From the eleventh Sunday after Pentecost to the twenty-fourth and last Sunday after Pentecost

508 Pages·1963·25.33 MB·English

by  Toal

THE SUNDAY SERMONS OF
THE GREAT FATHERS
VOLUME FOUR
DR ToAL's work contains what is in effect the spiritual inheritance of every
Christian. The four volumes correspond with the main divisions of the Church's
year and offer, in English and in relation to the gospel for each Sunday and
greater festival or feast, an appropriate choice of sermons, given in person in the
early centuries by the Great Fathers and Doctors of the Church to their faithful
congregations-men and women who clearly faced many of the same problems
as we do today.
The Fathers handed on and enriched a tradition which derives from the
foundation of the Church. Their thoughts and teaching on the liturgical gospels
cannot fail to add clarity and depth to any reader's understanding of these key
passages from holy scripture; and this treasury of their commentaries will
above all be of constant help to those whose work it is to preach and expound
the gospel.
This fourth volume covers the period from the Eleventh Sunday after
Pentecost to the Twenty-fourth and Last Sunday after Pentecost. The two for­
mats (large and small) in which it is issued are identical with the previous
volumes which cover Advent to Quinquagesima; Lent to the Sunday after
the Ascension; and Pentecost to the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost.
Volume One: From the First Sunday of Advent to Quinquagesima
Volume Two: From the First Sunday in Lent to the Sunday after the Ascension
Volume Three: From Pentecost to the Tenth Sunday after Pentecost
Volume Four: From the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost to the Twenty-fourth
and Last Sunday after Pentecost
Theologis semper rcdeundum esse ad divinae rcvelatio11is
fontcs, ... q11i in Sacris Litteris et ill Divina Traditione
iuve11ia11t11r.
"Those whose task it is to teach the word of God must
ever have recourse to the sources of divine revelation;
which are found in Sacred Scripture and in Divine
Tradition."
Pope Pius XII, Encyclical, Huma11i Ge11eris
12 August 1950
Nova sane rubricarum dispositione Brevarii, Olfici11m Divi
num paulisper contrahitur; intuitu praesertim multormn
sacerdotum, qui in dies magis magisque pastoralibus sollici
tudinibus onerantur.
C11m porro lcctio quoque sanctorum Patrum aliquantisper
quandoque mitluatur, omnes enixe clericos hortamur, ut
vol11mi11a Patrum, tanta sapic11tia ac pietate referta, assidue
prae ma11ibus lege11da ac meditanda te11ca11t.
"As a consequence of this new ordering of the rubrics of
the Breviary, the Divine Office has now been slightly
shortened; principally out of consideration for the many
priests who more and more each day are burthcned with
pastoral cares.
"And since furthermore the Lessons taken from the holv
Fathers are also, at times, somewhat shortened, W~
earnestly exhort all clerics to have hy them the volumes
of the Fathers, filled as they are with such wisdom and
piety, for regular reading and meditation."
Pope John XXIII, Motu Proprio, Rubricarum It1stmct111n
25 July 1960
THE
SUNDAY SERMONS
OF THE GREAT
FATHERS
A Manual of Preaching, Spiritual Reading
and Meditation
VOLUME FOUR
From the Eleventh Sunday after Pentecost
to the Twenty{ourth and Last Sunday
after Pentecost
TRANSLATED AND EDITED BY
M. F. TOAL, D.D.
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@ REV. M. F. TOAL, D.D., r963
First published z963
Third Printing, r964
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IMPRIM.\TUR: E. MORROGH BERNARD, VIC. GEN. WESTMONAS
TERll, DIE 13TH .JUNII 1962. THE NIHIL OBSTAT AND IM
PRIMATUR ARE A DECLARATION THAT A BOOK OR PAMPHLET
IS CONSIDERED TO BE FREE FROM DOCTRl!'.AL OR MORAL
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DANIELi · MANNIX
MELBOURNENSIUM · ARCHIEPISCOPO
VIRO · PRAECLARO · PASTORI · INDEFATIGATO
CHRISTI· CAUSA · PEREGRINO
ORDINARIO · SUO · VENERATISSIMO
HOC· OPUS· OLIM · INCHOATUM
IPSI · FAVENTI · ET · ADJUV ANTI
NUNC · DEI · MUNERE ·AD· FINEM · PERDUCTUM
AUCTOR
PIO · DEDITOQUE · ANIMO
DI CAT

FOREWORD
TO THE FIRST VOLUME
THE author of the present work has had as his purpose to put into the hands of
his fellow priests material of incomparable value, in a form easy of access, with
a view to aiding them in the sacred ministry of preaching. This apostolic
ministry is the one on which all else depends in the mission of the Church for
the salvation of souls.
A large portion of it will always consist in homilies on the Gospels of the
Sundays and Principal Feasts. Father Toal, in this first volume, has in view
this sector of the preacher's work. For the Gospel of each Sunday and Feast
he has brought together from the most reliable sources, and translated, all that
he thought to be best and most useful in the homilies and expositions of the
Fathers and of the Angel of the Schools.
Nothing more suited to his noble purpose could be conceived. The word of
God contained in Scripture, and especially in the Gospels, has been given to the
Church for the instruction of men. Sacred Tradition guided by the Spirit of
God has expounded it in the writings of the Holy Fathers and Doctors.
Father Toal has placed in the easiest possible reach of the busy priest this
treasure house of sacred lore, this quintessence of the doctrine of Tradition on
each Gospel. What he supplies may, of course, not be all that may be usefully
known in relation to it, but it is, and by long odds, the most important thing.
A sennon well prepared on the matter here supplied cannot fail to be learned,
solid, simple and effective.
What more can be said in praise of the utility of Father Toal's contribution?
We shall all be grateful to him, and his reward will indeed be great (Mt. v. 12.)
MICHAEL BROWNE, O.P.
(Now Cardillal Michael Browne
Vatica11 Pormerly Master of the Sacred
24 November 1954 Apostolic Palace)
Vll

REFERENCE LIST OF
DOCTORS AND FATHERS IN THIS WORK
The Four Great Doctors of the East
I. St Basil the Great, Archbishop of Caesarea. A.D. 330-379.
t
2. St Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria. 444.
3. St Gregory Nazianzen, Patriarch of Constantinople. 329-390.
4. St John Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople. 354-407.
Tlze Four Great Doctors of the West
I. St Ambrose, Bishop of Milan. 339-397.
2. St Augustine, Bishop of Hippo. 354-430.
3. St Gregory the Great, Pope. 540-604.
4. St Jerome, Priest. 347-420.
Fathers, Doctors, Ecclesiastical Writers (Theologians and Scriptural Commentators)
t
I. Acacius, St, Bishop of Mclitene. 449.
2. Adclmus (Aldhclm), St, Abbot of Malmesbury, Bishop of Sherborne.
t109.
3. Aelred, Abbot ofRievaulx, homilist, historian. n09-n66.
4. Alcuin Albin of York, Deacon; educator. 735-804.
t
5. Avitus (Alcimus), St, Bishop ofVienne. c. 494.
6. Alexander, Monk, historian. Late fourth century.
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7. Ambrosius Autpertus, Abbot ofVolturnius. c. 778.
8. Amedeus, Bishop of Lausanne. Early twelfth century.
9. Ammonius, Monk of Alexandria. Late fifth century.
IO. Amphilochius, St, Bishop of Iconium. 339-400.
II. Anastasius Romanus, Abbot. Late nintht century.
12. Anastasius, St, Abbot of Mount Sinai. 700.
13. Andreas, St, Archbishop, Crete. 66o-740.
14. Anselm, Archbishop of Canterbury, Doctor. 1033-nog.
t
15. Antipater, Bishop of Bostra. c. 46o.
16. Antony, St, Abbot, monastic Founder, Egypt. 251-356.
17. Apolinaris the Elder, Priest. Late fourth century.
18. Arnoldus, Abbot, ofBonneval, Chartres. Mid twelfth century.
t
19. Asterius, St, Bishop of Amasea (Pontus). c. 410.
20. Athanasius, St, Patriarch of Alexandria, Doctor. 2g6--373.
ix
x Fathers of the Church whose Writings are cited in this Work
t
21. Basil, Bishop ofSeleucia. 459.
22. Bede, St, The Venerable, Priest and Doctor. 672-735.
23. Bernard, St, Abbot of Clairvaux, Doctor. 1090-1153.
24. Bruno, St, Bishop·ofSegni. ro48-u23.
25. Caesarius, St, Bishop of Aries; preacher. 470-543.
t
26. Choniates Michael, Metropolitan of Athens, chronicler. 1215.
27. Chromatins, St, Bishop of Aquilea. Early fifth century.
t
28. Chrysippus, Priest ofJ erusalem. 479.
t
29. Clement, St, Pope and Martyr. c. 90.
30. Clement of Alexandria. t c. 215.
t
31. Cyprian, St, Martyr, Bishop of Carthage. 258.
32. Cyril, St, Patriarch ofJ erusalem, Doctor. 318-386.
33. Didymus the Blind, of Alexandria, teacher. 310-395.
34. Dionysius, St, the Great, Patriarch of Alexandria. 19G--264.
35. Dionysius, St, the Areopagite; companion of Paul. First Bishop of Athens
(Combefis).
36. Eligius, St, Bishop ofNoyon-Toumai. 59Q--660.
t
37. Ephraem the Syrian, St, Deacon and Doctor. 373.
t
38. Ephraemius, St, Patriarch of Antioch. 545.
39. Epiphanius, St, Bishop of Salamina. 415-403.
40. Eradius, succeeded St Augustine as Bishop of Hippo.
t
41. Eucherius, St, Bishop of Lyons. 450.
t
42. Eulogius, St, Patriarch of Alexandria. 608.
43. Eusebius, St, Bishop of Caesarea; historian. 260-341.
44. Eutychius, Patriarch of Constantinople. 512-582.
t
45. Euthyrnius · onus, Greek Monk. c. II20.
t
46. Fulbertus, B p of Chartres. 1028.
47. Fulgentius, St, Bishop ofRuspe (Africa). 468-533,
t
48. Gaudcntius, St, Bishop of Brescia. 410.
t
49. Gcrmanus, St, Patriarch of Constantinople. 730.
50. George, Metropolitan ofNicomedia. Late ninth century.
51. Gregory Thaumaturgus, St, Bishop ofNeocaesareae. 213-270.
t
52. Gregory, St, Bishop of Nyssa, Doctor. 394.
t
53. Haymo, Bishop ofHalberstadt. 858.
t
54. Hesychius, Priest ofJ erusalem. 472.
t
55. Hilary, St, Bishop of Poitiers, Doctor. 315-367.
t
56. Hilary, St, Bishop of Arles. 459.
57. Hildebertus, Archbishop of Tours. 1056-u33.
t
58. Hippolytus, St, Priest and Martyr. 235.
59. Ignatius, St, Apostolic Father, Martyr and Bishop of Antioch. 50-u7.
t
6o. Ildcfonsus, St, Bishop of Toledo. 667.
61. Joannes (Geometra), Greek writer. c. 600-700.
62. John Damascene, Priest and Doctor. 676-754.
63. Josephius Flavius, St, Jewish historian. 37 -101.
64. Josephus, Archbishop ofThessalonica. Early ninth century.
t
65. Irenaeus, St, Martyr, Bishop of Lyons. 202.
t
66. Isidore, St, Abbot of Pclusium (Egypt). 450.