Treasures of Our Faith with Deacon Richard Vehige

On Thursday the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the book of Wisdom (7:15-30) entitled "Wisdom is the image of God". Our treasure, which follows, is from a discourse Against the Arians by Saint Athanasius, bishop.

Saint Athanasius was born at Alexandria in 295. He accompanied Alexander to the Council of Nicaea and succeeded him as Bishop of Alexandria. Athanasius was the 20th bishop of Alexandria. He fought courageously against the Arian heresy. His episcopate lasted 45 years (328-373), of which over 17 were spent in five exiles ordered by four different Roman emperors. He is considered to be a renowned Christian theologian, a Church Father, the chief defender of Trinitarianism against Arianism, and a noted Egyptian leader of the fourth century. His writings are outstanding in their explanation and defense of the true teachings of the faith. Saint Athanasius is a Doctor of the Church. He died in 373.

Arianism is the theological teaching attributed to Arius (ca. AD 250–336), a Christian presbyter in Alexandria, Egypt, concerning the relationship of God to the Son of God, Jesus of Nazareth. Arius asserted that the Son of God was a subordinate entity to God the Father. The Arian heresy taught that Jesus was not divine.

The Book of Wisdom was written about fifty years before the coming of Christ. Its author, whose name is not known to us, was probably a member of the Jewish community at Alexandria, in Egypt. He wrote in Greek, in a style patterned on that of Hebrew verse. At times he speaks in the person of Solomon, placing his teachings on the lips of the wise king of Hebrew tradition in order to emphasize their value. His profound knowledge of the earlier Old Testament writings is reflected in almost every line of the book, and marks him, like Ben Sira, as an outstanding representative of religious devotion and learning among the sages of postexilic Judaism.

The primary purpose of the author was the edification of his co-religionists in a time when they had experienced suffering and oppression, in part at least at the hands of apostate fellow Jews. To convey his message he made use of the most popular religious themes of his time, namely the splendor and worth of divine wisdom, the glorious events of the exodus, God's mercy, the folly of idolatry, and the manner in which God's justice operates in rewarding or punishing the individual. The first ten chapters in particular provide background for the teaching of Jesus and for some New Testament theology about Jesus. Many passages from this section of the book are used by the church in the liturgy.

On Wednesday the Thirtieth Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the beginning of the book of Wisdom (6:1-25) entitled "Wisdom should be cherished". Our treasure, which follows, is from a letter to the Corinthians by Saint Clement, pope.

Clement of Rome was the third successor of Saint Peter, reigning as pope from 88 AD until his death in 99 AD. He's known as one of the Church's five "Apostolic Fathers," those who provided a direct link between the Apostles and later generations of Church Fathers. His letter to the church at Corinth is in response to a dispute in which certain presbyters of the Corinthian church had been deposed. He asserted the authority of the presbyters as rulers of the Corinthian church on the ground that the Apostles had appointed such.

Saint Clement's letter to the Corinthians is one of the earliest documents of Christianity that we have, after the Epistles and the Acts, to show us how the Church was developing. It was written shortly after Apostolic times, the scholars put it at between 80 and 100 AD. Its main subject - Clement's answer to a problem that the church of Corinth had raised with him - shows the relationship of the local churches to each other. The church of Corinth had obviously written to the bishop of Rome for advice, and the latter answered admonishing them, using references to the letter of Paul to those same Corinthians, written some decades earlier and obviously still familiar to them, as well as other passages from various writings of the Apostles that are now part of the New Testament (which was not compiled yet.) The letter shows us two things: (1) the local churches were in unity with each other, and the Bishop of Rome had enough authority to be asked for advice by the community in Corinth (Greece) and for his advice to be followed. (2) that various writings of the Apostles - later to be "canonized" in the New Testament - were already circulating among the churches and known by all of them.

The Book of Wisdom was written about fifty years before the coming of Christ. Its author, whose name is not known to us, was probably a member of the Jewish community at Alexandria, in Egypt. He wrote in Greek, in a style patterned on that of Hebrew verse. At times he speaks in the person of Solomon, placing his teachings on the lips of the wise king of Hebrew tradition in order to emphasize their value. His profound knowledge of the earlier Old Testament writings is reflected in almost every line of the book, and marks him, like Ben Sira, as an outstanding representative of religious devotion and learning among the sages of postexilic Judaism.

The primary purpose of the author was the edification of his co-religionists in a time when they had experienced suffering and oppression, in part at least at the hands of apostate fellow Jews. To convey his message he made use of the most popular religious themes of his time, namely the splendor and worth of divine wisdom, the glorious events of the exodus, God's mercy, the folly of idolatry, and the manner in which God's justice operates in rewarding or punishing the individual. The first ten chapters in particular provide background for the teaching of Jesus and for some New Testament theology about Jesus. Many passages from this section of the book are used by the church in the liturgy.

Today, October 28, as our Church celebrates the Feast of Simon and Jude, Apostles, we are invited to first read and reflect on a passage from the letter of the apostle Paul to the Corinthians (4:1-16), entitled "Let us imitate the Apostle just as he imitates Christ". Our treasure, which follows, is from a commentary on the gospel of John by Saint Cyril of Alexandria, bishop.

The name of Saint Simon usually appears eleventh in the list of apostles. Nothing is known of him, except that he was born at Cana and his surnamed "The Zealot". Simon was called the Zealot, before his coming to Christ, because he was one of that particular sect or party among the Jews called Zealots, from a singular zeal they possessed for the honor of God and the purity of religion. A party called Zealots were famous in the war of the Jews against the Romans.

Saint Jude, also called Thaddeus, was the apostle who asked the Lord at the Last Supper why he had manifested himself only to the disciples and not to the whole world (John 14:22). Saint Jude is also named Thaddeus to distinguish him from Judas Iscariot, the disciple who betrayed Jesus. In the Gospels of Mark and Matthew, Jude is called "Thaddaeus". The name "Thaddaeus" comes from the Aramaic word Taddal, which means "the broad chested (generous or courageous) man".

Saint Cyril was born in 370 and lived a monastic life. He was ordained a priest and succeeded his uncle as bishop of Alexandria where he served from 412 to 444. He was enthroned when the city was at the height of its influence and power within the Roman Empire. He had a preeminent role at the Council of Ephesus; he fought bravely against the doctrines of Nestorius, and wrote many learned works explaining and defending the Catholic faith. Saint Cyril is counted among the Church Fathers and also as a Doctor of the Church. His reputation within the Christian world has resulted in his titles, "Pillar of Faith" and "Seal of all the Fathers". Cyril died in 444.

Cyril's great Commentary on John, focuses its theological fire power against Arianism. The commentary, which is addressed to catechists, displays Cyril's breath-taking mastery of the full content of the Bible and his painstaking attention to detail as he seeks to offer practical teaching on the cosmic story of God's salvation.

In his first letter to the Corinthians Paul warns against divisions within the Church and emphasizes the importance of unity among Church members. He warns members against sexual immorality, teaches that the body is a temple for the Holy Spirit, and encourages self-discipline.

Today, October 24, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Anthony Claret, bishop, we are invited to first read and reflect on a passage from the letter of the apostle Paul to Titus (1:7-11; 2:1-8), entitled "The teaching of the Apostle on the qualities and duties of bishops". Our treasure, which follows, is from a work by Saint Anthony Claret, bishop.

Saint Anthony Mary Claret was Born on December 23, 1807, in Sallent, Spain. The "spiritual father of Cuba" was a missionary, religious founder, social reformer, queen's chaplain, writer and publisher, archbishop, and refugee. He was a Spaniard whose work took him to the Canary Islands, Cuba, Madrid, Paris, and to the First Vatican Council.

In his spare time as weaver and designer in the textile mills of Barcelona, Anthony learned Latin and printing: The future priest and publisher was preparing. Ordained at 28, he was prevented by ill health from entering religious life as a Carthusian or as a Jesuit, but went on to become one of Spain's most popular preachers.

Saint Anthony Mary Claret spent 10 years giving popular missions and retreats, always placing great emphasis on the Eucharist and devotion to the Immaculate Heart of Mary. It was said that his rosary was never out of his hand. At age 42, he founded a religious institute of missionaries beginning with five young priests, known today as the Claretians.

Saint Anthony Mary Claret was appointed to head the much-neglected archdiocese of Santiago in Cuba. He began its reform by almost ceaseless preaching and hearing of confessions, and suffered bitter opposition mainly for opposing concubinage and giving instruction to black slaves. A hired assassin—whose release from prison Anthony had obtained—slashed open his face and wrist. Anthony succeeded in getting the would-be assassin's death sentence commuted to a prison term. His solution for the misery of Cubans was family-owned farms producing a variety of foods for the family's own needs and for the market.

This invited the enmity of the vested interests who wanted everyone to work on a single cash crop—sugar. Besides all his religious writings are two books he wrote in Cuba: Reflections on Agriculture and Country Delights.

He was recalled to Spain for a job he did not relish—being chaplain for the queen. Anthony went on three conditions: He would reside away from the palace; he would come only to hear the queen's confession and instruct the children; and he would be exempt from court functions. In the revolution of 1868, he fled to Paris with the queen's party, where he preached to the Spanish colony.

All his life Saint Anthony Mary Claret was interested in the Catholic press. He founded the Religious Publishing House, a major Catholic publishing venture in Spain, and wrote or published 200 books and pamphlets.

At Vatican I, where he was a staunch defender of the doctrine of infallibility, Anthony won the admiration of his fellow bishops. Cardinal Gibbons of Baltimore remarked of him, "There goes a true saint." He died on October 24, 1870. in exile near the border of Spain.

Saint Paul's letter to Titus is the third of the Pastoral Epistles in the New Testament and is addressed to a different co-worker of Paul than are First and Second Timothy. The situation is different, too, for Titus is addressed as the person in charge of developing the church on the large Mediterranean island of Crete, a place Paul had never, according to the New Testament, visited. The tone is closer to that of First Timothy as three topics of church life and structure are discussed: presbyter-bishops, groups with which one must work in the church, and admonitions for conduct based on the grace and love of God that appeared in Jesus Christ. The warmer personal tone of Second Timothy is replaced by emphasis on church office and on living in the society of the day, in which deceivers and heretics abound.

On Tuesday of the Twenty-Ninth Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the book of the Esther (4:1-16) entitled "Haman seeks the destruction of the Jews". Our treasure, which follows, is from a letter to Proba by Saint Augustine, bishop.

Saint Augustine was born at Tagaste in Africa in 354. He was unsettled and restlessly searched for the truth until he was converted to the faith at Milan and baptized by Ambrose. Returning to his homeland, he embraced an ascetic life and subsequently was elected bishop of Hippo. For thirty-four years he guided his flock, instructing it with sermons and many writings. He fought bravely against the errors of his time and explained the Faith carefully and cogently through his writings. He is also a preeminent Catholic Doctor of the Church. His writings influenced the development of western philosophy and western Christianity, and he is viewed as one of the most important Church Fathers of the Latin Church in the Patristic Period. He died in 430.

The letter to Proba is probably Augustine's best-known letter. It was written in the year 412, by which time he had been a bishop for about seventeen years. Anicia Faltonia Proba was the widow of the wealthiest man in the Roman Empire. Proba asked Augustine how she ought to pray, and in his response he advised her on the kind of person she ought to be, and what she ought to pray for.

Proba's request elicited Augustine's most mature and sympathetic statements about his ideal for Christian life. Unlike others providing advice, Augustine could find room for a spectrum of human failings. In his own life and in that of others, he sought and encouraged blessedness, in spite of human failings. This letter to Proba is a short instruction on Christian private prayer. The letter has two parts. Augustine first explains the interior condition desirable for praying. He then explains the purpose of private prayer is to help the attainment of a blessed life. He suggests that the use of words be kept brief and fervent, and be supported by a life of good works. The words are needed only to help us keep in mind what a person is requesting, and are not necessary to remind or persuade God regarding the request being made. Augustine proclaims that the Lord's Prayer contains all the praise and petition that prayer requires. A person is free to express the same sentiments in other words if desired, but not to ask for anything that is either contrary to or beyond the scope of the Lord's Prayer.

The Book of Esther tells a story of the deliverance of the Jewish people. We are shown a Persian emperor, Ahasuerus, who makes momentous decisions for trivial reasons, and his wicked minister, Haman, who takes advantage of the king's compliance to pursue a personal vendetta against the Jews by having a royal decree issued ordering their destruction. The threat is averted by two Jews, Esther and Mordecai. Their influence and intervention allow the Jews to turn the tables on their enemies and rout their attackers. The book confronts the modern reader with important themes, the evils of genocide and racism.

Today, October 18, as our church celebrates the Feast of Luke, Evangelist, Apostle, our Church invites us to first read reflect on a passage from the Acts of the Apostles (9:27-31; 11:19-26), entitled "The Church was filled with the consolation of the Holy Spirit". Our treasure, which follows, is from a homily on the gospels by Saint Gregory the Great, pope.

Saint Luke was born of a pagan family. Converted to the faith, he became a fellow-worker of the apostle Paul. From Saint Paul's preaching he compiled one of the gospels. He handed down an account of the beginnings of the Church in another work, the "Acts of the Apostles", which tells of events up to the time of Saint Paul's first sojourn in Rome.

St. Luke wrote a greater volume of the New Testament than any other single author, including the earliest history of the Church. His gospel preserved the most extensive biography of Jesus Christ. Ancient traditions also acknowledge Luke as the founder of Christian iconography, making him a patron of artists as well as doctors and other medical caregivers.

Saint Gregory was born at Rome around the year 540. He rose through various public offices to the prefecture which he renounced. He entered the monastic life and, once ordained deacon, he discharged the duties of the legate at Constantinople. On September 3, 590 he was elevated to the Chair of Saint Peter and he proved to be a true shepherd by carrying out his office, helping the poor, spreading and strengthening the faith. He wrote extensively on moral and theological subjects. He died on March 12, 604.

Pope Gregory was a prolific writer whose works were influential in the medieval period. During his lifetime, he penned over 800 letters and authored accounts of the lives of the saints and other religious works. Using simple words to preach to the nobles and common people of Rome, Gregory employed metaphors, analogies, stories, and images to answer basic questions of faith and morals. He is known for instituting the first recorded large-scale mission of Rome, the Gregorian mission, to convert the then largely pagan Anglo-Saxons to Christianity,

The Acts of the Apostles, the second volume of Luke's two-volume work, continues Luke's presentation of biblical history, describing how the salvation promised to Israel in the Old Testament and accomplished by Jesus has now under the guidance of the holy Spirit been extended to the Gentiles. This was accomplished through the divinely chosen representatives whom Jesus prepared during his historical ministry and commissioned after his resurrection as witnesses to all that he taught. Luke's preoccupation with the Christian community as the Spirit-guided bearer of the word of salvation rules out of his book detailed histories of the activity of most of the preachers. Only the main lines of the roles of Peter and Paul serve Luke's interest.

Today, October 11 , as our Church celebrates the Memorial of John XXIII, pope, we are encouraged to read and reflect on a passage of the apostle Paul to Titus (1:7-11:2:1-8), entitled "The teaching of the Apostle on the qualities and duties of bishops". Our treasure, which follows, is from a sermon by Saint Leo the Great, pope.

Saint Pope John XXIII was the 260th successor of St. Peter, was one of the most popular popes of all time, serving as pope from October 1958 to June 1963. His pastoral approach to the papacy made him beloved by many: his nick name was the "Good Pope". He is best known for convening the Second Vatican Council.

The man who would become pope was born in the small village of Sotto il Monte in Italy, on November 25, 1881. He was the fourth of fourteen children born to poor parents who made their living by sharecropping. Named Angelo Giuseppe Roncalli, the baby would eventually become one of the most influential popes in recent history, changing the Church forever.

Saint Paul's letter to Titus is the third of the Pastoral Epistles in the New Testament and is addressed to a different co-worker of Paul than are First and Second Timothy. The situation is different, too, for Titus is addressed as the person in charge of developing the church on the large Mediterranean island of Crete, a place Paul had never, according to the New Testament, visited. The tone is closer to that of First Timothy as three topics of church life and structure are discussed: presbyter-bishops, groups with which one must work in the church, and admonitions for conduct based on the grace and love of God that appeared in Jesus Christ. The warmer personal tone of Second Timothy is replaced by emphasis on church office and on living in the society of the day, in which deceivers and heretics abound.

On Wednesday of the Twenty-seventh Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the beginning of the letter of the apostle Paul to Timothy (4:1—5:2) entitled "Concerning teachers of error; concerning respect for older people". Our treasure, which follows, is from the beginning of the letter to the Trallians by Saint Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr.

Saint Ignatius was a successor of Saint Peter as the bishop of Antioch. Condemned to death by being thrown to wild animals, he was brought to Rome for execution and was martyred there under the emperor Trajan in 107. On the journey to Rome he wrote seven letters to different churches. In these he discussed Christ, the structure of the Church, and the Christian life in a manner at once wise and learned. At Antioch, this day was observed in his memory as early as the fourth century.

Trallians is one of the seven epistles attributed to Ignatius that are generally accepted as authentic. The Trallian church had sent their bishop Polybius of Trallis to meet Ignatius who was being held at Smyrna on his way to execution in Rome, and Ignatius writes his letter to thank them. In his letter Ignatius warns against false teaching, of separatism without, however, accusing them personally of these errors. He urges a duty of unity and obedience to Church leaders.

The First Letter of Paul to Timothy insists on the need to shun unorthodox teachings and dangerous speculations and reiterates the qualities expected of bishops and deacons. Paul encouraged Timothy and offered strength to help him carry on after Paul's impending death. Paul was aware that his time was short, and he desired to see Timothy, whom Paul figuratively called "my dearly beloved son".

Today, October 4, as our Church celebrates the Memorial of Francis of Assisi, we are invited to first read and reflect on a passage from the letter of the apostle Paul to the Philippians (3:7---4:1, 4-9), entitled "Rejoice in the Lord always". Our treasure, which follows, is from a letter written to all the faithful by Saint Francis of Assisi.

Saint Francis was born at Assisi in 1182. After a carefree youth, he renounced his paternal wealth and committed himself to God. He led a life of evangelical poverty and preached the love of God to all. He established a rule which a number of his companions followed and which gained the approval of the Holy See. Subsequently, he founded an order of nuns and a society of laypersons who practice penance while living in the world. He died in 1226.

Philippians is written to a group of believers with whom Paul founded a church, during his second missionary journey in approximately AD 49. Philippi was a Roman colony, with believers consisting primarily of Gentiles. This letter, written about 12 years after the founding of the Philippian church, is largely a thank you letter to the Philippians. The main message of the Book of Philippians is for the Christian community in Philippi to be steadfast in faith and to express joy. Philippians is recognized as Paul's joyous epistle and is also known as the "friendship letter" because of its tone. However, because Paul wrote this letter during a time of house arrest in Rome, it includes the major theme of rejoicing during suffering.

On Friday of the Twenty-Sixth Week in Ordinary Time our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the letter of the apostle Paul to the Philippians (3: 17—4: 9) entitled "Rejoice in the Lord always". Our treasure, which follows, is from a treatise on the letter to the Philippians by Saint Ambrose, bishop.

Saint Ambrose was a fourth century, theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan, Italy. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, firstly promoting Roman Christianity against Arianism and paganism. Saint Ambrose is a Doctor of the Church. He is celebrated for his scholarship, service to the unfortunate, oratory skills, leadership of the people, and defense of the Church.

As a Greek scholar Saint Ambrose interpreted Eastern theologians for the West, a work that was much needed. He wrote extensively on the Bible, theology, and asceticism, and he wrote numerous homilies and psalms. As befitted a bishop, his teaching was more by his sermons than his writings. His discourses were very practical.

Philippians is written to a group of believers with whom Paul founded a church, during his second missionary journey in approximately AD 49. Philippi was a Roman colony, with believers consisting primarily of Gentiles. This letter, written about 12 years after the founding of the Philippian church, is largely a thank you letter to the Philippians. The main message of the Book of Philippians is for the Christian community in Philippi to be steadfast in faith and to express joy. Philippians is recognized as Paul's joyous epistle and is also known as the "friendship letter" because of its tone. However, because Paul wrote this letter during a time of house arrest in Rome, it includes the major theme of rejoicing during suffering.