Growing up and raised Catholic, there are many things I take for granted about the faith. Even when attending Catholic school it can be hard to live out your faith due to fear of ridicule and social persecution.
Over the years I’ve heard homilies and talks about how we are called as Catholics to evangelize. To proclaim the Good News, to lead others to Christ; to share the truth. But how is one supposed to confidently evangelize when the truth around them seems to be skewed? When some of your Catholic teachers can’t answer basic faith questions or don’t practice the faith? When your fellow peers who grew up Catholic don’t believe. When other Catholics say they see the Eucharist more of a symbolic representation, rather than the actual body of Christ.
It can be discouraging to stand up for the faith. It can be a challenge when most of your life you have accepted and assumed things about Catholicism. It’s hard if you’re not properly equipped with the knowledge to debate or the words to explain.
St. Athanasius stood up for what he believed in, he stood up for the truth, even when most stood against him. St. Athanasius was a bishop in Alexandria, Egypt during the fourth century. Many of the priest and bishops during his time misguidedly believed in Arianism. That is to say they regarded Jesus as an elevated human being, God’s highest created creature, but not a truly divine being. They did not recognize Jesus’ true divinity.
There was a divide among the bishops and priest on this matter. Many, about 3/4th of the clergy believed in Arianism, leaving only about 1/4th of whom believed in Jesus’ true divinity. It resulted in many fights, not just verbal debates, but physical brawls. One other saint who was there to throw down in defense of Jesus’ divinity was St.Nicholas (a.k.a. Santa Claus). It was during this time that the First Ecumenical Council was held. Out of it came the Nicene Creed, which professes and made clear Jesus’s divinity;
“…I believe in one Lord Jesus Christ,
the Only Begotten Son of God,
born of the Father before all ages.
God from God, Light from Light,
true God from true God,
begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father…”
Despite what came out of the council, there was still a divide among the clergy. Many still followed Arianism and were against St. Athanasius who dedicated his time fighting against Arianism. They persecuted him for upholding his beliefs. He was sent to exile, multiple times, based on false claims made against him in attempts to get rid of him. One of the things that St.Athanasius did however, was call the pope at the time out on the matter. Urging him that he must take a stance, grow a back bone and do something about the heresy happening within the Church. Among all levels of the clergy St.Athanasius stood his ground.
One of many things we can learn from St.Athanasius is that faith without action is dead. Once you know the Truth, it is not only your duty to share it, but it’s your obligation to keep it true and defend it. To not bend or skew it in any way, shape or form. There are no grey areas when it comes to Jesus’ divinity. There is no grey area when it comes to the Holy Trinity. Likewise there is no grey area when it comes to the sacrament of the Eucharist. It is not a symbol, it is the actual body of Christ.
I know the Church’s history is not perfect. It’s not perfect even today.
As His Eminence Cardinal Collins once said, show me a religion without blemishes and faults. Show me a religion that is perfect. When you find it, let me know. Because it won’t be held by humans. Humans are imperfect beings.
Man, no matter what his beliefs, cannot take away what God is and ever will be.
Although his feast day was earlier this week on May 2nd, I pray for St. Athanasius’ intercession, that we may have the courage to continuously seek and defend the truth. To take a stand, even if it means persecution in any form.
In Christ,
Meagan Webb