Elementary Patrology: The Writings of the Fathers of the Church
Type
Book
Authors
Category
The Fathers
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Publication Year
1959
Publisher
B. Herder, United States
Pages
314
Description
Patrology has been an orphan among the theological sciences for many years. Only recently it has been generally reintroduced as a formal course in the curriculum of the seminaries of the United States.
Father Dirksen has written Elementary Patrology to introduce not only the seminarian but the general reader as well to the literary beauty and the theological wealth of the writings of the Greek and Latin fathers. He has endeavored to keep his book on a simple plane. Hence, there are no footnotes, no bibliography, and only a few foreign language quotations. When used as a textbook the professor of patrology can supply such of these he may judge to be helpful.
In its plan Elementary Patrology falls naturally into two divisions: the first section details the main currents of patristic literature and includes a survey of the most important writings. The second part is intended as a tool of ready reference with a compilation of the names and items in the writings of the fathers not discussed in the first part. An appendix provides a handy listing and appraisal of the lesser heresies of the Church.
The book is the product of many years spent in the study and teaching of patrology. It will benefit not only students in seminaries and universities but will be very helpful to priests and religious. Most priests candidly admit that patristic literature is a closed book to them - except for excerpts found in the breviary or in works of spirituality. Elementary Patrology will guide them easily to a better appreciation of the contributions of the pioneers in Christian theology.
Just as in home life the father is the mainstay and a person to be venerated, so in the life of the Church the "fathers" were the leaders and teachers of the early communities. Those fathers whose writings were pre-eminent and guaranteed by the teaching authority of the Church were given the title "doctor." Such were Sts. basil, Gregory of Nazianzen, and Chrysostom in the East; Sts. Hilary, Ambrose, and Augustine in the West. Eusebius and St. Jerome were the first historians of patrology. They wrote to refute pagan ridicule of Christian literature.
Today patrology is a powerful tool of Catholic theology. Protestants accuser the mother Church of infidelity to the teachings of the fathers and implicitly to the doctrine of Christ. Priests and layfolk feel that this is a canard, but cannot refute it because they lack familiarity with patristic teaching. Elementary Patrology supplies that want in its presentation of the role of the theological giants of early Christianity.
Taken from the inside flaps.
Father Dirksen has written Elementary Patrology to introduce not only the seminarian but the general reader as well to the literary beauty and the theological wealth of the writings of the Greek and Latin fathers. He has endeavored to keep his book on a simple plane. Hence, there are no footnotes, no bibliography, and only a few foreign language quotations. When used as a textbook the professor of patrology can supply such of these he may judge to be helpful.
In its plan Elementary Patrology falls naturally into two divisions: the first section details the main currents of patristic literature and includes a survey of the most important writings. The second part is intended as a tool of ready reference with a compilation of the names and items in the writings of the fathers not discussed in the first part. An appendix provides a handy listing and appraisal of the lesser heresies of the Church.
The book is the product of many years spent in the study and teaching of patrology. It will benefit not only students in seminaries and universities but will be very helpful to priests and religious. Most priests candidly admit that patristic literature is a closed book to them - except for excerpts found in the breviary or in works of spirituality. Elementary Patrology will guide them easily to a better appreciation of the contributions of the pioneers in Christian theology.
Just as in home life the father is the mainstay and a person to be venerated, so in the life of the Church the "fathers" were the leaders and teachers of the early communities. Those fathers whose writings were pre-eminent and guaranteed by the teaching authority of the Church were given the title "doctor." Such were Sts. basil, Gregory of Nazianzen, and Chrysostom in the East; Sts. Hilary, Ambrose, and Augustine in the West. Eusebius and St. Jerome were the first historians of patrology. They wrote to refute pagan ridicule of Christian literature.
Today patrology is a powerful tool of Catholic theology. Protestants accuser the mother Church of infidelity to the teachings of the fathers and implicitly to the doctrine of Christ. Priests and layfolk feel that this is a canard, but cannot refute it because they lack familiarity with patristic teaching. Elementary Patrology supplies that want in its presentation of the role of the theological giants of early Christianity.
Taken from the inside flaps.
Number of Copies
1
