The First 500 Years (Audio CD): The Fathers, Councils, and Doctrines of the Early Church

How can Jesus be both God and man? Who exactly is the Holy Spirit? Is Mary really the Mother of God?

You asked Catholic Courses for apologetics - but we want to give you more than a few simple explanations or brief answers to frequently asked questions. We've therefore developed a course that goes deep into Church history and doctrine - you'll get more than just apologetics. Study The First 500 Years for real theological substance and perspective.

It Takes Time

Based on the writings of the Church Fathers, Father David Meconi, S.J. discusses the development of doctrines in the Early Church. Did you know it took years - even centuries - to finalize many crucial Catholic beliefs? Through a series of councils, the Church defined and declared doctrines on:

• The hypostatic union between Christ\'s divine and human natures
• Mary as the "Theotokos" - the "God-Bearer"
• The primacy of the pope
• The action and person of the Holy Spirit

The Fathers of the Church not only helped write the words to define what Catholics have believed for millennia, they debated about these doctrines to clarify them under the guidance of the Holy Spirit.

Why Study the Church Fathers?

How can they help you answer challenges against the Faith? The Fathers were there from the very beginning of the Church. Their writings and thoughts on doctrine helped shape theology as it developed over the first few centuries of the Church. If you want to know why we believe what we believe, start with the Church Fathers - and that\'s exactly what Father Meconi does in this course.

More, and Better, than Apologetics

This course is more than apologetics - it is a comprehensive look at the formative years of the Catholic Church. Discover where our doctrines about Mary, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit came from. Understand the influence of the great saints Cyril, Pope Leo, and Augustine. Embrace the rich heritage of our religion. Join Father Meconi for this fascinating look at the early days of the Catholic Church.

Father David Meconi, S.J., holds a Doctorate in Philosophy from Oxford University, England and the Pontifical Licentiate in Greek and Latin Patristic Theology from University of Innsbruck, Austria. He currently teaches as Assistant Professor of Patristic Studies at Saint Louis University. His books include Catherine Doherty: Essential Writings (Orbis Press, 2009), Frank Sheed and Maisie Ward: Spiritual Writings (Orbis Press, 2010), and The One Christ: St. Augustine's Theology of Deification (Catholic University of America Press). He is the editor of Homiletic and Pastoral Review, and his articles have appeared in the Journal of Ecclesiastical History, Augustinian Studies, International Philosophical Quarterly, and New Oxford Review.