. Do I really trust God to take away my sin and bring an even greater good from it?
Trees tossed about by contrary winds grow stronger.
Do I see evil in the world as an opportunity to exercise Christian virtue?
If I’m puffed up with pride when I’m victorious, the victory is deadly.
God’s enemies are not enemies because they can hurt him, but only because they oppose him.
It's human nature to try to make excuses for our sins. We're only making them worse by showing our ungodly pride. It grieves them more to have a bad house than a bad life - as if it were man's greatest good to have everything good but himself.
A Christian can turn evil to good use by dying well.
The prohibition makes us want to do the prohibited act if we do not love righteousness. And unless divine grace helps us we cannot love or delight in true righteousness.
Death is embraced for truth’s sake and makes martyrs. Death is evil because it is the wages of sin. The righteous make good use not only of good things, but also of evil things.
The son of God took on the humility of our flesh to conquer the devil so that we could imitate his righteousness in humility. The glory of the Lord's passion is most wonderful for its mystery of humility.
The omnipotence of the son of God could have rescued humanity from the dominion of the devil simply by exercising his will. But it was the weakness, not the power, that had to be reinforced so that when the creature was united with the creator there would be nothing missing of the divine to the flesh he assumed. In what ways might I need to be weaker so that the Lord's power can be made perfect? Give me the spirit of humility so that I may have a share in your glory.
In spite of our sin, God so loved the world that he sent his only begotten son. By his birth and suffering for us in the flesh, we might know how much God valued us. Because his spirit has scattered love into our hearts, we can overcome every difficult and come into eternal rest. Lord, enlighten my understanding.
When we hear or read the gospel stories, we need to see both natures (humanity and divinity) at work because we need to understand that both natures are vital for our Salvation. Believe both faithfully and worship both humbly.
The magi would have missed seeing him if they had not been far from their own country (out of familiar, out of comfort zone?). And had they not searched for him they would not have seen him.
All the ends of the earth shall see the Salvation of our God.
What gifts does my faith bring to Christ? I bring Him only gifts that He gave me first.
Christ taught us how to love by loving us. The son of the Lord of all took for our sake the form of a servant, and he to whom all things were subject subjected himself that he might release us from the subjection of sin.
By his great love he gave a blessing to the poor in spirit. He promised the peacemakers they should be called his brothers and sons of God. He promised the humble that they should inherit the land of life. He promised the mourners that by their supplications they would be comforted. He promised the hungry fullness in his Kingdom. To those who weep, that they should rejoice in his promise. He promised the merciful that they should be shown mercy. To those who are pure in heart that they would see God. To those who are persecuted on account of righteousness that they should go into the Kingdom of heaven. To those who are persecuted on account of his name he promised a blessing and rest in his Kingdom. All because of his great love.
Lord, make me worthy to be your servant and give me strength to serve you in your children.
Face every situation the way Christ would face it. By returning good for evil I may learn to bear ill treatment as Jesus did
So that our patience may be strengthened, and our fears driven away, use prayer to conquer fear and trembling and learn to suffer patiently.
Lord Jesus Christ, I beg you with all my heart that I may fight for the truth to the end with my body and my soul and that if faith is put to the test I may be found ready.
How can the weakness of Christ give me strength to endure even what I fear most?
Father, make my heart clean to welcome the Lord Jesus so that he might be glad to come in and accept my heart's hospitality.
Glory be to you who laid your cross as a bridge over death that souls might pass over on it from the dwelling of the dead to the dwelling of life.
Love for him bears fruit.
God's mercy for us is more amazing because Christ died for the unrighteous and wicked. By dying he was subject to the laws of hell, but by rising again he broke them and destroyed the continuity of death, making it temporal instead of eternal.
Be renewed by daily progress and growth in piety. May he reveal the treasure of his helpful graces.
God will clean up your soul and make it a fit dwelling for himself. Lord, cleanse me from my secret sins. Send me your spirit and fit me for your service.
The time you lend to God is not lost. He will return it to you with large interest. Father, let your son reign in my heart so that I may no longer be a slave to the attacks of earthly desires. Secure my foundation with a deep humility.
The atonement of Christ changes everything. We were miserable outcast but now we're children of God.
By the spirit of God, you may gain by grace what you did not have by nature.
P50
Give us this day Our Daily Bread, we pray these words even if we have plenty of bread in the pantry. We need something more than ordinary bread so that we might live in such a way that we are not separated from the holy altar.
Temptation is always there, but like Saint Peter, we can get over it and come through it the other side.
For you oh God have tested us, you have tried us as silver is tried. You brought us into the net. You laid affliction on our loins and you let men ride over our heads. We went through fire and through water yet you have brought us forth to his spacious place. Psalm 66:10-12. See how boldly they speak of having passed through,
Guide the desires of my heart. May your loving forgiveness keep me from the punishments my sinned deserve.
Earnest prayer is light to the understanding and the soul.
A quiet heart will help us overcome our passions and our temptations. We must break our bad habits and start new good habits. Work to have a quiet mind. Lord, help me see that this world is only temporary and that the joy of heaven is my true future. Help me remember that this life is short and that life to come lasts forever.
Don't despair even in dry spells God has your benefit in mind. Three reasons for mental dryness: carelessness on our part, assaults of the devil, the permission and allowance of the Lord.
Observe with humility the weakness of our own heart. We are generally more careless about keeping whatever we think can be easily replaced.
Seal everything you do with the sign of the cross and teach your children to do the same. Seal all you're doing, my child, with the sign of the living cross. Do not neglect this sign for there is no guardian like it. St Ephraim of Syrian d. 373
Let nature be your book and creation your tablets. Learn the laws from them and meditate on things unwritten. The earth and the fruit of the tree cry that there is a season for everything. The bird, in its daily gleaning, reproves the covetous one and his greed.
God does not need the material offerings humans can give him since he himself is the one who provides everything. He created everything out of unformed matter out of his goodness toward humanity. If humans show themselves worthy of this design by their works then they are deemed worthy of reining in company with him. Being freed from decay and suffering, those who choose what is pleasing to him are, because of their choice, deemed worthy of eternal life and fellowship with him. St Justin Martyr d 165
God spoke all other things into being but formed human beings with his own hands. Study the attributes of the father then learn to be like him.
Use the things of this world properly but don't let them capture all your attention. Recognize the dignity of your nature. You were made in the image of God. Whatever is beautiful and wonderful, attribute that to the praise and glory of the creator. Look to him and be radiant so your faces shall never be ashamed. Psalm 34:5
If you are God's temple and God's spirit dwells in you then what everyone of the faithful has in his own heart is greater than what he marvels at in heaven. Use every kind of creature and everything this world is equipped with reasonably and moderately. The things that are seen are transient but the things that are unseen are eternal. Guide me, O Lord, to eternal life by helping me use the gifts you have given me wisely.
The gifts of language and thought are what distinguish us from the animals. What a terrible thing it is when we use these gifts to be like animals instead of like God.
It is a most praiseworthy thing when, by true knowledge and by true conduct, a man becomes the image of God. We have received the gift of speech so that we may not be like speechless animals in our conduct, but in our actions resemble God. Lord, you made each human being a world within the world and the glory of all glories of creation. Guide me to live according to the purpose for which you created me
Father, cleanse my heart of every kind of pollution. Drive all unholy thoughts away from me and sanctify my soul and mind.
If you wish to heed the word of life, cut yourself off from evil things. The hearing of the word does no good to someone busy with sins.
The virtue of a man is carefulness in holding true virtue and righteous living. Not even the devil himself can take these things away from you if you take the necessary care to guard them.
I pray only that I may find grace before you and that you may open when I knock.
Live to God and set aside your old nature. We can reject wickedness.
The very denial of free will proves it exists. The will is the power of free choice. By denying free will he proves that there is free will.
Give me strength to embrace your will and follow your call.
You were given a tongue so that you could praise the creator. Lord, let my work here on earth contribute to building your eternal Kingdom.
It's important to decide what your calling is and stick to that. How grave a matter it is to deprive another. All of us help one another as parts of one body. Father, faith in your word is the way of wisdom. Open my ears to hear your call.
Turn to the Lord and ask of him without doubting; then you will know the multitude of his tender mercies.
As the good will have no end of their joys, so the wicked will never have any release of their torments.
Mary Magdalene. So deep rooted and impregnable was her faith that she didn’t esteem Christ less highly because of his death on the cross. Even when he was dead she called him Lord, as she had always done, thus showing a truly God-loving spirit.
Knowing more about our faith will keep us safely on the right path so that we may achieve much to make our course unswervingly firm and sure by means of faith.
Deliver me all temptations to hate my neighbor.
Wisdom will not enter a deceitful soul nor dwell in a body enslaved to sin. Wisdom 14. Make me fit for a life dedicated to your service
The love of truth is a consuming passion for those who have tasted it. Jesus commands us to declare truth openly, not to be ashamed, not to blush, and not seek to please the adversaries of truth. Whoever wishes to please men cannot be a servant of Christ.
Truth inflames every soul that has tasted it rightly and seeks after it. Nothing was able to diminish their love in the pursuit of truth. Nothing can separate us from the love of Christ. Temporal setback can be turned to good use. Lord, send your truth to me so that I might live a life that bears fruit 100-fold.
Instead of hating their enemies, love them. Abstaining from speaking ill is evidence of considerable forbearance. They show the benefit by their deeds which come from being persuaded of its truth.
Is the truth of my faith obvious from the way I live it? Help me build up your eternal Kingdom God by the work I do on earth.
You can't always help it when evil thoughts enter your mind, but you always have the power to accept or reject the thoughts. Rejecting or admitting them lies in our power. It is in our power to improve the character of our thoughts and to let either holy and spiritual thoughts or earthly ones grow up in our hearts. For this purpose, frequent reading and continual meditation on the scriptures is employed.
Give me the grace to maintain the reform your mercy has made in me.
Thoughts of sin are seeds of sin. If you let in thoughts of sins the sins themselves will follow. The devil suggests evil, but he cannot conquer by force those who do not consent. Rip evil out by the root before it blooms or, because you were careless at the beginning, you may need an axe and fire later.
The love of God himself which sanctifies is for lasting happiness
Virtue is si
March 20, 2023
I have been looking for a simple way to get a feeling for the early church fathers, and this seems like one way. This is a One-Year Devotional Book with a short synopsis of the reading, the reading, a couple of thought questions about the application of the reading, and a prayer. I really enjoyed the format, but the devotional readings were designed for those in the Catholic church. I'm not Cathoic, but I understand and appreciate what the author was doing. Those things would be good for some people, but there were not helpful to me. The three stars would not be for everyone, but that was what the reading was for me. I read this book in about 2 1/2 months, because I was wanting to get through with it. Someone that reads it a devotional a day, may like it, and appreciate it, more than I did.
January 1, 2023
A year of tasting generations of goodness
This book is full of samples, samples of generations of good food for the soul. It contains bite-size readings from ministers in the early days of the church. Well worth the time, and left me wanting more.
This book is full of samples, samples of generations of good food for the soul. It contains bite-size readings from ministers in the early days of the church. Well worth the time, and left me wanting more.
January 2, 2023
A treasure trove of wisdom and guidance from the Early Church! A well spent year!!
June 17, 2015
Outstanding selections from various early Fathers--great for reading and reflecting, each with a v. brief introduction and prayer. I commend this highly to someone looking for a good entree into the world of the early Church.
November 23, 2015
A great book to use as part of one's daily readings. Going back and reading the words of the Early Church Father really helps get one connected to the roots of the faith. It was also encouraging to see how stuff we wrestle with today were things they faced.
November 29, 2014
Advent 2013 to Advent 2014
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