Sacred Heart and Saint Thomas More—July 25, 2021—-Seventeenth (17th) Sunday in Ordinary Time Saint Irenaeus was a second century bishop who lived refuted each of their beliefs one by one. His writings are logical from about 130 – 202. He is considered one of the Fathers of and methodical. Christian scholars praise Irenaeus, because of our Church and diligently defended Christian theology from the the systematic theology and development of Christian thought heretics of his time. Irenaeus was born of Greek parents in present in his writings. For example, his writings provide an Anatolia, also known as Asia Minor, a large peninsula in West- early witness to the Church’s beliefs about the Eucharist. ern Asia. It makes up the majority of modern-day Turkey, but in In Against Heresies Irenaeus writes that something extraordi- Irenaeus’s time, it would have also covered the whole or part of nary happens at Mass: For as the bread, which is produced from the modern-day countries of Italy, Greece, Albania, Macedonia, the earth, when it receives the invocation of God, is no longer Bulgaria, Turkey, Egypt, Libya, Israel and Lebanon. Most of common bread, but the Eucharist, consisting of two realities, these ancient kingdoms were Greek colonies or heavily influ- earthly and heavenly; so also our bodies, when they receive enced by Ancient Greek culture. the Eucharist, are no longer corruptible, having the hope of the Although not much is known about his personal history, his resurrection to eternity. He points out that the bread and wine writings were foundational in our Church history and Catholic experience a transformation at Mass at the words of consecra- theology and reveal some of the biographical facts and events in tion, turning them into something new, both heavenly and earth- Irenaeus’s life. For example, he writes that as a child he heard ly. [Jesus] has acknowledged the cup (which is a part of the cre- and saw Saint Polycarp in Smyrna, before he was martyred in ation) as His own blood, from which He bedews our blood; and 155. Polycarp was the last known living connection with the the bread (also a part of the creation) He has established as His Apostles. According to tradition, the Apostle John, was a very own body, from which He gives increase to our bodies. This is old man who lived at Ephesus in the days when Polycarp was consistent with what the Catechism of the Catholic young. Polycarp had heard Saint John preach, which means that Church currently states: By the consecration the transubstantia- there were three generations between Jesus of Nazareth and tion of the bread and wine into the Body and Blood of Christ is Irenaeus. brought about. Under the consecrated species Many Asian priests and missionaries It is not thou that shapest God, of bread and wine Christ himself, living and it is God that shapest thee. brought the Gospel to the pagan Gauls glorious, is present in a true, real, and sub- and founded a local church. Irenaeus If thou art the work of God, stantial manner: his Body and his Blood, with came to serve as a priest to this church of await the hand of the artist, his soul and his divinity.” (CCC 1413) Lyon under its first bishop, St. Pothinus. who does all things in due season. St. Irenaeus was simply stating something In the year 177, Pothinus sent Irenaeus to Offer Him thy heart, the Church has never ceased to teach about the Rome. While he was in Rome, Saint soft and tractable, Eucharist: that the bread and wine become, Pothinus was martyred during the terri- and keep the form in which through the power of God, the body and blood ble persecution in Lyons. Irenaeus was the artist has fashioned thee. of Jesus Christ: “[Christ] has declared the then named Bishop of Lyons. In the year Let thy clay be moist, cup, a part of creation, to be his own Blood, 177, Irenaeus was sent to Rome. lest thou grow hard from which he causes our blood to flow; and While he was away in Rome, Saint and lose the imprint of his fingers. the bread, a part of creation, he has estab- Pothinus was martyred during the terri- ~Saint Irenaeus lished as his own Body, from which he gives ble persecution in Lyons. Irenaeus was increase to our bodies.” (St. Irenaeus) then named Bishop of Lyons. By the time he returned to Lyons, The arguments contained in Against Heresies are still being the persecution was over. The greatest threat to Christianity now made by the Church he served as She faces contemporary ef- became the spread of Gnosticism, the Greek word for forts to undermine and obscure the full promise of the Christian “knowledge.” The Gnostics claimed to have secret knowledge faith-the total transformation of humanity in and through Jesus imparted by Jesus to only a few disciples. Their teaching was Christ. He wrote: "The glory of God gives life; those who see attracting and confusing many Christians. After thoroughly in- God receive life. For this reason, God-who cannot be grasped, vestigating the various Gnostic sects and their “secrets,” Irenae- comprehended, or seen-allows Himself to be seen, comprehend- us showed to what logical conclusions their tenets led. All his ed, and grasped by men, that He may give life to those who see known writings are devoted to the conflict with the Gnostics. and receive Him. It is impossible to live without life, and the His principal work consists of five books in a work enti- actualization of life comes from participation in God, while par- tled Adversus haereses (Against Heresies). ticipation in God is to see God and enjoy His goodness. Irenaeus defines the inner doctrines of the various sects, and Saint Irenaeus was a courageous, loving defender of the faith then contrasts them with the teaching of the Apostles and the in his time. He insisted that God can be known and loved. This text of the Holy Scripture. Originally written in Greek about is why He came into the world in history in the person of Jesus. 180, Against Heresies exists only in a Latin translation. A Through a relationship with Jesus, we can, Irenaeus believed, shorter work by Irenaeus, Demonstration of the Apostolic participate in the very inner life of the Trinity and be trans- Preaching, also written in Greek, exists now only in an Armeni- formed by His Life and Love. In the Eucharist, Jesus keeps His an translation and was probably intended for the instruction of promise He made when He said: I am with you always, even young candidates for Baptism. These two works were widely unto the end of the world. (Mt 28:19). Irenaeus knew this and circulated and succeeded in ending the influence of Gnosticism. his writings from the very beginnings of our Church, remind us From this time on, it ceased to offer a serious menace to that each time we receive Jesus in the Mass, we have Commun- the Catholic faith. ion with Him. During the time after we receive the Lord, then, The era in which Irenaeus lived was a time of expansion and the whole church should resound with the silent reverence that inner tensions in the church. In many cases Irenaeus acted as witnesses to our holy union with the presence of Jesus in our mediator between various contending factions. Irenaeus always hearts. treated his adversaries with kindness and patience, even as he 1 Sacred Heart and Saint Thomas More—July 25, 2021—-Seventeenth (17th) Sunday in Ordinary Time Oɣɣɦɠɢ Hɬɲɯɰ—Cɬɫɱɞɠɱ Iɫɣɬɯɪɞɱɦɬɫ Sɞɠɯɞɪɢɫɱɰ & Dɢɳɬɱɦɬɫɰ Collaborative Office Hours SHSTM Collaborative YouTube Channel live stream 55 Commercial Street Weymouth, MA 02188 Masses: Saturday 4pm Vigil—Sunday 9:30am & 11:30am Phone: 781-337-6333 www.shstm.org YouTube site: click the “subscribe button” to be Our offices are open, with restrictions. The lobby is open at alerted when we post. You can also go to the site anytime to this time. Simply come to the front door to enter for safe, watch posted live stream videos, uploads and Masses. We already have 540 families subscribed. no contact, distanced visits and regular business. Many families enjoy watching at their familiar Mass times. 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