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Michael Ewing
Member
| Joined: | Mon Dec 24th, 2007 |
| Location: | Iowa USA |
| Posts: | 59 |
| First Name: | Mike | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Cradle Catholic, spiritually left the Church during late teens, dabbled ... |
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Posted: Tue Aug 12th, 2008 04:06 am |
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Hello everyone,
It's been a few months since I've been on here, I had lost my password and kind of forgot about the forum, quite honestly. It's good to be back.
I'm currently reading Surprised By Truth 2, and I'm always so helped by conversion stories, and everyone always mentions reading the Church fathers as being instrumental in their conversions, so I'm wondering if anyone has any suggestions about where I should start? Something relatively light and easy to understand would be good at this point, as I am currently going back to school and doing alot of heavier reading in my studies.
Also, is there such a thing as an encyclopedia of encyclicals (is that an oxymoron?) that would be a good reference guide where to turn in the papal encyclicals by topic? I am overwhelmed at the amount of data that's out there, 2000 years of info and I've got alot of catching up to do!
Thanks to all of you in advance, and please remember me in your prayers as I return to formal education after about a 5 year absence!
Peace and God Bless,
Mike Ewing
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"Jesus said to him : I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me" - John 14:6
"Let us not grow tired of doing good, for in due time we shall reap our harvest, if we do not give up" - Gal 6:9
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David W. Emery
Network Helper
| Joined: | Fri Sep 29th, 2006 |
| Location: | Brownsville, Texas USA |
| Posts: | 2522 |
| First Name: | David | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Aug 12th, 2008 05:50 am |
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Hi Michael, welcome back. Yes, I remember you.
For the Fathers of the Church, I like to recommend the Apostolic Fathers first: the Didache, Clement of Rome, the Letter of Barnabas, Ignatius of Antioch, the Martyrdoms of Ignatius and of Polycarp, the Shepherd of Hermas, the Letter to Diognetus, Justin Martyr. Most of these are relatively easy reading and very enlightening concerning the early Church.
After the Apostolic Fathers, I generally recommend Cyril of Jerusalem and Augustine of Hippo. They are comprehensible by most readers and have a lot of worthwhile things to say. Cyril’s sermons on the Mystagogy (post-catechetical instruction for neophytes, mostly on the sacraments) are simple but fascinating. I like Augustine’s Confessions and his explanation of the Sermon on the Mount, for the same reason.
A good source for papal encyclicals is this website. It is one of the most complete collections available. A second source for recent popes would be the Vatican website or the EWTN Library.
An alternative website for both the Fathers of the Church and papal encyclicals would be Biblia Clerus. This site is still under construction, however, so there may be much that is inaccessible.
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Free
Member
| Joined: | Wed Nov 28th, 2007 |
| Location: | Michigan USA |
| Posts: | 429 |
| First Name: | Jane | | Gender: | Female | | Faith History: | Presbyterian, Gnostic, non-denominational, Catholic |
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Posted: Tue Aug 12th, 2008 11:59 am |
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Michael, there is a three-volume paperback set called The Faith of the Early Fathers by William A. Jurgens. You can buy the volumes separately. The first volume includes the writings of the people David mentioned, plus excerpts from many others who were writing up through the 300's A.D. It includes excerpts from some of the Pope's encyclicals, and some writings from the Council of Nicaea. Since it is printed out in small segments, it would be easy for you to pick up and set down as you do your other schoolwork. I think you will be astounded, as I was, at how much was written and how much preserved from the writings of the very earliest Christians.
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NorthStar
Member
| Joined: | Sat Mar 15th, 2008 |
| Location: | Wisconsin USA |
| Posts: | 105 |
| First Name: | Chuck | | Gender: | Male | | Faith History: | Roman Catholic, Evangelical, Orthodox |
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Posted: Tue Aug 12th, 2008 10:27 pm |
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I'll double the recommendation of The Apostolic Fathers. I think it's the first book I read of actual Church father's writings. As for others, it depends on what you're looking to get into. Theology? Spirituality? Both?
St. John Chrysostom is a good Church father to read as he's fairly easy to understand, but honestly even though I'm Orthodox I've never completely "connected" with him for some reason. But a lot of people really find his stuff easy to read and understand. I also enjoyed Cyprian of Carthage, but he can be a little tough to follow out of context. St. Basil the Great would be one more who is fairly easy to comprehend. Again, it depends on what you're interested in, but Chrysostom, Basil the Great and Augustine cover pretty much everything.....
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