Lent: Let’s Stop Pretending (Fr. Robert McTeigue, S.J.) 2/27/26

Written around 180 AD, 'Against Heresies' is a five-book treatise that identifies and refutes various schools of Gnosticism and other heretical Christian thought. Irenaeus argues against the interpretations of scripture by Gnostics such as Valentinus and Marcion, and defends the orthodox Christian tradition. The work is historically significant as one of the earliest unambiguous attestations of the canonical gospel texts and some of the Pauline epistles. It remains a crucial source for understanding early Christian theology and the doctrines of Gnosticism.

Writings by St. Bernard of Clairvaux include sermons, letters, and treatises focused on the love of God, humility, and the contemplative life, often cited for spiritual guidance. He exhorts readers to balance contrition for sin with trust in divine mercy, urging periods of penitence followed by rejoicing in God's forgiveness. Bernard's clear, passionate style shaped medieval spirituality and monastic devotion, influencing theologians and laypeople alike. His works emphasize Christ's humanity and divinity, the importance of grace, and practical counsel for prayer and conversion. Many of his sermons and treatises remain central texts in Christian spiritual formation.

The Book of Sirach, also known as Ecclesiasticus, is a collection of wisdom literature found in the deuterocanonical books of the Catholic Bible. It offers reflections on various aspects of life, including morality, ethics, and the relationship between God and humanity. The book emphasizes the importance of wisdom, virtue, and righteous living. It explores the challenges of understanding God's justice in the face of suffering and injustice. Sirach's wisdom is practical, offering guidance on family life, social interactions, and personal conduct.

The Screwtape Letters is a Christian apologetic novel written in a satirical, epistolary style. It consists of 31 letters from Screwtape, a highly placed assistant to 'Our Father Below' (the Devil), to his nephew Wormwood, a novice demon tasked with securing the damnation of an ordinary young man. The letters provide advice on various methods of undermining God's influence and promoting abandonment of God, while offering insights into human nature and the Bible. The book is a profound and striking narrative on spiritual warfare and the power of the devil, highlighting the subtle forms of sin such as vanity, pride, and distraction that can lead humans away from God.