(Titus Flavius Clemens). His religious ideal contains features of classical philosophical humanism. Lastly, Jesus Christ himself is also the Didascalos, the "Master" who presents the most profound teachings. We know that St Paul, at the Aeropagus in Athens where Clement was born, had made the first attempt at dialogue with Greek philosophy - and by and large had failed - but they said to him: "We will hear you again". Hippolytus of Rome (180-230 A.D.) Sentences of Sextus (180-230 A.D.) 1st Apocalypse of James (180-250 A.D.) Gospel of Philip (180-250 A.D.) Clement of Alexandria … All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This co-naturality makes it possible to know the divine realities to which man adheres, first of all out of faith, and through a lived faith the practice of virtue can grow until one contemplates God. Dear Brothers and Sisters, After the period of celebrations, let us return to our normal Catecheses even if it is still visibly festive in the Square. On the whole, the type of Christianity expounded by Clement did not find a place in medieval thought and was revived only in the philosophy of Renaissance Christian humanism, represented by Erasmus of Rotterdam and T. More. We were created in the image and likeness of God, but this is also a challenge, a journey: indeed, life's purpose, its ultimate destination, is truly to become similar to God. Contact the School at (703) 998-8795. May God bless you all! In this communion, which is perfect knowledge and love, the perfect Christian attains contemplation, unification with God. At the last one, we spoke of St Irenaeus of Lyons; today, let us speak of Clement of Alexandria, a great theologian who was probably born in Athens at around the middle of the second century. CatholicSaints.Info. Faith itself builds true philosophy, that is, true conversion on the journey to take through life. St Peter's SquareWednesday, 18 April 2007. Clement of Alexandria. In this way the Alexandrian creates the second important occasion for dialogue between the Christian proclamation and Greek philosophy. Writer and confessor of the faith. From Athens he inherited that marked interest in philosophy which was to make him one of the pioneers of the dialogue between faith and reason in the Christian tradition. Saint Clement Episcopal School is religiously exempted from oversight by the Virginia Department of Social Services licensure officials, except under certain extraordinary circumstances. Better still, the Protrepticus coincides with a Person: the Son of God, Jesus Christ, who makes himself the exhorter of men and women so that they will set out towards the Truth with determination. Amen!" Hence, authentic "gnosis" is a development of faith inspired by Jesus Christ in the soul united with him. He trained the famous theologian and teacher Origen. 29 September 2020. He can serve as an example to Christians, catechists and theologians of our time, whom, in the same Encyclical, John Paul II urged "to recover and express to the full the metaphysical dimension of faith in order to enter into a demanding critical dialogue with both contemporary philosophical thought and with the philosophical tradition in all its aspects". While he was still young, he arrived in Alexandria, the "city-symbol" of that fertile junction between the different cultures that was a feature of the Hellenistic age. < > His enormous erudition may be seen in the collection of sketches entitled Miscellanies (Stromata), a valuable source for the history of classical philosophy, which Clement, with some reservations, places on an equal level with the Bible. The first step: believing Christians who live the faith in an ordinary way, yet are always open to the horizons of holiness. Two virtues above all embellish the soul of the "true gnostic". With the Catecheses we are returning, as I said, to the series begun previously. Overall, Clement's catecheses accompanied the catechumens and the baptized step by step on their way, so that with the two "wings" of faith and reason they might reach intimate knowledge of the Truth which is Jesus Christ, the Word of God. © Copyright 2007 - Libreria Editrice Vaticana. Clement of Alexandria wrote in the late second century. In the discussion What Rich Man Will Be Saved?, the gospel condemnation of wealth is replaced by an abstract philosophical principle of disdain for material things. Clement of Alexandria (Titus Flavius Clemens), d. c.215, Greek theologian. For him, the Greek philosophical tradition, almost like the Law for the Jews, was a sphere of "revelation"; they were two streams which flowed ultimately to the Logos himself. It is the edifice built by reason under the impetus of a supernatural principle. I extend a special welcome to the ecumenical visitors from Finland and to the many students and teachers present. He implores: "Be gracious... to us your children.... Grant us that we may live in your peace, be transferred to your city, sail over the billows of sin without capsizing, be gently wafted by your Holy Spirit, by ineffable Wisdom, by night and day to the perfect day... giving thanks and praise to the one Father... to the Son, Instructor and Teacher, with the Holy Spirit.