Early Church Fathers

[Melissash]

I am very new to this site - this is my second post…I have a ton of ?'s and I am grateful that I found this site - you provide such a wealth of information.

I recently read “Catholic Answers to Fundamentalists’ Questions” by Philip St. Romain and I am currently reading “Born Fundamentalist - Born Again Catholic”. I am off to purchase “Catholicism and Fundamentalism” by Karl Keating. I have heard mentioned that material by the “early church fathers” should be read…can you explain who they are…titles of books, etc.

Thank you for your help…

Melissa

 

[Verita]

The Early Church Fathers were the earliest Christians. Some of them were even disciples of the Apostles. I’d recommend picking up Jurgens’ “Faith of the Early Fathers”. It’s a three volume collections of their writings and is incredibly enlightening.

 

[BlestOne]

I second reading up on the ECF (Early Church Fathers) there is a great wealth of information there. About half way down this page is a section on some of the highlights from them.

 

[myfavoritmartin]

I’d start with the smaller collection of ante-nicene fathers, and go from there. Or if you wish something a little easier to wrap your mind around… Church history in plain english by Dr. Bruce Shelley.

 

[alexaustralia]

Hi Melissash,

As you know Catholic doctrine is based in Scripture and Apostolic Tradition. We claim that our faith is the same as the early church and although doctrine has developed it has not been invented at some later time. As a result we find the Early Church Fathers as valuable witnesses of what the early church believed. They are snap shots of our heritage, and when we read their writtings we see that their beliefs are strongly Catholic.
An example of this is the Eucharist, you won’t find one single ECF contradicting the real presence of Christ. The first writting against it happened on 1100AD.

(Most Protestants will try to argue against this fact by selective quoting Augustine and other ECFs that together with their belief of the real presence attributed symbolic meanings to the Eucharist)

Well, welcome to the forums and hope you find what you are looking for

God bless

Alex

 

[alexaustralia]

By the way I have just finished reading Karl Keating’s book is a good read. It does not cover all the differences between Prostant and Catholic beliefs but it deals with misconceptions of Catholic “invented” doctrine.

I recently bought evangelical literature on Catholicsm to see first hand what their prespective is on us. So far I have seen many misconceptions in their part of our beliefs and a bit of bias by not aknowledging that we too support our beliefs in Scripture (although not Scripture alone).

 

[runandsew]

I have just finished reading Mike Aquilina’s book “The Fathers of the Church”
Thought it didn’t go deep into the writings of the Early Church Fathers, it did cover who these men were, what they were like, and what the times were like and why they wrote the way they did.
It was very enjoyable, now when I read these fathers, I will have a little perspective on who is writing.

 

[Boxerdog]

Rod Bennets “Four Witnesses” he is a former Baptist, very well written book with lots of primary sources.

Also Jergens
" Faith of the early fathers".

 

[Pani_Rose]

Here is a great example. The Protoevangelium of St. James. The Books of the Bible are about the Triune God. However, there are writings like this by the Apostles that continue to teach us. For example, this is where the Church gets it’s understanding of Mary and Joseph, along with Scripture. So by oral and written Tradition handed down to us by the Apostles and their diciples, many of which are the Early Church Fathers, we have a wealth of knowledge beyond our wildest dreams. fisheaters.com/protoevangelium2.html

 

[Pani_Rose]

Another wonderful example is this:
The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom (Read Each Year at Pascha)

http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/images/resurrection_htm.jpg Is there anyone who is a devout lover of God? Let them enjoy this beautiful bright festival! Is there anyone who is a grateful servant? Let them rejoice and enter into the joy of their Lord!
Are there any weary with fasting? Let them now receive their wages! If any have toiled from the first hour, let them receive their due reward; If any have come after the third hour, let him with gratitude join in the Feast! And he that arrived after the sixth hour, let him not doubt; for he too shall sustain no loss. And if any delayed until the ninth hour, let him not hesitate; but let him come too. And he who arrived only at the eleventh hour, let him not be afraid by reason of his delay.
For the Lord is gracious and receives the last even as the first. He gives rest to him that comes at the eleventh hour, as well as to him that toiled from the first. To this one He gives, and upon another He bestows. He accepts the works as He greets the endeavor. The deed He honors and the intention He commends.
Let us all enter into the joy of the Lord! First and last alike receive your reward; rich and poor, rejoice together! Sober and slothful, celebrate the day!
You that have kept the fast, and you that have not, rejoice today for the Table is richly laden! Feast royally on it, the calf is a fatted one. Let no one go away hungry. Partake, all, of the cup of faith. Enjoy all the riches of His goodness!
Let no one grieve at his poverty, for the universal kingdom has been revealed. Let no one mourn that he has fallen again and again; for forgiveness has risen from the grave. Let no one fear death, for the Death of our Savior has set us free.
He has destroyed it by enduring it.
He destroyed Hades when He descended into it. He put it into an uproar even as it tasted of His flesh. Isaiah foretold this when he said, “You, O Hell, have been troubled by encountering Him below.”
Hell was in an uproar because it was done away with. It was in an uproar because it is mocked. It was in an uproar, for it is destroyed. It is in an uproar, for it is annihilated. It is in an uproar, for it is now made captive. Hell took a body, and discovered God. It took earth, and encountered Heaven. It took what it saw, and was overcome by what it did not see.
O death, where is thy sting? O Hades, where is thy victory?
Christ is Risen, and you, O death, are annihilated! Christ is Risen, and the evil ones are cast down! Christ is Risen, and the angels rejoice! Christ is Risen, and life is liberated! Christ is Risen, and the tomb is emptied of its dead; for Christ having risen from the dead, is become the first-fruits of those who have fallen asleep.
To Him be Glory and Power forever and ever. Amen!

The people respond by repeating these phrases in very loud voices…

• Christ is risen and you are abolished,
  • Christ is risen and the demons are cast down,
  • Christ is risen and the angels rejoice,
  • Christ is risen and life is freed,
  • Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead:

 

[jbuck919]

Another wonderful example is this:
The Paschal Homily of St. John Chrysostom (Read Each Year at Pascha)

:

Such writings are so splendid, so noble that they are are among the very few things that were allowed to take the place of scripture in the traditional office of Matins. I have often wondered what would happen if a modern priest simply read one of these magnificent sermons in place of one he wrote himself on Easter Sunday. It is hard to think that any modern priest could come up with anything remotelly as worthy. To the laity, not to mention most of the modern cleregy, they are all too well kept a secret.

 

[Pani_Rose]

Such writings are so splendid, so noble that they are are among the very few things that were allowed to take the place of scripture in the traditional office of Matins. I have often wondered what would happen if a modern priest simply read one of these magnificent sermons in place of one he wrote himself on Easter Sunday. It is hard to think that any modern priest could come up with anything remotelly as worthy. To the laity, not to mention most of the modern cleregy, they are all too well kept a secret.

Hey Buck,

Actually in the Byzantine and Orthodox Churches this is the homily that is given. When the priest reads these statements the people respond very loudly, almost in a shouting voice…it is truly awesome!

• Christ is risen and you are abolished,
  • Christ is risen and the demons are cast down,
  • Christ is risen and the angels rejoice,
  • Christ is risen and life is freed,
  • Christ is risen and the tomb is emptied of the dead

Also, services have been going on since early in the evening
These are some pictures of Holy Week in our Church at St. Georges melkite.org/HolyWeek/Hweek.html