On Friday of the Fifth Week of Lent our Church invites us to first read and reflect on a passage from the letter to the Hebrews (7:11-28) entitled "The eternal priesthood of Christ". Our treasure, which follows, is from a treatise on faith addressed to Peter by Saint Fulgentius of Ruspe, bishop.
Saint Fulgentius was a follower of Saint Augustine's ideal of life and a student of Saint Augustine's theological teachings. Saint Fulgentius was a north African Christian prelate who served as Bishop of Ruspe and was a theological writer in modern-day, Tunisia, during the fifth and sixth century who defended orthodoxy against Arianism. He is known for his "heroic sanctity".
Saint Fulgentius' primary contribution to the teachings of the Catholic Church was his clear and forceful defense of orthodox doctrine on grace and salvation, especially against semi-Pelagianism. Drawing heavily from Saint Augustine of Hippo, he taught that salvation is entirely the work of God's grace—freely given and not earned by human effort—while still affirming the necessity of human cooperation with that grace. His writings helped preserve and transmit Augustine's theology to later generations, particularly emphasizing the absolute necessity of grace, the reality of original sin, and the Church's role in salvation.
Saint Fulgentius wrote "On Faith Addressed to Peter" to guide Peter, who was preparing for a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, and to equip him with a strong doctrinal foundation against Eastern heresies, particularly those that had gained traction after the widespread rejection of certain theological positions.
The central teaching of "On Faith Addressed to Peter" is the absolute necessity of holding the true Catholic faith—especially regarding the mystery of the Trinity and the Incarnation—for salvation. Fulgentius emphasizes that there is one true faith, faithfully preserved in the Catholic Church, which includes belief in one God in three persons (Father, Son, and Holy Spirit) and in Jesus Christ as fully God and fully man; to knowingly reject or distort this faith is to separate oneself from salvation
As early as the second century, this letter or treatise, which is of great rhetorical power and force in its admonition to faithful pilgrimage under Christ's leadership, bore the title "To the Hebrews." It was assumed to be directed to Jewish Christians. Usually, Hebrews was attached in Greek manuscripts to the collection of letters by Paul. Although no author is mentioned (for there is no address), a reference to Timothy suggested connections to the circle of Paul and his assistants. Yet the exact audience, the author, and even whether Hebrews is a letter have long been disputed.
The central message of the Epistle to the Hebrews is that Jesus Christ is the perfect and eternal High Priest who fulfills and surpasses the old covenant, offering Himself once for all for the salvation of humanity. The letter teaches that through Christ, believers have direct access to God, and it calls them to persevere in faith, especially in times of trial, trusting in His definitive sacrifice. By showing how Christ completes the meaning of the Law, priesthood, and sacrifices of the Old Testament, Hebrews urges Christians to remain steadfast, confident, and faithful to Him.
