Are the Church Fathers still relevant today? Bishop Frank Caggiano and co-host Steve Lee welcome back author Mike Aquilina to talk about his new book, The Church Fathers for Our Time (Emmaus Road Publishing), and why the wisdom of the early Church speaks so directly to the 21st century. The problems we think are new, Mike explains, were already present in the Roman world, and the Fathers largely settled them by winning the hearts and minds of a skeptical, often hostile culture. He shows how ideas we take for granted, like universal human dignity, victims’ rights and ethics in warfare, entered the world through Christianity. He traces religious liberty from St. Justin Martyr through Tertullian to Lactantius, whose influence on Constantine led to the first law protecting it, and shares a surprising discovery: Thomas Jefferson was reading and marking up Tertullian as America’s founding documents took shape. The conversation turns to the “culture wars” of the Fathers: how the earliest Christian writings, including the Didache, addressed contraception, abortion and infanticide, and how Rome’s own “demographic winter” under Augustus mirrors challenges facing nations today. Mike and Bishop Frank also discuss St. Ignatius of Antioch, Mike’s favorite Father, whose letters around 107 AD already assume a bishop, priests and deacons, and the real flesh of Christ in the Eucharist: the same Church you’ll find in your parish today. Then comes a hot topic: the liturgy. From St. John Chrysostom lamenting poor singing and unruly congregations to St. Caesarius of Arles scolding people for arriving late and leaving early, it turns out Christians have always loved the Mass and always complained about it. They also enjoy the colorful, very human personalities of Cyril of Alexandria and Jerome, and explain why the turbulent fourth century was a golden age for the Church. To close, Bishop Frank answers a listener question: Why is 666 the number of the Antichrist? Find Mike Aquilina at MikeAquilina.com or fathersofthechurch.com. Send your questions for Bishop Frank by email to questions@veritascatholic.com, or through Facebook, Instagram and X. Support programs like this at veritascatholic.com. Every week on Let Me Be Frank, Bishop Frank Caggiano reflects on the Faith, answers listener questions, and has frank discussions with co-host Steve Lee and special guests. Let Me Be Frank is a production of Veritas Catholic Network, brought to you by Foundations in Faith and a grant from the Saint Therese Fund for Evangelization. Notes Email List Support Veritas Other Veritas Shows The Tangent (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) Let Me Be Frank with Bishop Frank Caggiano (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) The Frontline With Joe & Joe (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) White Collars (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) Restless Catholic Young Adults: (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify) Daily Gospel Reflections (Podbean) (Apple) (Spotify)
