June 28 is the feast day of St. Irenaeus, a Church Father, a Doctor of the Church, and the second bishop of Lyons. The name Irenaeus means “peacemaker,” and he lived out this name by bringing the peace of Christ to the world through his holy, priestly ministry and his writings. He was heavily influenced by his mentor, St. Polycarp. St. Polycarp had known the apostles and was a disciple of St. John the Beloved Evangelist, so St. Irenaeus’ training was rooted in Holy Spirit-guided wisdom.
As Gnosticism spread and was a threat to Christianity, the brilliant St. Irenaeus wrote Adversus Haereses (Against Heresies). This five-book series revealed the errors of gnosticism and refuted it. His work was the death-blow to Gnosticism.
Irenaeus is the patron saint of apologists and catechists. This Father of the Church knew how to defend and promote the faith. His writings are still an instrument of conversion for souls to this very day.
Here are three quotes from this Doctor of the Church which give advice about how to be prepared for eternity: We must love the Eucharist, and the cross, and prepare for death each day of our lives.
Essentially: the Eucharist gives us the hope of resurrection and eternal life; the cross is our salvation, and we are each called to follow the age-old Catholic practice of memento mori, being mindful of our impending death, though we “do not know the day nor the hour” (Mt 25:13).
June is the month devoted to the Sacred Heart of Jesus, fully present in the Eucharist. June is also the month of the Eucharistic feast of Corpus Christi. Before June is over, let us be reminded by these beautiful words of St. Irenaeus to receive the Eucharist often, daily if we can, and always in a state of grace. The Eucharist gives us the “hope of resurrection” and thus with each Eucharist lovingly received, we are more and more prepared for eternity.
To be reminded of this and honor the words of St. Irenaeus, let us frequently kiss the crucifix, whether we pause to reverence the one at the end of our rosary, or one we pass each day, hanging upon our wall. Let us consider more frequently praying the prayer before a crucifix.
Another lovely way to bring this quote to life would be plant a garden around a tree with a garden cross nailed upon the tree, or religious statue beneath its branches, and teach your children this quote. Gazing at the crucifix with love, and kneeling before it to pray helps us to vividly recall that Our Crucified Lord is the source of our salvation. If we love Our Lord’s cross, we must accept our own.
This quote by St. Irenaeus affirms the age-old Catholic practice of the importance of memento mori, which roughly translates “remember death.” This sound advice will ensure that those who follow it are well-prepared for eternity. Forgiving our enemies, bravely facing the challenges of the day, “offering up” our difficulties, seeking to do the will of God, remembering our true home is in heaven … all becomes easier if one is ever mindful of the four last things, preparing each day as St. Irenaeus recommends, with our eyes fixed on heaven.
St. Irenaeus, as we seek and savor your words of wisdom, pray for us!
