May 1 — Saint Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church. ♦

The Court of our divine King, during this grandest of Seasons, is brilliant beyond measure : and, to-day, it is gladdened by the arrival of one of the most glorious champions that ever fought for his holy cause. Among the guardians of the Word of Truth, confided by Jesus to the earth, — is there one more faithful than Athanasius ? Does not his very name remind us of dauntless courage in the defence of the sacred deposit, of heroic firmness and patience in suffering, of learning, of talent, of eloquence, — in a word, of everything that goes to form a Saint, a Bishop, and a Doctor of the Church ? Athanasius lived for the Son of God ; the cause of the Son of God was that of Athanasius : he who blessed Athanasius, blessed the eternal Word ; and he insulted the eternal Word, who insulted Athanasius.

Never did our holy Faith go through a greater ordeal, than in the sad times immediately following the peace of the Church, when the Bark of Peter had to pass through the most furious storm that hell has, so far, let loose against her. Satan had vainly sought to drown the Christian race in a sea of blood ; the sword of persecution had grown blunt in the hands of Dioclesian and Galerius ; and the Cross appeared in the heavens, proclaiming the triumph of Christianity. Scarcely had the Church become aware

MAY 2. ST. ATHANASIUS. of her victory, when she felt herself shaken to her very foundation. Hell sent upon the earth a heresy which threatened to blight the fruit of three hundred years of Martyrdom. Arius began his impious doctrine,— that he, who had hitherto been adored as the Son of God, was only a creature, though the most perfect of all creatures. Immense was the number, even of the clergy, that fell into this new error ; the Emperors became its abettors; and had not God himself interposed, men would soon have set up the cry throughout the world, that the only result of the victory gained by the Christian Religion, was to change the object of idolatry, and put a new idol, called Jesus, in place of the old ones.

But He who had promised, that the gates of hell should never prevail against his Church, faithfully fulfilled his promise. The primitive faith triumphed ; the Council of Nicaea proclaimed the Son to be consubstantial to the Father ; but the Church stood in need of a man in whom the cause of the Consubstantial Word should be, so to speak, incarnated, — a man, with learning enough to foil the artifices of heresy, and with courage enough to bear every persecution without flinching. This man was Athanasius : and every one that adores and loves the Son of God, should love and honour Athanasius. Five times banished from his See of Alexandria by the Arians, who even sought to put him to death, he fled for protection to the West, which justly appreciated the glorious Confessor of Jesus' Divinity. In return for the hospitality accorded him by Rome, Athanasius gave her of his treasures. Being the admirer and ftiend of the great St. Antony, he was a fervent admirer of the Monastic Life, which, by the grace of the Holy Ghost, had flourished so wonderfully in the deserts of his vast Patriarchate. He brought the precious seed to Rome, and the first Moms seen there were the ones introduced by Athanasius* The

PASCHAL TIME. heavenly plant became naturalised in its tfew soil ; and though its growth was slow at first, it afterwards produced fruit more abundantly than it had ever done in the East.

Athanasius, who has written so admirably upon that fundamental dogma of our Faith, — the Divinity of Christ, — has also left us most eloquent treatises on the mystery of the Pasch : they are to be found in the Festal Letters, which he addressed, each year, to the Churches of his Patriarchate of Alexandria. The collection of these Letters, which were once thought to have been irretrievably lost, was found, a few years back, in the Monastery of St. Mary of Scete, in Egypt. The first, for the year 329, begins with these words, which beautifully express the sentiments we should feel at the approach of Easter : " Come, my " beloved Brethren, celebrate the Feast ; the season " of the year invites you to do so. The Sun of J ustice, " by pouring out his divine rays upon you, tells you "that the time of the Solemnity is come. At such "tidings, let us keep a glad feast; let not the joy "slip from us, with the fleeting days, without our "having tasted of its sweetness." During almost every year of his banishment, Athanasius continued to address a Paschal Letter to his people. The one in which he announces the Easter of 338, and which he wrote at Treves, begins thus : " Though separated "from you, my Brethren, I cannot break through the K custom which I have always observed, and which I 'received from the tradition of the Fathers. I will " not be silent ; I will not omit announcing to you " the time of the holy annual Feast, and the day on " which you must keep the Solemnity. I am, as you " have doubtless been told, a prey to many tribula- " tions ; I am weighed down by heavy trials ; I am " watched by the enemies of truth, who scrutinise " everything I write, in order to rake up accusations v against me and, thereby, add. to my sufferings ; yet

MAY 2. ST. ATHANASIUS.

" notwithstanding, I feel that the Lord strengthens u and consoles me in my afflictions. Therefore do I " venture to address to you the annual celebration ; " and from the midst of my troubles, and despite the " snares that beset me, I send you, from the further- ' most part of the earth, the tidings of the Pasch, " which is our salvation. Commending my fate into " God's hands, I will celebrate this Feast with you ; " distance of place separates us, but I am not absent "from you. The Lord who gives us these Feasts, " who is himself our Feast, who bestows upon us the " gift of his Spirit, — he unites us spiritually to one " another, by the bond of concord and peace."

How grand is this Pasch, celebrated by Athanasius an exile on the Rhine, in union with his people who keep their Easter on the banks of the Nile ! It shows us the power of the Liturgy, to unite men together, and make them, at one and the same time, and despite the distance of countries, enjoy the same holy emotions, and feel the same aspirations to virtue. Greeks or Barbarians, we have all the same mothercountry, — the Church ; but what, after Faith, unites us all into one family, is the Church's Liturgy. Now there is nothing, in the whole Liturgy, so expressive of unity, as the celebration of Easter. The unhappy Churches of Russia and the East, by keeping Easter on a different day from that on which it is celebrated by the rest of the Christian World, show that they are not a portion of the One Fold of which our Risen Jesus is the One Shepherd.

We will now read the sketch of St. Athanasius Life, given in the Breviary.

Athanasius, the stern de- Athanasius Alexandri- fender of the Catholic Faith, nus, catholic® religionis was born at Alexandria. He propugnatur acerrimus, ab was made Deacon by Alex- AlexandroEpiscopoAlexan- ander, Bishop of Alexandria, drino diaconus factus est,

446 pasch in cujus locum successit, quern etiam antea secutus fuerat ad Nicaenuin concilium : ubi cum Arii impietatem repressisset, tan turn odium arianorum suscepit, ut ex eo tempore ei insidias moliri numquam destiterint. Nam coacto ad Tyrum concilio magna ex parte arianorum episcoporum, subornarunt mulierculam, quae accusaret Athanasiuin, quod hospitio acceptus sibi stuprum per vim intulisset. Introductus igitur est Athanasius, et una cum eo Timotheus presbyter, qui simulans se esse Athanasium; Egone, inquit, mulier, apud te sum diversatua ? Ego te viola vi ? Cui ilia petulanter : Tu niihi vim attulisti ; idque jurejurando affirmans, judicum fidem obtestabatur, ut tantum flagitium vindicarent Qua cognita fraude, rejecta est mulieris inipudcntia.

Arsenium quoque episcopum ab Athanasio mterfectum ariani pervulgarunt : quern dum occulte detinent, manum mortui deferunt in judicium, ab Athanasio ad usum magicae artis Arsenio amputatam criminantes. At Arsenius nocte aufugiens cum se in conspectu totius concilii statuisset, Athanasii inimicorum impudentissimum lL TIME. whose successor he afterwards became. He accompanied that Prelate to the Council of Nicsea, where, having refuted the impious doctrine of Arius, he became such an object of hatred to the Arians, that from that time forward, they never ceased to lay snares for him. Thus, at a Council held at Tyre, at which the majority of the Bishops were Arians, the party suborned a wretched woman, who was to accuse Athanasius, that when lodging in her house, he had offered violence to her. Athanasius was accordingly brought before the Council. One of his priests, by name Timothy, went in with him, and pretending that he was Athanasius, he said to the woman : " What ! did I ever lodge at thy house? Did I violate thee V9 She boldly answered him : " Yes, it was thou.M She affirmed it with an oath, besought the judges to avenge her, and punish so great a crime. The trick being discovered, the impudent woman was ordered to leave the place.

The Arians also spread the report, that Athanasius had murdered a certain Bishop Arsenius. Having put this Arsenius into confinement, they brought forward the hand of a dead man, saying that it was the hand of Arsenius, and that Athanasius had cut it off for purposes of witchcraft But Arsenius having made his escape during the night, presented himself be-

MAY 2. ST. . fore the whole Council, and exposed the impudent malice of Athanasius' enemies. But even this they attributed to the magical skill of Athanasius, and went on plotting his death. They succeeded in having him banished, and accordingly, he was sent to Treves in Gaul. During the reign of the emperor Constantius, who was on the Arian side, Athanasius had to go through the most violent storms, endure incredible suffering,and go wandering from country to country. He was driven several times from his See, but was restored, at one time by the authority of Pope Julius, at another by the help of the emperor Constans, Constants' brother, at another by the decrees of the Councils or Sardica and Jerusalem. During all this time, the Arians relented not in their fury against him ; their hatred of him was unremitting ; and he only avoided being murdered, by hiding himself, for five years, in a dry well, where he was fed by one of his friends, who was the only person that knew the place of his conceal* ment.

Constantius died, and was succeeded in the Empire by Julian the Apostate, who allowed the exiled Bishops to return to their respective Sees. Accordingly, Athanasius returned to Alexandria, where he was received with every possible mark of honour. Not long after, however, he was again obliged to flee, owing to scelus aperuit. Quod illi nihilominus magicis artibus Athanasii tribuentes, vitae ejus insidiari non desistebant. Quamobrem in exsilium actus, in Gallia apud Treviros exsulavit. Gravibus deinceps ac diuturnis sub Constantio imperatore, arianorum fautore, tempestatibus jactatus, et incredibiles calami tates perpessus, magnam orbis terras partem peragravit : ac saepe e sua Ecclesia ejectus, saepe etiam in eamdem et Julii Romani Pontificis auctoritate, et Constantis imperatoris, Constantii fratris, patrocinio, decretis quoque concilii Sardicensis, ac J erosolymitani, restitutus est; arianis interea illi semper infestis quorum pertmacem iram, et summum vitae discrimem fugiens, in sicca cisterna quinque annis se abdidit, ejus rei tantum conscio quodam Athanasii amico, qui eum clamsustentabat.

Constantio mortuo, cum Julianus Apostata, qui ei in Imperio successit, exsules Episcopos ad suas Ecclesias redire permisisset, Athanasius Alexandriam re versus, summo honore exeeptus est. Sed non multo post iisdem arianis impellentibus, a Juliano exagitatus rursus discedere cogitur.

PASCHAL TIME.

Cumque ab ejus satellitibus ad necem conquireretur, qua fugiebat navicula conversa in contrariam fluminis partem, iis qui se insequebantur, ex industria occurrit : et quserentibus quantum inde abesset Athanasius, respondit eum non longe abesse : itaque illos contrarium tenentes cursum effugit, atque Alexandriam rediens, ibidem usque ad J uliani obitum occultus permansit. Qui paulo post Alexandria alia exorta tempestate, quatuor menses in paterno sepulchro delituit. Ac deniaue ex tot tantisque periculis divinitus ereptus, Alexandria mortuus est in suo lectulo, sub Valente : cuius vita et mors magnis nobilitata est miraculis. Multa pie et ad illustrandam catholicam fidem prseclare scripsit, sexgue et quadraginta annos in summa temporum varietate Alexandrinam Ecclesiam sanctissime gubernavit the persecution he met with from Julian, who was instigated by the Arians. On one occasion, when he was being pursued by the Emperor's satellites, who were ordered to put him to death, the Saint ordered the boat, in which he was fleeing from danger, to be turned back. As soon as he met the persecutors, they asked him if Athanasius was anywhere near. He answered, that he was not far off. Whilst they, therefore, went one way, he sailed the other, and got back to Alexandria, where he remained in concealment till Julian's death. Another storm soon arose in the City, and he was obliged to hide himself, for four months, in his father's sepulchre. Having thus miraculously escaped from all these great dangers, he died peacefully in his own bed at Alexandria, during the reign of the emperor Valens. His life and death were honoured by great miracles. He wrote several admirable treatises, some on subjects pertaining to practical piety, and others on the dogmas of Catholic faith. He for six and forty years, and amidst the most troubled of times, governed the Church of Alexandria with extraordinary piety.

The Greek Church, which celebrates the Feast of our Saint at another season of the year, is enthusiastic in her admiration of his virtues. The following stanzas are from the Hymn she sings in his praise.

MAY 2. ST. ATHANASIUS.

HYMN.

(Die XVTll* Januarii.)

Hail, O Athanasius ! model Salve virtutum regula, of virtue, most brave defender f ortissimus ndei propugna- of the Faith I who didst cou- tor, qui impietatem Arii rageously rout the impiety of vincufis venerabilium ver-

Arius by the force of thy vene- borum tuorum fortiter dis- rable words. Thou didst solvisti, Athanasi ; mani- preach the power of the God- feste prsedicans unius divi- head, one in three Persons, nitatis potentiam, in tribus which made all creatures, both personis distributam, quae spiritual and material, out of omnia spiritualia et sensi- nothing, solely because of his bilia ex nihilo ad creatio- own infinite goodness. Thou nem adduxit, propter suam explainedst to us the difficult tantummodo bonitatem; et mysteries of the divine opera- nobis divinae operationis tion. Pray for us to Christ, difficilia explicans mysteria, that he grant to our souls his Christum exora, ut anima* great mercy. bus nostris concedat suam

Pa- Salve partriarcharum funtrum- damentum, tuba canora, mens admirabilis, lingua Iucidissimus ocuius, rectorum seouris omnem haereseon sylvam praecidens, et Spiriigne comburens, columna firmissima, turris tialem prsedicans potentiam Trinitatis; ilJam exora ut them,that plenteous animabus nostris concedat magnam misericordiam.

Hail thou rock of the triarchs ! — sweet- voiced pet, — admirable mind, — most persuasive tongue, — most clear efficacissima, seeing eye, — interpreter of dogmatrue dogmas, — true shepherd, turn illustratio ; pastor ve- — most brilliant lamp, — axe rus,lucernasplendidissima ; that felled the whole forest of heresies, and burned them with the fire of the Holy tusSancti Spirit, — most firm pillar, — unshaken tower, — preaching inconcussa, supersubstanthe supersubstantial power of the Three Persons! pray they grant mercy to our souls.

O Father ! thou armedst Divinis orthodoxiaB dog- the Church with the divine matibus, Pater, armasti dogmas of orthodoxy: thy Ecclesiam, doctrinis tuis teachings were a death-blow praecidisti hsereses ; pietatis to heresy ; thou finishedst cursum consummastis, et thy holy course, and, like Paul, sicut Paulus fidem servasti ; thou didst keep the faith : as de reliquo reposita est tibi

PASCH : TIME- II. * U magnam misericordiam.

PASCHAL TIME. cloriose Athanasi, justa laborum tuorum cgrona.

Sicut astrum quod occasum nescit, etiam post mortem tuam, doctrinsB tua splendoribus undique fidelium multitudiuem illuminas, sapiens pontif ex Athanasi

In contemplationis sublimitatibus animum tuum inducens, in spiritu Sancto, sancte Pontifex, diviuorum oraculorum thesauros investigasti latentes, et mundo divitias eorum distribuistL

Sicut sublimis et coruscans turris divinarum doctrinarum, per mare erroris jactatos undequaque dirigis verborum tuorum serenitate, ad tranquillum gratiae portum.

Sicut imperator exercitus a Deo collecti, copias adversariorum Domini profligasti, gladio Spiritus Sancti fortiter concidens.

Universam irrigasti terrain, sancte Pater, fontem vitas in corde tuo possidens.

In came tua, sancte Pater, adimplevisti Domini passion es, pro ejus Ecclesia multa perpessus.

Justitiam discite, omnes inhabitantes terram, Sanctis Athanasii sermonibus eruditi ; per fid em eniui visus est tamquam os Verbi quod est ante saecula.

Vere paradisum effecisti Ecclesiam Christi, beate, in to the rest, there was laid up for thee, O glorious Athanasius, a crown justly won by thy labours.

' Like a star that never sets, even now that thou art dead, thou enlightenest the Faithful throughout the world with the rays of thy teaching, O wise Pontiff Athanasius !

Guided by the Holy Ghost, thou, O holy Pontiff, turning thy mind to the sublimest contemplations, didst investigate the hidden treasures of the divine oracles, and distributedst their riches unto men.

Like a high and shining tower of divine truths, thou guidest all that are tossed on the sea of error, leading them, by the calm beauty of thy words, to the tranquil haven of grace.

General of God's army, thou didst put to flight the ranks of the Lord's enemies, courageously destroying them with the sword of the Holy Spirit.

Holy Father ! thou hadst the fountain of Life within thy heart, and thou wateiedst the whole earth.

In thy flesh, O holy Father, thou filledst up the sufferings of Christ, suffering many persecutions for his Church.

Learn justice, O all ye inhabitants of earth, from the holy word of Athanasius ; lor, by his faith, he was as the mouth of the Eternal Word.