St. Athanasius, Patriarch of Alexandria, Doctor of the Church, A.D. 373.
by VP
Posted on Saturday May 02, 2026 at 12:00AM in Saints
Saint Athanasius. By Francesco Bartolozzi after Domenichino.
"ST. ATHANASIUS governed the Church of Alexandria fortysix years, eminent for sanctity, and for his zeal in defence of the Catholic faith. Pray for all the prelates of Christ's Church, that in virtue and zeal they may follow the steps of this holy bishop, and not let vice or errors grow up, through their neglect. Pray likewise for that unhappy people of Alexandria, who having renounced their faith in Christ, have for so many ages been disciples of Mahomet. Pray for all Christian nations, that they may not draw down the like judgment on their heads, by their wickedness, and have their contempt of God's law punished with a general blindness.
St. Athanasius suffered the persecution of many years from the malice of the Arians, by whose false accusations he was often forced into banishment, and obliged to the confinement of caves for shelter against their wicked designs. It is almost impossible to conceive the storms that were raised against him, and with how many calamities he was oppressed: and it is difficult to apprehend that great constancy and truly Christian courage, with which he stood out to the end under such variety of evils; over all which he triumphed by zeal and patience, and at length ended his days in peace, dying in his bed at Alexandria, in the year 373, under the Emperor Valens.
Pray for a like courage under all trials; and remember that virtue is no security against persecution. Happy are you, if you have no other persecutions, but what virtue draws upon you. If you desire to be proof against the greatest storms, practice your courage in those lesser ones which daily happen. See that ordinary contradictions destroy not your inward peace, nor put you on making complaints, or unnecessary apologies in your own defence, much less on engaging in contentions on this account. It is much better to be unconcerned at these petty oppositions, than solicitous about them; for such solicitude is but the argument of your impatience and self-love. Thus prepare for greater trials, and call in God to your assistance." The Catholic Year by Rev. Fr. John Gother
Letter 19: "6. Like these too, are the heretics, who, having fallen from true discernment, dare to invent to themselves atheism. "For the fool says in his heart, There is no God. They are corrupt, and become abominable in their doings." Of such as are fools in their thoughts, the actions are wicked, as He says, "can you, being evil, speak good things (Matthew 12:34);" for they were evil, because they thought wickedness. Or how can those do just acts, whose minds are set upon fraud? Or how shall he love, who is prepared beforehand to hate? How shall he be merciful, who is bent upon the love of money? How shall he be chaste, who looks upon a woman to lust after her? "For from the heart proceed evil thoughts, fornications, adulteries, murders. "By them the fool is wrecked, as by the waves of the sea, being led away and enticed by his fleshly pleasures; for this stands written, "'All flesh of fools is greatly tempest-tossed." While he associates with folly, he is tossed by a tempest, and perishes, as Solomon says in the Proverbs, "The fool and he who lacks understanding shall perish together, and shall leave their wealth to strangers." Now they suffer such things, because there is not among them one sound of mind to guide them. For where there is sagacity, there the Word, who is the Pilot of souls, is with the vessel; "for he that has understanding shall possess guidance ;" but they who are without guidance fall like the leaves. Who has so completely fallen away as Hymenæus and Philetus, who held evil opinions respecting the resurrection, and concerning faith in it suffered shipwreck? And Judas being a traitor, fell away from the Pilot, and perished with the Jews. But the disciples since they were wise, and therefore remained with the Lord, although the sea was agitated, and the ship covered with the waves, for there was a storm, and the wind was contrary, yet fell not away. For they awoke the Word, Who was sailing with them , and immediately the sea became smooth at the command of its Lord, and they were saved. They became preachers and teachers at the same time; relating the miracles of our Saviour, and teaching us also to imitate their example. These things were written on our account and for our profit, so that through these signs we may acknowledge the Lord Who wrought them." Source: New Advent, Letter 19, St. Athanasius
THE SYMBOL, or Creed of St. Athanasius:
WHOSOEVER will be saved: before all things it is necessary that he hold the Catholic Faith.
Which Faith, except everyone shall have kept whole and inviolate, without doubt he shall perish everlastingly.
Now the Catholic Faith is this: that we worship one God in Trinity, and Trinity in Unity.
Neither confounding the Persons, nor dividing the substance.
For there is one Person of the Father, another of the Son, and another of the Holy Ghost.
But the Godhead of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, is one: the glory equal, the majesty co-eternal.
Such as the Father is, such is the Son, and such is the Holy Ghost.
The Father is uncreated, the Son uncreated, and the Holy Ghost uncreated.
The Father is incomprehensible, the Son is incomprehensible, and the Holy Ghost is incomprehensible. The Father is eternal, the Son is eternal, and the Holy
Ghost is eternal.
And yet they are not three Eternals, but One Eternal.
As neither are there three Uncreated, nor three Incomprehensibles; but One Uncreated, and One Incomprehensible.
In like manner the Father is Almighty, the Son is Almighty, and the Holy Ghost is Almighty.
And yet they are not three Almighties, but one Almighty.
So the Father is God, the Son is God, and the Holy Ghost is God; and yet they are not three Gods, but One God.
So likewise the Father is Lord, the Son is Lord, and the Holy Ghost is Lord; and yet they are not three Lords, but One Lord.
For like as we are compelled by the Christian truth to acknowledge every Person severally to be God and Lord:
So we are forbidden by the Catholic religion to say there are three Gods, or three Lords.
The Father is made of no one, neither created, nor begotten.
The Son is of the Father alone: not made, nor created, but begotten.
The Holy Ghost is of the Father and of the Son, not made, nor created, nor begotten, but Proceeding.
So there is One Father, not three Fathers; One Son, not three Sons; and One Holy Ghost, not three Holy Ghosts.
And in this Trinity there is nothing before or after, nothing greater or less; but the whole three Persons are Co-eternal together, and Co-equal.
So that in all things, as is aforesaid: the Unity is to be worshiped in Trinity, and the Trinity in Unity. He, therefore, who will be saved, must thus think of the Trinity.
Furthermore, it is necessary to everlasting salvation, that he also believe rightly the incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ.
Now, the right faith is, that we believe and confess : that our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of God, is both God and Man.
He is God of the substance of His Father, begotten before the world; and He is Man of the substance of His Mother, born in the world:
Perfect God and Perfect Man; subsisting of a rational soul and human flesh
Equal to the Father according to his Godhead; and less than the Father according to his Manhood.
Who, although He be both God and man, yet He is not two, but One Christ.
One, not by the conversion of the Godhead into flesh, but by the taking of the manhood into God.
One altogether, not by confusion of Substance, but by unity of Person.
For as the rational soul and the body is one man, so God and Man is One Christ.
Who suffered for our salvation; descended into hell; rose again the third day from the dead;
He ascended into heaven; sitteth at the right hand of God the Father Almighty; from thence He shall come to judge the living and the dead.
At whose coming all men shall rise again with their bodies, and shall give an account of their own works. And they that have done good shall go into life
everlasting ting; but they that have done evil, into everlasting fire.
This is the Catholic Faith, which, except everyone shall have firmly and faithfully believed, he cannot be saved.
Glory be to the Father, &c.
The Augustinian Prayer Manual, 1882, p 321
