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Disciple of Saint Polycarp of
Smyrna. Priest in 177. Bishop of Lyons. Worked and wrote against
Gnosticism, basing his arguments on the works of Saint John, whose Gospel
is often cited by Gnostics. Considered the first great Western
ecclesiastical writer, he emphasized the unity of the Old and New
Testaments, and of Christ's simultaneous human and divine nature.
Born
c.130 at Asia Minor
Died
martyred in 202; tomb and relics were destroyed by Calvinists in 1562
Name Meaning
lover of peace
Readings
For this is why the Word became man, and the Son of God became the Son of
man: so that man, by entering into communion with the Word and thus
receiving divine sonship, might become a son of God,
Saint Irenaeus
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The glory of God gives life; those who see God receive life. Men will
therefore see God if they are to live; through the vision of God they
become immortal and attain to God himself.
God is the source of all activity throughout creation. He cannot be seen
or described in his own nature and in all his greatness by any of his
creatures. Yet he is certainly not unknown. Through his Word the whole
creation learns that there is one God the Father, who holds all things
together and gives them their being. As it is written in the Gospel, "No
man has ever seen God, except the only-begotten Son, who is in the bosom
of the Father; he has revealed him."
From the beginning the Son is the one who teacher us about the Father; he
is with the Father from the beginning.
The Word revealed God to men and presented men to God. Life in man is the
glory of God; the life of man is the vision of God. If the revelation of
God through creation gives life to all who live upon the earth, much more
does the manifestation of the Father through the Word give life to those
who see God.
from Against the Heresies by Saint Irenaeus
source:
http://www.catholic-forum.com/saints/sainti06.htm
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