Church Fathers Reading Group
Aquinas College Fall 2026
“When we pray, we speak to God; but when we read, God speaks to us.” ~St. Jerome
Join Us This Fall
This fall, we are scheduled to read from Saint Augustine and Saint Jerome, two to the four great Latin Doctors of the Church, as well as the theologically rich and beautiful hymns of the great Syrian Father, Saint Ephraim. These fourth-century saints and theologians will teach us how to grow closer to Christ and his beautiful bride, the Holy Catholic Church, and how to evangelize and witness in our spheres of influence.
What did theologians of the fourth and fifth centuries teach their contemporaries about the faith? How did they cope with various heretical sects, multiple invasions, the breakup of the Roman Empire, and the constant intervention of politics into the Church’s doctrines? Discover for yourself timeless beauty and wisdom from the treasury of the Church’s writings. Let the Fathers teach you about your faith!
📅 When:
Mondays | 10:00-11:30 a.m.
September 14 — November 23
Where:
Aquinas College, Room 203
✉️ Sign Up Today!
To join the reading group, please contact: Dr. Katherine Haynes at haynesk@aquinascollege.edu or rivensidehome@outlook.com!
Saint Augustine. The Confessions, translated by Maria Boulding, New City Press, 2002. ISBN 13: 978-156548-154-1
Saint Augustine of Hippo. Selected Writings. Classics of Western Spirituality. Translated by Mary T. Clark. Paulist Press, 2002. ISBN 0-8091-2573-0.
Saint Ephraim the Syrian. Hymns: Selected Writings. Classics of Western Spiritualty. Translated by Kathleen E. McVey. Paulist Press, 1989. ISBN 13: 978-0-8091-3093-1.
Saint Jerome. Commentary on the Gospel of Saint Matthew. Translated by Thomas P. Scheck. The Fathers of the Church Series Volume 117. CUA Press, ISBN 13: 978-0-8132-2720-7.
*The Spring term 2027 will continue reading from Augustine’s Selected Writings. Other texts for Spring 2027 will be announced later this year.
September 14
Augustine, Confessions, books 10 and 11.
September 21
Augustine, Confessions, books 12-13.
September 28
Augustine, Selected Writings: Homily on Psalm119 and Psalm 120.
October 5
Saint Jerome: Commentary on Saint Matthew, [optional Introduction pp. 3-13, 15-19] Matthew, preface and chapters 1-3, pages 51-71.
October 12
Saint Jerome on Matthew continued: chapters 4-10, pages 72-127. [optional Introduction, pp. 24-30]
October 19
Saint Jerome on Matthew continued: chapters 11-16.12, pages 128-189. [optional Introduction, pp. 13-15, 46-51].
October 26
Saint Jerome on Matthew continued: chapters 16.13-22.40, pages 189-257.
November 2
(All Souls’ Day) Saint Jerome on Matthew continued: chapters 22.41-28, pages 257-328.
November 9
Saint Ephraim’s Hymns, [optional Foreword, pages xi-xiii, Preface and Introduction, pages 1-34] Hymns on the Nativity, pages 219-258.
November 16
Saint Ephraim’s Hymns continued: Hymns against Julian pages 219-259 [optional, pages 34-39]
November 23
Saint Ephraim’s Hymns continued: Hymns on Virginity and on the Symbols of the Lord, pages 259-468 [optional, pages 39-48].
*tentative schedule subject to change
Please note that this calendar (September 14 – November 23, 2026) is shorter than the academic calendar that Aquinas College is using. Thus, we will avoid the busy-ness of the first couple of weeks and be released before Thanksgiving. After a long Christmas break, our Spring 2027 term will resume beginning Monday, February 1, 2027. But more on that later.
