Unity
and Peace
How often do we take for granted the
treasures of our Christian tradition, especially Scripture? Today we celebrate
the feast of Saint Irenaeus, the great second century father of the Catholic
Church. Unity and peace in the Church were the goals of St. Irenaeus (130-202);
he was priest and bishop of Lyons,
France, and a
martyr for the love of Jesus Christ and our faith.
St. Irenaeus is an important witness to
apostolic succession in that he knew the greatest churches founded by the
apostles, and compiled a list of the bishops of those sees, located in Asia
Minor and in Rome.
Born and educated in Smyrna (now Turkey), he is an important link with the age of
the apostles through St. Polycarp, who was a disciple of St. John.