Category Archives: Patristiblogging

Formerly NAPLAM – For Patristibloggers – blog posts concerning the Fathers of the Church

Chrysostom on today’s Gospel reading

St. John Chrysostom has something to say about the Gospel reading for today’s Mass.  This is from s. 63.2 on the Gospel of Matthew (PG 58:605): When the disciples were upset, he said, "With men this is impossible, but with … Read More

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Augustine on the rich young man, today’s Gospel

St. Augustine has something to say about today’s Gospel reading from Matthew on the rich young man (s. 84.1 in PL 38:519) The Lord said to a certain young man, “If you would enter life, keep the commandments.”  He did … Read More

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St. Pope Sixtus III: fascinating correspondence with Augustine

It is nice to make connections which show us how the Church was always alive throughout the centuries before our own time. Today is the feast of St. Pope Sixtus III, whom you will remember as having been involved with … Read More

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Augustine on seventy-seven

St. Augustine has a comment on the Gospel for today’s Holy Mass (in the Novus Ordo), which concerns the number of times we must forgive those who sin against us. He works with the significance of numbers and brings in … Read More

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Augustine on today’s Gospel: Christ the Physician

The Gospel reading for today’s Mass (with the Novus Ordo) is from Matthew 17:14-20. Let us have a taste of St. Augustine’s comment on this passage. The bishop uses the image of Christus Medicus, Christ the Physician quite often. This … Read More

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Augustine on waiting for webpages to download

Augustine reflects on waiting for web pages to download… well… sort of. He does reflect at length on the concept of time in the Confessions XI. Have you ever felt like a page takes forever to download?? Here is Augustine, … Read More

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Augustine on Lawrence… or maybe not…

St. Augustine of Hippo preached various sermons on St. Lawrence. Here is one the bishop preached in about the year 401.  It might not be quite what you expected, however!  It sure wasn’t what Augustine himself expected, you can bet … Read More

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Ambrose on Lawrence

In his work De officiis ministrorum, echoing Cicero, St. Ambrose of Milan (+397) spoke about martyrs. He lingers a bit over the conversation between St. Pope Sixtus II (whose feast we had the other day) and his great deacon, the … Read More

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The Way of the Barbers

Over at The Way of the Fathers, patristiblogger Mike has a post about his barber. That got me thinking, …. Did you know that in ancient Rome a way to say that something was known by "every Tom, Dick, and … Read More

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Augustine on today’s Gospel: Matthew 14:22-36

St. Augustine has something to say about the Gospel reading for today’s Holy Mass. The Apostles are in a small boat being tossed on the waters and they see Jesus walking toward them and are terrified. Let’s listen to the … Read More

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