St. Athanasius, Doctor of the Church: Missa “In medio”
St. Athanasius of Alexandria (c. 296–373), Patriarch of Alexandria and Doctor of the Church, stands among the greatest champions of Christian orthodoxy in the age of the early councils. Born around 296 in Alexandria, Egypt, he received a classical and theological education and became closely associated with his bishop, Alexander of Alexandria.
As a young deacon, Athanasius accompanied Alexander to the First Council of Nicaea, where he played a decisive role in opposing the heresy of Arius. This doctrine denied the full divinity of Christ, asserting that the Son was a created being. Athanasius became the foremost defender of the Nicene confession that the Son is consubstantial (homoousios) with the Father—true God from true God.
In 328, he succeeded Alexander as Patriarch of Alexandria. His episcopate, however, was marked by intense and prolonged conflict. Arianism, supported at times by imperial authority, spread widely, and Athanasius became its principal opponent. As a result, he endured five separate exiles over a period of nearly twenty years, driven from his see by emperors and rival bishops.
During these exiles, he found refuge among the desert monks of Egypt, particularly those influenced by Anthony the Great. His famous Life of Antony not only defended monasticism but introduced it to the wider Christian world, especially in the West, where it inspired a new ascetical movement.
Despite persecution, slander, and political pressure, Athanasius remained unwavering in his defence of the Incarnation. His theological writings—especially On the Incarnation—articulated with clarity and depth the mystery of the Word made flesh, insisting that only if Christ is truly God can He truly redeem mankind.
His steadfastness gave rise to the enduring phrase Athanasius contra mundum—“Athanasius against the world”—expressing how, even when the majority faltered, he preserved the apostolic faith.
After the death of the Arian-leaning Emperor Valens and a gradual restoration of Nicene orthodoxy, Athanasius was finally able to return peacefully to his see. He died on May 2, 373, after a life of tireless struggle for the truth.
He is honoured as a Doctor of the Church, a pillar of orthodoxy, and a model of episcopal courage—one who, in the words of the liturgy, spoke “in the midst of the Church” with wisdom, fortitude, and unyielding fidelity to Christ.
INTROIT Ecclesiasticus 15: 5
In the midst of the Church the Lord opened his mouth: and filled him with the spirit of wisdom and understanding: He clothed him with a robe of glory.. (Ps. 91: 2) It is good to give praise to the Lord: and to sing to Thy Name, O Most High. v. Glory be…etc
COLLECT
Graciously hear our Prayers, we beseech Thee, O Lord, which we bring before Thee on the solemnity of blessed Athanasius, Thy confessor and pontiff, and, by the merits and intercession of him who had the grace to serve Thee worthily, absolve us of all our sins. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who livest and reignest with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
EPISTLE 2 Corinthians 4: 5-14
Lesson from the Epistle of blessed Paul the Apostle to the Corinthians. Brethren, We preach not ourselves, but Jesus Christ our Lord; and ourselves your servants through Jesus. For God, Who commanded the light to shine out of darkness, hath shined in our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God, in the face of Christ Jesus. But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellency may be of the power of God and not of us. In all things we suffer tribulation, but are not distressed; we are straitened, but are not destitute; we suffer persecution, but are not forsaken; we are cast down, but we perish not; always bearing about in our body the mortification of Jesus, that the life also of Jesus may be made manifest in our bodies. For we who live are always delivered unto death for Jesus’ sake; that the life also of Jesus, may be made manifest in our mortal flesh. So then death worketh in us, but life in you. But having the same spirit of faith, as it is written, I believed, for which cause I have spoken, we also believe, for which cause we speak also: knowing that He who raised up Jesus will raise up us also with Jesus, and place us with you.
ALLELUIA
Alleluia, alleluia. V. (Ps. 109: 4) Thou art a priest for ever, according to the order of Melchisedech. Alleluia. V. (James 1: 12) Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life. Alleluia.
GOSPEL Matthew 10: 23-28
At that time, Jesus said to His disciples: “When they shall persecute you in this city, flee to another. Amen, I say to you, you shall not finish all the cities of Israel till the Son of man come. The disciple is not above the master, nor the servant above his lord It is enough for the disciple that he be as his master, and the servant as his lord. If they have called the good man of the house Beelzebub, how much more them of his household? Therefore fear them not; for nothing is covered that shall not be revealed; nor hid that shall not be known. That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light; and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops. And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul; but rather fear Him that can destroy both soul and body into hell.”
OFFERTORY ANTIPHON Psalm 88: 24, 22
I have found David my servant: with my holy oil I have anointed him; for my arm shall help him, and my hand shall strengthen him, alleluia.
SECRET
May the annual solemnity of St. Athanasius, Thy confessor, commend us to Thy loving kindness, we beseech Thee, O Lord, that, by this office of pious atonement, a blessed reward may follow him, and he may obtain for us the gifts of Thy grace. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God Forever and ever. R. Amen.
PREFACE of Easter
It it truly meet and just, right and for our salvation, at all times to praise Thee, O Lord, but more gloriously especially this when Christ our Pasch was sacrificed. For He is the Lamb Who hath taken away the sins of the world: Who by dying hath destroyed our death: and by rising again hath restored us to life. And therefore with Angels and Archangels, with Thrones and Dominations, and with all the hosts of the heavenly army, we sing the hymn of Thy glory, evermore saying: HOLY, HOLY, HOLY…
ACT OF SPIRITUAL COMMUNION
Oh my Jesus,
I believe that Thou art present in the Blessed Sacrament.
I love Thee above all things, and I desire Thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive Thee sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
As though Thou were already there,
I embrace Thee and unite myself wholly to Thee.
Permit not that I should ever be separated from Thee. Amen.
COMMUNION ANTIPHON John 21: 23
That which I tell you in the dark, speak ye in the light, saith the Lord; and that which you hear in the ear, preach ye upon the housetops, alleluia.
POSTCOMMUNION
O God, the rewarder of faithful souls grant that, by the prayers of blessed Athanasius, Thy confessor and bishop, whose august festival we celebrate, we may obtain pardon. Through the Lord Jesus Christ, Thy Son, Who liveth and reigneth with Thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, one God For ever and ever. R. Amen.
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