31-Gregory of Nyssa: Zero to Hero | Way of the Fathers with Mike Aquilina

Gregory of Nyssa was born into a family of high achievers. His brother was Basil the Great; his sister was Macrina the Younger. In Gregory’s young life, however, he was something of a black sheep. It’s not that he was a sinner or unbeliever, but he seemed to lack the holy ambition and drive that were characteristic of his older siblings. Basil often reprimanded him as a bumbler. But at Basil’s death Gregory came into his own and suddenly emerged a major player on the world scene-a master of spiritual and systematic theology, a leader at councils, a healer of divisions in the Church.
LINKS
Gregory Nazianzen, Letter 1, on his disappointment with Gregory of Nyssa
www.catholicculture.org/cultu...
Basil the Great, Letter 58, a reproach to Gregory his brother
www.catholicculture.org/cultu...
Gregory of Nyssa, Against Eunomius, Book 1 www.catholicculture.org/cultu...
Gregory of Nyssa, The Great Catechism www.catholicculture.org/cultu...
More works by the Fathers www.catholicculture.org/cultu...
Mike Aquilina’s website fathersofthechurch.com
Mike Aquilina's books catholicbooksdirect.com/write...
Theme music: Gaudeamus (Introit for the Feast of All Saints), sung by Jeff Ostrowski. Courtesy of Corpus Christi Watershed www.ccwatershed.org
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SOCIAL
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[@Jordan-hz1wr]

Don't forget he was one of the most famous Universalists of the early fathers. Very well done my friend!

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Thanks!

[@ceuser6119]

Thank you for this work. It gives good context for his life.

[@vroomvroomcarnong]

Thank you for this :) I enjoyed this and it was informative. Well narrated as well. Perhaps it would have been interesting to hear about Gregory and Macrina's universalist leanings (possibly contra Basil).

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Thanks, I'll pass that along to Mike as a suggestion for a possible episode once he gets done with the initial narrative season.

[@jessiesineath7702]

What are your thoughts on Universal redemption? I grew up in a Calvinist when I was young and it kinda tore me up. As I got older and wasn’t under the parents wing and my theology changed and mostly visited non denomination churches. Recently I’ve been reading a lot of books from writers in the Orthodox Church which is now i learned about Greggory of Nyssa. I see a lot of scripture that leads me to the hope of eventually redemption of ALL or atleast MOST..I’m very hopeful. I mean if it’s Christs will that all come to him, is his will not strong enough ?

[@fiveadayproductions987]

This series should have millions of views. So well put together! Would it be okay if I asked a tangential apologetics question I've been struggling with; if anybody at the Catholic Culture team have time to answer. I'll post it below.

[@fiveadayproductions987]

How does the supression of the Minor Orders by Pope. St. Paul VI keep with the Declarations of Trent (23rd Sess Can.2). Why didn't he incur the attached Anathema.
23rd Session
- Canon 2 "If anyone says that besides the priesthood there are not in the Catholic Church other orders, both major and minor, by which, as by certain steps, advance is made to the priesthood, let him be anathema."
I know at present Acolyte and Lector aren't properly 'minor orders' but 'ministries' but isn't the supression of the minor orders implicitly a denial of the Canon issued at Trent?
Is this because it is properly an authority of Church Discipline and not Faith/Morals. And only Holy Orders (i.e. Priesthood; Episcopate etc.) Are of Divine Constitution but Minor Orders merely Ecclesiastical Offices. If so what was the purpose of this Canon at Trent.
Thanks.

[@CatholicCulturePod]

I don't think any of us are qualified to answer this, but it may simply be a matter of discipline - that is, people at the time perhaps failed to recognize the legitimacy of the minor orders that existed at the time, not that those orders were being said to be a permanent divinely established part of Church structure. Thanks as always for your kind words about the show.

[@CatholicCulturePod]

It may also be a good example of how the old anathema approach didn't always result in as much clarity as some claim.

[@tallmikbcroft6937]

Thank you for sharing this. This is the most interesting family. 5 Saints? Or is it more? Anyway this is very cool thank you

[@benrollins1]

This is so well done! Really enjoyed this overview of Gregory. And the quality of the narration is fabulous.

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Thanks Ben! Glad you liked it.

[@AlexSCJ]

Is it possible you could add a reading list or links to the books you mentioned towards the end of the video?

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Did you see the links in the description?

[@cherryswirlchale9511]

Given the fact that the present Pope is a hopeful universalist as well as the two Popes before him, Gregory’s very obvious universalism should have been covered. Excellent video otherwise.

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Thanks! I'm not necessarily in agreement about labeling JPII thus, but maybe Mike will do an episode on universalism in the Fathers down the line.