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120.1
First Point
Saint
Athanasius was one of the principal defenders of the Church
against
Arius and those of his sect, who denied the divinity of
Jesus Christ, and he always opposed them and silenced them
everywhere
by the holiness of his life, by the wisdom of his
conduct, and by his excellent writings. Even before he was made a
Bishop he attended the Council of Nicea, where he displayed his
deep learning and opposed Arius so forcefully that he proved to him as well as all the others present that his teaching
was false and heretical.
Throughout the years of his episcopate he always
fought all the partisans of this heretic.
Though you do not have
sufficient learning to defend the
Church against heretics, you are obliged in your ministry to have enough
learning to teach the children in your care the good
and sound doctrine of the Church. Is one of your main concerns, then, to instruct yourself concerning these teachings and to
possess them well? God will ask you to give an account of this
responsibility. Failure in this would make you unworthy of your
state.
120.2
Second Point
The Arians always looked upon Saint Athanasius as their enemy
and always opposed him, first at his election, which they tried
their best to prevent, because they could not tolerate that the one who had so strongly opposed their leader might be
in a position to halt
the progress of their heresy. This he would
quite easily be able to do clothed with the authority of a
Bishop, and especially as Patriarch of Alexandria.
It is impossible to work for the destruction of
erroneous teaching without gaining the enmity of those who
maintain it. If no heretics oppose you because there are perhaps
none in the places where you teach, still you can be sure that as long as you have a solid piety and keep your distance from
the world, dissolute
and worldly people will speak out against you.
But just as Saint Athanasius always had God as his protector, do
not doubt that he will take your side and will be your defender.
120.3 Third Point
It is a surprising thing how far the enemies of Saint Athanasius
carried their anger against him. There were no calumnies,
injuries, deceptions, persecutions, evil treatments, and
tribulations that the Arians did not try to use in order to
destroy him. They accused him of all kinds of crimes, murder,
violence, injustice, but all these charges were completely and publicly
dismissed in the presence of his accusers, who were put to shame because
of all their lies.
Be ready to endure injuries, outrages and calumnies in return for
all the good you have tried to do for others.[i]
This is the main reward that God promises in this world and often the
only one we receive from the poor in compensation for the good
we do for them. Prepare your heart
to accept these trials with love.
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