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Lent: Day 1 - The Didache

Day One: The Didache (in full) Who: Written by an anonymous author, possibly multiple sources compiled into one book at a later date. The title translates as “The teaching”, or in its full tiThe: Teaching of The Twelve Apostles. What: The Didache is basically a Church handbook with a summarised collection of The basic teachings of The Church and Gospel, aimed at local Church leaders and new converts. Why: Tradition has it as being a collection of The apostles teachings, so it was probably written to preserve this information as They grew older or died, or moved away from The communities They planted. When: Between 70-100 AD The Didache is one of my...

Lent Day 22: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 11-20

Day Twenty-two: St. Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 11-20 Who: Bishop of Alexandria; Confessor and Doctor of The Church; born c. 296; died 2 May, 373 AD. He was The main defender of orthodoxy in The 4th-century battle against The Arianism heresy. Certain writers received The title “Doctor” on account of The great advantage Their doctrine had on The whole Church, Athanasius especially for his doctrine on The incarnation. What: The biography of Anthony The Great’s life, which helped to spread The concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe. Why: From The letter’s own prologue: “The life and conversation of our holy FaTher,...

Lent Day 24: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 31-40

Day Twenty-four: St. Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 31-40 Who: Bishop of Alexandria; Confessor and Doctor of The Church; born c. 296; died 2 May, 373 AD. He was The main defender of orthodoxy in The 4th-century battle against The Arianism heresy. Certain writers received The title “Doctor” on account of The great advantage Their doctrine had on The whole Church, Athanasius especially for his doctrine on The incarnation. What: The biography of Anthony The Great’s life, which helped to spread The concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe. Why: From The letter’s own prologue: “The life and conversation of our holy FaTher,...

What was so good about Good Friday?

I remember when I was growing up, this was a question I would often wonder about and ask. People would say "because Jesus died on The cross!", which was of little help to me as I would Then think, why was Jesus dying a good thing?  But this is a question I'm sure many people will have asked Themselves when They consider The name of Their Bank Holiday, and probably a question They got an unsatisfactory answer to - if They got one at all! Really though, this holiday time should be more well-known and recognised than Christmas. While The birth of Jesus is important, it isn't actually central to The Faith, nor is it really emphasised much in The New Testament...

Lent Day 25: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 41-50

...(311 AD) The Church came under persecution from Maximinus II, who took many Christians away to Alexandria to be martyred. Anthony, having not been caught, followed anyway hoping to eiTher be a witness or to at least minister to those who had been taken, and ended up going to those in The mines and The prisons. The judge who was overseeing The martyrs, saw this fearless zeal from Anthony and his companions, and “commanded that no monk should appear in The judgment hall, nor remain at all in The city” which led to many Christians going into hiding at that time. Life after The persecutions After The persecutions ended, Anthony retreated back to his cell w...

Lent Day 28: Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 71-80

...Day Twenty-eight: St. Athanasius: Life of Anthony: Chaps. 71-80 Who: Bishop of Alexandria; Confessor and Doctor of The Church; born c. 296; died 2 May, 373 AD. He was The main defender of orthodoxy in The 4th-century battle against The Arianism heresy. Certain writers received The title “Doctor” on account of The great advantage Their doctrine had on The whole Church, Athanasius especially for his doctrine on The incarnation. What: The biography of Anthony The Great’s life, which helped to spread The concept of Christian monasticism, particularly in Western Europe. Why: From The letter’s own prologue: “The life and conversation of our holy FaTher...