St. Athanasius: Defender of the Faith

Today the Church remembers St. Athanasius who was Bishop of Alexandria during the Patristic Period, that being in the 300s. He was born about the year 296 of Christian parents. Educated under the eye of Alexander, later Bishop of his native city, he made great progress in learning and virtue. In 313, Alexander succeeded Achillas in the Patriarchal See, and two years later St. Athanasius went to the desert to spend some time in retreat with St. Anthony.

In 319, he became a deacon, and even in this capacity he was called upon to take an active part against the rising heresy of Arius, an ambitious priest of the Alexandrian Church who denied the Divinity of Christ. This was to be the life struggle of St. Athanasius.

In 325, he assisted his Bishop at the Council of Nicaea, where his influence began to be felt. Five months later Alexander died. On his death bed he recommended St. Athanasius as his successor. In consequence of this, Athanasius was unanimously elected Patriarch in 326.

His refusal to tolerate the Arian heresy was the cause of many trials and persecutions for St. Athanasius. He spent 17 of the 46 years of his episcopate in exile. After a life of virtue and suffering, this intrepid champion of the Catholic Faith, the greatest man of his time, died in peace on this day in 373.

Let us pray:  Uphold your Church, O God of truth, as you upheld your servant Athanasius, to maintain and proclaim boldly the catholic faith against all opposition, trusting solely in the grace of your eternal Word, who took upon himself our humanity that we might share his divinity; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever.  Amen.

CALENDAR REMINDERS

TREE PLANTING: This Saturday at 9:00 a.m. please join in planting new oak trees to replace the ash trees that have been taken down.  The oaks trees are four years old and have been generously donated by Bob Newding.

ART CLASS WITH LEE RUNION: Friday evening, 11 May (Wine & Art), and then Saturday, 12 May.  The class will be making stepping stones.

PRAYER LIST: Please remember everyone on our Prayer List, especially Sabino Gonzalez, who is a young married man with a family who is suffering from cancer.

Your servant in Christ,

Fr. Chester J. Makowski+

St. Augustine of Hippo Episcopal Church
Galveston, Texas77550