The below book covers sixteen Doctors of the Church in patristic thought, and over twenty other resources. However, on this web site only a few, non-doctors will be included. Nearly all previous entries that are included on this site, of which its purpose is to provide a sample, and to encourage more reading, learning, and insights about the only Woman in history who was bequeathed to us sinful creatures as a model to learn from through others, and Mary herself, and ordained and bestowed on us during Jesus last few moments from the cross on Calvary as Mary looked upon him till the end of his mortal life. Mary is our spiritual mother forever now because of the infinite mercy of her dearest Son and God who save and kept her from all sin for Himself, that was only just, but also
for us too, who are sinful and need this type of spiritual mother as Christ had.
St John Chrysostom, who is listed in Part Two, chapter nine, was the only Doctor of the Church who died in exile and wrote: “Jesus Christ gave you all; he left nothing for himself.” In leaving us his most prized possession and masterpiece, we too can call and claim her as our own spiritual mother who has so much more to communicate with us down through the generations as she most tellingly told us in her Canticle:
From this day all generations will call me blessed:
The Almighty has done great things for me,
And holy is his Name.
He has mercy on those who fear him
In every generation.
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Mary And The Fathers Of The Church
The Blessed Virgin Mary in Patristic Thought, Author: Luigi Gambero
Taken from the back cover of the book from 1991; Ignatius Press; San Francisco.
1991 Edizione Paoline, S.R.L., Milan.
Father Luigi Gambero, internationally-known expert on early Christianity, presents an intriguing and comprehensive survey of the development of Marian doctrine and devotion during the first eight Christian centuries. Focusing on the lives and works of over thirty of the most famous Church Fathers and early Christian writers, Fr. Gambero has produced a clear and readable summary of the richness of the patristic age’s theological and devotional approach to the Mother of God.
This book contains extensive and numerous citations from the works of those men who developed the defining Christological and Mariological positions that, throughout the ages, have constituted the central and foundational doctrinal teaching of the Church. Each chapter concludes with an extended reading from the works of the patristic authors. A number of these texts have never before been published in English.
The thought of the Fathers and early Christian writers continues to fascinate readers today. Their theological acuity and spiritual depth led them faithfully into the mysteries of Sacred Scripture. Their vast experience and intense faith made them reliable and trustworthy witnesses to the faith of the people of God.
“Solid and majestic scholarship such as this lets the Fathers speak to our own age when Mary’s glory is neglected by skeptics and pantomimed by the superstitious.” – Fr. George Rutler
Author, Brightest and Best: Stories of Hymns
The above is the first and only person mentioned in detail on the back cover but others include:
Fr. Peter Stravinskas, Author, The Catholic Church and the Bible
Fr. Johan Roten, S.M., International Marian Research Institute, University of Dayton
Fr. Luigi Gambero, S.M., a Marianist priest and co-author of the four-volume work, Testi Mariani del primo Milleno.
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The first entry will be the second-century Apologist, St Justin, Martyr. He is has already been included in the Doctors of the Church in its introduction. As a preface, I will include was has already been written on him. The first entry from Fr Gambero's book will be forthcoming but it will be most brief.
RESOURCES AND REFERENCES SERVE AS A PREFACE
There are many that
are not doctors who devoted their whole life to
the defense and enlightenment of the catholic
faith. St Justin is one of many who was one of
the noblest personalities of early Christian
literature. His quotation from Exhortation to
the Greeks will serve as a beautiful preface,
reflection, resource, and reference. It is quoted
from Louis Miller's book, listed in the sources,
that I have used extensively:
"Nothing
true is to be learned about religion from your
teachers". This would also be true about
writers. “ By their mutual contradiction they
have supplied you with sufficient proof of their
ignorance. Therefore, I regard it as reasonable
to turn to our forefathers, who in point of time
preceded your teachers, and who have taught us
nothing of their own imagining. Nor have they
disagreed among themselves and tried to overturn
each other's positions. Without arguing and
without contradictions, they taught us the very
knowledge they received from God."
St
Justin’s quote may sound harsh or
radical. However, Jesus and Justin are telling
us the same message: always consider the sources
when learning or assessing
information. The doctors always pointed to the
saints, tradition, prayer, scripture, and the
church especially the gospels of Jesus Christ as
their best guide. That is why the church greatly
honors them in an unmistakable manner. Their
wisdom belongs to God who established, dwells,
and resides in the church and its members in
spite of any weakness and sins-past, present and
to come.
The doctors are sure and safe
guides, references and resources to practice
one's faith. Their lives have influenced the
religion, history and education of the entire
world.
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