Customer Reviews

Church Fathers: From Clement of Rome to Augustine

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Ignatius Press' collection of the Holy Father's Wednesday audience addresses on the Church Fathers is a must-have for anyone interested in early Church history. Picking up where he left off with the Apostles, Pope Benedict spent 2007 and 2008 explaining the role of these early leaders in resolving doctrinal controversies and shepherding their flocks. For instance, the lead address explains how Pope St. Clement, the third successor to the papacy who reigned at the end of the first century, spoke with authority to the church in Corinth. Thus early on in the life the Church, the Bishop of Rome exercised primacy over neighboring communities. These brief biographical sketches also offer critical lessons for today. We learn that according to St. Ambrose, a mentor to St. Augustine, "catechesis is inseparable from witness of life." In other words, those who are charged with teaching the faith must practice what they preach. It is worth pointing out what an elegant, well-made book Ignatius Press has produced. The hardcover edition features a tightly bound spine, quality paper, and an attractive dust-jacket design. Even at the $15 list price, this book is a bargain.

This is a great book for those who want a synthesized version of the early Church fathers. Even after having read some of the old, "original" writing of these great giants of the early, Catholic church, I found this offering a quality insight into who they were and how they have become pillars of the Church. The chapters are short but Pope Benedict gives you enough of the important information that should serve your need for knowledge and might provoke you into looking a little deeper. I don't have to encourage you if you are already considering this book as you probably already have your act together. I find the Holy Father an excellent communicator and this book is another in this series that is well written and instructive while not being a bore!

Pope Benedict XVI has recently published an excellent book on The Church Fathers: From Clement of Rome to Augustine. If you want to know why the early Fathers of the Church are so important to Christianity, then please read this book. Pope Benedict presents in a concise and user-friendly way the insights of these early theologians and portrays the vibrancy of the life of the early Church. I recommend this book as a good introduction to some of the most famous writings from the early days of the Church's life.

As with all of Pope Benedict's writings, he presents his subject in a scholarly, but clear and very readable fashion. This book is very helpful for those wanting a basic understanding of these Church Fathers.

This is a new book by Pope Benedict. I highly recommend it to anyone who seeks to expand their knowledge about the church and the early fathers.

Once again Pope Benedict XVI presents us with a close-up look at the Church Fathers. His insight into their contributions to the Church and Christianity in general gives the reader a better under-standing of what is behind Church teaching and how the process came about.
Excellent reading. I recommend it.

Very informative; encyclopedic yet cohesive; a scholarly survey with popular appeal; some of the Fathers that we have known in name only suddenly become real!

An overview of the early fathers of the Catholic Church is concise and easy to read and understand.

I love this book. The early church fathers were martyrs to the faith we all hold dear. We owe them so much. The Holy Father has written an inspiring teaching.