Next I am combining two shorter works for one, part of my recent spiritual reading.
First is On the Incarnation by St. Athanasius. St. Athanasius is one of the great Eastern Church Fathers who died in 373. This is, as you might expect, an argument for the reality that God became man in Jesus Christ. He includes a brief summary of creation and the fall, the need for salvation, and the saving, loving act of God to come and die for us. He also makes arguments specifically for Jews and Gentiles. While some of these arguments may be “dated,” as in refuting ancient gods that no longer have any baring, the overall sentiment is timeless. Christians, in particulars Catholics, need to keep going back to the Church Fathers to bolster our faith.
The second was Matthew Manint’s With Glory and Honor You Crowned Them: The Female Martyrs of the Roman Canon. As a priest who uses the Roman Canon often, I wanted to read up a little more on those saints who are named, especially those I am less knowledgeable about. And, quite frankly, sometimes the virgin martyrs run together. This is much more modern, published in 2019, but I like how the author highlights different aspects of the saints so that they stand out. It’s concise, but there’s enough there to gain a better devotion to these inspirational women.
Two short works, similar in that they reach back to the early Church, and both can help enliven our faith. It is important for us to read as much about the saints as possible, for inspiration and for a greater love for God.
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