By John Fencik, Director
Catholic Formation Services

In recent years, there has been renewed interest in the centuries of Church history known as the Patristic Era. It generally covers the years from the death of the last apostle until the death of St. John Damascene in the mid eighth century.

The focus of the Patristic Era is on the writings of the Fathers of the Church. Pope Benedict XVI devoted to the Fathers the catechesis of his general audiences from March 7, 2007, to Feb. 27, 2008. (That series of talks is available in “The Fathers,” published by Our Sunday Visitor Publishing Division.)

Many Christian people know little about the Patristic Era, a period so important in understanding how we have come to be the Church today. In coming issues, I will cover some of the Fathers and their writings that show the growth and development of the Catholic Church.

Why should we study the Fathers of the Church? After the Pentecost experience, the apostles began their mission of preaching the Gospel throughout the Roman Empire. They had no written scriptures, no catechism nor travel guide to outline every move. What the apostles had was their personal experience of the Christ event and the Spirit of the Risen Christ who empowered them to spread the meaning of Christ’s life, death and resurrection.

As they (and later St. Paul) traveled, Christian communities began to grow. All were “converts” to this new way of life in Christ, for it was in Jesus that they found fulfillment of their hunger for meaning. As with all communities, there came a time to express more fully in writing what they believed and to establish order for the smooth running of the Church.

We read the Epistles of Paul, the Gospels and other first-century writings that would become the canon of the New Testament. In those same works, we learn about problems and advice to various communities. As time passed, the Church was beginning to solidify what it believed and how it practiced.

The Fathers take us on a journey through the next few centuries after the apostles, as the Church continued to grow in her understanding of the person of Jesus.

The Fathers sought unity in the Church and their writings often deal with burning issues that required charity and humility, but never at the expense of unity. They remain a historical source for development in liturgy (especially baptism and Eucharist), sacramental theology, Scripture, communal life, spirituality and doctrine. They serve as a great resource for our understanding of how we have come to what we profess and celebrate in our Catholic faith. They also have been an inspiration for people to join our Catholic community.

Who are the Fathers of the Church? They are respected writers and theologians in Church history. They lived and wrote through generations of growth and development as they discerned with their people what their baptismal commitment to Christ meant and how it impacted personal and communal lives.

In a sense, the Fathers truly were fathers as they helped the young Church move toward maturity. The Fathers believed that they had been entrusted, through the apostles, with a continuous mission of caring for and nurturing the faith. They strove for a unity that would truly reflect that essential mark of the Church’s life and mission – love!

St. Vincent of Lerins, who died in about 450 A.D., established criteria that have long stood as the test for consideration as a Father:

Orthodoxy – what they taught was in accord with the “theology” that came through the succession of those attached to churches founded by the apostles.

Holiness of Life – in their personal lives their words were matched by lives of faith and a deepening spirituality.

Acceptance by the Church – what they taught had value for the life of the Christian and the Church community.

Antiquity – their writings and theology truly have passed the test of time.

As we enter the world of the Fathers, it is hoped that their witness will help us learn more of how we “form a building which rises on the foundation of the apostles and prophets with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone.” (Ephesians 2:20)


John Fencik is the director of Catholic Formation Services for the Diocese of Helena. He may be reached at jfencik@diocesehelena.org.


Published in The Montana Catholic Online, Volume 25, No. 10, October 16, 2009.