Homily for Memorial of St. Irenaeus

Homily for the Memorial of
St. Irenaeus

June 28, 2022
Collect
Christian Brothers, St. Joseph’s Home, New Rochelle

“You called the Bishop St. Irenaeus to confirm true doctrine and peace in the Church” (Collect).

(Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph, Ont.)

Irenaeus, the 2d bishop of Lyons, primatial see of France, was recently declared a doctor of the Church because of his writings in defense of true doctrine, as mentioned in the collect.

The collect also mentions his work for the peace of the Church, which is, besides, a play on his name, which comes from the Greek word for peace, irene.  Irenaeus was a Greek from Smyrna in Asia Minor, where he’d been a disciple of St. Polycarp, who in turn was a disciple of St. John the Apostle.  Thus Irenaeus received the apostolic preaching of the Church, its true doctrine, and became its staunch defender.

The peace of the Church depends upon true doctrine, as we know.  The Church is repeatedly disturbed and torn apart by false teaching, from St. Paul’s battles against Judaizers thru the Reformation up till our current rantings in social media over the Tridentine Mass, reception of holy Communion, and whatever Pope Francis has said most recently.

In the 2d century, one issue that roiled the Church was a disagreement over when to celebrate Easter.  The Eastern churches thought it should always be on Passover, whenever that fell in the calendar.  The West preferred Sunday, day of the Lord’s resurrection.  On behalf of Pope Victor I, Irenaeus—well situated as a Greek ministering in the West—mediated that and helped the Church settle on Sunday.  Thus also God used Irenaeus to confirm the peace of the Church.

But Irenaeus’s main claim to fame—to being a Father of the Church and, now, a doctor, is his writings in defense of true doctrine, especially Adversus Haereses (Latin title but written in Greek).  In his time those known as Gnostics were teaching that 2 principles ruled the world, one good and one evil, all matter was evil.  Further, only a select few, an elite, could learn true religion (this seems to be the form of Gnosticism that Pope Francis is still denouncing).  Irenaeus upheld the goodness of everything that God created, God’s supremacy over evil, and everyone’s ability to attain true religion and be saved.  This was the apostolic faith that he’d learned as a youth.

From his contact with the Roman Church, Irenaeus knew that the apostolic faith was anchored by Rome’s teaching, based on the faith of Peter and Paul.  On that basis, Irenaeus “fostered unity and concord,” as the collect said.

Like Irenaeus, we hold to God’s universal salvation attained thru Christ.  Holiness is for everyone, not a select few.  And we find in the Roman Church, whether guided by John Paul II or by Francis, the preservation of apostolic faith and unity.  May the grace of Jesus preserve us all in unity and true faith.