St. Athanasius was a clasically trained student that would be a Deacon, Secretary and eventually a Bishop in Alexandria, Egypt. Athanasius would attend the Council of Nicea and be the main opponent of the herecy that became known as Arianism. This herecy denied the divinity of Christ, deeming Him as a creature that God created and therefore not on the same level as God.
Athanasius would fight this herecy with theology and reason. Coining the doctrine of homo-ousianism that says Christ is of the same substance as the Father. This debate would spill over into politics and in his 45 years as Bishop, he would be exiled five times spending a third of his time away from his home. He would chronicle the life of St Anthony the Abbot and his writings inspired many.
On Saturday May 2nd, we celebrate the feast day of St Athanasius, Bishop, Doctor of the Church and defender of the faith.
Prayer to Mary, Mother of Grace
It becomes you to be mindful of us, as you stand near him who granted you all graces, for you are the Mother of God and our Queen. Help us for the sake of the King, the Lord God and Master who was born of you. For this reason, you are called full of grace. Remember us, most holy Virgin, and bestow on us gifts from the riches of your graces, Virgin full of graces.
by St Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor
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