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ST
ATHANASIUS OF ALEXANDRIA (296-373) |
In Christ God was reconciling the world to himself; not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:19) Almighty Father, you raised up Athanasius the Bishop to be an outstanding defender of the truth of Christ’s divinity. Help us to bear witness to the Word made flesh and to grow in the knowledge and love of the same your Son Jesus Christ, our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, God for ever and ever. Amen. In 325, Athanasius accompanied his bishop Alexander to the Council of Nicaea as his theological advisor. At the Council and subsequently as Bishop of Alexandria (his birthplace) he was a staunch defender of the orthodox understanding of God in Christ against the Arian heresy. Religious controversy was tied up with political intrigue. Athanasius became its victim on more than one occasion, incurring the wrath of the Emperor Julian, who sought to restore Roman paganism, and suffering banishment three times. “Athanasius contra mundum” was the phrase coined by his friends. Gregory of Nazianzen called him “a second John the Baptist”. Lord of the Church, we pray that we may have a right mind and a loyal grace in the present trust of the faith. Enable us to commend the mystery of your Incarnation in careful openness of heart to those who do not recognise it, whether out of jealousy for your transcendence or doubt of your reality as love, through Jesus Christ our Lord. I lay down my life for the sheep; and I have other sheep that are not of this fold; I must bring them also, and they will heed my voice. So there shall be one flock, one shepherd. (John 10:15-16) |