Mike Aquilina
Print Article
Holy Thursday
Posted by Mike Aquilina on 04.21.11 |Eucharist, Holy Thursday, Last Supper
Whether you hold, with some Syriac Fathers, that Christ instituted the Eucharist on Tuesday — or, with the Western tradition, that He instituted it on Thursday — today, Holy Thursday, is the day the Catholic Church remembers the event liturgically. I’m about to leave with my kids for the Chrism Mass in my diocese. It’s a great sight for children to see every year: all the priests of the local Church… [Continue Reading]
Out of Africa
Posted by Mike Aquilina on 03.07.11 |
For St. Perpetua’s day, visit early Christian Africa—in one of the earliest posts on my blog.
Carthage, the cosmopolitan port city of ancient North Africa, had a thriving economy, a lively culture, and no small influence in world affairs. Christianity reached the Roman province of “New Africa” no later than the mid-second century, and possibly much earlier. From that time through the rest of the age… [Continue Reading]
St. Polycarp, bishop and martyr (c. 155)
Posted by Mike Aquilina on 02.23.11 |Bishop, Father of the Church, Feast Day, Martyr, St. Polycarp
Today is the memorial of St. Polycarp of Smyrna who was martyred in 155AD. In this interview, Patristics scholar and St. Paul Center vice president, Mike Aquilina, discusses the life and legacy of this important early witness to the faith of the Apostles.Audio File
The Petrine Principal
Posted by Mike Aquilina on 02.22.11 |
Feast of the Chair of St. Peter
The New Testament bears ample testimony to the ancient faith of the Roman Christians. Rome marks the final destination of the Acts of the Apostles. Rome was the postal address of the first of St. Paul’s canonical letters.
And the ancient Romans treasured their heritage. They knew, with unerring Christian instinct, what the African Tertullian would say so eloquently… [Continue Reading]
Newman at First Things'
Posted by Mike Aquilina on 02.21.11 |
My co-author Fr. Juan Velez is talking up Blessed John Henry Newman at First Things’ blog! (Our book is TAKE FIVE WITH JOHN HENRY NEWMAN.)
John Henry Newman, Oxford scholar and famous English convert to Catholicism (1801–1890), whose birthday we celebrate today, is acknowledged by most for his English prose, his lofty ideas on university education and his writings on development of Christian doctrine.… [Continue Reading]
Agnes Day
Posted by Mike Aquilina on 01.21.11 |
Today’s saint, Agnes of Rome, is long overdue for a revival. Why? She was probably the most revered female martyr of the early Church — outstanding in a field that included Blandina and Perpetua, among others. St. Jerome was not a man easily impressed, but of today’s saint, his near-contemporary, he wrote: “Every people, whatever their tongue, praise the name of Saint Agnes.” Prudentius wrote a long… [Continue Reading]
The Great St. Ambrose
Posted by Mike Aquilina on 12.07.10 |
Today is the memorial of the great St. Ambrose. Bishop of Milan, friend of Augustine and Monica, great teacher of the Milanese clergy, and great mystagogue for the laity, Ambrose is one of my favorite figures from the era of the Fathers. From the first post on this blog, I’ve returned to him again and again (sometimes in friendly disagreement with Adrian Murdoch, esteemed fellow of the Royal Historical… [Continue Reading]
St. Nicholas Day
Posted by Mike Aquilina on 12.06.10 |
Happy St. Nicholas Day! My friend Carl Sommer worked on a graphic novel for the occasion, and you can view it in its entirety online at Catholic Heroes of the Faith.
Here’s my take on ol’ St. Nick — as a patron of a particular kind of ecumenical dialogue.
There’s a certain kind of Catholic who likes nothing more than a good inter-Christian tussle. Their model, among the ancient Christians, is no doubt… [Continue Reading]
