http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/

Dear All,

I have linked a site that has the writings of the Church Fathers on it. I just started to read the letters recently and am profoundly moved by the words of beauty and faith in our Lord Jesus Christ. I am a converted Catholic and I know what it is like to read the Bible and have questions. My question is why don't Churches (even the Catholic at times) place more emphasis on the writings of the contemporaries of Peter and Paul. From what I have read there are some interesting explanations of doctrine, details about Mary and the original Apostles, and inspiring stories of martyrdom that paint a fuller picture of the Original Church. I am not saying that they should be considered scripture, but if they were consulted more often, within all denominations, certain issues (e.g. transubstantiation, Mary's role in Church, etc) would be less argued over; also, it would lead (I think) to greater ecumenism. This is just a thought, but I was wondering what everyone else thought about the writings of the Church Fathers and the potential to bring about ecumenism within the splintered church.

JD

P.S. I only mention this because I believe God will heal the divisions within the Church before He returns and I look forward, with great expectation, to that day when every Christian will “hold all things in common”.

-- jd brabant (joshua123@qwest.net), April 23, 2004

Answers

Dear Joshua,

Welcome to the Church!! I'm so happy for you- I know what it is like to read the early Fathers and see the only Church that is one with them- look on the New Answers page and see all the threads of early writings I put on there. Also, look at www.catholic.com under "Fathers know best", or www.earlychristianwritings.com, but the latter also contains Gnostic and schismatic heretical writings. If you go to earlychristianwritings.com, look under Fathers only.

Can you please pray that my girlfriend (24, I am 19), see the Truth that is the Catholic Church through the early writings? She is a Baptist attending Bethlehem Baptist here in Mpls under John Piper. We kind of ended the relationship as of now because of our religious differences, and I hope she will become Catholic some day. Thanks

-- Andrew Staupe (stau0085@umn.edu), April 23, 2004.

Dear Joshua,

I forgot to include answers to your question. Here they are:

1) "My question is why don't Churches (even the Catholic at times) place more emphasis on the writings of the contemporaries of Peter and Paul" - The Catholic Church, in my opinion, does not necessarily need to reference them, because in being one in a continued belief, what we have and believe today is what was stated by our Fathers. That is certainly not to negate the importance; quite the contrary. I personally feel all Catholics should know these early giants. The non-Catholic Churches, in my opinion, don't use these writings for either 2 purposes: a) because of the reference to historical tradition over the Bible, and b) reading and discovering the Truth would reveal that their own beliefs are not one with the early Church and cause dissention [remember, anyone disagreeing please understand these are merely opinions, and I'm not arguing for absolute truth, so there is no need of angry reply]

I do agree that if all Churches read them more, the ones not in communion with the Holy See would realize where they erred in doctrine, because only the Catholic Church has continued to believe and teach what these Fathers believed. I do hope that the Catholic Churches today too teach and print these invaluable works more.

-- Andrew Staupe (stau0085@umn.edu), April 23, 2004.

If you get the companion to the Catechism, it has all the quotes and references fromt he Catechism. It is loaded with quotes from the early fathers.

Dano

-- Dan Garon (boethius61@yahoo.com), April 23, 2004.

Dan,

I saw the companion yesterday while attending Mass at a Seminary. I will get it soon. Thanks

-- Andrew Staupe (stau0085@umn.edu), April 23, 2004.

Dear Andrew,

I will certainly pray that everything works out between you and your girlfriend. I can't imagine a more difficult denomination to convince of the Truth since it seems Baptists are taught anti-Catholic propaganda from sunday school and up. If you inquire online any occasion when catholics and protestants have worked for ecumenism you can always find a baptist denouncing it as the work of the devil (e.g. John Michal Talbot(C) and Michael Card (EP) making an album togehter). Thanks for those websites; very intersting stuff.

In Christ,

Joshua

-- jd brabant (joshua123@qwest.net), April 23, 2004.

Thanks for the prayers. Things are already better, as we have talked and been together today, though I am still a little wary of getting into a strong serious relationship now; I think I still have a couple years to go before I'm married. But the prayers are working

-- Andrew Staupe (stau0085@umn.edu), April 23, 2004.

Yes, oh yes, the Church Fathers are voices that speak unequivocally concerning the true identify of Holy Mother Church. I was completely astounded by their writings. I literally had to quit my job for six months I was soooo entrenched in them!!!

Another good website is Corunum which breaks out quotes concerning different "Catholic" topics. For instance, if you wanna see what the fathers said about Purgatory, you have but to click on title, and voila, there you have it . . . . every quote by every father on the subject of purgatory. There are topics on Mary, communion of saints, saved by faith AND works, etc. etc. already categorized for your ease and enjoyment . . . and apologetics!!!

Here's the link http://www.cin.org/users/jgallegos/contents.htm

I have that CD you mentioned; John Michael Talbot and Michael Card. It's called "Brother to Brother" and it's AWESOME. What a combo.

God Bless,

Gail

-- Gail (rothfarms@socket.net), April 23, 2004.