Catholic Radio Dramas

The Paschal Sacrament

From an Easter Letter by Saint Athanasius, Archbishop of Alexandria (297-373)

The Paschal Sacrament Brings Together in Unity of Faith Those Physically Separated From Each Other

Brethren, how fine a thing it is to move from festival to festival, from prayer to prayer, from holy day to holy day. The time is now at hand when we enter on a new beginning: the proclamation of the blessed Passover, in which the Lord was sacrificed.

We feed as on the food of life, we constantly refresh our souls with his precious blood, as from a fountain. Yet we are always thirsting, burning to be satisfied. But he himself is present for those who thirst and in his goodness invites them to the feast day. Our Savior repeats his words: If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink.

He quenched the thirst not only of those who came to him then. Whenever anyone seeks him he is freely admitted to the presence of the savior. The grace of the feast is not restricted to one occasion. Its rays of glory never set. It is always at hand to enlighten the mind of those who desire it. Its power is always there for those whose minds have been enlightened and who meditate day and height on the holy Scriptures, like the one who is called blessed in the holy psalm: Blessed is the man who has not followed the counsel of the wicked, or stood where sinners stand, or sat in the seat of the scornful, but whose delight is in the law of the Lord, and who meditates on his law day and night.

Moreover, my friends, the God who first established this feast for us allows us to celebrate it each year. He who gave up his Son to death for our salvation, from the same motive gives us this feast, which is commemorated every year. This feast guides us through the trials that meet us in this world. God now gives us the joy of salvation that shines out from this feast, as he brings us together to form one assembly, uniting us all in spirit in every place, allowing us to pray together and to offer common thanksgiving, as it our duty on the feast. Such is the wonder of his love: he gathers on this feast those who are far apart, and brings together in unity of faith those who may be physically separated from each other.

Source: The Liturgy of the Hours – Office of Readings

Saint Athanasius (d. c. 368) was born at Alexandria in 297, during the struggle between orthodox Christians and followers of the heresy of Arianism, one of the greatest threats Christianity ever faced. Athanasius was well educated especially in Sacred Scripture and theology. He was ordained a deacon and became secretary to Bishop Alexander in his native city about 318. Under several Emperors of the Roman Empire, Athanasius, after his election as bishop of Alexandria, was forced into five separate exiles due to his strong opposition to the schism threatened by the Arianists.

Athanasius was present at the Council of Nicaea which condemned Arianism and excommunicated Arius, its founder. Rulers of the Roman Empire during this conflict included Constantine followed by his sons Constantine II and Constans who jointly ruled a divided empire. These were followed by Emperor Julian the Apostate who was killed in 363 and followed by Emperor Jovian. Jovian died after only an eight-month reign and was followed by Emperor Valens, who banished all orthodox bishops in 365 but revoked the order four months later. During his seventeen years of on-and-off exile Athanasius was forced to flee into the desert where he was protected by the monks living there. The struggle against Arianism was eventually won, and Athanasius returned to his see. He spent the last seven years of his life in Alexandria and died there in 373. His efforts helped build the new Nicene party whose support eventually secured the triumph of orthodoxy over Arianism at the General Council of Constantinople in 381. He was declared a Doctor of the Church and is called the “champion of orthodoxy.” He aided the ascetic movement in Egypt and was the first to introduce knowledge of monasticism to the West. He wrote a number of outstanding works on the Incarnation and redemption and produced major treatises while in exile.