ST. IREN.ET7S, BISHOP AND MARTYB.

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XXIX, Issue 26, 27 June 1901, Page 7

ST. IREN.ET7S, BISHOP AND MARTYB.

St. Irenaeue was born between 130-140 at Smyrna, Asia Minor, and had, from his earliest youth, the happiness of being instructed by St. Polycarp and other apostolic men. His deep attachment to the Christian doctrine did not prevent him from studying the Greek poets and philosophers, especially Homer and Plato. With a view to missionary work, he journeyed to Gaul, where he was ordained priegt by Photinus, Bishop of Lyons, whosufferei martyrdom in the persecution of Marcus Aurelius (178). Irenseus was nominated to succeed him as bishop by Pope Eleutherius, to whom he had been sent on an ecclesiastical mission. In this office he showed untiring s«al and energy for the good of the Churches in Gaul. Moreover, by means of his writings, in defence of the unity and pnrity of the faith, which was endangered by the Gnostics, he made his influence felt far beyond the limits of Gaul. Finally, he proved himself worthy of his name (Eirenaios, the Peaceful) by effecting a happy compromise between the East and the West in the dispute concerning Easter, which had gone so far an to cause an open rupture between the two sections of the Churoh. In the great persecution under Septimus Severus, the Bhepherd suffered martyrdom with many of his flock (June 28th. 202). Of his writings, only fragments remain, with the exception of the work Against Her t sic t in five books, which he wrote principally to refute the Gnoetioe' heresies. The existing Latin verses is very ancient and accurate and was used even by Tertullian. In this work the author discusses nearly all the Catholic dogmas ; among others, Tradition, the Primacy of the Roman See, the Incarnation, the Holy Eucharist, the Sacrifice of the Mass and the Resurrection.

Nothing that is of real worth can be achieved without courageous working. Man owes his growth chiefly to that active striving of the will, that encounter with difficulty, which we call effort ; and it is astonishing to find how often results apparently impracticable are thus made possible. The moat helpful and sacred work which can at present be done for humanity is to teach people (chiefly by example, as all best teaching must be done) not how to ' better themselves ' bat how to ' satisfy themselves.' It is the curse of every evil nature and evil oreature to eat and not be Battened.