30-Gregory Nazianzen: Greatness in the Passive Voice | Way of the Fathers with Mike Aquilina

All Gregory wanted was a quiet place where he could relax with his books and a few close friends. From young adulthood he believed God was calling him to the contemplative life, and to old age he never lost that sense. But history kept dragging him into its current. First, his father (a bishop) coerced him into ordination to the priesthood. Then his closest friend, Basil the Great, pressured him to be ordained a bishop. Both times he put up little resistance, but later resented the actions as violence. Both times he eventually fled the demands of his office. Later he was persuaded to lead the Nicene faction in the capital city of the empire. Eventually he became bishop there and led the second ecumenical council in 380. Before the council was over he resigned and resumed his monastic retreat back home. Along the way he wrote the most compelling and complete Trinitarian theology of his time-and reams of great poetry.
LINKS
Gregory Nazianzen, Epistle 150 (on dogmatic questions) www.catholicculture.org/cultu...
Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 2 (on his flight from priesthood) www.catholicculture.org/cultu...
Gregory Nazianzen, Oration 27: The First Theological Oration (on the duties of the theologian) www.catholicculture.org/cultu...
John Henry Newman, “Basil and Gregory” www.newmanreader.org/works/hi...
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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[@tallmikbcroft6937]

I'm reading St Gregory the Theologian. It continues to catch me of guard how he is not afraid to call people Stiupid.
In the a East, St Symion is also called The New Theologian. I have found his writing beneficial. Especially the prayers.
Great show

[@fiveadayproductions987]

Awesome work as usual by Mike Aquilina, truly a gift to the Church. Could I ask do you guys have any series going through General Church History? Something along the lines of Warren Carroll's 7-Volume History of Christendom Series? God Bless and thank you for all your hard work!

[@CatholicCulturePod]

We don't, unfortunately. And Mike's forte is the early Church. I can see attempting it eventually but it would be a far more complex and long term project than just the Fathers figure by figure.

[@hughmungus9739]

Excellent! I really hope this series has a sequel exploring Medieval Theology/Philosophy (my favourite time period) Out of curiosity do you have any works covering St. Bonaventure?

[@CatholicCulturePod]

Nothing on Bonaventure in audio form, but in our library we do have some documents. www.catholicculture.org/search/searchResults.cfm?querynum=1&searchid=2078378&page=1&showcount=10
Also, we are considering recording one of his works for our Catholic Culture Audiobooks podcast.

[@LostArchivist]

Ah yes a reluctant hero.