The Fathers of the Church, Expanded Edition (Paperback)

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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An ideal introduction to the early history of the Church" -- Homiletic and Pastoral Review

"Reading this book, one grows more Catholic by the page. It will surely be a classic." -- Scott Hahn, Ph.D.,Pope Benedict XVI Chair in Biblical Theology and Liturgical Proclamation, St. Vincent Seminary, Latrobe, Pa.

"Simply a great read... a clear, compelling, accessible primer that's a gem of readability for a popular audience. I highly recommend it." -- Archbishop Charles Chaput

Product Description

The Fathers of the Church, first published a decade ago, has become the standard popular introduction to the great teachers of early Christianity. Now, this new edition presents more material from more of the Fathers -- including authors from little-known traditions of Egypt, East Syria, North Africa, and the lands that make up modern Iran and Iraq. Also new with this edition is a section on selected "Mothers of the Church," holy women from Christian antiquity.

This expanded edition features full references and citations, a topical index, detailed bibliography, and ancient texts available in English for the first time in more than a century.

The Fathers of the Church is an excellent place to pass on those same teachings and traditions -- long established as an indispensable reference tool for clergy, seminarians, RCIA candidates, and lay Catholics who want to strive to live up to the "Faith of Our Fathers."

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Product Details

• Paperback: 289 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor; Expanded edition (October 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 159276245X
• ISBN-13: 978-1592762453
• Product Dimensions: 7.7 x 5.2 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (21 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #38,852 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 49 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A standard text on the Church Fathers, October 20, 2007

By	Matthew E. Bunson (Indiana) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mike Aquilina's The Father of the Church was originally published in 1999 and became an instant classic and an essential text for the average reader seeking the critical writings, contributions, and lives of the Church's earliest theologians and defenders. With the release of an expanded edition of The Fathers of the Church, Aquilina, my friend and colleague, re-confirms the place of his work as a must-read, not just for Latin-rite Catholics but for all Christians eager to learn more about the early history of Christianity and the first great minds who articulated the truths of the Faith.

Aquilina offers an eminently accessible approach to the often intimidating and complex theological arguments and controversies so daunting for the average reader. The key to his success is expressed well by the author himself in his Introduction in which he describes the first Christian centuries as more than a "succession of creeds, councils, persecutions, and heresies." Rather, he correctly sees it more fully as the history of a family, and the book details "how the Fathers of that family strove to keep their household together, to preserve the family's patrimony, to teach and discipline their children, and to protect the family from danger."

Aquilina's coverage of each Father includes colorful and entertaining accounts of their lives, along with easy to follow summaries of their teachings, and extensive excerpts of their writings to provide a glimpse into their thoughts, priorities, and literary styles. For a relatively short book of 280 plus pages, he includes a stunning amount of material but never overwhelms the reader.

Especially significant are the inclusion of all of the Church Fathers, both East and West, and the chapter on "The World of the Fathers." The latter is an invaluable primer in early Christian history.

Aquilina should be congratulated for his willingness to update and expand a book that had already earned lasting fame. Like the original, the new edition should find itself a place swiftly in the library of any serious student of patristics.

31 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Chriatianity is older than you think, September 6, 2007

By	Michael L. Russo - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

For many people, there is a gap between the time of Jesus and the time of Constantine. The gap between 30A.D and 313A.D. is rich with information about the roots of Christianity. Reading the Church Fathers helps one to understand the structure of the church as well as the deep love and devotion that the early Christians shared.

21 of 23 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The Chain of Unbroken teaching, October 23, 2007

By	Judith A. Watson - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Mike Aquilina writes an easy to read and engaging account of the early Church Fathers, both the Latin and the Greek. He illustrates that there was no gap in the teachings handed down by Jesus to His apostles and then to their followers, to this present day. He shows how the Church has been a family from the time Jesus established it, with the head of the family being recognized as the bishop of Rome, as successor to the prince of the apostles, Peter. In reading this book, we learn how the Church Fathers identified what it means to be a Christian, how a Christian should worship and how a Christian should live. We learn how these very human men were guided by the Holy Spirit to define what the Gospel of Jesus Christ truly says. He tells us who the Fathers are, then lets us read their words. This is a book that any student of Christianity should read.