It’s the Feast of Feria after Epiphany, 4th Class, with the color of White. In this episode: the meditation: “The Magi before Herod”, today’s news from the Church: “SSPX Statistics 2025”, a preview of the Sermon: “The Practice of Prayer in the Holy Family”, and today’s thought from the Archbishop.
Saint Apollinaris the Apologist belongs to the second generation of Christian thinkers, men who had to explain the faith not only to believers, but to an often hostile and suspicious world. He lived in the mid second century, likely born in Asia Minor, and later became a respected Christian philosopher in Rome. Apollinaris was formed in the classical tradition. He knew Greek philosophy well and understood how Christians were being misunderstood by pagan society. Rather than retreat or remain silent, he chose to speak clearly and respectfully in defense of the faith.
He is best known for his apologetic writings addressed to Roman authorities, especially to Emperor Marcus Aurelius. At a time when Christians were accused of atheism, immorality, and disloyalty to the empire, Apollinaris argued that Christians were in fact the empire’s most faithful citizens. They prayed for the emperor, obeyed just laws, and lived moral lives rooted in charity. He explained Christian worship, clarified misunderstandings about the Eucharist, and insisted that Christians were persecuted not for crimes, but for the name of Christ alone. His approach was reasoned rather than combative, confident that truth could withstand scrutiny.
Apollinaris was also deeply interested in the harmony between faith and reason. He believed that Christianity did not destroy what was true in philosophy, but fulfilled it. For him, Christ was the Logos whom philosophers had long sought without fully knowing. This conviction allowed him to speak to...
