ST. BASIL & ST. GREGORY NAZIANZEN
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| St. Basil |
St. Basil was a brilliant student born of a Christian family in Caesarea, Cappadocia (Turkey). For some years, he followed the monastic way of life. He vigorously fought the Arian heresy. He became Bishop of Caesarea in 370. The monks of the Eastern Church today still follow the monastic rules which he set down.
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| St. Gregory Nazianzen |
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Gregory's testimomy to the friendship he shared with Basil:
Whenever any newcomer arrives, and falls into the hands of those who seize upon him, either by force or willingly, they observe this Attic law, of combined jest and earnest. On this occasion I not only refused to put to shame my friend the great Basil, out of respect for the gravity of his character, and the ripeness of his reasoning powers, but also persuaded all the rest of the students to treat him likewise, who happened not to know him. For he was from the first respected by most of them, his reputation having preceded him. The result was that he was the only one to escape the general rule, and be accorded a greater honour than belongs to a freshman's position.
This was the prelude of our friendship. This was the kindling spark of our union: thus we felt the wound of mutual love.
And when, as time went on, we acknowledged our mutual affection, and that philosophy was our aim, we were all in all to one another, housemates, messmates, intimates, with one object in life, or an affection for each other ever growing warmer and stronger. Love which is godly and under restraint, since its object is stable, not only is more lasting, but, the fuller its vision of beauty grows, the more closely does it bind to itself and to one another the hearts of those whose love has one and the same object. This is the law of our superhuman love. Such were our feelings for each other, when we had thus supported, as Pindar has it, our “well-built chamber with pillars of gold,” as we advanced under the united influences of God's grace and our own affection. Oh! How can I mention these things without tears.
We were impelled by equal hopes, in a pursuit especially obnoxious to envy, that of letters. Yet envy we knew not, and emulation was of service to us. We struggled, not each to gain the first place for himself, but to yield it to the other; for we made each other's reputation to be our own. We seemed to have one soul, inhabiting two bodies. And if we must not believe those whose doctrine is “All things are in all;” yet in our case it was worthy of belief, so did we live in and with each other. The sole business of both of us was virtue, and living for the hopes to come, having retired from this world, before our actual departure hence. With a view to this, were directed all our life and actions, under the guidance of the commandment, as we sharpened upon each other our weapons of virtue; and if this is not a great thing for me to say, being a rule and standard to each other, for the distinction between what was right and what was not.
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SAINTS BASILE ET GREGOIRE DE NAZIANZEN
Basil est né à Caesarea à Cappadocia approximativement l'année 330.
Il a reçu son éducation à Constantinople et Athènes où il a rencontré son ami et compagnon, Grégoire de Nazienzen. Il est revenu plus tard à Caesarea et, en 356, a commencé à mener la vie d'un ermite. Cette vie hermétique été déjà pratiquée par sa mère, Emilia, et sa soeur, Macrina. Ses écrits spirituels qui datent de cette période sont très riches.
Il est devenu l'évêque de Caesarea en 370, une fonction qu'il a gardé jusqu'à sa mort le 1 janvier, 379.
Ses écrits principaux incluent des traités sur le Saint-Esprit, la vie monacale, un commentaire, sur l’écriture sainte, des sermons, et lettres nombreuses défendant la foi Catholique contre les Arians.
Grégoire est né dans la région de Nazianzen approximativement l'année 330. Il a accompli la majorité de ses études à Alexandrie et Athènes où il a établi son amitié avec Basil. Il est revenu à son village en 357 et a reçu le baptême Chrétien. Son père, qui était l'évêque de Nazianzen, l’a ordonné prêtre. Grégoire était plus tard consacré l'évêque d'une petite ville qui était dépendante de Caesarea.
La vie du désert en solitaire l'a attiré, ainsi il a pris la vie d'un ermite, mais a continué avec ses écrits et les exhortations des fidèles.
En 380, il a été élevé à la chaire de Constantinople, mais il a démissionné plus tard et est revenu à son village où il a repris la vie solitaire. Il est mort approximativement 390.
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CCO TO HOLD 25th ANNIVERSARY
RISE UP!
IN OTTAWA
CCO (Catholic Christian Outreach) holds a Christmas week gathering each year that draws hundreds of university age men and women who explore their faith for several days with in-put from speakers who encourage participants not only to know and live their faith but to share it with others.
This year for the first time, simultaneous sessions were held in Halifax and Saskatoon. I was delighted to take part in the sessions in Halifax at the Westin Hotel, which afforded me the opportunity as well to visit with friends in the Nova Scotia capital.
On New Year's Eve at the closing formal banquet, which followed Mass for the Solemnity of Mary Mother of God in St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, presided by Archbishop Anthony Mancini, it was announced that next year's Rise Up! would be held in Ottawa, where CCO has its national headquarters at the Delta City Centre Hotel.
Some scenes from the recent gathering which give indications of the joyful event we can expect:
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| McMaster University Delegation |
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| John Stevens of the Halifax-Yarmouth Archdiocese witnesses to his faith |
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| University of Ottawa studens caucus |
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| Ottawa's Carleton U. students reflect on their experiences |
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