Fourth Century Saint
Relevant for Today? Yes
Saint Anthanasius lived in the Fourth Century. We honor him on the anniversary of his death, May 2, 373.
What does this saint of old teach us that is relevant to today?
Defend and protect your faith. Remain true to God: God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit – three in one.
Saint Anthanasius lived at a time when Christianity was attacked from all angles – even from within. He boldly objected any controversial thinking that God the Father and Christ were not one in the same.
Anthanasius, a Christian born in Egypt, would serve as bishop. He fought hard against heresies when provoked. He didn’t just speak up but adamantly shouted to exclaim his position.
He was considered one of the earliest doctors of the Church.
His emphasis was based and supported by the Word of God and focused on knowing God as creator of all things.
He wrote, “For of what use is existence to the creature if it cannot know its Maker? How could men be reasonable beings if they had no knowledge of the Word and Reason of the Father, through Whom they had received their being? They would be no better than the beasts, had they no knowledge save of earthly things; and why should God have made them at all, if He had not intended them to know Him? But, in fact, the good God has given them a share in His own Image, that is, in our Lord Jesus Christ, and has made even themselves after the same Image and Likeness. Why? Simply in order that through this gift of Godlikeness in themselves they may be able to perceive the Image Absolute, that is the Word Himself, and through Him to apprehend the Father; which knowledge of their Maker is for men the only really happy and blessed life.”
ART: “San Atanasio,” painted by an unknown artist sometime between 1475-1500, depicts St. Athana-sius of Alexandria, a doctor of the Church and one of the Fathers of the Eastern Church.
