St Athanasius of Alexandria

Saturday, May 2nd, 2020

Today we feast one of the greatest of saints: Saint Athanasius of Alexandria. What? You’ve never heard of him? Then its time to take some time to google and read his life. For he did many great things. Like St Francis of Assisi and St Catherine of Siena who followed him, St Athanasius was the rock of Christ to those around him in a Church which was looking far more flaky and fragile than usual. Unlike those around him, and despite the cultural storms engulfing the faithful, despite even the malicious public persecutions by people, the government, and his brother bishops - Athanasius remained a sound shepherd amongst unsound ideology. I don’t mean simply by the length of his episcopate - 45 years he was Archbishop of Alexandria. I don’t even mean his patience despite being banished five times from his diocese. Athanasius’ solidity was grounded in his simple and total faith that Jesus was who he said he was - of one substance with the Father. We trip quickly through that part of the creed every Sunday - but every time we do, its good to remember that that line, like all the others, are only there because men and women gave their lives for it: for us, that we might live in the truth, and for God, because they loved him. Let’s ask Christ to give us that steadfast love today.

Let us pray:

“Almighty ever-living God,

who raised up the Bishop Saint Athanasius

as an outstanding champion of your Son’s divinity,

mercifully grant,

that, rejoicing in his teaching and his protection,

we may never cease to grow in knowledge and love of you.

Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son,

who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever.”