Through the Church Fathers: July 24

Today’s readings press us to distinguish truth from custom, creation from Creator, and love from hatred. Cyprian continues Epistle 73 by arguing that heresy cannot bear sons to God because the Church alone is the spouse of Christ, and he warns sharply that “custom without truth is the antiquity of error.” Augustine then asks creation itself about God, and heaven, earth, sea, air, sun, moon, and stars all answer that they are not God, but were made by Him; yet only the soul that judges rightly can hear their witness. Aquinas closes by treating hatred as the corruption of charity, showing that while evil and sin may rightly be hated, God and neighbor must never be hated as persons made for goodness and blessedness. Together, these readings remind us that truth must not yield to inherited error, creation must lead us beyond itself to the Maker, and charity must resist the temptation to turn righteous opposition into hatred.Today’s Readings:Cyprian — Epistle 73: To Pompeius, Against the Letter of Stephen Concerning the Baptism of Heretics, Sections 6–9Augustine — The Confessions, Book 10, Chapter 6 (Sections 9–10)Thomas Aquinas — Summa Theologica, Part 2–2, Question 34 (Articles 1–6 Combined)Explore the Project:Through the Church Fathers – https://www.throughthechurchfathers.comPatreon – https://www.patreon.com/cmichaelpattonCredo Courses – https://www.credocourses.comCredo Ministries – https://www.credoministries.org#ChurchFathers #Cyprian #Augustine #Aquinas #Theology #ChurchHistory #ChristianDoctrine #Baptism #Charity #ThroughTheChurchFathers