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.So great was the boy's devotion to learning that when asked by the pagans whom he would leave as his successor, Libanius answered: “John, unless the Christians steal him from us.” But John, who had hardly known his father, followed his mother's religion and was baptized, later becoming a presbyter at Antioch, where he delivered sermons for many years.His speech was golden, and his life the life of a saint.His fame spread to the imperial court at the capital, whither the king, Arcadius, enticed him by a ruse, and persuaded him to become Archbishop of Constantinople, to the great joy of the people.But John was not only the protector of the poor and the oppressed; he was a fearless censor of crime and corruption in high places.This roused the enmity of the Empress Eudoxia, whose own conduct was not above reproach, and with the assistance of other sinners she contrived to banish the holy man to the depths of Armenia, where eventually he died in the midst of snow and ice and every kind of hardship.“Glory to God for everything,” were his dying words.Chrysostom was the most popular and practical of the great Greek Church orators, and his sermons, which fill eighteen large volumes, may still be read with great profit and enjoyment today.He was not only an excellent psychologist, who probed deeply into the social evils of the world, but a commentator who in his interpretation of Holy Writ followed the literal and sober method which was the distinctive feature of the School of Antioch.Other Fathers.The recital of these few famous names constitutes not a tenth of what should be said upon this subject.Apart from the Fathers we have mentioned there are others, distinguished as historians (like Eusebius of Caesarea and Socrates), as catechists (like Cyril of Jerusalem), as commentators (like Theodoret of Cyrus), or as controversialists (like Cyril of Alexandria).Nor must we forget the eminent Latin Fathers of the West, among whom Ambrose, Jerome and Augustine shine out as stars of the first magnitude.But we have merely sought to give some idea of those exceptional men, who by the splendor of their learning and morality adorned the Church both in their life-time and after it.7.Christian Life and WorshipThe Moral Reformation Brought About by the Gospel.Christianity is not only a revelation of divine truth; it is also the inspiration to a more virtuous life.That is why the spread of Christian principles was usually followed by a change in morals, due to the triumph of virtue over the natural corruption of mankind.An improvement in the position of women, the purification of the home, the liberation of slaves, the founding of philanthropic institutions, the abolition of public fights between gladiators and between wild beasts in the arena, an ever-growing sympathetic interest in the outcast, — all this was fruit of the Gospel seed.“See how they love one another, and how each is ready to sacrifice himself for his brother!” cried the pagans, marveling at the Christians' love.And even Libanius, taking as an example the mother of John Chrysostom, spoke his wondering admiration of the Christian women.It was, above all else, the courage of the martyrs, who went to their death singing as to a feast, that so greatly amazed the pagans; more than once, indeed, the executioners themselves became Christians and followed the martyrs to their death.Nor must we forget the civilizing influence of Christianity over whole peoples, such as the invaders who poured into Europe from the north during the fourth century, whose wild and barbarous energies were suddenly tamed and harnessed to the works of peace.The Tares Among the Corn.But corn and tares grow up together, and ancient habits are hard to put aside.The Christian Church did not lack sinners, who offered a striking contrast to her saints, and were a reproach to the Christian reputation.Most grievous of all evils was the hypocrisy of those who did not practice the faith that they professed.Such, in apostolic times, were Ananias and Sapphira; in the times of the persecutions, those whom fear caused to deny their faith and deliver to the persecutors certificates of paganism; and, during the years of peace, those pseudo-Christians who posed as Christians in order to curry royal favor.How many other sins were rife among the Christians, and especially in such great centers as Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople, may be seen by anyone who reads the sermons of those Fathers who denounced from the pulpit the evils of their time [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
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.So great was the boy's devotion to learning that when asked by the pagans whom he would leave as his successor, Libanius answered: “John, unless the Christians steal him from us.” But John, who had hardly known his father, followed his mother's religion and was baptized, later becoming a presbyter at Antioch, where he delivered sermons for many years.His speech was golden, and his life the life of a saint.His fame spread to the imperial court at the capital, whither the king, Arcadius, enticed him by a ruse, and persuaded him to become Archbishop of Constantinople, to the great joy of the people.But John was not only the protector of the poor and the oppressed; he was a fearless censor of crime and corruption in high places.This roused the enmity of the Empress Eudoxia, whose own conduct was not above reproach, and with the assistance of other sinners she contrived to banish the holy man to the depths of Armenia, where eventually he died in the midst of snow and ice and every kind of hardship.“Glory to God for everything,” were his dying words.Chrysostom was the most popular and practical of the great Greek Church orators, and his sermons, which fill eighteen large volumes, may still be read with great profit and enjoyment today.He was not only an excellent psychologist, who probed deeply into the social evils of the world, but a commentator who in his interpretation of Holy Writ followed the literal and sober method which was the distinctive feature of the School of Antioch.Other Fathers.The recital of these few famous names constitutes not a tenth of what should be said upon this subject.Apart from the Fathers we have mentioned there are others, distinguished as historians (like Eusebius of Caesarea and Socrates), as catechists (like Cyril of Jerusalem), as commentators (like Theodoret of Cyrus), or as controversialists (like Cyril of Alexandria).Nor must we forget the eminent Latin Fathers of the West, among whom Ambrose, Jerome and Augustine shine out as stars of the first magnitude.But we have merely sought to give some idea of those exceptional men, who by the splendor of their learning and morality adorned the Church both in their life-time and after it.7.Christian Life and WorshipThe Moral Reformation Brought About by the Gospel.Christianity is not only a revelation of divine truth; it is also the inspiration to a more virtuous life.That is why the spread of Christian principles was usually followed by a change in morals, due to the triumph of virtue over the natural corruption of mankind.An improvement in the position of women, the purification of the home, the liberation of slaves, the founding of philanthropic institutions, the abolition of public fights between gladiators and between wild beasts in the arena, an ever-growing sympathetic interest in the outcast, — all this was fruit of the Gospel seed.“See how they love one another, and how each is ready to sacrifice himself for his brother!” cried the pagans, marveling at the Christians' love.And even Libanius, taking as an example the mother of John Chrysostom, spoke his wondering admiration of the Christian women.It was, above all else, the courage of the martyrs, who went to their death singing as to a feast, that so greatly amazed the pagans; more than once, indeed, the executioners themselves became Christians and followed the martyrs to their death.Nor must we forget the civilizing influence of Christianity over whole peoples, such as the invaders who poured into Europe from the north during the fourth century, whose wild and barbarous energies were suddenly tamed and harnessed to the works of peace.The Tares Among the Corn.But corn and tares grow up together, and ancient habits are hard to put aside.The Christian Church did not lack sinners, who offered a striking contrast to her saints, and were a reproach to the Christian reputation.Most grievous of all evils was the hypocrisy of those who did not practice the faith that they professed.Such, in apostolic times, were Ananias and Sapphira; in the times of the persecutions, those whom fear caused to deny their faith and deliver to the persecutors certificates of paganism; and, during the years of peace, those pseudo-Christians who posed as Christians in order to curry royal favor.How many other sins were rife among the Christians, and especially in such great centers as Alexandria, Antioch and Constantinople, may be seen by anyone who reads the sermons of those Fathers who denounced from the pulpit the evils of their time [ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]