Who and Why the Fathers?

Who are the "Fathers"?

An important initial question concerns exactly which individuals are considered "Church Fathers." Generally speaking, four aspects distinguish the Fathers:

1)    Antiquity.  In the west, different cut-off points:  death of Gregory the Great in 604; death of Isidore of Seville in 636; death of the Venerable Bede in 735.  In the east, death of John Damascene around 750.

2)    Holiness of life or zeal for the faith

3)    Orthodox teaching

o   A teaching, usually in writing

o   The teaching, or the reputation for teaching, must have been orthodox

4)    Ecclesiastical approval

Why are they important?

The importance of the Church Fathers cannot be stressed enough. They were privileged witnesses to Tradition with some of them even learning directly from the Apostles. They performed many important "firsts" including: fixing the canon of sacred books; first articulation regulae fidei; foundations of canonical discipline; first forms of liturgy. They also enjoy the approval of the Magisterium, as seen at the Council of Trent (Decree Concerning the Edition, and the Use, of Sacred Books (Session 2; 7 January 1546)), the First Vatican Council (Dei Filius) and the papal magisteriums of John Paul II (see Apostolic Letter Patres Ecclesiae) and Benedict XVI, who devoted many audiences to the individual Fathers (see Audiences from 2007-2009.)

Ultimately, we owe much to the Fathers and learn many things from the study of them and their teaching. Their commentaries on Sacred Scripture are especially important, because they approached the Scriptures with an utmost holiness and read them in a Spiritual yet historical way that is mainly lost today. To not study them is a detriment. 

Note:

I owe much of the information in this post to the great teaching and notes of Dr. Daniel Van Slyke.