by Peter James | May 26, 2023 | Hippolytus
As I reference the ancient church in Rome, put aside any notion you have of a glorious cathedral or ornate basilica. The third century church in Rome was a collection of house churches, supervised by an overseer called a bishop, forerunner to what Catholics call the...
by Peter James | May 25, 2023 | Lactantius
How about the name: Lucius Caecilius Firmianus Lactantius (ca. 250-325). He was born and bred an atheist. The Roman Emperor Diocletian appointed him professor of Latin and rhetoric in a Greek city. Sometime late in his life, Lactantius became a Christian. When...
by Peter James | May 24, 2023 | Madeline L’Engle
I have long appreciated the writing of Madeleine L’Engle (1918-2007) and particularly her words about prayer. So, you can imagine my surprise recently when I read that her novel A Wrinkle in Time has consistently appeared on the list of most frequently banned...
by Peter James | May 23, 2023 | Hilary of Poitiers
I lament the loss of civility in our day. Sure, what we believe is crucial but so is how we behave toward others. Evidently, some Christians haven’t received the memo that behavior matters to God. What initially caught my attention to Hilary of Poitiers...
by Peter James | May 22, 2023 | Polycarp
Polycarp (70-155) was the last surviving link to Jesus’ original twelve apostles, having been a student of the apostle John. Polycarp served as bishop of Smyrna and was a respected leader in the early church. When the Roman Empire unleashed a new wave of...
