Saint of the day June 28: Saint Irenaeus. Catholic Saints

Every June 28, the Catholic Church celebrates Saint Irenaeus, Father of the Church, bishop of the French city of Lyon and one of the most important figures of the first centuries of Christianity. Irenaeus was a prolific author, and his works helped lay the foundations of theology, largely as part of the effort to confront and correct the errors of second-century Gnosticism, as well as other doctrines that distorted the message of Christ.

Irenaeus was a disciple of Saint Polycarp, who in turn was a disciple of the Apostle Saint John.

His main writing is named after Against heresiesa text that compiles the refutations of the main Gnostic theses in five volumes.

Gnosis and Gnosticism of the 2nd century

Gnosticism is a very ancient heresy that states, in general terms, that the salvation of the soul is obtained through a certain “knowledge”, coming from the mixture of various doctrines, traditions and religious beliefs – in which truths of Christianity are included. – about the mysteries of the universe and human nature. Based on this amalgam, Gnosticism encourages achieving perfection, but on the basis of positions that are, deep down, clearly incompatible or contradictory. The Gnostics attempted to improperly “articulate” a path of perfection without the true God, without authentic conversion of the mind and heart, and, furthermore, in the midst of their error, they relegated all those considered “uninitiated”; much like the New Age movements (New Age) have been operating in recent decades.

Pope Benedict XVI, in his catechesis on Saint Irenaeus on March 28, 2007, recalled the particularities of the Gnosticism that this saint knew: “The Church of the second century was threatened by the gnosis, a doctrine that affirmed that the faith taught by the Church was nothing more than a symbolism for the simple, who cannot understand difficult things; On the contrary, the initiated, the intellectuals—they were called “gnostics”—would understand what was hidden behind those symbols and thus form an elite, intellectualist Christianity.” Irenaeus denounced this “dualistic Christianity” contaminated by division – “initiates” versus “laymen” – and dangerous for the unity of the Church around the truth that had been entrusted to it.

Heir of the Apostles

Saint Irenaeus was born in Asia Minor in the first half of the 2nd century. The exact date of his birth is unknown, but it is agreed that it was around the year 125. He received a careful education and achieved a great knowledge of the Holy Scriptures and the knowledge of his time, focused on philosophical research. . Saint Polycarp, bishop of Smyrna, was his teacher and trainer.

We know his life and work thanks to the biographical notes transmitted by Eusebius of Caesarea in the fifth book of his ecclesiastical historywhose source is Irenaeus himself.

There is no complete certainty as to how or why he left Asia Minor and arrived in Gaul (France). There is certainty, yes, that he was there as a priest. During the persecution of Marcus Aurelius, he was sent with a letter for the Pope to Rome, so he probably escaped execution like many others. After the martyrdom of Saint Pothinus, bishop of Lyon, Irenaeus succeeded him as bishop of the city.

As a pastor his work was notable. He proposed two things: “To defend the true doctrine from the attacks of heretics and to clearly expose the truths of the faith” (Pope Benedict XVI, audience of March 28, 2007).

eminent theologian

During the religious peace that followed the persecution of Marcus Aurelius, the bishop divided his efforts between the episcopal see and his work as a Christian intellectual. Two of his great works have come into our hands: Against heresies y The exposition of apostolic preaching. Especially, the latter can be considered a kind of first catechism of Christian doctrine. In the same sense, the contribution of the saint has been crucial for the establishment and delimitation of the so-called “rule of faith” – what is expressed in the symbol of faith or Creed – and its transmission, the center of the doctrine of church.

The tradition of the Church counts him among the martyrs.

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If you want to know more about Saint Irenaeus of Lyon, we recommend the following article from the Catholic Encyclopedia: https://ec.aciprensa.com/wiki/San_Ireneo.

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